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Peacock is turning a viral ‘Fresh Prince of Bel-Air’ trailer into a series
Peacock signed a two-season deal for a modern-day version of 'The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.'
Tom Hanks war drama 'Greyhound' comes to Apple TV+ on July 10th
Greyhound, the World War II sea battle drama starring Tom Hanks, will make its debut on Apple TV+ July 10th, Apple has announced.
Netflix's 'Heartstrings' trailer reimagines Dolly Parton songs as dramas
Netflix is turning eight Dolly Parton songs into an anthology series, Dolly Parton's Heartstrings. The first trailer arrived today, and it gives us a glimpse of the dramas based on iconic songs like "Two Doors Down," "JJ Sneed" -- and of course, "Jolene."
Netflix picks up hit BBC drama ‘Bodyguard’
Netflix has purchased the streaming rights to Bodyguard -- a six-part BBC One series that has been raking in viewers in the UK. The show had a strong premiere, drawing in 10.4 million viewers, which is the highest launch figure for any new drama on any UK channel in the last 12 years. The fourth episode reportedly drew 11.1 million viewers and the series has consistently attracted more viewers than any other BBC show outside of World Cup coverage. Netflix now holds the rights outside of the UK and Ireland and will debut the show on October 24th.
Snapchat will begin adding docu-series to its slate of shows
Snapchat has hosted around 50 series on its Discover page so far, including murder mysteries, reality shows, sports coverage and news. And soon it will be adding docu-series. The company has announced one series that's set to air in September, but a whole slate are on the way. "There's going to be a breadth of content as part of this," Sean Mills, Snap's senior director of content programming, told Variety. "We'll have a variety of different shows, and the styles will be widely different -- some shot with smartphones, others more cinematic."
Netflix’s ‘Kiss Me First’ is a VR thriller landing June 29th
VR cautionary tale Kiss Me First finally has a release date and an official trailer. The sci-fi gaming drama is coming to Netflix June 29th. From the creators of UK television series Skins, Kiss Me First revolves around a lonely woman who connects with a "party girl" and discovers a virtual world full of excitement... and murder.
Google Assistant users can preview YouTube’s 'Impulse' for free
With its paid Premium streaming service, YouTube has a steep climb to even compete against entrenched services like Netflix. First it has to get our attention, so for one of its most-anticipated series, Impulse, it came up with an interesting promotion. Google Assistant owners can access the first episode by saying "talk to Impulse." The AI device will give a brief sum-up of the show and ask for a password (it's "Henry" and a few variants). Once you do that, you'll get a link to the first unlisted episode on YouTube.
Amazon snags Jordan Peele-produced Nazi hunter series
Amazon has ordered a Jordan Peele-produced series about Nazi hunters living in 1977 New York City, Deadline reports. In The Hunt, a group known as The Hunters find out that hundreds of Nazi officials are living in the US, plotting the creation of a Fourth Reich. They then decide to stop the Nazis and their plans for genocide. "Our biggest priority is attracting exceptional writing and producing talent to bring addictive, groundbreaking projects to Prime Video," Amazon Studios head Jennifer Salke said in a statement. "The Hunt is edge-of-your seat entertainment that is not only culturally relevant but deliciously original."
Apple orders sci-fi drama from 'Hunger Games' director
Apple is pulling out all the stops when it comes to landing original shows. Deadline has learned that the tech firm has ordered an "epic, world-building" sci-fi drama series that would not only be written by Steven Knight, the creator of British crime drama Peaky Blinders, but would be directed by The Hunger Games' Francis Lawrence. It's not known who would star or even how long the initial run would be (it'll "likely" consist of eight episodes), but it would come from the same scripted series unit that gave Apple the Octavia Spencer thriller Are You Sleeping?
Netflix revives London street drama 'Top Boy' with Drake's help
Netflix is continuing its tradition of extending popular Channel 4 TV shows after confirming that London street drama Top Boy is being revived. In a tweet, the show's star Ashley Walters -- also known as Asher D from the So Solid Crew -- confirmed that the series has been picked up as a Netflix Original and will debut in 2019 with a little help from Canadian megastar Drake.
Amazon’s latest drama ‘Tin Star’ premieres September 29th
Tin Star, a new drama coming to Amazon Prime Video, just got a premiere date and a trailer. The show stars Tim Roth who plays ex-British detective Jim Worth who recently moved his family to a small Canadian town called Little Big Bear. But a big oil refinery moves into town shortly thereafter, bringing with it lots of problems including organized crime, and the company's corporate liaison -- played by Christina Hendricks -- seems to be the strong, unwavering front of an even stronger, unsavory corporation. However, Wright is no saint himself and after a family tragedy, his violent, alcoholic alter-ego Jack is awakened.
Netflix's pricey Baz Luhrmann hip-hop drama arrives today
Of all the Netflix productions, including the critically panned, $90 million Marco Polo, none have had as difficult a gestation (and high a price tag) as The Get Down. You can now download the hip-hop drama, set in the Bronx of the 1970s and created by notorious perfectionist Baz Luhrmann. It reportedly cost $120 million and strained relations between its director, producer Sony Pictures and Netflix, but the end result is "both messy and wonderful," according to Variety.
BBC to put major new drama series on iPlayer before it airs on TV
While the BBC is increasingly choosing to air new programmes on iPlayer before they appear on TV, the broadcaster has typically restricted output to low-risk shows and specials. However, with its new supernatural drama, The Living And The Dead, the Beeb has decided it's time to change that mindset -- it'll debut all six episodes this Friday (June 17th), two weeks before they start being broadcast on TV.
