Academy Award winner Gary Oldman returns for the third season of ‘Slow Horses,’ coming to Apple TV+ on Friday, December 1, 2023.
Apple TV+ has certainly reaped rewards with spy series ‘Slow Horses’, which won Best English-Language Drama Series at the 2022 C21 International Drama Awards and has been drawing a big following.
In fact, so successful was the show out of the gate that Apple kept to its policy of crafting two seasons at a time, which meant that a teaser for the second run was attached to the end of the first, and new episodes appeared mere months after that.
We’ve had to wait a little longer for the third season, but now we know the show will be back in November and the first images are online, showing star Gary Oldman and the rest of the gang.
What’s the story of ‘Slow Horses’?
Jack Lowden returns for the third season of ‘Slow Horses,’ coming to Apple TV+ on Friday, December 1, 2023.
‘Slow Horses’ is adapted from Mick Herron’s eponymous novel series, which is also known as ‘Slough House’, named for the low-rent MI5 office our heroes work from.
Oldman stars as Jackson Lamb, the brilliant but misanthropic leader of the spies, who end up in Slough House due to their career-ending mistakes as they frequently find themselves blundering around the smoke and mirrors of the espionage world.
In season three, a romantic liaison in Istanbul threatens to expose a buried MI5 secret in London. When Lamb and his team of misfits are dragged into the fight, they find themselves caught in a conspiracy that threatens the future not just of Slough House… But of MI5 itself.
Who stars in ‘Slow Horses’?
(L to R) Saskia Reeves and Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù star in the third season of ‘Slow Horses,’ coming to Apple TV+ on Friday, December 1, 2023.
Ṣọpẹ Dìrísù joins the season three cast as Sean Donovan, the former head of security at the British embassy in Istanbul, along with Katherine Waterston who plays Alison Dunn, an MI5 agent who uncovers a dark secret at the heart of the agency.
(L to R) Jack Lowden and Rosalind Eleazar star in the third season of ‘Slow Horses,’ coming to Apple TV+ on Friday, December 1, 2023.
In keeping with the filming plan, a fourth season, adapting Herron’s book ‘Spook Street’, was shooting in London this past April, which hopefully means it’ll be arriving next year.
Gary Oldman talks ‘Slow Horses’?
Gary Oldman in ‘Slow Horses’ season 2, premiering December 2, 2022 on Apple TV+.
Here’s what Oldman told The Wrap about his role as Lamb:
“It is oddly very liberating to play a character who is openly hostile and publicly humiliates people. But at the core, he has a very strong moral sense. I think that’s why, ultimately, you can like Lamb even though he’s not P.C.”
When will ‘Slow Horses’ return for Season 3?
Christopher Chung stars in the third season of ‘Slow Horses,’ coming to Apple TV+ on Friday, December 1, 2023.
With the first two seasons already streaming on Apple TV+, the third will launch globally on Wednesday, November 29th with two episodes, while one new episode will land weekly on Wednesdays through December 27th.
Gary Oldman in ‘Slow Horses’ season 2, premiering December 2, 2022 on Apple TV+.
We know Sofia Vergara best as the outspoken Gloria Delgado-Pritchett on the long-running, successful comedy series ‘Modern Family’, which ended in 2020.
Yet even before the show concluded, Vergara has been expanding her career out beyond it, appearing in movies such as ‘Hot Pursuit’ and ‘Chef’, and working as a producer on a variety of projects.
She’s combining both for new Netflix drama ‘Griselda’, starring as the complex, ambitious title character, co-creating and helping to shepherd the show as an executive producer.
It promises something quite different from Vergara, who hasn’t had the chance to showcase her dramatic chops in recent years.
The first images from the series, featuring Vergara and more, are now online.
The limited series is inspired by the life of the savvy and ambitious Colombian businesswoman Griselda Blanco, a devoted mother who created one of the most profitable cartels in history.
Blanco’s lethal blend of unsuspected savagery and charm helped her expertly navigate between business and family, leading her to become widely known as “the Godmother.”
Here’s the co-creator and executive producer on the connections between the star and her character:
“As a Colombian immigrant and single mother who came to America and built an empire, Sofía shares that personal aspect of this character and her passion for telling her story was undeniably the driving force behind this project. What will really surprise viewers is how she encompasses this complete darkness in her performance — a far cry from the beloved comedic star she’s known as. Finding her way to that place was her great challenge on this show, and seeing the successful transformation was a privilege.”
And director and executive Producer, Andrés Baiz explains the story:
“When we meet Griselda, she is a woman overrun by the male-dominated world around her. We also see her evolution as she makes use of her oppression as a means of terror –– these images provide just a peek into the duality. The duplicity is what I find so fascinating about Griselda, and Sofía Vergara captures her essence fiercely.”
So, forget ‘The Godfather’. The “Godmother” is coming to our screens. The six-episode limited series will arrive on Netflix in January.
Premiering August 8th on Hulu is the third season of the popular series ‘Only Murders in the Building,’ which was co-created by Steve Martin and John Hoffman, and nominated for 12 Emmys including Outstanding Comedy Series and Outstanding Writing For A Comedy Series at the upcoming ceremony that is scheduled to take place on January 15th, 2024.
(L to R) Selena Gomez, Shirley MacLaine, Director John Hoffman, Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Amy Schumer on the set of ‘Only Murders in the Building’ season 2. Photo: Barbara Nitke/Hulu.
