Moviefone Editorial

Tag: streaming

  • Amazon’s ‘Lord of the Rings’ Series Drafts ‘Star Trek 4’ Writers

    Amazon’s ‘Lord of the Rings’ Series Drafts ‘Star Trek 4’ Writers

    Gandalf, The Hobbit, Lord of the Rings
    Warner Bros.

    Forth Eorlingas! Official progress is finally being made on Amazon’s “Lord of the Rings” series.

    Amazon announced the two writers who will be penning the multi-season series: JD Payne and Patrick McKay.

    Never heard of them? They are credited with the upcoming “Star Trek 4” movie and Disney’s “Jungle Cruise.” They apparently have no TV credits. But neither did the “Game of Thrones” showrunners — David Benioff and D.B. Weiss — before they were tapped by HBO. So this may be another hint that Amazon is really trying to copy-and-paste their own version of “Game of Thrones.”

    Payne and McKay shared a statement on the news:

    “The rich world that J.R.R. Tolkien created is filled with majesty and heart, wisdom and complexity. We are absolutely thrilled to be partnering with Amazon to bring it to life anew. We feel like Frodo, setting out from the Shire, with a great responsibility in our care — it is the beginning of the adventure of a lifetime.”

    Don’t forget to bring enough for second breakfast!

    The behemoth production, estimated to cost around $1 billion, is said to include a five-season commitment with a provision for a possible spinoff. The project is meant to cover J.R.R. Tolkien’s material before “The Lord of the Rings.” Apparently Amazon can use material from Peter Jackson’s LOTR and “Hobbit” films, or at least that was part of The Hollywood Reporter’s piece on the project from April.

    According to TheOneRing.net, the first season is meant to follow young Aragorn. That has yet to be confirmed.

    So far, all we have are two writers to rule them all. It’s a good start. Now we wait on scripts, casting, production, and an eventual premiere date — but a streaming date feels far, far down the road.

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  • James Gunn’s ‘Starsky and Hutch’ Reboot Dead at Amazon, But Not Because of Tweets

    James Gunn’s ‘Starsky and Hutch’ Reboot Dead at Amazon, But Not Because of Tweets

    Guardians of the Galaxy set, James Gunn, Chris Pratt
    Marvel Studios

    This may just be a matter of bad timing.

    “Guardians of the Galaxy” series director James Gunn was recently fired by Disney after some old tweets resurfaced. There’s a big controversy over whether Disney/Marvel should’ve made that call or not, but it also got people wondering about James Gunn’s new “Starsky & Hutch” series. That revival was first pitched last summer, and landed at Amazon for development with a script-to-series commitment.

    But now Amazon is out.

    According to Yahoo Finance, Amazon cut ties with the reboot long before this current scandal.

    “We passed on the project completely months ago,” an Amazon spokesperson told Yahoo Finance. “There was no statement. This is the same for any other project we do not move forward with.”

    Yahoo reached out to Sony TV to see if the series could still get made by another outlet.

    Back in August, when the Amazon deal was announced, it was reported that Gunn’s brother Brian and cousin Mark were writing the series based on an idea that James Gunn developed in between writing “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3” and starting pre-production on the film.

    “When I was a kid, Starsky & Hutch was the first ‘adult’ show I ever saw, and I fell in love,” James Gunn said, at the time (via Deadline).

    “It instilled in me a lifelong love of gritty street shows, of killer 70’s threads, and muscle cars. So when Neal Mortiz asked me if I wanted to be a part of an all new Starsky & Hutch on TV, I was instantly intrigued. I teamed up with the two writers I trusted most in the world to work with us, my brother Brian Gunn and my cousin Mark Gunn and together we came up with a show that I’m really proud of. At Amazon I believed we would have the most freedom to create something that is different, challenges the audience, and that strays outside the parameters of genre from time to time.”

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  • Amazon Orders New Sci-Fi Series ‘Tales From the Loop’ From ‘Legion’ Writer

    Amazon Orders New Sci-Fi Series ‘Tales From the Loop’ From ‘Legion’ Writer

    Tales From the Loop
    Amazon Studios

    Just look at that photo. Aren’t you intrigued? That’s the first image from “Tales From the Loop,” which Amazon Studios just gave an eight-episode straight-to-series order.

