(Left) Cameron Monaghan in ‘Paradise Highway’. Photo: Lionsgate. (Right) Titus Welliver as Harry Bosch in season 2 of ‘Bosch: Legacy.’ Photo Credit: Warrick Page.
Preview:
Cameron Monaghan will play Detective Harry Bosch in a new prequel series.
‘Start of Watch’ will be set in 1991.
Omari Hardwick co-stars.
Amazon is continuing to visit the ‘Bosch’ well. With two shows featuring author Michael Connelly‘s LAPD detective character Harry Bosch, played by Titus Welliver and a spin-off around the character of Renée Ballard (Maggie Q), the company now has a third in the works.
A prequel series that will explore Harry Bosch’s younger days with the LAPD is has the greenlight, with Cameron Monaghan (‘TRON: Ares’) as Bosch and Omari Hardwick (‘Army of the Dead‘) portraying his training officer, police veteran Eli Bridges.
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Monaghan makes the latest person to play a younger Harry –– both of Welliver’s sons have appeared in the role on ‘Bosch’ in the past.
And just in case you weren’t already confused where to find Bosch’s cases (since Amazon has released the main show to Prime Video and spin-off ‘Bosch: Legacy’ to the since-defunct Freevee, ‘Bosch: Start of Watch’ will debut on MGM+.
Omari Hardwick in ‘Xeno’. Photo: Blue Fox Entertainment.
The new series, which is not based directly on any of Connelly’s books, sets the clock back to 1991 Los Angeles and follows 26-year-old Harry Bosch during his earliest days as a rookie cop.
The series will explore a city on the edge, teeming with racial tension, gang violence and a fractured LAPD. Amid routine calls and growing unrest, Bosch finds himself drawn into a high-profile heist and a web of criminal corruption that will test his loyalty to the badge and shape his future as the detective who lives by the code, “Everybody counts or nobody counts.”
‘Bosch: Start of Watch’: his creator talks
Author and ‘Bosch: Legacy’ Season 2 executive producer Michael Connelly.
This was Connelly’s statement on the new series:
“I’m deeply grateful to Michael Wright and the team at MGM+ for championing this next chapter in Bosch’s journey with such remarkable care and integrity. Being able to see how Harry Bosch became the man we have loved for 10 seasons is a gift to me and his many fans. I can’t wait to dig in with Cameron and the writers to explore this uncharted character territory.”
When will ‘Bosch: Start of Watch’ be on screens?
MGM+ has yet to specify when the show will debut, but like its sibling series, it will shoot in Los Angeles, especially having received a tax credit from the California Film Commission.
Per Deadline, he’s headed back on the beat for a new MGM+ series called ‘The Westies,’ a period crime drama that hails from ‘Narcos’ co-creator Chris Brancato and Michael Panes (who worked with Brancato on ‘Godfather of Harlem’).
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J.K. Simmons is already aboard the new series, an eight-episode first run that will start rolling its cameras next month in Toronto.
Here’s MGM+’s Michael Wright on the show when it was announced:
“We are thrilled to bring our viewers another provocative, exciting crime drama from the incomparable vision of Chris Brancato. Chris is a gifted showrunner who builds his stories around compelling characters operating in dangerous worlds about to explode. ‘The Westies’ is him at his best, and we can’t wait to bring it to our MGM+ audience.”
The new is set in the early 1980s when the construction of the Jacob Javitz Convention Center on the Westies’ home turf in Hell’s Kitchen promises a financial windfall for the Irish-American organized crime gang.
Despite being outnumbered 50-to-1 by the Five Families of the Italian mafia, The Westies’ legendary brutality and cunning have given them the leverage necessary to share the spoils through a fragile détente.
But internal conflict between the brash younger generation and the old-school leadership threatens to set a match to this powder keg, which will sweep the Westies into the FBI’s ever-deepening investigation into the Italian mafia.
Welliver is aboard to play Glenn Keenan, a troubled NYPD officer who grew up with the Westies crew, torn between loyalty to the law and love for his wayward son.
He’ll spar with Simmons’ Eamon Sweeney, the charismatic but ruthless leader of The Westies.
What else is Titus Welliver up to?
Titus Welliver as Harry Bosch on ‘Bosch: Legacy’ season 2. Credit: Tyler Golden/Amazon Freevee. Copyright: Amazon Freevee.
While Welliver has become mostly closely been identified with LAPD veteran detective Harry Bosch in the Prime Video series based on Michael Connelly’s books, he’s also got plenty of other shows and movies to keep him busy.
