SciFiAndTvTalk

His Dark Materials - Season Two Coming To The U.S. in November (HBO)

Debuting this November, to HBO the second season of His Dark Materials begins after Lord Asriel has opened a bridge to a new world, and, distraught over the death of her best friend, Lyra follows Asriel into the unknown. In a strange and mysterious abandoned city she meets Will, a boy from our world who is also running from a troubled past. Lyra and Will learn their destinies are tied to reuniting Will with his father but find their path is constantly thwarted as a war begins to brew around them. Meanwhile, Mrs. Coulter searches for Lyra, determined to bring her home by any means necessary. Check out the teaser below!

Season two series regulars include Dafne Keen, Ruth Wilson, Amir Wilson, Ariyon Bakare, Andrew Scott, Will Keen, Ruta Gedmintas and Lin-Manuel Miranda.  Joining the cast this season are Terence Stamp, Jade Anouka and Simone Kirby.     
 
His Dark Materials is produced by Bad Wolf in association with New Line Cinema for BBC One and HBO. Executive producing the series are Jane Tranter, Dan McCulloch, Joel Collins and Julie Gardner for Bad Wolf; Philip Pullman, Jack Thorne, Tom Hooper; Deborah Forte, Toby Emmerich and Carolyn Blackwood for New Line Cinema; and Ben Irving and Piers Wenger for the BBC.

Apple TV+ Greenlights The Essex Serpent Starring Keira Knightley

Keira Knightley to star in "The Essex Serpent." Photo courtesy/copyright of Michael Buckner.

Apple has given a series order to The Essex Serpent a new, period drama series that will star Academy Award-nominee Keira Knightley (Colette, The Imitation Game, Atonement). Knightley will also serve as executive producer on the series adapted from Sarah Perry’s bestselling and 2016 British Book Award-winning novel of the same name. The Essex Serpent follows newly widowed Cora (Knightley) who, having being released from an abusive marriage, relocates from Victorian London to the small village of Aldwinter in Essex, intrigued by a local superstition that a mythical creature known as the Essex Serpent has returned to the area.

The series will be directed by Clio Barnard (The Selfish Giant, The Arbor). Anna Symon (Deep Water, Mrs Wilson) will serve as lead writer. In addition to Knightley, Jamie Laurenson, Hakan Kousetta, Patrick Walters, Iain Canning, Emile Sherman will executive produce the show alongside Clio Barnard and Anna Symon. Andrea Cornwell will serve as producer.

The Essex Serpent will be produced for Apple TV+ by See-Saw Films, and is commissioned for Apple out of the UK by Apple’s Heads of Worldwide Video, Zack Van Amburg and Jamie Erlicht, and Creative Director for Europe Worldwide Video, Jay Hunt.

Raised By Wolves - New Trailer (HBO Max)

Raised by Wolves centers on two androids tasked with raising human children on a mysterious virgin planet. As the burgeoning colony of humans threatens to be torn apart by religious differences, the androids learn that controlling the beliefs of humans is a treacherous and difficult task. Check out the new trailer below!

 

Premiering September 3rd, 2020 on HBO Max, Raised by Wolves stars Amanda Collin, Abubakar Salim, Winta McGrath, Niamh Algar, Matias Varela, Felix Jamieson, Ethan Hazzard, Jordan Loughran, Aasiya Shah, Ivy Wong and Travis Fimmel. The series was directed by Ridley Scott, Luke Scott, Sergio Mimica-Gezzan, Alex Gabassi (series creator) and James Hawes.

Fear the Walking Dead - Season Six Key Art (AMC)

AMC has released the official key art for the sixth season of Fear the Walking Dead, featuring Lennie James as Morgan Jones (see above). The highly-anticipated new season premieres Sunday, October 11 at 9pm ET/8c.

“The cast and crew of Fear the Walking Dead are very excited to share this piece of key art with our amazing fans,” said Lennie James who stars as ‘Morgan Jones’ on the series. “Last season left Morgan in a very perilous situation. We cannot wait for you to discover what happens next to him and the rest of the group in our new season this fall. A truly transformative season that will see all of the gang challenged in ways they haven’t ever been before. Some will rise. Some will fall. None will remain the same. The Past Is Dead! Tune in October 11 for the next chapter!”

Season six of Fear the Walking Dead explores what has become of the unlikely family once united by a mission to help those in need. After being torn apart by Virginia (Colby Minifie) and her Pioneers, the group is now dispersed across her far-reaching settlements. Morgan’s (Lennie James) last message at the end of season five implored the group to “Just Live” and this season we’ll see what that means to each of them. Some will find the stability and opportunity within Virginia's communities to be intriguing, some will sink into darkness, while others will fight back against what has been forced upon them. Life behind Virginia's walls will test each and every one of them in different ways, forcing them to define who they are in this new world.

