SciFiAndTvTalk

Slow Horses Starring Gary Oldman - Season Three Coming In December (Apple TV+)

Gary Oldman (Jackson Lamb) in Slow Horses. Photos courtesy/copyright of Apple TV+.

Apple TV+ today shared a first-look of the upcoming third season of its critically acclaimed espionage drama, Slow Horses, starring Academy Award winner Gary Oldman. Adapted from Real Tigers, the third novel in the CWA Gold Dagger Award-winning Mick Herron spy series Slough House, the six-episode third season of Slow Horses will premiere globally on Friday, December 1st with the first two episodes, followed by one new episode weekly, every Friday through December 29th, on Apple TV+. 

Winner of Best English-Language Drama Series at the 2022 C21 International Drama Awards, Slow Horses is a darkly humorous espionage drama that follows a dysfunctional team of British intelligence agents who serve in a dumping-ground department of MI5 known un-affectionately as Slough House. In season three, a romantic liaison in Istanbul threatens to expose a buried MI5 secret in London. When Jackson Lamb and his team of misfits are dragged into the fight, they find themselves caught in a conspiracy that threatens the future not just of Slough House but of MI5 itself. 

Oldman stars as Jackson Lamb, the brilliant but misanthropic leader of the spies, who end up in Slough House due to their career-ending mistakes as they frequently find themselves blundering around the smoke and mirrors of the espionage world. The ensemble cast also includes Academy Award-nominee Kristin Scott Thomas, BAFTA Scotland Award-winner Jack Lowden, Saskia Reeves, Rosalind Eleazar, Christopher Chung, Freddie Fox, Chris Reilly, Samuel West, Sophie Okonedo, Aimee-Ffion Edwards, Kadiff Kirwan and Academy Award-nominee Jonathan Pryce. Ṣọpẹ Dìrísù joins the season three cast as Sean Donovan, the former head of security at the British embassy in Istanbul, along with Katherine Waterston who plays Alison Dunn, an MI5 agent who uncovers a dark secret at the heart of the agency.

Slow Horses is produced for Apple TV+ by See-Saw Films and adapted for television by Will Smith (Veep). Jamie Laurenson, Hakan Kousetta, Iain Canning, Emile Sherman, Douglas Urbanski, Gail Mutrux, Will Smith, Jane Robertson and Graham Yost serve as executive producers on the series. Season three is directed by Saul Metzstein. 

Since its premiere, Slow Horses has received BAFTA Television Award nominations, including Oldman’s first for Best Lead Actor, and co-star Jack Lowden picked up a nomination for Best Supporting Actor. The series has also been recognized with BAFTA nominations for Best Editing: Fiction (Katie Weiland); Best Original Music: Fiction (Daniel Pemberton and Mick Jagger); and, Best Sound: Fiction (Martin Jensen, Joe Beal, Duncan Price, Craig Butters, Sarah Elias and Andrew Sissons). Fans can catch up on the first two season of “Slow Horses,” now streaming globally on Apple TV+. In addition to the upcoming third season, Apple TV+ previously announced a fourth season set to be adapted from the fourth novel, Spook Street.

 

Beacon 23 Premieres In November (MGM+)

(L-R): Stephen James and Lena Headey in Beacon 23. Photo by Rafe Winterfeld and copyright of Bock Rocker/MGM+.

MGM+, a premium linear channel and streaming service, today announced it has picked up the science-fiction mystery thriller and love story Beacon 23, based on the best-selling book by Hugh Howey. Produced by Boat Rocker, the global series premiere is scheduled to debut on Sunday, November 12th on MGM+ at 9:00 p.m. EST/PST with the first two of eight episodes. Zak Penn (Ready Player One, Free Guy) created the series, and executive produced along with Glen Mazzara (The Walking Dead, The Shield).

Beacon 23 takes place in the farthest reaches of the Milky Way and follows Aster (Lena Headey), a government agent, and Halan (Stephan James), a stoic ex-military man, whose fates become entangled after they find themselves trapped together inside one of many Beacons that serve as a lighthouse for intergalactic travelers. Every Beacon is run by one highly trained human and a specialized Artificial Intelligence. Aster mysteriously finds her way to the lonely Beacon-keeper Halan, and a tense battle of wills unfolds. Halan begins to question whether Aster is friend or foe, as her ability to disguise her agenda and motives could make her a formidable opponent.