Original ‘Bosch’ spin-off ‘Bosch: Legacy’ wrapped its run this year, but he’s already set to reprise the character in at least one episode of the second series spawned form the original, ‘Ballard’, which stars Maggie Q as LAPD Detective Renee Ballard, who is placed in charge of a a new cold case division.
Outside of the ‘Bosch’-verse, Welliver has a few projects on the way.
He’ll next be seen in the indie film ‘Ricky’, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. It stars Stephan James as Ricardo Smith, who has been released from prison at the age of 30 after being incarcerated as a teen. He must navigate the challenging realities of life post-imprisonment, and the complexity of gaining independence for the first time as an adult.
Set after the events of ‘Dracula’, the movie sees Abraham van Helsing (Welliver) move his two sons, Max and Rudy, to the US in an attempt to escape their past.
And finally, there’s ‘Killing Castro’, based on the historical moment when Fidel Castro came to America to speak at the UN.
He is invited by Malcolm X to stay in Harlem at the famous Hotel Theresa. Unsure of his intentions, the FBI, CIA and the Mafia, attempt to eliminate him by any means necessary.
When will ‘The Westies’ be on screens?
MGM+ has yet to announce when the show will premiere, but given the July shoot, a 2026 launch seems the most likely plan.
It’s personal for Harry Bosch (Titus Welliver) as season 2 of ‘Bosch: Legacy’ kicks off with a two episode premiere this fall on Amazon Freevee. Photo Credit: Tyler Golden.
Michael B. Jordan announces ‘Creed’ spin-off ‘Delphi’ at the Amazon Upfront on May 13th, 2025. Photo: Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images for Amazon
Preview:
Michael B. Jordan is developing a ‘Creed’ TV spin-off.
‘Delphi’ would be set in the movies’ boxing gym.
Marco Ramirez is aboard to run the show.
With the success of the ‘Creed’ movies so far –– as kicked off back in 2015 with Ryan Coogler co-writing and directing the original –– it was only a matter of time before we got to see it expand beyond the big screen.
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Leading man (and executive producer) Michael B. Jordan made no secret of the fact that he wanted the ‘Creed’ universe to keep on developing –– around the release of ‘Creed III,’ which Jordan stepped up to also direct, he made mention of ruminating future plans.
Those have become reality with Jordan announcing at the Amazon Upfronts that a new spin-off TV series called ‘Delphi’ is in the works for Prime Video. So we can expect plenty more pugilism in our small screen future.
(L to R) Michael B. Jordan as Adonis Creed, Sylvester Stallone as Rocky Balboa in ‘Creed II.’ Photo: MGM.
The ‘Creed’ story begins with that original movie, itself a spin-off from the iconic ‘Rocky’ franchise, and introducing us to Adonis “Donnie” Creed (Jordan), the illegitimate son of the late fighter Apollo Creed (played in the original films by Carl Weathers).
Reconnecting with his legacy, Adonis starts training to box in more advanced matches, and ends up working with Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) himself.
Donnie also forges a relationship with musician Bianca (Tessa Thompson), who has her own challenges, including a worsening hearing issue.
Through the movies, Donnie faces various challenges (and challengers), including in ‘Creed II,’ the formidable son of Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren reprising his iconic role from ‘Rocky IV’) and, in ‘Creed III,’ old neighborhood friend Damian Anderson (Jonathan Majors), who went to prison years ago and has returned burning with a vengeful spirit.
The Delphi Boxing Academy is the Los Angeles-based boxing gym founded by Tony “Duke” Evers where Apollo Creed trained for many years.
Now run by Evers’ son, Tony “Little Duke” Evers (played by Wood Harris in the movies), the Delphi gym is home to Adonis.
Here’s what Jordan had to say about the show at the Amazon Upfront:
“The series that takes us back to where it all began. What I love about this story is that it stays true to what the ‘Rocky’ and ‘Creed’ franchise is all about: hard work, determination, fighting for something bigger than yourself. It’s about family, the ones we’re born into and the ones that we created. We’re building something special here, and I’m excited to introduce you to new fighters that will walk into the Delphi. As always, in ‘Creed’ we say, one step, one round, one punch at a time.”
Marco Ramirez will serve as showrunner and executive producer on the series. He’s no stranger to the world of boxing, as he recently created and served as showrunner on the Hulu boxing drama ‘La Máquina’ starring Gael Garcia Bernal, Diego Luna and Eiza González.
Jordan will executive produce under his Outlier Society banner along with Liz Raposo. Winkler Films’ Irwin Winkler, David Winkler, and Charles Winkler also executive produce.
Whether Jordan shows up as Adonis on screen remains to be seen, but we’d bet good money that he’ll at least grace the show in the pilot to kick things off.