SOME SPOILERS FOR ‘ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING’ SEASON 1 AND 2 BELOW!
‘Only Murders in the Building’ Season 1 and 2 Recap
(L to R) Charles (Steve Martin), Mabel (Selena Gomez) and Oliver (Martin Short) on Hulu’s ‘Only Murders In The Building’. Photo: Craig Blankenhorn/Hulu.
The series follows three amateur sleuths –– actor Charles-Haden Savage (Martin), who spent years on a low-rent police show and still dines out on his minor fame, down-on-his-luck, flamboyant theatre director Oliver Putnam (Martin Short) and Mabel Mora (Selena Gomez), a young artist whose life suddenly becomes intertwined with Charles and Oliver’s when a former friend and fellow resident of grand New York apartment building the Arconia is found murdered.
The three also bond over their shared love of a true crime podcast called ‘All is not OK in Oklahoma’, and quickly decide to launch their own as they dig into the truth behind Tim’s death. As they work their way through the suspects (including the variety of quirky occupants of the building), they learn that the real killer is Jan (Amy Ryan), a musician who Charles has been dating.
Season 1 ends with cranky building head chief Bunny Folger (Jayne Houdyshell) dead in Mabel’s apartment, with Mabel framed for her murder. The second season is dedicated to Charles, Oliver and Mabel figuring out what really happened with Bunny, and how a mysterious painting factors in.
It also features more from Cinda Canning (Tina Fey), the driven, arrogant creator of ‘All Is Not OK in Oklahoma’ as she seeks to find a compelling follow-up to her hit series. Our heroes initially think that Cinda, and then artist Alice Banks (Cara Delevingne), whom Mabel briefly dated, might be the killer, but it is revealed to be Cinda’s overworked assistant Poppy White (Adina Version), who was actually the not-so-dead subject matter of ‘All is not OK’ and yearns to have a podcast of her own.
What is the plot of ‘Only Murders in the Building’ Season 3?
(L to R) Paul Rudd as Ben in season 3 of ‘Only Murders in the Building.’ Photo by: Patrick Harbron/Hulu.
At the end of Season 2, we jump a year forward, to the opening night of Oliver’s new play, ‘Death Rattle’. Its leading man, the annoying, smug Ben Glenroy (Paul Rudd), who clearly has no love for Charles, also starring in the production, collapses dead on stage.
It’s revealed later in the initial episode that Ben is not actually dead but had a medical condition, and he promises to be a changed man, ready to make amends for his bad behavior during the play’s initial stages. He doesn’t get long to do that, though, as he’s pushed into an elevator shaft at the Arconia, landing on the car containing Charles, Oliver and Mabel. And so, another murder mystery is set in motion. Season 3 will also feature Oscar-winner Meryl Streep as Loretta Durkin, a struggling actress and Oliver’s love interest, who plays a small role in his Broadway show.
Meryl Streep as Loretta in Hulu’s ‘Only Murders in the Building.’ Photo by: Patrick Harbron/Hulu.
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with director, executive producer and series co-creator John Hoffman about his Emmy nominated work on season 2 of ‘Only Murders in the Building,’ creating the series with Steve Martin, setting up the mysteries, lessons he’s learned between seasons, improvisation on set, the lead actors’ chemistry, the show’s attraction to big name guest stars, and a little tease of season 3.
(L to R) Tina Fey and Director John Hoffman on the set of ‘Only Murders in the Building’ season 2. Photo: Craig Blankenhorn/Hulu.
You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch the interview.
Moviefone: To begin with, congratulations on the show’s 12 Emmy nominations for season 2. How does it feel to get so much Emmy love?
John Hoffman: I’m feeling very good, honored, relieved, all of the above. It’s been quite a ride with this show and the fact that for season two, dropping a year after our first season aired, to be recognized in this group of incredible shows, it’s rare air. So I am thrilled.
MF: Season 3 begins on August 8th, are you excited for fans to see the next chapter?
JH: I’m very excited for people to see what’s coming. We’ve got a good back half too. I promise you.
Steve Martin as Charles in season 3 of ‘Only Murders in the Building.’ Photo: Patrick Harbron/Hulu.
MF: Can you talk about creating the series with Steve Martin? Was it always designed to be a comedic murder mystery?
JH: It began from the plucky mind of Steve Martin, and it was very much his notion. He’s a real fan and has a real interest in the world of crime and mystery, unfolding and getting underneath it and watching the reveals that happen around a case. So he’s a fan of that work. Then on top of it, he is a comedic genius. So that person held it all and very sweetly along with Dan Fogelman and Jess Rosenthal’s introduction, brought me into the fold of that. I was looking at it in a way of, once Steve said, “I would love Marty to be in this with me,” then I was hoping we could do something that felt like classic meets modern. You’ve got these two classic comedians with this very modern young woman in New York where that constantly feels like a theme and then it let the comedic and the mystery unfold in a fresh way. I think we got very fortunate and we worked really hard, but the goal is always to make it look as effortless as possible but behind the scenes it’s quite a challenge to pull this sucker off.
MF: The end of the first season sets up the mystery for season 2. How much of the second season’s mystery was set in place when you introduced it at the end of the first season?
