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Apple reportedly taps Spielberg for new 'Amazing Stories'
Looks like Apple found someone to spend some of that billion dollars it earmarked for original TV and movies on: Steven Spielberg. Each episode of the revived Amazing Stories anthology series will cost about $5 million, according to Wall Street Journal's sources, and Spielberg will serve as executive producer for the show. Bryan Fuller (American Gods, Hannibal) is set to write according to Deadline, and the show has apparently been on ice for a few years. It's a partnership between the filmmaker's Amblin Television company, NBCUniversal and the iPhone maker.
Explore Philip K. Dick's crazy futures in 'Electric Dreams' trailer
Amazon is no stranger to sci-fi author Philip K. Dick's somewhat skewed vision of the future, having found success with The Man in the High Castle and its alternative history timeline. The company teased its new anthology series based on the author's work, Electric Dreams, this past August, but now fans are getting a much more in-depth trailer at New York Comic Con. It's full of weird and wonderful visions of our future, all based on Dick's writings. The team also screened a short clip from The Man in the High Castle's third season.
Uber's former self-driving lead is creating an AI religion
In a development that wouldn't be out of place in a Black Mirror episode, we could soon be worshipping an artificially intelligent god figure. And this isn't a satirical take on our existing roles as disciples of social media, or the transcendental joy we feel when an Uber Eats delivery arrives. According to state filings uncovered by Wired, in September 2015 disgraced engineer Anthony Levandowski established a non-profit religious corporation called Way of the Future. Its mission: "To develop and promote the realization of a Godhead based on artificial intelligence and through understanding and worship of the Godhead contribute to the betterment of society." In the last two months alone we've seen robots perform funeral ceremonies and AI chips mimic the human brain -- could a Deus ex Machina really be that far behind?
'Black Mirror' season four looks as bleak as ever
Black Mirror is coming back to depress us all, and Netflix has revealed the cast and directors for season four's episodes. If you thought the last season was perhaps a little too happy-go-lucky, the teaser below might reassure you that showrunner Charlie Brooker hasn't lost sight of what made the Twilight Zone-meets-modern-technology anthology series so compelling. Per Deadline, Jodie Foster is behind the camera for "Arkangel," which looks to focus on a family's new tablet.
Netflix's next original is basically a French 'Black Mirror'
One of the great things about Netflix's global expansion is that it allows audiences to enjoy new movies and TV shows that have been produced in other countries. French subscribers, for example, saw their first local original -- Marseille -- debut around this time last year. Today, as part of a wider statement confirming the creation of 400 new European jobs, Netflix announced that it has greenlit its second French-language TV series, Osmosis. Judging by the show's synopsis, fans of Charlie Brooker's Black Mirror could be in for a treat.
'Netflix Vista' imagines binge watching inside 'Black Mirror'
Sure, lately it feels like we're living an episode of Charlie Brooker's tech-gone-wrong series Black Mirror, but what if we really were? This "Netflix Vista" short just posted by the company takes that idea to its preferred conclusion. Including technology reminiscent of the first season's third episode ("The Entire History of You"), it imagines a world where everyone has implants that allow them to augment reality with video overlays.
Netflix taunts ad blocking crowd with 'Black Mirror' ads
You might not like that companies are trying to either discourage ad blocking or serve ads regardless, but at least they're getting creative about it. Netflix is promoting its bleak drama Black Mirror by serving special ads just to people spotted using ad blocking software. "You cannot see the ad. But the ad can see you," Mashable saw in one example. The ad is certainly consistent with Black Mirror's notion of technological breakthroughs gone wrong, but it may come as a surprise if you'd installed a blocker precisely to avoid this kind of media blitz.
Watch the first trailer for 'Black Mirror' season three
The third season of Charlie Brooker's dark, technology-infused drama Black Mirror is almost upon us. The show is known for its bleak but surprisingly believable depictions of the future, where society has pursued revelatory technologies -- only to discover some unsettling consequences. The show started on Channel 4 in the UK, but has since been picked up by Netflix for season three. The first proper trailer dropped today, teasing some of the storylines that will play out in each of the six episodes. There are plenty of familiar faces, including Bryce Dallas Howard (Jurassic World), Jerome Flynn (Game of Thrones) and Michael Kelly (House of Cards). The first batch of episodes will drop on October 21st. Netflix has commissioned 12 episodes, however, so a second set -- which most people are now referring to as season four -- will be released at a later date.
'Black Mirror' season three won't be shown on Channel 4
Last September, Netflix commissioned a new season of Black Mirror from Charlie Brooker and the House of Tomorrow team. It was pitched as a "Netflix original," although the company stressed it would premiere internationally "in all Netflix territories outside the UK and Ireland." Here, it said, plans were "still being determined." As The Guardian notes, that's because Channel 4 -- which funded and aired the first two seasons -- was still in the running for first broadcast rights on its home turf. Not anymore. The negotiations have now wrapped up, with Netflix proving the victor. It means the next season of Black Mirror will now premiere globally on Netflix, including the UK. Channel 4, meanwhile, won't be showing the programme at all. "Black Mirror couldn't be a more Channel 4 show," Jay Hunt, Channel 4's Chief Creative Officer said. "We grew it from a dangerous idea to a brand that resonated globally. Of course, it's disappointing that the first broadcast window in the UK is then sold to the highest bidder, ignoring the risk a publically owned channel like Four took backing it." Netflix, on the other hand, is understandably thrilled with the outcome. Ted Sarandos, Chief Content Officer for Netflix, said: "Netflix has been the proud home of Black Mirror in most of the world and are thrilled to support Charlie and Annabel's amazing vision for the new season that will premiere only on Netflix globally, including the UK." Black Mirror season three is effectively a Netflix exclusive, so you'll need a subscription to watch each new episode later this year. An exact release date hasn't been given, although the company has teased it'll be coming out "soon." As with earlier seasons, we suspect it'll deliver some pretty dark and unnervingly believable visions of our society in the near future. All new episodes. Coming soon. #BlackMirrorhttps://t.co/Ug5LY66VoY — Netflix UK & Ireland (@NetflixUK) March 29, 2016
Netflix's next original is Charlie Brooker's 'Black Mirror'
The rumors were true: Charlie Brooker's renowned Black Mirror is headed to Netflix as its next original. The company confirmed today that it has commissioned 12 new episodes of the dystopian drama series, with Brooker and Annabel Jones, who produced the first seven episodes, continuing to spearhead development of the show. Brooker has already begun writing the new chapters, which will be shot later this year.
What's on your HDTV: 'Mozart in the Jungle', 'Black Mirror', 'Anger Management'
This week we will enjoy a selection of holiday programming, which pretty much means the regular stuff is taking a break for Christmas movie repeats and bowl games. Amidst all the "you'll shoot your eye out" and unpaid football players, the holiday itself is actually going to be a bonanza if you prefer your TV with a UK flavor. If you've been enjoying the Twilight Zone-ish Black Mirror on Netflix, (if you haven't, go watch it right now) then you may be happy to know this year's holiday special episode featuring Mad Men star Jon Hamm will air in the US, but only on DirecTV's Audience channel (or... other sources). Otherwise, there's Call the Midwife and Vicious on PBS, while BBC America has Doctor Who. Amazon is launching its new show Mozart in the Jungle this week, while Hulu kicks off the next season of The Wrong Mans. Finally, Charlie Sheen's post-Two and a Half Men comedy Anger Management wraps up its run with the 200th episode on FX -- did anyone really watch them all? Look after the break to check out each day's highlights, including trailers and let us know what you think (or what we missed).