And notable by his absence? Stallone, who has increasingly moved away from the ‘Creed’ franchise and doesn’t seem to want to be as closely connected as he once was.
He’s currently in movie theaters leading Coogler’s ‘Sinners,’ which has been doing great business at the box office. The story of twin brothers (both played by Jordan) who look to start a juke joint in their old home town in 1930s Mississippi, only to discover a lurking threat from some fanged fiends.
‘Sinners’ has so far earned more than $280 million at the worldwide box office, and has been showing incredible staying power, especially for an original movie.
The actor/filmmaker has several projects in development, including a ‘Rainbow Six’ film that will see him return as special forces operative John Clark.
He’s also, to no-one’s surprise working up a fourth ‘Creed’ movie, which he’s expressed a desire to direct following his success with the third.
Before that, though, he’s preparing to direct a new take on 1968 heist movie ‘The Thomas Crown Affair,’ which he’ll also lead and appear opposite Taylor Russell.
Jordan told Variety last year that he felt like he had plenty of work still to do:
“I still feel like an underdog. I feel like I just got here, like I’ve just arrived, and I have the tools and the things around me to really be on the offensive a little bit.”
When will ‘Delphi’ be on our screens?
Prime Video has yet to announce a premiere date for the show. Since we have zero casting details or anything else on it yet, we’d be shocked if it arrived on the service much before 2026, and likely later in that year as it stands.
Jaume Collet-Serra is on to direct a new action thriller called ‘Kate Warne’.
Emily Blunt is considering starring in the film as the title character, with Dwayne Johnson producing.
The script has been re-written but will still have to wait until the actors’ strike is over.
It looks like we have a ‘Jungle Cruise’ reunion in the works. No, the sequel has not chugged forward much given the dual strikes (though you can bet Disney will be looking to move this one along now that at least the writers’ action is over).
Instead, ‘Cruise’ director Jaume Collet-Serra is boarding the in-development detective thriller ‘Kate Warne’, which is being produced by Dwayne Johnson (who, of course, starred in the Disney ride adaptation).
And the ‘Jungle’ connections continue as Emily Blunt has been considering starring in this one for a couple of years now –– she was first mentioned as circling back in 2021 –– but, as Deadline reminds us, the actors are still on strike, so she has yet to make a formal acting deal.
She’ll be back to negotiating to star when the industrial action is over, but there is no sign of that just yet. Even if she doesn’t end up in the main role, she’s also a producer on the film, alongside Johnson’s Seven Bucks Productions.
The Amazon-owned MGM is hoping that with Collet-Serra’s attachment, it’ll move forward once anything can shoot.
What’s the story of ‘Kate Warne’?
Emily Blunt in ‘The English’ which premieres November 11th on Prime Video.
‘Kate Warne’ is described as a propulsive action adventure built around Warne, a real life female Sherlock Holmes in a male dominated industry whose singular sleuthing skills paved the way for future women in law enforcement and forever changed how detective work was done.
Gustin Nash wrote the first draft of the script, but it has since seen a re-write (before the strike) with ‘Godmothered’s Melissa Stack taking over screenplay duties.
This feels more in Collet-Serra’s wheelhouse –– he’s been known for the likes of Liam Neeson thrillers ‘Non-Stop’, and ‘The Commuter’, while he last made ‘Black Adam’ with Johnson in the title role –– than even ‘Jungle Cruise’ though he’s proved to be adaptable through his career so far.
He’s also been behind movies such as horror pic ‘Orphan’ and shark thriller ‘The Shallows’.
Next up for the director is ‘Carry On’, which sees Taron Egerton as Ethan Kopek, a young TSA agent who is blackmailed by a mysterious traveler to allow a dangerous package through security and on to a Christmas Day flight.
The development of the next Bond film will take the next couple of years.
Producer Barbara Broccoli talked about the challenges of finding the right tone and actor.
Reality TV competition series ‘007: Road to a Million’ kicks off next month to help fans through the quiet period.
It has been two years since Daniel Craig put down his Walter PPK and handed in his license to kill as –– spoiler alert for anyone who has yet to watch 2021’s ‘No Time to Die’ –– his take on secret agent James Bond went out in a missile-fueled blaze of glory.
So of course, ever since Craig left the gig playing one of the most famous movie characters in big screen history, talk turned to the likely candidates who will next tackle it. Names who have popped up in the past include Idris Elba and Tom Hiddleston.
The people in charge of those decisions are producers/franchise shepherds Barbara Broccoli and half-brother Michael G. Wilson. And according to Broccoli, the pair are taking their time to decide on the next Bond.