Fear the Walking Dead is executive produced by Scott M. Gimple, Showrunners Andrew Chambliss and Ian Goldberg, Robert Kirkman, Gale Anne Hurd, Greg Nicotero and Dave Alpert and is produced by AMC Studios.

Stranger Things: The "Drive-Into" Experience Coming In October

Los Angeles, do you copy? Attention Stranger Things fans! Lace up your high-tops, crank up that radio, and get ready to hit the road because it's time to go back to the 80’s. Join your favorite characters...and even a few threats...for an immersive Stranger Things adventure. 

Details: 

• The mysteries of Hawkins arrive in Downtown Los Angeles this October.

• Starting today, fans can sign up for the waitlist at www.strangerthingsdriveinto.com to be the first to get their hands on tickets. 

• Tickets will officially go on sale Wednesday, August 26, and pricing starts at $59 per car, with a variety of packages available. 

This groundbreaking live experience takes fans of the global hit series inside some of its most iconic scenes, all from the safety of their own cars. Stranger Things: The “Drive-Into” Experience is an entirely new approach to interactive theater that reimagines live entertainment.

The beloved Netflix original series, created by The Duffer Brothers, will be transformed into an immersive theatrical production, complete with mind-bending sets, actors in costume, and otherworldly special effects. Upon entry, guests will drive their vehicles (in groups of 24 cars) through the multi-level experience, stopping for extended periods of time for scenes to play out around them. They will then be guided to drive to the next scene, where they park again for another "chapter" in the story.

During their journey, fans can expect: 

• An epic 60+ minute tour through Starcourt Mall, Russian labs and the Upside Down.

• Encounters with their favorite Stranger Things characters surrounding their convoy.

• Mind-blowing sensory surprises that blur the line between reality and fantasy.

• Plenty of throwback nostalgia that brings the sights and sounds of 1980s Hawkins, Indiana into 2020.

“Stranger Things has always been larger than life and we wanted to flip the world upside down for our fans,” says Greg Lombardo, Head of Experiences at Netflix. “So buckle up like Billy is driving, keep your eyes on the neon lights, and steer clear of the shadows because there’s no telling who or what you might come across in Downtown Los Angeles this October. Whatever you do, don’t get out of your car!” 

"Stranger Things: The “Drive-Into” Experience is co-produced by Netflix and Fever, the premier event discovery platform. Engaging experience-seekers across the globe, Fever inspires its vibrant local audiences to discover the best their city has to offer and supports the creation of unique and unforgettable events. Creative is driven by Secret Cinema, best known for constructing epically scaled, intricately detailed fan experiences based on popular film and TV titles. Most recently, the acclaimed Secret Cinema Stranger Things show in the UK brought together 100,000 Londoners for a Hawkins High School reunion.

Together, Netflix and Fever have combined forces to bring to life a completely new and unique experience filled with sights, sounds and surprises that will leave fans on the edge of their (car) seats. Over and out. 

Temple - Season One Premieres In The U.S. in October (Spectrum Originals)

Mark Strong as Daniel Milton in "Temple." Photo copyright of Sky One/Spectrum Originals.

In the character-driven drama Temple, a brilliant but haunted surgeon, Daniel Milton (Mark Strong), sacrifices everything for love when he opens an illegal medical clinic in the network of tunnels beneath London’s Temple subway station.  When word of the clinic starts to spread among outcasts and the criminal underworld, Daniel becomes entrenched in dangerous battles between life and death — and one for his very soul. Check out the trailer below.

Mark Strong and Liza Marshall serve as executive producers for Hera Pictures and Gabriel Silver executive produces for Sky. Premiering October 26th on the Spectrum Originals streaming service, Temple is written and adapted by Mark O’Rowe from the critically acclaimed Norwegian drama series Valkyrien. 

The Watch - Coming In January 2021 (BBC America)

In BBC AMERICA’s newest original series, The Watch, an unlikely group of misfits, The City Watch, find the guts to save the world, surprising even themselves in the process. The comedic yet thrilling series pits trolls, werewolves, wizards and other improbable heroes against an evil plot to resurrect a great dragon which would lead to the destruction of life as they know it. From lead writer and executive producer Simon Allen, the modern and inclusive series is inspired by many of Sir Terry Pratchett’s famous “Discworld” creations including the captain of The City Watch Sam Vimes (Richard Dormer), the last scion of nobility Lady Sybil Ramkin (Lara Rossi), the naïve but heroic Carrot (Adam Hughill), the mysterious Angua (Marama Corlett) and the ingenious forensics expert Cheery (Jo Eaton-Kent) together with Pratchett’s iconic characterization of Death. The Watch premieres in January 2021.