“Beacon 23 is a series in the best tradition of thought-provoking genre storytelling,” said Michael Wright, head of MGM+. “With the incredible vision of Zak Penn and Glen Mazzara, riveting performances by Lena Headey and Stephan James, and an exciting world-building design, Beacon 23 is essential viewing for fans of premium science-fiction drama.”

 “We’re delighted to bring Beacon 23 to MGM+ and introduce viewers to a world in the dark recesses of space where nothing is quite what it seems,” said David Fortier and Ivan Schneeberg, Co-Executive Chairmen, Boat Rocker Media and Co-Chairmen, Boat Rocker Studios. “Beacon 23 is a rare psychological thriller whose rich characters and gripping storylines take you to some pretty unexpected places. We’re grateful to our creative partners for helping bring this epic story to life.”

Produced by Boat Rocker, Zak Penn and Glen Mazzara served as executive producers alongside David Fortier, Ivan Schneeberg, James Middleton, Nick Nantell,Tina Thor, Katie O’Connell Marsh, Elisa Ellis, Liz Varner, Ira Steven Behr, Daniel Percival, Joy Blake, Lena Headey, and Stephan James. Boat Rocker oversees global distribution and licensing for Beacon 23.

Awareness Coming In October (Prime Video)

Today, Prime Video released the official trailer for the highly anticipated Spanish Original sci-fi film Awareness directed by Daniel Benmayor (Xtremo, Tracers, Bruc) and starring Carlos Scholz (Toy Boy, Feria: La luz más oscura), Pedro Alonso (Money Heist, El ministerio del tiempo), Maria Pedraza (Toy Boy, Élite), Oscar Jaenada (Operación Marea Negra, Hernán) and Lela Loren (American Gods, Altered Carbon). Awareness will be screened during the Sitges Film Festival and will premiere on October 11th exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide as part of the Amazon Prime subscription. Check out the trailer!

Ian, a rebellious teenager living on the outskirts of society, can manipulate minds with his ability to generate visual illusions. He uses this power to survive running small, indiscreet, scams. When one of his cons goes awry, his abilities publicly spiral out of control and Ian becomes the target of two rival organizations, each seeking to exploit his powers.

Awareness is produced by Federation Spain, led by Juan Sola and Nacho Manubens, with Mark Albela as executive producer and Dbenma Content with Daniel Benmayor as producer and director. Benmayor is also in charge of the script alongside Ivan Ledesma.

Fear The Walking Dead - Trailer & Key Art For Final Six Episodes (AMC/AMC+)

Today, AMC Networks released the trailer and key art for Fear the Walking Dead. The series’ final six episodes premiere beginning Sunday, October 22nd at 9pm ET/8c on AMC and AMC+ and will conclude on Sunday, November 19th with two back-to-back episodes. Check out the trailer below!

Now that Shrike (Maya Eshet) and her influence are gone, Madison (Kim Dickens) sets sights on transforming PADRE into the safe haven the old Stadium was meant to be. But in doing so the island becomes a target as well as a beacon as word of Madison and this land of resources spreads, attracting unwanted attention that puts PADRE back in peril and questions whether our heroes even deserve to save it.

Fear the Walking Dead stars Lennie James, Kim Dickens, Colman Domingo, Danay Garcia, Austin Amelio, Christine Evangelista, Karen David, Jenna Elfman, and Rubén Blades. It is executive produced by Scott M. Gimple, Showrunners Andrew Chambliss and Ian Goldberg, Robert Kirkman, Gale Anne Hurd, Greg Nicotero, Michael Satrazemis and David Alpert and is produced by AMC Studios.

For All Mankind - FIrst-Look Season Four Teaser (Apple TV+)

Apple TV+ today shared a first-look at season four of For All Mankind, the hit, critically acclaimed space drama series from Golden Globe nominee and Emmy Award winner Ronald D. Moore and Emmy Award nominees Ben Nedivi and Matt Wolpert. The 10-episode fourth season will make its highly anticipated global debut on Friday, November 10, 2023 on Apple TV+, followed by one new episode weekly every Friday through January 12, 2024. Check out the teaser below!

Rocketing into the new millennium in the eight years since Season 3, Happy Valley has rapidly expanded its footprint on Mars by turning former foes into partners. Now 2003, the focus of the space program has turned to the capture and mining of extremely valuable, mineral-rich asteroids that could change the future of both Earth and Mars. But simmering tensions between the residents of the now-sprawling international base threaten to undo everything they are working towards.