    The hour-long series comes from “Legion” writer Nathaniel Halpern, who will serve as showrunner and one of the executive producers. But — and this is really cool — the series is based on the sci-fi art of Swedish artist Simon Stålenhag.

    Here’s how Deadline explained it:

    “‘Tales from the Loop’ explores the town and people who live above ‘The Loop,’ a machine built to unlock and explore the mysteries of the universe – making things possible that were previously relegated only to science fiction. In this fantastical, mysterious town, poignant human tales are told that bare universal emotional experiences while drawing on the intrigue of genre storytelling.”

    Matt Reeves (“The Batman”), Adam Kassan and Rafi Crohn (“The Passage”) will also executive produce, with Mark Romanek (“Never Let Me Go”) directing the pilot, and also executive producing.

    And now, some statements:

    Albert Cheng, Co-Head of Television, Amazon Studios:

    “Simon Stålenhag’s paintings are renowned for their vision of a not-too-distant, futuristic landscape. We are looking forward to bringing that to life and sharing it with our Prime Video audience.”

    Sharon Tal Yguado, Head of Scripted Genre Programming, Amazon Studios:

    “Nathaniel is a gifted storyteller who shares our passion for creating soulful, human stories that push the boundaries of genre programming and we’re thrilled to be working with him on this series.”

    The series is a co-production with Fox 21 Television Studios, and it will premiere globally on Amazon Prime Video. No premiere date has been announced at this point.

    [Via: Variety, Deadline]

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  • MTV Is Making ‘Daria & Jodie,’ Live-Action ‘Aeon Flux,’ and More Reboots for Streamers

    MTV is launching MTV Studios to create new(ish) shows to pitch to streaming platforms. Why not air them on MTV itself? Because they are aiming younger, and they’ve seen that the young’uns tend to watch stuff online.

    They’re starting with reboots and revivals of classics:

    • “Daria & Jodie” is a reimiagining of the series “Daria.”
    • An update of the unscripted series “Made”;
    • A return for “The Real World”
    • A live-action remake of the animated series “Aeon Flux”

    According to Deadline, “Daria & Jodie,” “The Real World,” and “Aeon Flux” are “all being pitched to streaming platforms like Hulu, Netflix and Apple.”

    MTV president Chris McCarthy told Deadline that cable “is a little bit more limiting than it used to be, so the story that we tell on traditional cable are gonna be very different than the stories that we would tell in SVOD.”

    “(Anything for) the younger set of the demo is going to be be more on the SVOD partners,” he continued. “Anything in the 20 plus is going to be more for our traditional cable platform,. Things that are in the animation space, things that are in pure music longform, things that are in the teen and high school space — those are the things that we’re going to be looking more in the SVOD space. The traditional amplified and louder versions of unscripted reality, we’re going to continue to focus on that in cable.”

    Here are breakdowns on the first shows being produced by MTV Studios for SVOD platforms:

    “DARIA & JODIE”
    The iconic animated franchise is reinvented through the eyes of heroine Daria Morgendorffer and one of her closest friends Jodie Landon. These two smart young women take on the world, with their signature satirical voice while deconstructing popular culture, social classes, gender and race.
    Writer: Grace Edwards (Unbreakable Kimmie Schmidt, Loosely Exactly Nicole, Inside Amy Schumer)

    “AEON FLUX”
    This cult anime classic is back for a live-action remake, as the badass heroine assassin Aeon Flux teams up with a group of biohacking rebels in the not too distant dystopian future to battle a brutally repressive regime and save humanity.
    Executive Producers: Jeff Davis (“Teen Wolf,” “Criminal Minds”) and Gale Ann Hurd (“The Walking Dead,” “Fear of the Walking Dead”)

    “THE REAL WORLD”
    The show that invented modern reality television returns to its roots. This reconnection to innocence for the trailblazing series strips away the polarization and cold anonymity of social media, the din of the 24-hour news cycle, and the facades of the instafamous culture to find out what happens “when seven strangers are picked to live in a house…stop being polite and start getting real.”

    “MADE”
    The groundbreaking, Emmy-winning life makeover series returns. In a world of 2D Instagram transformations, MADE pairs talented young underdogs with experts for face to face coaching for total life, real life reinventions.