JH: Great question. They’re very tied in. As you’ve seen from the beginning of season three, we take a bit of a leap away, but those first and second seasons are more tied in than maybe evident from the beginning of season two, for sure. Going to the very notion that by episodes 9 and 10, you’re realizing, “Oh my God, the central person responsible ultimately in season 2 was present and was the actual person involved in the podcast and in the case of the podcast that first drew our trio together in episode one of season 1. So, that developed along the way, but it was also kind of in the back of my mind, at least as far as those ties that could happen that felt very exciting. But it was very challenging to thread that and not give it away and not let it be revealed. So that all was very exciting to do, but very in its own classic mystery way, a dance of mini balls in the air with character arcs and the personal relationship of this trio and the discoveries that have to happen. The comedic premises, you then have to create all in the while keeping a thrust of this mystery story that everyone’s hooked into.
(L to R) Selena Gomez, Martin Short and Steve Martin in Hulu’s ‘Only Murders In The Building’ season 2. Photo: Patrick Harbron/Hulu.
MF: As a director and executive producer, what were the biggest lessons you learned between seasons working on this show?
JH: How valuable everyone else is. I have to say that in this moment too, as I speak to you as a producer of this marvelous experience and show, that I am in great solidarity and recognizing every minute of the value of the collaboration between actors and writers specifically that make everything about this show and make me stand in full solidarity with fairness for all of them right now in this very challenging moment in our business. But that is really it. To be the person who has to answer all the questions along the way for story, for actors, for everyone else, is very comforting oddly for me. I like being that person. But you have to be very careful with everything. But then to be able to feel the luxury of opening up to brilliant artists around you who have much better ideas than you do, and to be able to say, “Oh, wait a minute. Stop the train. We’re going here because of this fantastic idea.” There’s nothing like it. This show is just a magnet for talent. So, who’s coming in next door? Everyone feels this urgency behind the scenes to step it up for this incredible collection of actors that are on the show. But it’s also the great opportunity to work with people who make everything better.
MF: Obviously, the first season was a huge success. What were the big challenges going into season two to repeat that success?
JH: That sits in your head in a way that I wasn’t as much expecting or thinking about because I get very deep down in a story that I would like to tell. So I try and push aside everything else that way, but there’s no way for it not to emanate through. Certainly within our writer’s room, it was one of those moments of like, “Wait, they’re saying what over there? Who said what? Who wrote what?” That does inform, it can’t help it. It is part of the collaboration with the audience we have too. When you’re doing a mystery, you want to feel what they’re thinking a little bit and maybe undercut that, swerve away from it or lean right into it. So, that’s very nice to have that inclusivity for both audience and creators on this one.
(L to R) Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez in Hulu’s ‘Only Murders In The Building’ season 2. Photo: Patrick Harbron/Hulu.
MF: Steve Martin and Martin Short are comedy legends, but what is surprising about the series is how organically Selena Gomez fits with their chemistry. Was that a pleasant surprise for you and is there room for improvisation on set? Do they come in with their own ideas, or stick to the scripts?
JH: All three of them, I want to leave them completely unbridled to say and do whatever they want to say. Yet, I’ve recognized also that they have great comfort in these wonderful scripts that our writers work very hard on. There’s great trust and generosity from them. As I say, there’s great comfort too in knowing and recognizing the good fortune of having two geniuses and a very specific modern young woman, is that you hear their voices very distinctly and the way in which they can play is built into these characters that they are perfect for, comedically and dramatically. The fact that they’re so facile, it can go so many different ways, and gives us great leeway to really hone scenes, episodes and seasons that favor what they do best. So when they are with the material, they really stick to it in a larger way. I think they would say the same thing. More than that, it’s just about elevating all of it in the way that only they can do.
MF: Finally, the show has become a magnet for very famous performers who want to guest star, Meryl Streep appears in season 3, for example. Season 2 featured Shirley MacLaine, Cara Delevingne, Tina Fey, Andrea Martin, and Paul Rudd, some of who carry over to season 3. Has there been an effort to get the biggest names possible to guest star, or has that just happened organically?
JH: Yes. The simple answer is yes. To have Shirley MacLaine in the middle of a pandemic come out of her home in New Mexico to say, “I want to come play in the landscape of New York City with this great cast of characters,” was an honor to everyone. The minute she stepped on set, the whole temperature changed. She just was absolutely brilliant. You realize the air you’re in, but also it makes you step up to live up to these people. Cara was fantastic and a friend of Selena’s for a long time and was so sharp, witty, intuitive and also a lovely person. She fit perfectly into the world, and that went on and on. Andrea Martin is a comedic genius as well, and knows Marty and knows Steve and seamlessly fits in as well. So, it’s about being strong with what the show is and hoping that people recognize the tone and how they might work in it, and then watching them just create magic is incredible. Then that leaps off into the opportunities that come from a season 3 cast, which is, I don’t know, the greatest of any half hour comedy in history? I’m going to put it up there. I’m not going to lie, I can’t believe it.
(L to R) Director John Hoffman and Shirley MacLaine on the set of ‘Only Murders in the Building’ season 2. Photo: Barbara Nitke/Hulu.
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(L to R) Selena Gomez as Mabel, Martin Short as Oliver and Steve Martin as Charles in Hulu’s ‘Only Murders in the Building.’ Photo: Patrick Harbron/Hulu.
Launched with the first two episodes on Hulu, the third season of ‘Only Murders in the Building’ proves that the creative team and cast have what it takes to (somewhat) move the show outside of the confines of the beautiful Arconia building for a story that makes even more use of Oliver Putnam’s (Martin Short) character.
Created by John Hoffman and Steve Martin (who also stars as the wonderfully ego-tastic, but also charming Charles-Haden Savage), this is a show that successfully blends old school comedy with the present-day obsession with social media and true crime podcasts.