The ensemble cast returning for season four includes Joel Kinnaman, Wrenn Schmidt, Krys Marshall, Edi Gathegi, Cynthy Wu and Coral Peña along with new series regulars Toby Kebbell, Tyner Rushing, Daniel Stern and Svetlana Efremova.

For All Mankind is created by Emmy Award winner Moore, and Emmy nominees Nedivi and Wolpert. Nedivi and Wolpert serve as showrunners and executive produce alongside Moore and Maril Davis of Tall Ship Productions, as well as David Weddle, Bradley Thompson and Seth Edelstein. For All Mankind is produced by Sony Pictures Television. The first three seasons of For All Mankind are now available to stream on Apple TV+.

Slayers: A Buffyverse Story - New Audible To Be Released Next Month

Audible Inc., the leading creator and provider of premium audio storytelling, announced the first ever audio original set in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ universe. Slayers: A Buffyverse Story is set to premiere October 12, 2023, twenty years after the series finale of ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The audio original was written by original cast member Amber Benson alongside writer Christopher Golden, and directed by Benson, Golden, and Kc Wayland. For the first time in 20 years, the supernatural drama will reunite original series stars James Marsters, Charisma Carpenter, Anthony Head, Juliet Landau, Emma Caulfield, Amber Benson, James Charles Leary, Danny Strong along with fresh faces such as Laya DeLeon Hayes. The audio original brings fans a fresh story and a new world, filled with horror, heart, humor, and surprises at every turn. 

The upcoming scripted audio original picks up 10 years after the events of the final episode of ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer.’ Since then, Spike (James Marsters) has gone deep undercover in Los Angeles, convincing the forces of darkness that he’s back to his evil ways. When his cover is compromised by sixteen-year-old Indira Nunnally (Laya DeLeon Hayes), Spike finds himself on baby-slayer-sitting duty once more. While he attempts to track down a watcher for his eager new protégé, their paths collide with the veteran Slayer of a parallel reality where Buffy Summers never existed...a reality where Cordelia Chase (Charisma Carpenter) is the one-and-only Slayer. She needs Spike’s help with a classic big bad terrorizing her world…his old flame, Drusilla (Juliet Landau). 

“I’m ecstatic to be back with my dear friends for this next chapter in the Buffyverse, as we take listeners on a familiar but unexpected journey chock full of horror, passion and mischief,” says James Marsters. “I’m excited for old and new fans to experience this beloved world of vampire slaying like never before, brought to life through immersive audio storytelling.”

"Slayers: A Buffyverse Story offers a fresh, dynamic take on a cult-classic that takes listeners on a fun and nostalgic ride,” commented Rachel Ghiazza, Chief Content Officer at Audible. "The all-star cast reprising beloved roles, as well as newcomers, bring to life a storyline that will entertain fans of the original series and pull in first-time Sunnydale visitors.”

Additionally, fans will be able to immerse themselves in the Buffyverse at New York Comic Con with a killer Slayers: A Buffyverse Story panel on Friday, October 13 at 1:30pm, and can visit Audible’s Slayers-themed activation all weekend long.

Audible Presents: Slayers: A Buffyverse Story 

Friday, October 13 at 1:30pm | NYCC Main Stage 

Welcome back to the Hellmouth. Join an ensemble from the original cast plus Buffyverse newbies - Charisma Carpenter, Emma Caulfield Ford, James Charles Leary, Juliet Landau, James Marsters, Laya DeLeon Hayes, alongside writers and directors, Amber Benson and Christopher Golden - as they discuss coming together to make Slayers: A Buffyverse Story, an all-new audio adventure from Audible releasing October 12, 2023.

This upcoming Audible Original joins a compelling slate of original audio dramas, including The Space Within from Topic Studios, executive produced and performed by Jessica Chastain; the #1 New York Times best-selling audio fiction The Sandman from Neil Gaiman; the highly anticipated sequels The Sandman: Act II; and The Sandman: Act III; the post-apocalyptic vampire franchise Impact Winter Season 1 and Season 2; The Dispatcher series from New York Times best-selling author John Scalzi; Carnival Row, set in the world of the Amazon Original series Carnival Row, created by Travis Beacham and René Echevarria; and many more.

Listen to Slayers: A Buffyverse Story exclusively on Audible, beginning October 12, 2023 In addition, Slayers: A Buffyverse Story will join Audible’s growing catalog of Originals that can be listened to in immersive spatial audio with Dolby Atmos from the Audible app. Visit audible.com/dolbyatmos for more information. 

