Heeeey, counselor!
Javier Bardem, who won an Oscar for his immensely chilling performance as hired killer Anton Chigurh in No Country for Old Men, is back to tapping into those dark, sinister instincts for his latest role. And this time, he’s stepping into some very dangerous shoes.
We’re talking about Max Cady, one of the great screen villains: a sociopathic ex-convict who may have been unjustly imprisoned and screwed over by his own lawyer, but is now free and looking for payback.
It’s a character we’ve seen before in two unforgettable incarnations. Robert Mitchum brought a quiet, predatory menace to the role in the 1962 original. Robert De Niro turned Cady into a tattooed, Bible-quoting nightmare in Martin Scorsese’s classic 1991 remake.
Now it’s Bardem’s turn to deliver his own unnerving spin on a character who is undeniably evil yet was also a victim of a corrupted legal system that failed to throw him into prison the right way, giving him just enough moral ammunition to justify his own twisted revenge.
Bardem is joined by Amy Adams and Patrick Wilson as the married couple, Anna and Tom Bowden, at the center of this new ten-episode thriller for Apple TV. And in a gender flip, Adams is the one playing the defense attorney who chose to deliberately bury evidence that could have altered Cady’s fate, leading to him spending years behind bars before he was able to reverse his conviction and walk free.
Set against a blistering summer in the South, this modern take follows Bardem’s convicted killer Max Cady after he finds a way to overturn his life sentence, serving as his own lawyer. Once out, Cady sets his sights on defense attorney Anna Bowden (Adams), the woman who betrayed him with the assistance of her lawyer husband, Tom (Wilson). But Cady doesn’t just attack. He stalks, studies, manipulates, and torments Anna, Tom, and their teenage children (played by Lily Collias and Joe Anders) while operating just close enough to the boundaries of the law. Cady is a true monster, that’s for sure, but he’s also a clever tactician who knows exactly how to weaponize the system in his favor this time.
The upcoming series comes from creator Nick Antosca, whose past work includes critically acclaimed miniseries, A Friend of the Family and The Act, with filmmaker Morten Tyldum (The Imitation Game) directing the pilot. The project also has some serious heavyweight backing, with Oscar-winning filmmakers Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg both serving as executive producers while veteran character actors CCH Pounder, Ron Perlman, Ted Levine, Anna Baryshnikov, and Jamie Hector round out the cast.
Drawing from John D. MacDonald’s original 1957 novel The Executioners as well as the previous film adaptations, this new version looks to bring Cape Fear into the modern TV-thriller era, where the line between justice and revenge gets dangerously thin… and the cost of crossing it could be brutal.
Cape Fear is scheduled to premiere Friday, June 5th on Apple TV.
Reese Witherspoon’s classic 2001 underdog legal comedy Legally Blonde has become one of those beloved comfort movies that, over the last few decades, has only grown more quotable, rewatchable, and charming. And despite a 2003 sequel and a 2009 straight-to-video spin-off, fans have been clamoring for a proper return to Elle Woods’ pink-powered world.
Well, those prayers have been answered, so to speak. Amazon is set to deliver a prequel series this summer that rewinds the clock back to Elle’s high school days, a time when she’s forced to leave behind her plush Beverly Hills life for the grimy, rain-soaked streets of Seattle. And despite the gloom and grunge of the Emerald City, Elle still has her signature sparkle and sunny optimism to make everything around her a little brighter.
Set in 1995, Elle features newcomer Lexi Minetree as the young Elle Woods, who finds herself relocating to Seattle due to her father’s job switch. So now, this eternally sunny heroine must deal with the grunge-infused culture shock of the Pacific Northwest. But even surrounded by flannel, drizzle, and teenage drama, Elle still has plenty of pink-powered confidence to go around, whether the world is ready for it or not.
As Elle navigates those formative years, she grows closer to the version of the character we all know and love. At the center of the story is her bond with her family, especially her mother Eva, played by June Diane Raphael, and her father Wyatt, played by Tom Everett Scott.