    “THE VALLEY”
    In the spirit of “The Hills” and “The City,” this new show follows a group of attractive 20 somethings in a classic coming of age docu-series featuring first loves, relationships and life decisions – with a twist. This group of young people is living in “The Valley” of Nogales, Arizona, a town along the border of the United States and Mexico. This is the real life story of friends who are growing up on the edge of two countries, two cities as they share one Valley, their youth and common bond.

    “MTV’S STRAIGHT UP GHOSTED”
    While social media has connected the world more than ever, it has also undercut our ability to deeply connect and communicate. Today, critical relationship-ending conversations and confrontations have faded into digital dialogue or worse “ghosting.” This series explores real stories of real people who vanished by blocking them, and unlocks the reality and uncomfortable truth to satisfy the ultimate question–why did you leave me?

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  • ‘Roseanne’ Reruns Pulled From Hulu, Multiple Networks Amid Controversy

    ABC isn’t the only network that doesn’t want to be associated with “Roseanne” after its titular star’s recent Twitter controversy.

    Roseanne Barr sparked outrage on Tuesday morning with her racist remarks about former Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett, among other offensive comments. Shortly thereafter, ABC canceled the revived sitcom, making it clear that the network considers Barr’s comments “abhorrent, repugnant, and inconsistent with [its] values.” Now, in the wake of ABC’s announcement, “Roseanne” reruns are also being pulled from Viacom cable networks, Laff, and Hulu, as Deadline reports.

    The sitcom had been garnering big ratings on ABC, and it was expected to be renewed for its 11th season prior to the cancellation. Outlets took it a step further by opting not to air reruns. They, like ABC, have shown that they don’t want such views as Barr’s to represent their values.

    The situation and the backlash has, however, had some unfortunate collateral damage. The cancellation has put the rest of the “Roseanne” cast — not to mention the crew — out of work. Presumably, the actors will also miss out on residuals now that reruns have been yanked. It’s a situation that hardly seems fair to those not involved in the controversy. As such, fans have been floating solutions, like a spinoff called “Dan,” but so far, the problem remains unsolved.

    [via: Deadline]

  • ‘Lord of the Rings’ Series Details: 5 Seasons & Possible Spinoff to Cost $1 Billion 

    You have to give Amazon credit for ambition. This “Lord of the Rings” series could truly be The One Thing to Rule Them All — Especially Netflix.

    The Hollywood Reporter just dished more on the incredible plans for what will surely be the most expensive TV show ever.

    Amazon Studios beat Netflix for the $250 million rights deal from the Tolkien estate. According to terms of the agreement, Amazon must be in production within two years.

    That may sound like a long time, but the deal includes a five-season commitment and includes a provision for a possible spinoff. Think of how much planning has to be done before they get started, knowing they are setting the foundation for a potential five-plus-year project. You don’t want to wing that kind of thing.

    As THR added:

    “When production expenses like casting, producers and visual effects are factored in, the series is expected to cost north of $1 billion.”

    Read THR’s report for more details. It’ll be interesting to see the cast for this prequel project, whatever story angle they choose to take.

    One interesting note says “Amazon may use material from the films” in the series. Since this is meant to be set before “Fellowship of the Ring,” they must mean the “Hobbit” movies. Or maybe footage leading up to “Fellowship.”

    76th Annual Academy Awards - PressroomFilm director Peter Jackson may or may not get involved as an executive producer; they said it’s up to him. He can’t be happy about the series using his material, though, right?

    Last we heard, from a Reuters report of Amazon’s internal numbers, they were saying it would cost about $500 million or more for two seasons. That would suggest $1 billion for four, and even more for five — not to mention a possible spinoff.

    If this fails, you still have to give them props for going all-in. If it succeeds, this could be what separates Amazon from the streaming pack and keeps it ahead.

    Add to all of this Disney’s new streaming service, expected to arrive in 2019 and be cheaper than Netflix. (Everyone is still looking to Netflix as the one to beat, for now.) So we have Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, Disney, plus myriad other SVOD options. Which ones are viewers going to be willing to pay for each month, or on an individual basis? What will keep their loyalty?

    So far, this LOTR project has not announced any casting or production dates. But since they are on a two-year deadline to start what might be a five-plus-year project, you can be sure they are hard at work figuring it out.

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  • ‘Will & Grace’ to Start Streaming on Hulu Ahead of New Season

    NBCUniversal Events - Season 2017Our days of not being able to binge-watch “Will & Grace” are at last coming to an end.