Eli Roth's History of Horror - Season Two Premieres Next Month! (AMC)

Premiering Saturday, October 10th @ 10:00 pm EST/9:00 pm CT. season two of Eli Roth’s History of Horror digs even deeper into the catacombs of creepiness, exhuming landmark films and cult classics while chewing on the entrails of recent horror cinema. The series explores the dark power and wicked fun of scary movies, the craft that went into making them, and the ways that horror films reflect the anxieties of their times. The story is told by Eli Roth and a celebrated cast of writers, directors, actors, cinematographers, composers, and special effects artists who bring our nightmares to life.

Interviewees include Stephen King, Quentin Tarantino, Jordan Peele, Ari Aster, Bill Hader, Nancy Allen, Megan Fox, Greg Nicotero, Rob Zombie, James Brolin, Edgar Wright, Piper Laurie, Leonard Maltin, Katharine Isabelle, Jack Black, Slash, Rachel True, Ashley Laurence, Joe Dante, Roger Corman, Mary Harron, John Landis, Tom Savini, Karyn Kusama, and many others. AMC Visionaries: Eli Roth’s History of Horror is produced by The Content Group and Marwar Junction Productions. Kurt Sayenga serves as writer/showrunner and Eli Roth, Kurt Sayenga, Steven Michaels, Jonathan Koch, Joseph Freed and Allison Berkley executive produce.

Gangs of London - Season One Coming To The U.S. Next Month! (AMC+)

Finn Wallace (Colm Meaney) in "Gangs of London." Photo courtesy/copyright of AMC.

Gangs of London’s critically acclaimed first season was a huge success in the UK as it took audiences on an immersive journey into the hidden heart of the capital. The 10-episode first season of the action-packed thriller debuts on AMC+ this fall for US audiences and has been renewed for a second season with the network on board to co-produce.

 Set in the heart of one of the world’s most dynamic and multicultural cities, Gangs of London tells the story of a city being torn apart by the turbulent power struggles of the international gangs that control it and the sudden power vacuum that’s created when the head of London’s most powerful crime family is assassinated. The series stars a multi-talented ensemble cast including Joe Cole (Peaky Blinders, Pure, Black Mirror), Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù (Humans), Colm Meaney (Star Trek, Hell on Wheels, Layer Cake), Lucian Msamati (His Dark Materials, Black Earth Rising, Kiri), Michelle Fairley (Game of Thrones, Suits) Paapa Essiedu (Press, Kiri) and Pippa Bennett-Warner (MatherFatherSon, Harlots, Sick Note).

For 20 years, Finn Wallace (Meaney) was the most powerful criminal in London. Billions of pounds flowed through his organization each year. But now he’s dead – and nobody knows who ordered the hit. With rivals everywhere, it’s up to the impulsive Sean Wallace (Cole), with the help of the Dumani family headed by Ed Dumani (Msamati), to take his father’s place. If the situation wasn’t already dangerous enough, Sean’s assumption of power causes ripples in the world of international crime. Perhaps the one man who might be able to help him and be his ally is Elliot Finch (Dìrísù), who up until now, has been one of life’s losers, a lowlife chancer with a mysterious interest in the Wallace family. But as the wind of fate blows, Elliot finds himself transported to the inner workings of the largest criminal organization in London. It doesn’t end with the Wallaces though, there are shadowy higher powers at play.

Gangs of London is created by award-winning filmmaker Gareth Evans and his creative partner Matt Flannery and is produced by Pulse Films in association with SISTER, with AMC serving as co-producer. The series was executive produced by Pulse Films’ founder Thomas Benski, and Lucas Ochoa alongside Jane Featherstone, from SISTER. The first three episodes debut Thursday, October 1st on AMC+ with new episodes every week, and the series premieres on AMC early next year. Check out the UK trailer below (viewer discretion advised).

The Salisbury Poisonings Makes Its U.S. Debut Next Month! (AMC+)

DS Nick Bailey (Rafe Spall) in "The Sailsbury Poisonings." Photo courtesy/copyright of AMC.

The Salisbury Poisonings tells the remarkable story of how ordinary people and public services reacted to a crisis on their doorstep, displaying extraordinary heroism as their city became the focus of an unprecedented national emergency. In March 2018, the eyes of the world turned to the British city of Salisbury when it became the epicenter of what has been described as one of the biggest political events of the 21st century – but until now, the heroic acts behind the headlines have not been told. Within three days of the assassination attempt on double agent and spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia, key agencies discovered that a lethal nerve agent called Novichok was used, just half a teaspoon of which could kill 20,000 people. Within four days, hundreds of traces were found across the city, and, just when things were finally thought to be under control, a perfume bottle containing the nerve agent was discovered, throwing the investigation into renewed chaos. The Salisbury Poisonings is executive produced by Laurence Bowen and Chris Carey for Dancing Ledge Productions, Lucy Richer for the BBC, and by the writers of the drama, Adam Patterson and Declan Lawn and series director Saul Dibb. Series producer is Karen Lewis. All four episodes premiere Thursday, October 1st on AMC+, with the series coming to AMC early next year. Check out the BBC trailer below!