“I go back to ‘GoldenEye’ when everyone was saying ‘the cold war is over, the wall is over, Bond is dead, no need for Bond, the whole world’s at peace and now there’s no villains’ –– and boy was that wrong! Daniel gave us the ability to mine the emotional life of the character… and also the world was ready for it.”
And her comments on where they are with the next phase of the franchise:
“I think these movies reflect the time they are in, and there’s a big, big road ahead reinventing it for the next chapter, and we haven’t even begun with that.”
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What of James Bond TV series spin-offs?
Daniel Craig as James Bond in ‘Casino Royale.’
According to Broccoli, beyond one planned show (see below), there are no TV Bond series on the way (even if MGM owners Amazon might love it).
Here’s what Broccoli said:
“Our focus is making the feature films. When we get going on a Bond movie it takes our full attention for three or four years so that’s our focus. We make the Bond movies for the big theatrical screen and everything about the Bond movies is for audiences to see around the world on that format, so we’ve not wanted to do television.”
So yes… We’ll have to wait for more big screen Bond. But there is something to help tide you over…
Brian Cox in Prime Video’s ‘007: Road to a Million.’ Credit: Jemma Cox. Copyright: Prime Video.
While we wait for the next Bond film the producing duo are involved in a reality competition show tied to the franchise.
In the show, nine pairs of everyday people are unleashed on an epic adventure through a series of James Bond-inspired challenges, to find questions hidden around the world, all for a shot at winning a life-changing £1 million prize (roughly $1,281 million).
The Controller (Brian Cox) is the on-screen mastermind behind the game, he dictates where the pairs go, and what they must do and sets their questions. He watches on from the shadows following the pair’s every move, reveling as his often merciless and punishing plans unfold in front of him.
In total, The Controller has hidden 10 questions around the world for each pair, who each have a chance of winning a £1 million.
Find them, answer them, win £1 million… But it won’t be that easy!
To reach these questions, the pairs face gut-wrenching Bond-inspired challenges which will push their physical strength and mental reserves to the limit. Each question is worth an increasing amount of money, if answered correctly, they bank the cash and continue to the next question, get it wrong their journey is over.
From the wilds of the Scottish Highlands and the remote Chilean desert to the bustling streets of Venice and the luxurious Caribbean coastline of Jamaica. Packed with drama, epic locations, nail-biting challenges, and emotions running high, ‘007: Road to a Million’ promises a series that will have you on the edge of your seat.
Premiering on MGM+ beginning October 15th is season 2 of the popular series ‘Billy the Kid,’ which was created by Michael Hirst (‘Elizabeth’).
What is the plot of ‘Billy the Kid’ Season 2?
Based on the real life of legendary American outlaw Billy the Kid, and following the events of the first season, season two sees Billy (Tom Blyth) and his allies squaring off against his oldest friend Jesse Evans (Daniel Webber) and the corrupt powers of the Santa Fe Ring. When shots are fired, the conflict erupts into the bloody Lincoln County War. Amidst the fighting, Billy will struggle to hang onto his soul—and to the love of his life.
Who is in the cast of ‘Billy the Kid’ Season 2?
Tom Blyth in ‘Billy the Kid’ season 2. Photo: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc.
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with show creator and executive producer Michael Hirst about season 2 of ‘Billy the Kid,’ what fans can expect from the new season, why making Westerns are so much fun, working with actor Tom Blyth, casting Linus Roache, Billy and Tunstall’s relationship, and why we as a public are still fascinated by the legend of Billy the Kid.
(Right) Tom Blyth in ‘Billy the Kid’ season 2. Photo: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc.
You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch the interview.
Moviefone: To begin with, war is coming to Lincoln County in season 2 of ‘Billy the Kid.’ Can you talk about that and where we will find the characters when the new season starts?