‘Only Murders in the Building’ Season 1 & 2 Recap
(L to R) Charles (Steve Martin), Mabel (Selena Gomez) and Oliver (Martin Short) on Hulu’s ‘Only Murders In The Building’. Photo: Craig Blankenhorn/Hulu.
The series follows three amateur sleuths –– actor Savage (who spent years on a low-rent police show and still dines out on his minor fame), down-on-his-luck, flamboyant theatre director Putnam and Mabel Mora (Selena Gomez), a young artist whose life suddenly becomes intertwined with Charles and Oliver’s when a former friend and fellow resident of grand New York apartment building the Arconia is found murdered.
The three also bond over their shared love of a true crime podcast called ‘All is not OK in Oklahoma’, and quickly decide to launch their own as they dig into the truth behind Tim’s death. As they work their way through the suspects (including the variety of quirky occupants of the building), they learn that the real killer is Jan (Amy Ryan), a musician who Charles has been dating.
Season 1 ends with cranky building head chief Bunny Folger (Jayne Houdyshell) dead in Mabel’s apartment, with Mabel framed for her murder. The second season is dedicated to Charles, Oliver and Mabel figuring out what really happened with Bunny, and how a mysterious painting factors in.
It also features more from Cinda Canning (Tina Fey), the driven, arrogant creator of ‘All Is Not OK in Oklahoma’ as she seeks to find a compelling follow-up to her hit series. Our heroes initially think that Cinda, and then artist Alice Banks (Cara Delevingne), whom Mabel briefly dated, might be the killer, but it is revealed to be Cinda’s overworked assistant Poppy White (Adina Version), who was actually the not-so-dead subject matter of ‘All is not OK’ and yearns to have a podcast of her own.
Where does Season 3 take the story of ‘Only Murders in the Building’?
(L to R) Paul Rudd as Ben in season 3 of ‘Only Murders in the Building.’ Photo by: Patrick Harbron/Hulu.
At the end of Season 2, we jump a year forward, to the opening night of Oliver’s new play, ‘Death Rattle’. Its leading man, the annoying, smug Ben Glenroy (Paul Rudd), who clearly has no love for Charles, also starring in the production, collapses dead on stage.
It’s revealed later in the initial episode that Ben is not actually dead but had a medical condition. And he promises to be a changed man, ready to make amends for his bad behavior during the play’s initial stages. He doesn’t get long to do that, though, as he’s pushed into an elevator shaft at the Arconia, landing on the car containing Charles, Oliver and Mabel. And so, another murder mystery is set in motion…
Who else appears in ‘Only Murders in the Building’ Season 3?
Meryl Streep as Loretta in Hulu’s ‘Only Murders in the Building.’ Photo by: Patrick Harbron/Hulu.
Along with some recurring faces, including Arconia residents Howard Morris (Michael Cyril Creighton) and Uma Heller (Jackie Hoffman), the show draws on a typically rich mix of guest stars, most notably Meryl Streep, who plays wannabe actress Loretta Durkin. Also guesting this year are Andrea Martin (introduced briefly last season) as a make-up artist who used to work with Charles on Brazzos and still carries a torch for him, Ashley Park (as another member of the ‘Death Rattle’ cast and Jesse Williams as Tobert (not a spelling error, his actual name), who has been hired to document Ben’s work on the play.
Does ‘Only Murders in the Building’ Season 3 kill it?
(L to R) Selena Gomez as Mabel and Ryan Broussard as Will in season 3 of ‘Only Murders in the Building.’ Photo by: Patrick Harbron/Hulu.
Given that it helped kick off the current trend of more comedic murder mysteries and has enjoyed big success with its first two seasons, the pressure is naturally on the third to keep the magic happening. It’s fortunate to report then, that the formula continues to work, and expanding the scope of the show further beyond the Arconia and into the world of theatre provides plenty of fuel for fresh mystery and comedy.
Short’s Oliver in particular is given room to shine this year, his dedication to the play and typically over the top style working really well as he attempts to mount his big comeback and slowly falls for Streep’s struggling artiste.
She is, as you might expect, fantastic in the role of Loretta, who has been enchanted with theatre and acting since she was a young girl but has faced years of frustration and rejection. Beyond the sheer meta pleasure of seeing one of the most highly regarded actors playing someone who can barely get an audition, she grabs every moment and makes it work, from her sensitive, tentative flirtation with Short to her laugh-out-loud attempts at accents during the first read-through.
(L to R) Meryl Streep as Loretta and Martin Short as Oliver in Hulu’s ‘Only Murders in the Building.’ Photo: Patrick Harbron/Hulu.
Rudd is also a great addition, playing the typical movie actor who has fully bought into his own publicity but still wants to come across as everyone’s friend. As with Streep, him playing against his own personality works superbly.
Which is not to diminish the work of the main cast, who still put in excellent performances as ever. Short, as mentioned, flourishes given the altered setting, while Martin and Gomez are right there with him. It’s a part of ‘Only Murders’ magic that Gomez blends so well with the old school comedy stylings of Martin and Short.
The show itself is still just as clever, and while perhaps not as funny as previous seasons, still has plenty of wit to display.
Any issues?
(L to R) Selena Gomez as Mabel and Steve Martin as Charles in season 3 of ‘Only Murders in the Building.’ Photo by: Patrick Harbron/Hulu.