    With the NBC sitcom returning for its ninth season after a decade-plus-long break, Hulu is giving fans a chance to catch up on previous seasons. The streamer announced a deal Wednesday that is bringing the original 194 episodes to its platform starting Thursday, Sept. 21. While new episodes won’t be available right away, they will hit the site eventually; there will be a day delay after they air on NBC.

    NBC touted both the deal and the show’s return, highlighting what a “binge-able” and note-worthy series the multi-Emmy-winning comedy is.

    “As we gear up for the launch of the upcoming season premiere, I can’t think of a better way to reintroduce ‘Will & Grace’ to the cultural zeitgeist than by giving audiences the opportunity to watch this historic and hilarious series wherever and whenever they want,” NBC Entertainment Chairman Robert Greenblatt said in a statement.

    The show’s arrival on Hulu will make the wait for Season 9 a little easier. “Will & Grace” returns Thursday, Sept. 28 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on NBC.

  • What’s New on TV, Netflix, Digital, and DVD/Blu-ray This Week: September 18-24

    At a loss for what to watch this week? From new TV, we’ve got you covered.

    New Video on Demand, Rental Streaming, and Digital

    “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales”
    Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate’s life can be for you starting this Tuesday, Sept. 19 on Disney Movies Anywhere and Digital HD. Johnny Depp’s fifth movie in the “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise will later arrive on 4K, Blu-ray, and DVD on October 3. Bonus features include a treasure trove of behind-the-scenes featurettes, plus bloopers and deleted scenes.

    Check out this deleted scene with Henry Turner learning a lesson from Captain Jack Sparrow:“Star Trek: Discovery” (CBS All Access)
    Streaming, the final frontier! The “Star Trek” franchise is still going strong after 50 years, embarking on a new adventure with a new ship and a new crew following new missions. Sonequa Martin-Green (“The Walking Dead”) leads the new series, which premieres Sunday, Sept. 24 on the CBS streaming service CBS All Access. Watch the trailer.

    “Transparent” Season 4 (Amazon)
    In Season 4, the Pfeffermans embark on a spiritual and political journey as they dig deep into their family’s history. Check out the trailer, and watch what happens when the series returns to Amazon Prime on Friday, September 22.

    New on DVD and Blu-ray

    “Wonder Woman”
    Meet Diana, princess of the Amazons, long before she showed Batman and Superman what’s up in “BvS.” Her origin story is out on Blu-ray and DVD this Tuesday, Sept. 19. Director Patty Jenkins and star Gal Gadot will be back for a sequel (and Gadot will return for “Justice League” in November) but first you should check out all of the many bonus features that come with this blockbuster’s home release. In addition to multiple behind-the-scenes featurettes on the making of the film, there are bloopers, extended scenes, and the revealing “Epilogue: Etta’s Mission,” as “Etta Candy gets the boys back together for a secret mission that could impact humanity’s future.”

    “The Little Hours”
    This off-beat R-rated nun comedy (!) starring Alison Brie, Dave Franco, Aubrey Plaza, and John C. Reilly is available for home viewing this Friday, Sept. 22. Medieval nuns lead a simple life in their convent, but after Father Tommasso brings on a virile young new hired hand (Dave Franco), “the repressed nunnery erupts in a whirlwind of pansexual horniness, substance abuse, and wicked revelry.”

    “The Big Sick”
    Kumail Nanjiani (“Silicon Valley”) and Emily V. Gordon co-wrote this crowd-and-critic pleasing romantic comedy based on their real-life love story. Check it out on DVD, Blu-ray, and On Demand September 19. Bonus content includes a making-of featurette, and a look at “The Real Story” behind the film, plus deleted scenes, cast/filmmaker commentary, and more.

    TV Worth Watching

    “Dancing With the Stars” Season 25 (Monday on ABC at 8 p.m.)
    And so it begins! Watch the 13 celebs who enlisted for live dancing duty take their first baby giraffe steps on the dance floor as the fall season begins. ABC launched a fantasy league with the Season 25 cast, so place your bets now. (From here, the Manic Pixie Dream Team of Lindsey & Mark looks ready to slay.)