Michael Hirst: So in a way, the first season of ‘Billy’ is a preparation for the Lincoln County War, because in Billy’s life that was pivotal. It was where he became famous around America and ultimately famous around the world. Strangely enough, I loved Billy when I was a kid of eight years old growing up in the north of England. He was a hero, but I didn’t just want to write about a cliche. I didn’t want to write about an outlaw, someone who just comes in the room shooting everyone, and who many people would regard as probably a pathological killer or there’s something wrong. The more research I did about him, I just discovered this really sensitive, young boy brought up by a mother who told him great stories, but was a very profound Catholic, and gave him a moral compass. That his father kind of stepped out of the family and couldn’t cope with America. The family, they were immigrants, and they were sent by the American government to one of the wildest, most dangerous parts of the country at the time. So, I wanted people to know that story. I wanted to dramatize that story. I wanted people to empathize with him. I was also, of course, introducing along the way other characters like Jesse Evans and the sheriff, who we’re going to crop up later. So we get to the Lincoln County Wars, and this is obviously where the stuff hits the fan. I mean, this is what you might call a real Western because there’s a shooting of a sheriff. There’s a lot of violence and brutality, and all centered around this commercial rivalry between two outfits, one of whom is Murphy’s Store, which has always had a monopoly of trading in that area of New Mexico because they were attached to this thing called the Santa Fe Ring, this group of very rich American businessmen who ran everything in New Mexico. They’re being challenged by an Englishman called Tunstall. Tunstall has problems with his father too, but then he comes to prove himself, but he doesn’t realize what he’s getting into. But he’s happy to hire Billy to be on his team because Billy already has a certain reputation. There are wanted posters for him, and everyone who works for Tunstall really says, “Look, who’s joining us now.” His ex-friend Jesse Evans, is with the House. So we are in a different world now, and it’s darker. It’s edgier. It’s still about the things that Billy cared about when he was growing up, that is to say immigrant issues. He sees what’s happening to the Mexicans. He always identifies with the underdogs. He has a profound sense of the injustices of the world and America at the time, as he was 19, which a lot of young people do. I hadn’t thought about that when I started, I was just concentrating on Billy. But these issues are contemporary. They resonate. They’re real issues now. The Lincoln County Wars, which killed about over 20 people in this nowhere town in New Mexico, became the scene of these horrific and insane murderous acts by people. I mean, the value of life was so low at that point. Billy takes a leadership role in these events, even though he’s 19, and goes through a terrible experience basically. So second season, we’ve upgraded in many ways. It’s a great production, great cast who love the show. It’s a very friendly company of people. But we don’t work at a studio. It’s all on location, and it’s all with real cowboys because Calgary, where it’s shot, is a center for cowboys. They have rodeos there. So our young cast has been riding with real cowboys. It’s just been a blast for them.
(L to R) Tom Blyth and Linus Roache in ‘Billy the Kid’ season 2. Photo: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc.
MF: Director John Ford once said, “If they knew how fun it is to make Westerns, they wouldn’t let us do it.” Do you agree with that? Is it fun making a Western?
MH: Well, it is fun making a Western, partly because of your sense of tradition. I don’t feel that I work in genres, and I don’t feel this is a traditional Western particularly. But you are aware of the tropes, and some of the relationships are what I would call sort of classical Western relationships that people have. So all that’s fun. The energy that goes into it and the fact that there are always horses, cattle, and crows on the set all the time, that everyone’s dealing with these things, and it’s very real. The cowboys are teaching the actors how to lasso cows and everything. So it’s incredible.
Tom Blyth in ‘Billy the Kid’ season 2. Photo: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc.
MF: Can you talk about working with Tom Blyth and his charming yet vulnerable performance as Billy?
MH: It’s been magical. It’s been wonderful. This is his first big role, and he’s only, I think, a year out of college. He was one of the first people to throw his hat into the ring. But I think we saw 400 people for the role. Obviously initially, we thought it’s got to be an American. The very first thing, of course, was he sent us a picture of himself or his agent did, and he looked like Billy. That was really weird. It’s like, “Whoa, wait a minute. This is too good to be true.” So we were going through all these young actors, and of course, many of them were very good, but they didn’t quite have what he had, which you sort of mentioned in a way. It’s a kind of steeliness and a sensitivity that you can tell is going on at the same time. His eyes are steely, but you know he’s sensitive, and I wanted that desperately. As I say, the last thing I wanted was a pathological killer. I wanted someone who was very human, but was capable of doing the things that he actually did. But it went on for quite a while, this process. I was throwing rocks in a way, because this guy, we didn’t know much about him at all. So I would say things like, “You know that Billy was actually famous for singing. He had a beautiful voice, and could play the guitar. He sang and he danced. Who knew?” So the next thing I know, Tom sends me a tape in which he’s playing his guitar and singing beautifully. I said, “All right.” We did go for him, and that was one of the best, obviously, decisions we’ve made in the whole thing, because it’s about him, and he has to carry it. Certainly, in the first season, he was just about in every scene. I mean, that’s quite something.
Linus Roache in ‘Billy the Kid’ season 2. Photo: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc.
MF: Can you talk about casting Linus Roache as Tunstall and the father/son relationship he creates with Billy?