It’s perhaps a pity that the main three are kept largely separate early on, as the repartee between Martin, Short and Gomez as the main two bicker and Mabel puts up with her favorite “olds” is a true highlight of the series.
Yet kudos to the writers, directors and cast for pushing ‘Only Murders’ in refreshing new directions while maintaining what really makes it a killer watch. The competition might have heated up in the past couple of years in the mystery-comedy genre, but this remains among the best.
‘Only Murders in the Building’ Season 3 receives 9 out of 10 stars.
Martin Short as Oliver in Hulu’s ‘Only Murders in the Building.’ Photo: Patrick Harbron/Hulu.
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Apple TV+’s ‘The Morning Show’ gets ready for season three with a fiery new teaser trailer showcasing leading ladies Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon. The popular newsroom drama has been on a two-year hiatus and is set to return on September 13 with a two-episode premiere.
The teaser trailer also hints at upcoming guest stars, including Jon Hamm and Nicole Beharie. Hamm will play Paul Marks, a tech titan who has taken an interest in UBA. Beharie plays news anchor Christina Hunter. It seems things continue to amp up following the events of season two, as the network suffers during the lockdown of the global pandemic. The introduction of Paul Marks will likely stir the pot at UBA with his enticing proposal, “You need a miracle. I’m offering you a lifeline.” he says during the trailer.
Season three promises more drama for the anchors as we see Aniston’s Alex hosting the morning solo. Witherspoon’s Bradley is now the anchor for the 6:30 news. “They did not protect me,” says Alex. To which Bradley replies, “They didn’t protect you. But I did.” eluding to more tension between the two.
Jennifer Aniston in ‘The Morning Show,’ premiering September 13, 2023 on Apple TV+.
Jennifer Aniston gives a small taste of the upcoming season during an interview with People Magazine.
“It’s a good, juicy one,” she teases. “Everyone’s getting in trouble. Everybody has a secret. And everyone’s just walking the line. It’s a lot more sensual this year.”
The future of UBA felt extremely shakey at the end of season two, and the newsroom staff’s frustration can be heard throughout the new 1-minute spot. “Burn it all down.” says Cory (Billy Crudup), and “Honestly, let all the secrets come out” can be heard from Alex. It looks like season three will put all the anchors and staff at the network to the test.
Reese Witherspoon in ‘The Morning Show,’ premiering September 13, 2023 on Apple TV+.
The popular newsroom drama has already been renewed for a fourth season ahead of the show’s return. ‘The Morning Show’ has been nominated for multiple awards, such as The Golden Globe and the Television Critics’ Associations Awards. Series regulars Jennifer Aniston and Billy Crudup have taken home awards from the Screen Actors’ Guild and Primetime Emmy, respectively, for their performances.
Returning for season three are Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, Billy Crudup, Julianna Margulies, Mark Duplass, Nestor Carbonell, Greta Lee, and Karen Pittman. ‘The Morning Show’ is executive produced by Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon. The series will return with 10 episodes, airing every Wednesday on Apple TV+.
Jon Hamm in ‘The Morning Show,’ premiering September 13, 2023 on Apple TV+.Nicole Beharie in ‘The Morning Show,’ premiering September 13, 2023 on Apple TV+.Julianna Margulies in ‘The Morning Show,’ premiering September 13, 2023 on Apple TV+.(L to R) Greta Lee and Karen Pittman in ‘The Morning Show,’ premiering September 13, 2023 on Apple TV+.(L to R) Mark Duplass and Jennifer Aniston in ‘The Morning Show,’ premiering September 13, 2023 on Apple TV+.(L to R) Reese Witherspoon and Billy Crudup in ‘The Morning Show,’ premiering September 13, 2023 on Apple TV+.
From multi-hyphenate B.J. Novak’s sly, underrated ‘Vengeance’ to the new darkly comedic Peacock series ‘Based on a True Story,’ starring Kaley Cuoco and Chris Messina, there’s no shortage of films and shows which use true crime podcasts (and America’s love of them) as a leaping-off point to explore both fandom and obsessiveness.
But the series which arguably helped kick-start if not fully cement the popular trend, Hulu’s ‘Only Murders in the Building,’ is coming back for another serving of dryly apportioned mayhem, with the first trailer for its 10-episode third season, debuting August 8th, both setting up the full arc of its new mystery and also giving fans a look at some its suspects.
Paul Rudd May Not Age, But His Death in ‘Only Murders in the Building’ Provides New Life for Its Characters
(L to R) Martin Short as Oliver, Selena Gomez as Mabel, and Steve Martin as Charles in Hulu’s ‘Only Murders in the Building.’ Photo: Craig Blankenhorn/Hulu.
Following the surprise death of actor Ben Glenroy (Paul Rudd) in the finale of the show’s second season, unlikely friends Charles-Haden Savage (Steve Martin), Oliver Putnam (Martin Short) and Mabel Mora (Selena Gomez) find themselves thrust into an investigation of the tragedy that took place behind the scenes at Oliver’s Broadway show. It’s of course familiar territory for the trio, who first bonded by creating a podcast to explore the culprit behind a mysterious death at the Arconia, their shared Upper West Side apartment complex. “Who are we without a homicide?” asks Mabel in the trailer.
The solution? Another iteration of their podcast, naturally. “Finding this killer is the only way you’ll ever have a show,” Mabel tells Oliver, playing to his self-interest. With everyone in the theater being a possible suspect — including costar Loretta Durkin (Meryl Streep) — the threesome sets out to uncover who killed Oliver’s leading man, and why.
