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'Game of Thrones' and Amazon's 'Mrs. Maisel' lead Emmy nominations
The Television Academy has revealed this year's Emmy nominations and to absolutely no one's surprise, Game of Thrones scooped up the most nods with 32, including Outstanding Drama Series and 10 nominees across various acting categories. The show with the second-highest tally of nominations is Amazon Prime Video's The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel with 20. It won several awards last year, including the top Outstanding Comedy Series prize. It's nominated again in that category.
YouTube is working on interactive original shows, too
Netflix isn't the only big-name streaming platform working on interactive shows. YouTube is also developing programming that uses the format. Ben Relles, who was YouTube's head of unscripted programming, is heading up a new division focused on interactive shows and live specials.
'Choose Your Own Adventure' publisher sues Netflix over 'Bandersnatch'
Netflix's choose-your-own-adventure style film Black Mirror: Bandersnatch is the subject of a new lawsuit, brought against the streaming giant by Chooseco LLC. The company is known for publishing the "Choose Your Own Adventure" book series popular in the 1980s and 90s, and it's claiming Netflix infringed upon its trademarks, Variety reports. Netflix tried to obtain a license for Chooseco's trademark in the past, according to Chooseco, but never reached a deal with the publisher.
Netflix reveals the challenges of creating 'Bandersnatch'
Last month, Netflix dropped its interactive film Black Mirror: Bandersnatch, which lets viewers get involved in how the story plays out. Now the company is providing a look at some of the challenges the team faced while making the movie. "Part of the excitement of working at Netflix is constantly inventing what is internet TV," Todd Yellin, Netflix's VP of product, says in a short video released by the company. "There's a lot of responsibility because we are innovating on this whole new form."
You can play one of the games from 'Black Mirror: Bandersnatch'
Black Mirror: Bandersnatch dropped on Netflix earlier today and easter eggs from the choose-your-own-adventure film are already popping up. A gamed called Nohzdyve that is featured in the film is online and available to play, but you'll need to download a ZX Spectrum emulator in order to experience it.
Black Mirror's interactive Netflix movie is streaming now
As the rumors suggested, Black Mirror's one-off holiday special is a different kind of show: an interactive drama where you choose how you mess things up. Launching today on Netflix, Black Mirror: Bandersnatch marks the first time the streaming company's used interactivity on a show that's not aimed at kids, like last year's Puss In Boots or Minecraft: Story mode.
Netflix drops the first trailer for 'Black Mirror: Bandersnatch'
Netflix is time-traveling back to the eighties in the first trailer for its upcoming Black Mirror movie, Bandersnatch. Fans have been piecing together clues from a teaser and now we're getting our first look at the flick. The official synopsis states the film is set in 1984 and follows "a young programmer who begins to question reality as he adapts a sprawling fantasy novel into a video game and soon faces a mind-mangling challenge." Directed by Black Mirror alum David Slade, the creepy film stars Fionn Whitehead (Dunkirk), Will Poulter (The Revanant) and Asim Chaudhry (People Just Do Nothing).
Netflix teases 'Black Mirror' movie release
The fifth season of Black Mirror is likely far off, but you're going to get something to tide you over quite soon. Weeks after Netflix posted (and promptly deleted) a mention of a Black Mirror movie, the service has listed a Black Mirror: Bandersnatch movie. The entry has precious few clues as to what's involved, although the odd 5-hour, 12-minute running time (assuming it's accurate) has led some to suspect that this is the rumored choose-your-own-adventure show. There may be some clues to the setting, too.
Netflix might make a choose-your-own-adventure 'Black Mirror'
Apparently, Netflix isn't content with just being a leader in traditional entertainment. According to Bloomberg, the streaming service is exploring choose-your-own-ending style interactive content. While multiple projects are reportedly in development, the first adult programming that viewers will see is an episode of Black Mirror. Viewers will be able to choose the ending to an episode, which is appropriate for a series that explores the effects and implications of technology. The company has apparently been exploring this tech for some time now.
Recommended Reading: The reality of sci-fi's AI immortality obsession
Are Hosts, Replicants, and robot clones closer than we think? Jayson Greene, The Ringer Black Mirror already uncomfortably aligns with the real world, but we might be even closer to more advanced concepts from that show and others, like Westworld and Altered Carbon, becoming reality. The Ringer offers a look at just how far away we could be from Hosts, Replicants and robotic clones following a new trailer release for Keanu Reeves' long lost Replicas movie.
Netflix wins a BAFTA, but the BBC’s still king
Britain's Academy of Film and Television Arts held its annual celebration of the small screen, and Netflix was expected to win big. The streaming service was in line for six awards, with The Crown and Black Mirror both being nominated for three each. Unfortunately, it wasn't to be, and only one of the sextet won a gong on the night: The Crown's Vanessa Kirby, who won best supporting actress.