The ensemble also includes Jacob Moskovitz, Gabrielle Policano, Chandler Kinney, Zac Looker, and Amy Pietz, with the late James Van Der Beek appearing in a recurring role, marking one of his final screen performances.
Created by Laura Kittrell (High School, Insecure), who also serves as co-showrunner and executive producer alongside Caroline Dries, the series has Reese Witherspoon onboard as an executive producer. Jason Moore (Pitch Perfect) directs the first two episodes and also serves as an executive producer.
Produced by Amazon MGM Studios in association with Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine, Elle is already getting a vote of confidence, with Prime Video ordering a second season before the first one even premieres. So yes, Elle Woods is back… she’s just younger, pre-law, and stuck in the mid-’90s.
Elle premieres Wednesday, July 1st on Prime Video.
For those who loved Beth and Rip from Taylor Sheridan’s hit series Yellowstone, there’s something to celebrate. The fan-favorite power couple is not only coming back this month, but this time they’re leading their own spin-off series. And if you think a change of setting might have mellowed these two, think again.
Apparently, moving to one of the most unforgiving states in the country has only made them tougher… and maybe even a little more dangerous, if that’s even possible.
Taylor Sheridan’s ever-expanding Yellowstone universe continues with Dutton Ranch, a new spin-off following Beth Dutton and Rip Wheeler (once again played by Kelly Reilly and Cole Hauser) as they leave Montana behind for a fresh start in one of the most unforgiving corners of the country. Of course, fresh starts rarely come easy for a Dutton. Especially when the locals don’t take kindly to outsiders with a reputation for trouble.
This time, Beth and Rip find themselves on the other side of the fence. They’re the gatecrashers now, stepping into territory controlled by ruthless Texas ranchers determined to protect their land and power at any cost. But telling a Dutton to leave has never worked out well for anyone. While facing a new frontier battle where the terrain is different but the danger feels awfully familiar, the stakes feel just as bloody as ever before. The Texas setting brings a harsher edge, filled with uneasy alliances, long-held grudges, and enemies who don’t scare easily.
Oscar nominees Ed Harris and Annette Bening join the cast, adding even more weight to the brewing ranch war as powerful figures taking Beth and Rip head-on.
Finn Little, Jai Courtney, Natalie Alyn Lind, and Marc Menchaca also star, while Chad Feehan (Lawmen: Bass Reeves) serves as creator and showrunner, with Sheridan and John Linson executive producing.
Like the rest of the franchise, Dutton Ranch digs into land, legacy, family, and the cost of holding onto all three. It’s set to premiere Friday, May 15th on Paramount+, with two episodes at launch and weekly installments to follow. So dust off those boots and don’t forget those spurs, because this new dusty showdown looks ready to kick up plenty of trouble.
Despite what some might say, once you hit a certain age, life becomes a little different. The children are all grown up. The family home has been packed up and sold off. Retirement is finally coming into view. But the golden years aren’t exactly turning out the way you had in mind.
It’s a little lonely. A little strange. And the people you thought would be at your side for this next chapter aren’t always there the way you expected.
That’s the emotional doorway into The Boroughs, the new twisty Netflix sci-fi mystery series executive produced by the Duffer Brothers, the minds behind Stranger Things. Only instead of kids on bikes discovering monsters in the shadows, this one shifts the supernatural dread to a quiet retirement community, where the residents may be older, slower, and more overlooked… but they’re not imagining things.
At least, we don’t think they are.
Alfred Molina stars as Sam Cooper, a grieving, grumpy newcomer who is having a very difficult time adjusting to life in a sun-soaked New Mexico senior community. After the death of his beloved wife, Sam finds himself forced into a new home, surrounded by friendly neighbors, quiet streets, and the kind of forced cheerfulness that can sometimes feel more unsettling than comforting.
Part of Sam’s struggle comes from grief. Part of it comes from feeling neglected by his family. But the biggest problem is much harder to explain: he thinks there’s something lurking in the neighborhood at night.
And because this is a Duffer Brothers production, he just might be onto something.