Highlights of the trailer, which serves up brief glimpses of guest stars like Ashley Park and Jesse Williams, include Streep bumbling her way awkwardly through a table read, at least one white-room fantasy sequence, and Mabel admitting with a shrug that most of her conversations with Charles and Oliver revolve around murder “and how to connect Bluetooth — we talk about that a lot.” The trailer also seemingly points to no small amount of fun had at the expense of musical theater, touting original music from the composers of ‘La La Land,’ ‘Waitress’ and ‘Hairspray.’
‘Only Murders in the Building’ is co-created by writers Martin and John Hoffman, who also serve as executive producers along with Short, Gomez, ‘This Is Us’ creator Dan Fogelman, and Jess Rosenthal. Nominated for a total of seven Golden Globe Awards, along with six Emmy Award nominations in 2022 and three additional pending nominations this year, the series has proven to be a hit with critics, and therefore one of Hulu’s most recognizable and forward-facing shows.
Newsflash: Comedic Talent Attracts More Comedic Talent!
Meryl Streep as Loretta in Hulu’s ‘Only Murders in the Building.’ Photo by: Patrick Harbron/Hulu.
The series has also proven a magnet for notable guest stars. For his role in “The Boy From 6B” in the first season, Nathan Lane won an Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Award. Sting, meanwhile, enjoyed some time trending on social media courtesy of his cameo as a fictionalized version of himself. Other high-profile comedic talent who’ve popped up in either guest or recurring roles include Tina Fey, Jane Lynch, Amy Schumer, Jimmy Fallon, Shirley MacLaine, Roy Wood Jr., and Jackie Hoffman.
One can only hope that Streep — who’s had the chance to showcase some of her comedic gifts on the big screen in recent years with ‘Mary Poppins Returns,’ ‘The Laundromat’ and ‘Don’t Look Up’ — gets the chance to fully deliver upon what looks like a richly silly character.
(L to R) Selena Gomez as Mabel, Martin Short as Oliver and Steve Martin as Charles in Hulu’s ‘Only Murders in the Building.’ Photo: Patrick Harbron/Hulu.
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The traditional phase in action thrillers is, “we don’t negotiate with terrorists!” But what if you’re stuck on a plane that has been taken hostage, and your main skills is negotiation, forcing you to engage with them? That’s the situation that Idris Elba faces in new Apple TV+ thriller series ‘Hijack’.
Idris Elba in ‘Hijack,’ premiering June 28, 2023 on Apple TV+.
What’s the story of ‘Hijack’?
Told in real time, “Hijack” is a tense thriller that follows the journey of a hijacked Kingdom Airways plane as it makes its way to London over a seven-hour flight, and authorities on the ground scramble for answers.
Elba stars as Sam Nelson, an accomplished negotiator in the business world who needs to step up and use all his guile to try and save the lives of the passengers — but his high-risk strategy could be his undoing.
And when he starts to dig in what is happening with the situation, he learns that all is far from what it initially seems. Plus, if the passengers decide to stage their own intervention, things could go south –– never a good thing for a plane while it’s in the air –– very quickly.
On the ground, meanwhile, we have Archie Panjabi as Zahra Gahfoor, a counter terrorism officer who is on the ground when the plane is hijacked and becomes part of the investigation.
Archie Panjabi in ‘Hijack,’ premiering June 28, 2023 on Apple TV+.
(L to R) Max Beesley and Christine Adams in ‘Hijack,’ premiering June 28, 2023 on Apple TV+.
Why Idris Elba got involved in ‘Hijack’
Elba has gone on the record with Entertainment Weekly about what interested him in not only starring but also producing the series.
Here’s what he had to say,
“I wanted to make something that has impact as an actor obviously, but also as a producer in terms of what my taste is. This really ticked so many boxes. It takes a fresh approach to a thriller and hostage situation. There’s an amplified nature of having a ticking time bomb in a plane and what that does to human nature.”
And it expands beyond the confines of the plane to look at the response of others.
Elba talks about the authorities in the show,
“It is an examination of the procedures and attitudes within the government and law enforcement, and that becomes a focal point of the storytelling.”
‘Hijack’ hails from George Kay, who is one of the creators of Netflix series ‘Lupin’, which stars Omar Sy as the famous French gentleman thief character in an update of the story.
And this is just the latest move for Elba to get involved behind the scenes on his projects. He’s also found a new directing gig with action thriller ‘Infernus’, and you can read more about that here.
When will ‘Hijack’ be on Apple TV+?
‘Hijack’ takes off on Apple TV+ with its first two episodes on Wednesday, June 28th. An episode will arrive weekly through August 2nd.
Eve Myles in ‘Hijack,’ premiering June 28, 2023 on Apple TV+.
Meryl Streep as Miranda Priestly in 2006’s ‘The Devil Wears Prada .’
TV comedy thriller series ‘Only Murders in the Building’ already features one of the best casts on the small screen, and it’s about to get even better. Star Steve Martin revealed on twitter that Meryl Streep has joined the ensemble.
The show stars Martin, Selena Gomez and Martin Short as Charles-Haden Savage, Mabel Mora and Oliver Putnam, three very different residents of a swanky, high-rise apartment building in Manhattan. When one of the other people in the building is murdered––one who had a connection to Mabel––the three unlikely citizen detectives team up to investigate what really happened.