You should watch GTA drama 'The Gamechangers' on BBC Two tonight
Later this evening, the BBC will be airing a one-off TV special about the development of Grand Theft Auto and the criticism that surrounded its portrayal of violence. It's called The Gamechangers and stars Daniel Radcliffe as Rockstar president Sam Houser and Bill Paxton (Apollo 13, Titanic and Nightcrawler) as Jack Thompson, a former attorney that campaigned against the series. The docudrama's first trailer showed promise and, if nothing else, we're keen to see exactly what caused Rockstar to take legal action against the BBC. You can catch it all tonight (September 15th) from 9pm over on BBC Two.
Rockstar owner sues the BBC over upcoming GTA drama
When the BBC announced it was making a docudrama about Rockstar Games and the Grand Theft Auto franchise, we assumed it had the blessing of the games' creators. Not so. As IGN reports, Rockstar Games, via its parent company Take-Two Interactive, has filed a lawsuit against the broadcaster over trademark infringement. In a statement, the company says Rockstar Games "has had no involvement" with the project and that it's attempted "multiple times" to resolve the matter with the BBC. The show is being developed under the working title "Game Changer," and it's safe to assume Rockstar, its pivotal employees and the franchise itself will be named in the show. Daniel Radcliffe has already been cast as Rockstar co-founder Sam Houser, alongside Bill Paxton as Jack Thompson, a former attorney that famously campaigned against the game franchise. If the one-off TV drama is to go ahead as planned, it's vital that the BBC settles this legal dispute quickly.
Hulu is reportedly making a TV series based on 'Myst'
It's a good day for point-and-click fans. After the news that you can now play Grim Fandango Remastered on your morning commute, it seems like the '90s classic Myst is getting its own TV series. According to Deadline, a drama series that explores the origin of the game's eponymous island is coming to streaming service Hulu. For those that don't know, Myst was a huge hit in its day; its innovative storytelling methods and stunning graphics made it the best-selling PC game of the decade.
Daniel Radcliffe confirmed for BBC 'Grand Theft Auto' drama
The rumors were true. The BBC's new Grand Theft Auto drama will feature two heavyweight stars: Daniel Radcliffe as Rockstar Games co-founder Sam Houser and Bill Paxton as Jack Thompson, a former attorney that famously campaigned against the video game franchise. It's being developed under the working title "Game Changer" and will focus on the series' cultural impact, particularly around violence in video games.
The BBC is creating a TV drama based on the making of 'Grand Theft Auto'
As part of a major initiative to get the UK into coding, the BBC is creating a new TV show based on the making of Rockstar's best-selling game series Grand Theft Auto. Not much is known about the show; the BBC simply states that a "new BBC Two drama based on Grand Theft Auto" is on its way. According to Guy Cocker, who has been working on the show, the drama will be based on the making of the game, rather than the game itself. A release date for the show hasn't been nailed down yet either, although the related "Make it Digital" campaign kicks off this fall, which may give us a clue.
Breakfast Topic: What do you think of Durotan?
The latest edition of Lords of War was released yesterday, and I have to say it's my favorite so far. The voice acting was top notch, and the story was slightly less in-your-face with the violence and vengeance. Instead, it was almost touching, in a way -- with a haunting warning message that makes it absolutely, abundantly clear why Durotan and the Frostwolves aren't currently hanging out with the rest of the Iron Horde. It was also cool to see some younger orcs, and get a look at Geyah before she became the Greatmother we all know from Garadar. This is, however, the first time we've seen a story that is pretty blatantly divergent from the lore we already know. In our history, Durotan's brother was never mentioned -- maybe he got himself killed at a young age, maybe he simply didn't exist, we don't really know. I think the only thing bothering me right now, and I should really just let it go for the sake of the story but it's becoming harder to do so, is how the heck did Maraad know any of this was going on? Why would he be talking about Durotan's virtues, when in our version of history, Durotan was the one who unveiled Telmor and allowed hundreds of draenei to be brutally murdered? Obviously the story is from an alternate version of history, but the Maraad introductions are becoming increasingly implausible. But I'm doing my best to just ignore that aspect, because frankly the animated tales are some of the best stuff I've ever seen. With beautifully drawn stories like these, I think I can let one draenei's mysterious all-seeing knowledge of everything orc related slide. What did you guys think of the latest Lords of War? What do you think of the Frostwolf Clan -- and what do you think of Durotan?
X-Files, Twin Peaks inspire 'Virginia' from ex-EA, GTA devs
Game industry veterans Jonathan Burroughs and Terry Kenny have formed independent studio Variable State, and are currently working on an interactive drama called Virginia. Inspired by 90s TV shows such as The X-Files, Twin Peaks and The Outer Limits, Virginia follows an FBI agent as she hunts down a missing boy. "Virginia is a first person interactive drama," Variable State writes. "It is the story of a recently graduated FBI agent and her partner as they seek to uncover the mystery surrounding the disappearance of a young boy. In the birthplace of America, nothing is quite what it seems." Burroughs, a writer and designer, has worked at DeepMind Technologies, Relentless Software, Rare and EA, contributing on House of the Dead: Overkill and Battlefield 2: Modern Combat. Kenny is an animator and artist who hails from DeepMind Technologies, Headstrong Games, Frontier Developments and Rockstar Games, with credits on House of the Dead: Overkill and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. Virginia is due out for PC in 2015. The game's art pieces are simple and intriguing, while the first screenshot shows a crude 3D design that looks like a mix of Jazzpunk and Nintendo's Miis. [Images: Variable State]