The Vanishing Triangle Premieres This Month (Sundance Now/AMC+)

The Vanishing Triangle premieres with two episodes on Thursday, September 28th on Sundance Now and AMC+, with additional episodes dropping weekly on both platforms. When investigative journalist Lisa Wallace (India Mullen, Normal People, Brassic) publishes an article about her mother’s murder, it sparks the disappearance of Amy Reynolds. Alongside Detective David Burkely (Allen Leech, Downton Abbey, Bohemian Rhapsody), the two work together to find Amy. Their investigation takes them around Ireland, as more girls go missing. As they follow every lead, some end up dead ends, but all the while, the killer plays psychological torture games with Lisa, putting her in compromising situations. As they get closer to finding the killer, David and Lisa learn more about the long-rooted corruption in the Gardaí system. To cover their tracks, high-ranking Gardaí members blackmail David with his own secrets. The investigative trail finally leads Lisa to the killer, where they face off again after all these years. In the end, she must confront her childhood trauma in order to save the missing girls.

Gen V - Official Trailer Released (Prime Video)

Prime Video has released the official trailer for the highly anticipated Amazon Original series Gen V, which comes from the world of The Boys. The series will debut exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories around the world with three episodes on Friday, September 29th, followed by weekly episodes, leading up to the epic season finale on Friday, November 3rd. Check out the trailer!

Set in the diabolical world of The Boys, Gen V expands the universe to Godolkin University, the prestigious superhero-only college where students train to be the next generation of heroes—preferably with lucrative endorsements. You know what happens when supes go bad, but not all superheroes start out corrupt. Beyond the typical college chaos of finding oneself and partying, these kids are facing explosive situations … literally. As the students vie for popularity and good grades, it’s clear that the stakes are much higher when super powers are involved. When the group of young supes discover that something bigger and sinister is going on at school, they're put to the test: Will they be the heroes or the villains of their stories?

The series cast includes Jaz Sinclair, Chance Perdomo, Lizze Broadway, Shelley Conn, Maddie Phillips, London Thor, Derek Luh, Asa Germann, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Sean Patrick Thomas, and Marco Pigossi. Gen V also features guest stars Clancy Brown and Jason Ritter, as well as appearances from Jessie T. Usher, Colby Minifie, Claudia Doumit and P.J. Byrne, reprising their roles from The Boys.

Michele Fazekas and Tara Butters serve as showrunners and executive producers. Eric Kripke, Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, James Weaver, Neal H. Moritz, Ori Marmur, Pavun Shetty, Ken Levin, Jason Netter, Garth Ennis, Darick Robertson, Craig Rosenberg, Nelson Cragg, Zak Schwartz, Erica Rosbe, and Michaela Starr also serve as executive producers on the spinoff series. Serving as co-executive producers are Brant Englestein, Sarah Carbiener, Lisa Kussner, Gabriel Garcia, Aisha Porter-Christie, Judalina Neira, and Loreli Alanís. The series is produced by Sony Pictures Television and Amazon Studios, in association with Kripke Enterprises, Point Grey Pictures, and Original Film.

Gen V will be a part of the convenience and entertainment, along with fast, free shipping on every order, that Prime members enjoy in a single membership. Fans in the Unites States can shop hundreds of officially licensed products from The Boys franchise, including Gen V, at amazon.com/theboysmerch.

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Monsieur Spade Starring & Executive Produced By Clive Owen - First Look Teaser Trailer (AMC)

Clive Owen as Detective Sam Spade in Monsieur Spade. Photo courtesy/copyright of AMC.

AMC Networks has released a first-look teaser trailer for its upcoming sophisticated, six-episode crime drama, Monsieur Spade, premiering on AMC and AMC+ in early 2024. Starring and executive produced by Golden Globe®, SAG and BAFTA Award-winner Clive Owen (Closer, Children of Men, The Knick) as the hard-boiled private detective Sam Spade, the limited series is co-created, written and executive produced by Emmy Award-winners Scott Frank (The Queen’s Gambit, Logan, Minority Report), who also serves as director, and Tom Fontana (City on a Hill, Borgia, Oz). Check out the teaser below!