MH: That was a big decision at the end of season one, mainly because I knew that meeting Tunstall was going to be a monumental thing for Billy. It was going to change Billy’s life forever. So the relationship between Billy and Tunstall had to be very deep and significant, and we didn’t have long to build it up. We liked the guy who played Tunstall in season one, but he was too young to be the surrogate father. You wouldn’t believe it. And Linus and I actually are great friends. He was in ‘Vikings.’ He played a big role in ‘Vikings.’ We’re great friends, and we talk all the time. I wanted him on the show desperately. I wanted him for many roles in the show, but actually Tunstall fitted him like a glove. It was mainly the fact that he could talk to Billy sensitively, and he could talk about his own family, his father and all the things that concerned Billy, and his sisters and all that. That Billy, whose father just walked out of his life and died because he couldn’t cope with America, had really missed having a father. He saw his mother working herself to death because there was no father. So he did become Billy’s surrogate father. I knew Linus could bring that off. I knew that in the few scenes he had with Billy, they could establish a huge and deep rapport because Linus is a great and understated actor. He was a Shakespearian actor initially. He was so extraordinarily brilliant in ‘Vikings’ that I’ve felt myself very lucky that he came back and was in ‘Billy.’
(Center) Daniel Webber in ‘Billy the Kid’ season 2. Photo: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc.
MF: Finally, there have been countless movies and TV programs over the years based on the legend of Billy the Kid. Why do you think we as a public are so interested in this outlaw’s story?
MH: Yeah, I’ve thought about this. It may be because he’s not Jesse James. He’s a much younger guy, and he doesn’t rob banks. He’s not actually a conventional outlaw at all. As I say, he doesn’t want to be an outlaw. He wants to go straight. I mean, all the other famous outlaws chose to be outlaws, like Jesse Evans does in the show. He’s a born outlaw. He doesn’t ever want to go straight. Billy desperately wants to go straight. Everyone who knew him absolutely loved him. So I’ve been reading a book by someone who rode with him and repeats some of the things that Billy said. When you hear the voice in your head, you could say, “I like that guy. That guy’s really interesting and nice.” I think there are lots of reasons. That there is something incredibly attractive about a very young guy who can do phenomenal things. Let’s just take it as a Western. He could ride unlike anyone else. He could shoot unlike anyone else. He was as brave as anything. I don’t think he knew fear. There was no jail that could hold him. All those things are true about him, and they make a good myth. But what’s also true about him is, I think, he was very human and a nice guy, and I would’ve liked to meet him.
Tom Blyth in ‘Billy the Kid’ season 2. Photo: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc.
Happy James Bond Day to all who celebrate. We hope Mr. San(ta)guinetti has brought you lots of lovely gifts, such as watches with magnetic functions or a rocket jet pack.
And if you’re wondering why October 5th is James Bond Day, that’s because it marks the date that first official Bond movie ‘Dr. No‘. was released in the U.K.
Prime Video is bringing a present of its own, dropping the first brief trailer for Bond-based reality competition ‘007: Road to a Million’.
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What is ‘007: Road to a Million’ all about?
Brian Cox in Prime Video’s ‘007: Road to a Million.’ Credit: Jemma Cox. Copyright: Prime Video.
Here’s the basic description for the show…
Nine pairs of everyday people are unleashed on an epic adventure through a series of James Bond-inspired challenges, to find questions hidden around the world, all for a shot at winning a life-changing £1 million prize (roughly $1,281 million).
The Controller (Brian Cox) is the on-screen mastermind behind the game, he dictates where the pairs go, and what they must do and sets their questions. He watches on from the shadows following the pair’s every move, reveling as his often merciless and punishing plans unfold in front of him.
In total, The Controller has hidden 10 questions around the world for each pair, who each have a chance of winning a £1 million.
Find them, answer them, win £1 million…But it won’t be that easy!
Brian Cox in Prime Video’s ‘007: Road to a Million.’ Credit: Jemma Cox. Copyright: Prime Video.
To reach these questions, the pairs face gut-wrenching Bond-inspired challenges which will push their physical strength and mental reserves to the limit. Each question is worth an increasing amount of money, if answered correctly, they bank the cash and continue to the next question, get it wrong their journey is over.
From the wilds of the Scottish Highlands and the remote Chilean desert to the bustling streets of Venice and the luxurious Caribbean coastline of Jamaica. Packed with drama, epic locations, nail-biting challenges, and emotions running high, ‘007: Road to a Million’ promises a series that will have you on the edge of your seat.
We have Amazon’s purchase of MGM to thank for all of this. With that deal including rights to most of the Bond back catalogue, the company has naturally been exploring ways to utilize it for its Prime Video service.
While that of course led to worries about low-rent spin-offs and endless prequel stories about a young Q at school, the famously protective Bond production team at EON (led by Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson) have worked to ensure that’s not the case. They have, however, consented to this Bond-adjacent reality series.