Netflix eyes its first major TV BAFTA
The nominations for the BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) Awards are out, and like last year, Netflix has scored six nominations. Three are for The Crown, which received nominations for best drama, Claire Foy as best lead actress and Vanessa Kirby as best supporting actress. Black Mirror, which was originally a British show that Netflix purchased the rights for, also received three nominations. These were for best lead actor, Joe Cole in "Hang the DJ"; best supporting actor, Jimmi Simpson in "USS Callister" and best single drama.
Netflix renews 'Black Mirror' for fifth season
Would it surprise you to hear that Netflix's Black Mirror series is popular enough to justify more episodes? No? Well, we're going to let you know regardless: Netflix has confirmed that Charlie Brooker and Annabel Jones' technology-gone-wrong anthology show has been renewed for a fifth season. It's not offering a release window or further details, but it's safe to presume that Black Mirror will continue to explore new concepts and formats. Brooker has been adamant about wanting to avoid rehashing familiar ideas.
Nothing says Happy Valentine's Day like a 'Black Mirror' dating app
So, it's Valentine's Day, and what better time to check on the potential end date of your romantic relationship? It's easy to do over at coach.dating, a fun little web app based on the dating AI, Coach, that manages dating relationships in the Black Mirror episode, "Hang the DJ."
'Black Mirror' predicted our dystopia. How does it evolve?
Before Black Mirror became a Netflix phenomenon, it was the very definition of a cult hit. It appeared on the British network Channel 4 out of nowhere in 2011, and for years it was almost impossible to find outside of the UK. That, to be honest, felt fitting. Its biting and deeply observant commentary on technology's creeping influence in our lives felt dangerous. In many ways, it was like the Twilight Zone reborn. Black Mirror was so prescient, it predicted that a cartoonish reality show star could almost win an election thanks to the power of social media. But in its fourth season, available exclusively on Netflix, the series' cautionary lens on tech is beginning to feel stale.
Maybe private 'Black Mirror' messages weren't a good idea, Netflix
'Tis the season for ominous, intrusive internet promotional campaigns. Netflix has spooked users on a Turkish equivalent to Reddit, Ekşi Sözlük, by sending them promotional direct messages meant to hype up the debut of Black Mirror's fourth season. The messages from "iamwaldo" (a reference to Black Mirror season two's "The Waldo Moment") came in the middle of the night and sounded almost like a threat: "we know what you're up to," they read, "watch and see what we will do."
'Black Mirror' season four is here to ruin your holiday spirit
At some point during Christmas and New Year, the days just sort of blend together. Sat silently in your parents' living room, you're already bored of your gifts, permanently spaced from 'round-the-clock imbibing, and you can't possibly eat any more cheese. But snap out of it, because it's finally time to sink your teeth into season four of Black Mirror. All six episodes of everyone's favorite dystopian reality check are available to binge on Netflix right this second -- and let's be honest, you are going to binge it, because spoilers will be lighting up the group chat by dinner time. To celebrate the new series (and the end of 2017), Netflix has also released a lovely New Year's message. Not the trailer you may've already seen teasing the latest episodes, but a mosaic of footage taken from previous seasons and the real world, which suggests the line between show and the other side of the glass is growing ever thinner.
'Black Mirror' season four hits Netflix on December 29th
After months of hype, Netflix has finally set a release date for the fourth season of Black Mirror. A trailer for Charlie Brooker's technology-gone-wrong anthology has revealed that the six new episodes will premiere on December 29th. You already have an inkling of what to expect through previous trailers: "Arkangel" (directed by Jodie Foster) shows the perils of overprotective parenting, "Crocodile" explores recovering memories from a car crash and "USS Callister" reflects a Star Trek gone horribly wrong. Other episodes include "Hang the DJ" (about a system that finds love matches), "Black Museum" (a museum of terrifying tech) and "Metalhead" (a terrifying robotic hound, from the sounds of it).
'Black Mirror' trailers preview episodes, leave out release date
Netflix continues to drive internet fans of the Black Mirror series crazy by releasing buzzy new trailers, while still not saying when we can actually watch the damn thing. The first one is for Arkangel, an episode directed by Oscar-winner Jodie Foster, showing the hazards trying too hard to protect your precious snowflakes. After a mother (Mad Men's Rosemarie DeWitt) briefly loses her daughter, she elects to use a new type of tracking technology called "Arkangel" that, obviously, only makes things worse.
CBS is bringing back 'The Twilight Zone' on All Access
During a call to discuss CBS' most recent quarterly earnings, CEO Les Moonves announced the network is planning a new version of The Twilight Zone for its streaming All Access service. It's already launched (and renewed) Star Trek Discovery to pull in subscribers, and is ready to lean on another established name to add value on top of new series like its Will Ferrell comedy No Activity that is launching this month. It's a sign of how much things have changed since the days when CBS simply licensed back episodes to Netflix, and now it's relaunching the series in a move that competes with Netflix's award-winning show Black Mirror that draws inspiration from Twilight Zone.