Monsieur Spade centers around the infamous protagonist of American writer Dashiell Hammett’s 1930 classic novel The Maltese Falcon. The year is 1963, and the legendary Detective Sam Spade (Owen) is enjoying his retirement in the South of France. By contrast to his days as a private eye in San Francisco, Spade's life in Bozouls is peaceful and quiet. But the rumored return of his old adversary will change everything. Six beloved nuns have been brutally murdered at the local convent. As the town grieves, secrets emerge, and new leads are established. Spade learns that the murders are somehow connected to a mysterious child who is believed to possess great powers.

Shot on-location in France, Monsieur Spade features a prominent ensemble cast in up-and-comer Cara Bossom (Radioactive) as Teresa, Denis Ménochet (Inglorious Basterds) as Chief of Police Patrice Michaud, Louise Bourgoin (The Romanoffs) as Marguerite Devereaux, Chiara Mastroianni (On a Magical Night) as Gabrielle, Stanley Weber (Outlander) as Jean-Pierre Devereaux, Matthew Beard (The Imitation Game) as George Fitzsimmons, Jonathan Zaccaï (Robin Hood) as Philippe Saint Andre and Rebecca Root (The Queen’s Gambit) as Cynthia Fitzsimmons. 

Monsieur Spade is co-created, written and executive produced by Frank, who also serves as director, and Fontana. Barry Levinson, Teddy Schwarzman, Michael Heimler, Clive Owen, Caroline Benjo, Barbara Letellier, Simon Arnal, Carole Scotta, Carlo Martinelli and David Helpern also serve as executive producers. In conjunction with the Dashiell Hammett Estate, the series is produced by Black Bear and co-produced by Haut et Court TV (The Returned, No Man’s Land) who also handled local production services in France and Canal+. FilmNation Entertainment (I Know This Much Is True) handles international distribution outside of North America.

R.L. Stine's Goosebumps Reboot Coming In October (Hulu/Disney+)

Goosebumps, the chilling new series inspired by R.L. Stine's worldwide bestselling Scholastic book series, is set to debut across both Disney+ and Hulu on Friday, Oct. 13th, it was announced today. From Disney Branded Television and Sony Pictures Television, the 10-part series will launch with a five-episode drop as part of Disney+’s “Hallowstream” and Hulu’s “Huluween” celebrations, with subsequent new episodes streaming weekly. Additionally, the series’ first two episodes will air on Freeform on Oct. 13th, as part of its “31 Nights of Halloween” programming. A premiere date teaser and new images were also released as part of today's announcement.

“R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps franchise is a pop culture phenomenon that holds a special place in the hearts of people of all ages,” said Ayo Davis, president, Disney Branded Television. “We are delighted to bring this spooky new series to audiences everywhere in a big way on Disney+ and Hulu, which we hope will not only captivate new audiences with its elevated thrills and chills, but also lifelong fans nostalgic for the stories that are a staple of their generation.”

Plunging viewers into a world of mystery and suspense, the new Goosebumps series follows a group of five high schoolers as they embark on a shadowy and twisted journey to investigate the tragic passing three decades earlier of a teen named Harold Biddle — while also unearthing dark secrets from their parents’ past.

Published by Scholastic, Goosebumps is one of the bestselling book series of all time, with more than 400 million books in print in 32 languages. The new television series draws on elements from five of the most popular middle grade books including Say Cheese and Die!, The Haunted Mask, The Cuckoo Clock of Doom, Go Eat Worms! and Night of the Living Dummy.

“Goosebumps” stars Justin Long (Barbarian) and Rachael Harris (Lucifer), alongside newcomers Zack Morris (EastEnders), Isa Briones (Star Trek: Picard), Miles McKenna (Guilty Party), Ana Yi Puig (Gossip Girl) and Will Price (The Equalizer).

Nicholas Stoller (The Muppets) and Rob Letterman (Pokémon Detective Pikachu) developed the series and serve as executive producers, alongside Hilary Winston (Community), Neal H. Moritz (Fast & Furious franchise), Scholastic Entertainment’s Iole Lucchese (Clifford the Big Red Dog), Pavun Shetty (The Boys), Conor Welch (Platonic), Scholastic Entertainment’s Caitlin Friedman (Stillwater), Erin O’Malley (New Girl) and Kevin Murphy (Desperate Housewives). James Eagan (DC’s Legends of Tomorrow) and Nick Adams (BoJack Horseman) serve as co-executive producers.

Through September 20, new and returning customers can subscribe to Disney+ Basic (with ads) for $1.99/month for three months by visiting www.disneyplus.com. 

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