The Boroughs takes a familiar late-in-life setup and twists it into something far less comforting and far more life-threatening. The place may look like an average retirement community, but beneath the sunshine and small talk, something otherworldly appears to be preying on the residents. What others dismiss as elderly confusion slowly reveals a darker truth: something is out there, something is watching, and leaving may not be as easy as simply packing a bag.
Molina leads an impressive ensemble that includes Geena Davis, Alfre Woodard, Clarke Peters, Denis O’Hare, and Bill Pullman. Jena Malone, Carlos Miranda, and Seth Numrich round out the cast, with Dee Wallace and Ed Begley Jr. appearing in guest roles.
Created by Jeffrey Addiss and Will Matthews (The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance), with Ben Taylor (Sex Education, Catastrophe) directing the first two episodes, the series also has the Duffer Brothers involved behind the scenes. So expect that familiar mix of eerie mystery, character-driven tension, and ordinary people stumbling into something much stranger than they ever expected. Retirement was supposed to be peaceful. No one said anything about fighting off monsters after bingo night.
The Boroughs premieres Thursday, May 21st on Netflix.
Best friends tell each other everything. Unless, of course, one of them starts dating the other one’s daughter. Created and written by Sophie Goodhart (My Blind Brother) and directed by Tom Kingsley (BBC’s Ghosts), this British comedy series stars Nicola Walker (Last Tango in Halifax) and Jemaine Clement (What We Do in the Shadows) as Alice and Steve, whose 25-year friendship hits a spectacularly uncomfortable snag when Steve begins dating Alice’s daughter (Yali Topol Margalith). With Joel Fry co-starring, this sounds like a painfully funny friendship crisis where honesty may be the one thing that makes everything worse.
Vacationing with old friends sounds relaxing until everyone brings grief, regrets, personal blind spots, and a baby along for the ride. Following the sudden death of their close friend, Nick (Steve Carell), Season 2 picks back up with Kate (Tina Fey), Jack (Will Forte), Anne (Kerri Kenney-Silver), Danny (Colman Domingo), Claude (Marco Calvani), and Ginny (Erika Henningsen) as they carry on their tradition of seasonal getaways, moving from the Jersey Shore and upstate New York to the sun-kissed beauty of Italy. Co-created by Fey, Lang Fisher, and Tracey Wigfield, this heartfelt Netflix comedy continues to find the humor and heart in long-term friendships, midlife reinvention, and the emotional baggage no one remembers packing.
Nothing cracks open a murder conviction quite like the possibility that the victim may still be alive. Based on Harlan Coben’s bestselling novel, this Netflix mystery series stars Sam Worthington as David Burroughs, a man wrongly imprisoned for killing his own son, Matthew, only to receive shocking information that the missing boy may be alive. With Britt Lower, Milo Ventimiglia, Erin Richards, Jonathan Tucker, Logan Browning, Vas Saranga, and Chi McBride joining the twisty search for answers, this thriller turns one father’s nightmare into a race to uncover what really happened to Matthew.
Pip thought cracking a cold case would bring answers, but apparently detective work has a nasty habit of following her home. Wednesday breakout Emma Myers returns as everyone’s favorite teen sleuth in this British mystery thriller series based on Holly Jackson’s bestselling novels and developed by Poppy Cogan. Season 2 finds Pip waiting for a major trial when a friend suddenly goes missing, pulling the good-girl-turned-detective into another mystery with even higher personal stakes.
Running a family business is hard enough before the family business turns out to be a criminal empire. Season 2 of this Onyx Collective crime comedy finds the Dar brothers buried under dirty cash, dodging Philly’s sketchiest crooks, and trying to keep DarCo from blowing up in their faces. Asif Ali, Saagar Shaikh, and Poorna Jagannathan return, with Fred Armisen joining as casino king and money launderer Max Sugar, Andrew Rannells as an ambitious district attorney, and Kumail Nanjiani as a defense attorney pulled into the brothers’ latest mess. More money, more problems… and apparently, more deli-counter dysfunction!