Along the way, they launch the podcast that gives the show its name. Season 2 follows their attempts to unmask who killed Arconia Board president Bunny Folger (Jayne Houdyshell). Along the way, they’re publicly implicated in her murder and are the subjects of a competing podcast.
‘Only Murders’ has built a reputation for quirky characters, engaging mysteries and a wealth of acting talent in its cast beyond the central three.
(L to R) Charles (Steve Martin), Mabel (Selena Gomez) and Oliver (Martin Short) on Hulu’s ‘Only Murders In The Building’. Photo: Craig Blankenhorn/Hulu.
At the end of Season 2, Oliver––a seasoned, though as the show starts, unemployed––theater director, got his chance to helm a new show on Broadway. His cast includes Savage (an actor who made his career and a healthy fortune starring in a cheesy 1980s police series) and Paul Rudd’s Ben Glenroy, a snobbish fellow performer who in a flash-forward, has disagreements with Savage. He dies on stage, and Season 3 will explore the backstory to that.
As for Streep’s character, the ‘Only Murders’ team have yet to reveal how she’ll factor into the story for the new season and whether she’ll have any connection to the core trio.
Streep, of course, needs little introduction, an Oscar winning actor more normally found in movies (but occasionally on TV). She seems like a perfect fit for the ‘Only Murders’ world and it’ll be interesting to see how she fits in.
From the looks of Gomez’ Instagram post that also served to announce Streep’s casting, she’s already interacting well with the main cast, larking around pretending to be an assistant providing them with new cushions, while being asked by Short for the “tea I ordered a half hour ago”.
Created by Martin and showrunner John Hoffman, ‘Only Murders’ has now been shooting its third season for roughly a week, but there is no date on the books yet for when it might return to Hulu. Despite its quality, it hasn’t won as many awards as you might imagine, but Streep’s presence could well change that.
(L to R) Charles (Steve Martin), Mabel (Selena Gomez) and Oliver (Martin Short) on Hulu’s ‘Only Murders In The Building’. Photo: Craig Blankenhorn/Hulu.
Premiering on Apple TV+ beginning December 2nd is the second season of the popular spy series ‘Slow Horses.’
The first season followed British MI5 agent River Cartwright (Jack Lowden), who after a botched mission is exiled to Slough House, which is nicknamed “Slow Horses” and is an administrative purgatory for service agents.
Cartwright and his fellow former agents now perform boring administrative tasks and work for the miserable Jackson Lamb (Gary Oldman), who expects everyone to quit out of frustration, but the team soon becomes entangled in a dangerous mission at London’s Regent’s Park.
The second season will revolve around the investigation of a retired Cold War era spy, who is found dead on a bus miles away from where he works or lives.
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Gary Oldman and Saskia Reeves about their work on ‘Slow Horses’ season 2, the new plot, how Reeves prepares for her role, and how Catherine and Jackson’s relationship has changed since season one.
(L to R) Saskia Reeves and Gary Oldman star in Apple TV+’s ‘Slow Horses’ season 2.
You can read our full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Oldman, Reeves, and Jack Lowden about ‘Slow Horses’ Season 2.
Moviefone: To begin with, can you both talk about what fans can expect from season 2 of ‘Slow Horses?’
Gary Oldman: Well, season two begins with a suspicious death, a Cold War era spy, retired ex-spy Dickie Bow is found on a bus miles away from where he works or lives. We are told that he has died from a heart attack.
Jackson had a relationship with Dickie back in the old days and is suspicious that he died, that it was natural causes and thinks that there’s something a little more mysterious to this death that meets the eye. He gathers his dysfunctional team to really start to investigate.
Saskia Reeves: He’s known to Catherine as well because they’re part of the same crew as it were years ago. Dickie has a reputation, a very bad reputation. So, there’s all sorts of little clues that bring these two characters together.
It’s almost like they can’t not get involved, isn’t it? Sometimes when I’m working on this story, I often imagine that we’re not spies, we’re actors. So, it’d be like an actor you worked with in Liverpool 30 years ago or something.
Saskia Reeves in ‘Slow Horses’ season 2, premiering December 2, 2022 on Apple TV+.
GA: When he mysteriously dies you think, “Oh no, there’s something up,” and you want to find out.
SR: And he got really bad reviews when in fact he was actually quite a good actor. So, I do synonyms. I think, oh, how can I get closer to this material? So, it’s like Jackson and Catherine share a knowledge of him and the history and everything. Then even more history comes up.
GA: Mind you though, there’s probably a few actors that would come up from the old days and you would say, “Well, okay.”
MF: Finally, Saskia can you talk about how Catherine and Jackson’s relationship has changed since the first season?
SR: I mean there’s a definite undertone in the backstory and it actually exists through quite a few of the books written by Mick Herron, and is rumbling in the background in the series, which is great to have as you build the story and the characters. She takes the opportunity to be helpful and get involved, which is great fun to do.
Gary Oldman in ‘Slow Horses’ season 2, premiering December 2, 2022 on Apple TV+.
Monday evening was what the ceremony always describes as “television’s biggest night” – when the industry hands out the Emmy Awards to a select few from the hundreds of eligible shows and performers.
The ceremony itself ran relatively smoothly, with ‘Saturday Night Live’ veteran Kenan Thompson hosting, kicking off the evening with a medley of re-imagined classic TV theme tunes. There was the usual stilted banter between presenters (though a few, such as Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez of ‘Only Murders in the Building’ elevated theirs), celebrations of TV genres such as police and medical dramas and the In Memoriam segment.