Here’s what 72 Film boss David Glover had to say about the show when it was originally announced:
“I first had this idea over three years ago. Dan Grabiner and the U.K. Originals team took it to a whole other level. To be working with Michael Wilson and Barbara Broccoli and the Bond franchise is a privilege and a dream come true.”
We hope it’s entertaining, or Bond will be rolling in his grave (er, spoilers for ‘No Time to Die’).
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When will ‘007: Road to a Million’ be on screens?
Brian Cox in Prime Video’s ‘007: Road to a Million.’ Credit: Jemma Cox. Copyright: Prime Video.
The show will launch globally on Prime video on November 10th
Brian Cox in Prime Video’s ‘007: Road to a Million.’ Credit: Jemma Cox. Copyright: Prime Video.
Director Ángel Manuel Soto at a ‘Blue Beetle’ Fan Screening in London.
Having seen his most recent movie –– DC superhero origin story ‘Blue Beetle’ –– open top of the box office this weekend (with the proviso that it was a relatively soft $25.4 million, less than Warner Bros. was hoping for), director Ángel Manuel Soto has another potential job on the horizon.
According to The Wrap, he’s adding to his To Do list: Soto is now attached to direct buddy action comedy ‘The Wrecking Crew’ for MGM.
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What is ‘The Wrecking Crew’?
Dave Bautista in ‘Knock at the Cabin,’ directed by M. Night Shyamalan.
While the title has been used before –– cinematically for a Dean Martin-starring Matt Helm movie and a documentary about the legendary group of 1960s session musicians, while there is a Marvel comic with the name –– this is, in fact, the movie that Dave Bautista and Jason Momoa set up back in 2021.
The two actors, who are friends in real life, decided to figure out a movie to work together on.
Bautista put the idea out into the world as a tweet in August of 2021.
The concept has snowballed since then; MGM snapped up the chance to make the movie after a bidding war and it has since been handed to ‘Warrior’ and ‘Banshee’ TV series creator Jonathan Tropper (who wrote ‘The Adam Project’ for Ryan Reynolds and director Shawn Levy) to turn into a script. Jeffrey Fierson, who worked with Momoa on the Netflix series ‘Frontier,’ will produce.
Jason Momoa as Dante in ‘Fast X’, directed by Louis Leterrier.
So far, neither MGM nor the potential stars have revealed anything about the plot for this one –– Momoa and Bautista had hoped for something along the lines of ‘Lethal Weapon’.
Perhaps (and this is only our speculation) it’ll focus on a pair of cops who are notoriously destructive in their missions, hence the name. That’s something we can see the pair doing well.
Soto, of course, isn’t David Leitch as the original tweet suggested, but he’s certainly proved he can bring fun and style to the movies he makes, including ‘Beetle’ and his previous effort, ‘Charm City Kings’.
And while no one can work on the movie just yet because of the writers and actors’ strike (Tropper’s script was completed before the Writers Guild of America started its industrial action back in May), Soto has proved to be a director in demand.
In addition to this new potential assignment, he is also attached to work on a new ‘Transformers’ spin-off for Paramount. Soto has been developing that alongside ‘Daredevil’ (Netflix era) writer Marco Ramirez.
Few details are available on that movie, aside from the fact that it won’t be a main franchise entry for ‘Transformers’ but will instead serve as a spin-off focusing on a different story and characters within the robots-in-disguise universe.
We’ll have to wait and see whether either of these movies actually ends up hitting screens, but ‘The Wrecking Crew’ (which had been previously untitled) certainly appears to have taken a positive step forward.
Director Ángel Manuel Soto at a ‘Blue Beetle’ Fan Screening in Mexico.
Premiering on MGM+ beginning April 23rd is the second season of the popular series ‘From,’ which was created by John Griffin and is executive produced by ‘Avengers: Endgame’ directors Anthony and Joe Russo, and ‘Lost’s Jack Bender and Scott Pinkner.
What is the plot of the show ‘From?’
‘From’ takes place in a nightmarish town in middle America that traps everyone who enters. Unwilling residents strive to stay alive and search for a way out, but they are plagued by the terrifying nocturnal creatures from the surrounding forest, and secrets hidden in the town itself.
The first season ended with Tabitha and Victor exploring caves underneath the town, Boyd trapped in a mysterious tree, and a new bus filled with passengers arriving unannounced at the local diner.
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Harold Perrineau about his work on season 2 of ‘From,’ why he doesn’t want to know about the overall direction of the series, the lessons he learned from ‘Lost,’ his character’s journey, and the show’s new mysteries.
Harold Perrineau stars in ‘From’ season 2 on MGM+.