Work-life balance sounds nice, but these Manhattan strivers seem a lot more interested in work-life imbalance. From executive producer Mindy Kaling and showrunner Charlie Grandy, this new Hulu comedy follows five work-obsessed twentysomethings chasing professional success in Murray Hill while trying to squeeze in personal happiness somewhere between meetings, meltdowns, and poor judgments. Ella Hunt, Avantika, Will Angus, Jack Martin, Nicholas Duvernay, and Jay Ellis lead the cast, with Constance Wu, Ego Nwodim, Victor Garber, Judy Gold, Greg Germann, and more dropping into the workplace mayhem.
America’s 250th anniversary is getting a history lesson, which naturally means Larry David has arrived to complain about it. Executive produced by David, Jeff Schaffer, and Barack and Michelle Obama’s Higher Ground Productions, this seven-episode HBO limited sketch series finds the Curb Your Enthusiasm mastermind revisiting the country’s past with all the awkward misunderstandings, petty grievances, and social discomfort we’d expect.
The BAU is back on the hunt, and this time evil appears to be spreading. The new season of this long-running crime drama finds the FBI’s elite team of profilers tackling a string of disturbing new cases while serial killer Elias Voit (Zach Gilford) sits down for revealing interviews about his transformation into Sicarius. Starring Joe Mantegna, A.J. Cook, Kirsten Vangsness, Aisha Tyler, Adam Rodriguez, Paget Brewster, RJ Hatanaka, and Gilford, this latest chapter keeps digging into the darkest corners of criminal behavior… because understanding the monster is usually the first step toward stopping the next one.
Some sounds get stuck in your head. Others start tearing your life apart. Based on Jordan Tannahill’s 2021 novel and directed by Janicza Bravo (Zola), this eerie British miniseries stars Rebecca Hall as Claire, a woman plagued by a mysterious hum that no one around her can hear, until one of her students can. What begins as a strange shared affliction soon grows into something more intimate, obsessive, and dangerous, as migraines, insomnia, fractured relationships, and a support group for “the Hum” pull Claire deeper into a world where reality starts sounding very unstable.
Fitness guru Richard Simmons turned exercise into a glittery, sweat-soaked cultural movement, then disappeared from public life and left the world wondering what happened. In this new hour-long ABC special, famed broadcast journalist Diane Sawyer looks back at Simmons’ rise as a joyful, larger-than-life fitness personality while exploring the decade of seclusion that followed his sudden exit from the spotlight in 2014. Featuring interviews with those closest to him, the special pieces together his final years, his private world, and the planned interview that never happened after Simmons’ sudden death.
Berlin is back, and this time the target is pure Renaissance-level trouble. From creators Álex Pina and Esther Martínez Lobato, this stylish Netflix prequel sends Pedro Alonso’s silver-tongued thief to sun-drenched Seville, where he assembles a sharp new crew to steal a Leonardo da Vinci masterpiece from an ambitious duke. With Michelle Jenner, Tristán Ulloa, Begoña Vargas, Julio Peña Fernández, Joel Sánchez, and Inma Cuesta joining the game, this heist turns crime into performance art… until ego, desire, and bad decisions threaten to ruin the whole show.
One last winter is coming to the South Side, and nobody is walking into it untouched. The eighth and final season of Lena Waithe’s acclaimed drama finds the community facing life-or-death choices as legacy, conflict, joy, and pain all come rushing to the surface. Starring Jacob Latimore, Birgundi Baker, Luke James, Shamon Brown Jr., Michael V. Epps, Hannaha Hall, and Jason Weaver, this final 10-episode season brings The Chi to a close with the kind of hard-earned emotion that has always powered the series.
Mavis Beaumont is taking one last strut through love, life, and the messy business of rebuilding on her own terms. Michelle Buteau returns for the final season of her scripted Netflix comedy, following the plus-size Black stylist as she chases success, romance, and self-worth with help from her chosen family, body-positive attitude, and a cute v-neck with some lip gloss. Based on Buteau’s acclaimed book of essays, this farewell season sends Mavis out exactly how she came in: funny, fabulous, and fully herself.