But what everyone was there for were the awards themselves. And while there were several repeat winners (‘Succession’, ‘Ted Lasso’ and ‘Hacks’ Jean Smart), there remained room for fresh faces and welcome surprises.
Quinta Brunson’s ‘Abbott Elementary’ took home Best Writing for a Comedy Series, while cast member Sheryl Lee Ralph won Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. Ralph’s speech in particular, a blend of surprise, joy and encouragement for others, was a highlight of the show.
Quinta Brunson on ABC’s ‘Abbott Elementary.’ Photo Courtesy of ABC’s YouTube Channel.
Mike White’s ‘The White Lotus’ dominated the limited series category (though given that season 2 arrives next month with an almost totally new cast, it more closely fits into the anthology part of its category), winning overall show and both writing and directing for White. Actors Murray Bartlett and Jennifer Coolidge went home with well-deserved trophies.
And ‘Squid Game’ made history for Asian creators and performers, as lead Lee Jung-jae won Best Actor in the drama category, while show creator Hwang Dong-hyuk saw his decade-long effort to get it made rewarded with Best Director, drama.
Though everyone thought ‘Ted Lasso’ might sweep even more than it did given its haul of nominations, it still won plenty of awards, including Brett Goldstein becoming the first back to back winner in the Supporting Actor, comedy category since 2007.
Of those who missed out on awards, there was disappointment for the ‘Better Call Saul’ team, which has its last chance to turn its many nominations into awards next year. Will the power of a great show’s legacy make voters think kindly of it? And when a show as superbly written and performed as ‘Only Murders in the Building’, which balances comedy and mystery adeptly can’t get any love, you’ve got to wonder at the choices.
(L to R) Charles (Steve Martin), Mabel (Selena Gomez) and Oliver (Martin Short) on Hulu’s ‘Only Murders In The Building’. Photo: Craig Blankenhorn/Hulu.
‘Ted Lasso’ – Winner
‘Abbott Elementary’
‘Barry’
‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’
‘Hacks’
‘The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel’
‘Only Murders in the Building’
‘What We Do in the Shadows’
BEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Jean Smart (‘Hacks’) – Winner Rachel Brosnahan (‘The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel’)
Quinta Brunson (‘Abbott Elementary’) Kaley Cuoco (‘The Flight Attendant’) Elle Fanning (‘The Great’) Issa Rae (‘Insecure’)
BEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Jason Sudeikis (‘Ted Lasso’) – Winner Donald Glover (‘Atlanta’) Bill Hader (‘Barry’) Nicholas Hoult (‘The Great’)
Steve Martin (‘Only Murders in the Building’)
Martin Short (‘Only Murders in the Building’)
‘Last Week Tonight With John Oliver’ – Winner
‘The Daily Show With Trevor Noah’
‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’
‘Late Night With Seth Meyers’
‘The Late Show With Stephen Colbert’
BEST VARIETY SKETCH SERIES
‘Saturday Night Live’ – Winner
‘A Black Lady Sketch Show’
BEST COMPETITION PROGRAM
‘Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrrls’ – Winner
‘The Amazing Race’
‘Nailed It!’
‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’
‘Top Chef’
‘The Voice’
BEST DIRECTING FOR A DRAMA SERIES
Hwang Dong-hyuk (‘Squid Game’) – Winner
Jason Bateman (‘Ozark’) Ben Stiller (‘Severance’) Mark Mylod (‘Succession’)
Cathy Yan (‘Succession’) Lorene Scafaria (‘Succession’) Karyn Kusama (‘Yellowjackets’)
BEST DIRECTING FOR A LIMITED OR ANTHOLOGY SERIES OR MOVIE
MJ Delaney (‘Ted Lasso’) – Winner
Hiro Murai (‘Atlanta’)
Bill Hader (‘Barry’)
Lucia Aniello (‘Hacks’)
Mary Lou Belli (‘The Ms. Pat Show’) Jamie Babbit (‘Only Murders in the Building’) Cherien Dabis (‘Only Murders in the Building’)
BEST WRITING FOR A COMEDY SERIES
Quinta Brunson (‘Abbott Elementary’) – Winner
Duffy Boudreau (‘Barry’) Alec Berg, Bill Hader (‘Barry’)
Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs, Jen Statsky (‘Hacks’)
Steve Martin, John Hoffman (‘Only Murders in the Building’) Jane Becker (‘Ted Lasso’)
Sarah Naftalis (‘What We Do in the Shadows’)
Stefani Robinson (‘What We Do in the Shadows’)
BEST WRITING FOR A DRAMA SERIES
Jesse Armstrong (‘Succession’) – Winner Thomas Schnauz (‘Better Call Saul’) Chris Mundy (‘Ozark’) Dan Erickson (‘Severance’)
Hwang Dong-hyuk (‘Squid Game’)
Jonathan Lisco, Ashley Lyle, Bart Nickerson (‘’Yellowjackets)
Ashley Lyle, Bart Nickerson (‘Yellowjackets’)
BEST WRITING FOR A LIMITED OR ANTHOLOGY SERIES OR MOVIE
Mike White (‘The White Lotus’) – Winner
Danny Strong (‘Dopesick’) Elizabeth Meriwether (‘The Dropout’)
Sarah Burgess (‘Impeachment: American Crime Story’)
Molly Smith Metzler (‘Maid’)
Patrick Somerville (‘Station Eleven’)