You can read our full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Perrineau, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Eion Bailey, Elizabeth Saunders, and Scott McCord about ‘From’ Season 2.
Moviefone: To begin with, how much do you know about the overall arc of the series and are you surprised by the direction the season two scripts are taking the series?
Harold Perrineau: Well, I’ll start up by telling you that I, on purpose, don’t know anything about the direction or where it’s going. For me, it makes it safer so that I’m not playing something that might happen later. I purposefully, don’t ask questions or take offered information because it makes my job easier if I just have to deal with what’s happening in front of me. I don’t know what’s happening. That being said, I’m super surprised by what’s happening in season two. I had no idea this is the way we were going to go, and that’s why I just leave the writing to the professionals. I let them tell the story that they’re telling because they are really skilled and it has me on the edge. I imagine all the rest of our audience members are going to be exactly the same way.
Harold Perrineau stars as Boyd Stevens in ‘From’ season 2 on MGM+.
MF: Is that a lesson you learned from your time on ‘Lost?
HP: Well, kind of yes, and kind of no. In ‘Lost’, we really had no idea and that was really difficult. I think what I did learn is, how to ask the right amount of questions. I needed to know that in the first season, the reason Boyd was so sad and estranged from his son is because something terrible happened with his wife, and that’s what ended his relationship with his son. I needed to know that. I didn’t even need to know what happened, but I needed to know at least that it did. Where in ‘Lost,’ you wouldn’t have known that and one day you would’ve been like, “Oh, that’s right. He shot his wife. What?” I get what I need to know in order to layer it for where I am, as opposed to where I’m going.
Harold Perrineau stars as Boyd Stevens in ‘From’ season 2 on MGM+.
MF: Finally, Boyd is on a journey at the beginning of season 2 and makes some big discoveries, how does that affect him moving forward the rest of this season?
HP: I think Boyd is on a journey and it’s a really different journey than the one he was on in the first season. In the first season he was on the journey that he thinks he understood. He understood at least that they were in trouble and that he had skills that may be able to get him out of that trouble. What he finds out in the second season is, he has no idea where he is. So once he realizes that, then he starts to ask the question, is he where he thinks he is? That question starts to snap his brain just a little. That journey is a really tricky one to take. That’s the journey Boyd is on right now.
Having pummeled the competition at the box office this past weekend, with a $58 million opening weekend and $110 million globally after less than a week on release, ‘Creed III’ has certainly confirmed that the sports franchise that grew from the ‘Rocky’ movies is alive, well and punching above its weight (the third movie, in fact, earned more in three days than its two predecessors did across five-day holiday launches).
So when Michael B. Jordan told Deadline last week that he’s “excited” about building a universe around boxer Adonis Creed, his family, friends and colleagues, it certainly sounds like we’re getting closer to that becoming a reality.
It’s still early days on all of this, and neither Jordan, MGM nor Amazon (which owns MGM) are officially commenting, but word is that we could see an anime series based on the ‘Creed’ movies that would allow the team to tell more stories set in his world.
And, following on from ‘Creed III’, there is also talk of a show based around Adonis and Bianca (Tessa Thompson)’s daughter Amara, as played by deaf actress Mila Davis-Kent in the movie. What exactly that might be remains to be seen –– whether it follows her now or perhaps even in her adult life.
There’s also mention of a live-action series, but again, that’s still nebulous at this point.
There hasn’t been much word of it for now, though we’re sure Amazon would want Lundgren back on screens.
(L to R) Sylvester Stallone and Michael B. Jordan in ‘Creed II.’
Will Sylvester Stallone be involved in the spin-offs?
Any new ‘Creed’ Development appears unlikely to feature involvement from Sylvester Stallone, who let’s not forget, is the progenitor and star of the entire ‘Rocky’ film franchise, without which there would be no ‘Creed’ in the first place.
Sly has been outspoken in his dissatisfaction with the lack of reciprocity when it comes to rights between himself and producer Irwin Winkler. The producer refused to hand the rights back to Stallone and the actor/writer has cut ties with the franchise.
And Sly’s issues extend to not even watching ‘Creed III’, in which he does not appear as Rocky. “You can’t make peace with someone who’s been so, so nefarious, in my opinion,” he told Jessica Shaw on Sirius XM.
Which means we’re unlikely to see ‘Rocky & Friends’ as one of the big new offerings from the Creed-verse. Though if the success of the latest movie has proved, Adonis Creed’s world has moved on from Rocky.
‘Creed III’ is produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Chartoff-Winkler Productions, Outlier Society Productions, Proximity Media, and Balboa Productions, and is scheduled for release on March 3rd.