History has a funny way of repeating itself, especially when it comes with bonnets, bad wages, and humiliating day-job requirements. This sharp web comedy stars Kat Barrell as Eleanor, a feminist history PhD forced to take work as a 19th-century re-enactor at a struggling pioneer village, only for her brutally honest take on the past to suddenly go viral. Created by Davida Aronovitch and co-starring Paloma Nuñez, Ishan Davé, and Joelle Peters, this chaotic little period-piece nightmare asks whether internet fame can become something meaningful… or just another historically accurate disaster.
Popstar Kylie Minogue has had the kind of career that doesn’t just evolve, it spins around, reinvents itself, and keeps the glitter ball turning. This three-part Netflix docuseries takes a closer look at the Australian pop icon’s rise from soap star to global superstar, tracing the twists, turns, comebacks, and reinventions that shaped her decades-long career. With Kylie speaking candidly about her life in the spotlight, this unfiltered portrait promises a more personal look at the performer behind the pop perfection.
Scottish-born comedian Craig Ferguson is taking the American dream out for a spin, complete with all the good, bad, weird, and wonderfully contradictory stuff packed in the trunk. In this five-part CNN Original Series, the Emmy and Peabody-winning comedian travels coast-to-coast to examine what it means to be American through history, humor, and his own experience as a naturalized citizen. Timed to America’s 250th anniversary, the series digs into free speech, individualism, patriotism, capitalism, and immigration, with guests including Tiffany Haddish, Daymond John, Jason Biggs, KT Tunstall, Salman Rushdie, and more.
Wanda Sykes is heading back to school, but don’t expect anything close to a polite lecture. In her new stand-up comedy special, the veteran comedian returns to her alma mater for a razor-sharp set that takes aim at the state of the world, personal legacy, and, somehow, the great cultural divide over washcloths. It’s Wanda doing what she does best: finding the absurdity in everything and making sure no one leaves class early.
Comedian Josh Johnson is tuning up something a little different for his first HBO comedy special. Filmed at the Wiltern Theater in Los Angeles, the Emmy-nominated comedian, actor, NAACP Award winner, and rotating host/correspondent on The Daily Show steps away from strictly timely takes for a more personal set about family, religion, relationships, and the weird little notes that make us human.
Before Brazil became forever linked with beautiful soccer, one legendary squad had to carry a nation’s pride onto the world stage. This scripted Netflix miniseries follows Pelé (Lucas Agrícola) and Brazil’s 1970 national team as they fight to reclaim soccer’s ultimate crown after the sting of the 1966 World Cup. With Rodrigo Santoro as João Saldanha and Bruno Mazzeo as Mário Zagallo, the series digs into the pressure, politics, and behind-the-scenes instability that shaped a team chasing not just victory, but immortality.
Running a small neighborhood bar sounds charming, until the bills pile up, the misunderstandings multiply, and everyone’s personal life starts spilling over the counter. From popular Italian cartoonist Zerocalcare (Tear Along the Dotted Line, This World Can’t Tear Me Down), this Italian animated comedy follows Zero and Wild Boar as they try to keep their tiny local spot afloat while financial pressure and everyday chaos close in. But when a figure from the past returns, their already complicated lives get one more problem on the tab.
School bullies may want to check their homework, because class is officially in session. This action-packed K-drama follows the Teachers’ Rights Protection Bureau, a fictional government agency sent into troubled schools when students, parents, or even teachers push things too far. Led by Kim Moo-yul, Lee Sung-min, Jin Ki-joo, and Pyo Ji-hoon, and directed by Juvenile Justice filmmaker Hong Jong-chan, this classroom crackdown turns school discipline into a full-contact lesson plan.
Just when The Yogurt Shop Murders seemed finished, the decades-old case took one final, staggering turn. This surprise fifth episode, titled “The End of Wondering,” follows the aftermath of the docuseries’ original finale, as Austin police announce that DNA evidence has identified serial killer Robert Eugene Brashers as the man behind the 1991 murders. Directed by Margaret Brown and featuring investigators, genetic genealogist CeCe Moore, the victims’ families, and those who were wrongly accused, this final chapter looks at a long-awaited answer… and the painful damage left behind by years of false confessions and unanswered questions.
TV Trailers of the Week: The Five Star Weekend, Ted Lasso: Season 4 and More