    “America’s Got Talent” Season 12 (Tuesday & Wednesday on NBC at 8 p.m.)
    AGT Season 12 looks like a battle of the cute kids, with Darci Lynne and Angelica Hale leading the pack in terms of predicted winners. The top 10 acts will compete one final time on Tuesday, with the Live Results Finale airing Wednesday. At the end of that night, Tyra Banks will reveal the $1 million winner.

    “The Good Place” Season 2 (Wednesday on NBC at 10 p.m.)
    Fork yeah! Kristen Bell’s warm, funny, and surprisingly mind-twisting comedy returns for Season 2 on September 20, airing right after the AGT finale. The premiere title is “Everything Is Great!” and here’s the synopsis from NBC: “Their memories erased, Eleanor, Chidi, Tahani, and Jason once again settle into the Good Place, unaware of what has previously transpired; Eleanor attempts to piece things together using a clue she left for herself.”

    New on Netflix

    “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast”
    Emma Watson’s tale as old as time is coming to Netflix this week! Be their streaming guest starting Tuesday, Sept. 19.

    “Fuller House” Season 3 (Netflix Original)
    Season 3 of this “Full House” spinoff is being split into two parts, with the first batch of nine episodes premiering on a very special date: September 22, which was also the date “Full House” debuted 30 years ago. “It’s our 30th Anniversary, proving that the family who hugs together stays together. Enjoy new episodes of Fuller House and 30 years of hilarity.”“Jerry Before Seinfeld” (Netflix Original)
    Seinfeld now has a deal with Netflix, so he’s opening up on all kinds of tops. In this special, available September 19, “Jerry Seinfeld takes you back to before you called him a king, or a legend, or the-guy-from-that-thing.”

    “Gotham” Season 3
    Make this Thursday your official “Gotham” day. Season 3’s 22 episodes will arrive on Netflix on September 21, and Season 4 will premiere on Fox that night. The Season 4 premiere, “Pax Penguina,” has this synopsis: “Detective Gordon suspects that Jonathan Crane has resurfaced; Penguin hosts the grand opening of his new Iceberg Lounge; Bruce begins his vigilante watch.”

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  • It’s Official: ‘Star Wars,’ Marvel Movies Leaving Netflix for Disney Streaming Service

    Say goodbye to “Star Wars” flicks and Marvel Cinematic Universe movies, Netflix subscribers: Disney is officially moving those films to its new streaming service.

    Disney CEO Bob Iger confirmed the news during an appearance at the Bank of America Merrill Lynch Media’s communications and entertainment conference in Beverly Hills on Thursday, where he also revealed a few more small details about the company’s new venture.

    “We’ve now decided we will put the Marvel and ‘Star Wars’ movies on this app as well,” Iger told attendees.

    When Disney announced back in August that it was creating its own streaming service, it was apparent that more traditional Disney flicks (like its animated features and Pixar pictures) would eventually be leaving Netflix. What remained unclear at the time, however, was whether or not the “Star Wars” and Marvel films (more recent Disney acquisitions) would be included in that exodus. Netflix reportedly tried to make a deal to keep those movies, but was ultimately unsuccessful in swaying the Mouse House. Now all that remains to be seen is when all the Disney-adjacent titles currently on Netflix will expire.

    Iger also revealed on Thursday that the Disney streaming service will debut sometime in late 2019, though no official launch date has been determined). The service will likely produce four or five original feature films, in addition to several original TV series and TV movies, the CEO said.

    [via: Variety]

  • Hulu Is Bringing Back TGIF by Streaming ‘Full House,’ ‘Family Matters,’ and More

    Every generation should get to experience the joy of TGIF, and soon they can.

    Hulu announced Thursday that it is has locked down streaming rights to the late ’90s family favorites that made up the iconic TGIF lineup. That means that starting Sept. 29, subscribers will be able to stream “Full House,” “Perfect Strangers,” and “Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper” on the service. They won’t even have to wait until Fridays.

    The lineup was a staple for ’90s kids, and with all of the nostalgia going around, it’s no wonder the streamer wants to offer series that were a part of TGIF. The move should make for some very happy millennials.

    “These shows are more than just beloved hits, they were part of a cultural tradition to tune in every Friday night,” Craig Erwich, Hulu’s senior vice president of content, said in a statement. “Now, it can be Friday any day of the week on Hulu.”

    With the deal ironed out, the streaming service is currently trying to make the phrase “TGI-Hulu” happen, which may be an even bigger challenge; we don’t see TGIF going anywhere.