Here’s a compendium curated by entertainment journalists from the Associated Press about what’s coming to TV, streaming services, and music platforms this week.
Movies
— Stephanie Conway is a popular high school senior in 2002, but a cheerleading accident put her in a coma for 20 years in the new Netflix comedy “Senior Years,” debuting Friday. After waking up in 2022 at the age of 37, Stephanie, played by Rebel Wilson, decided to re-enroll and end her high school career. Directed by Alex Hardcastle, a veteran of American sitcoms such as “New Girl,” “Parks and Recreation” and “The Mindy Project,” Senior Year co-stars Sam Richardson, Alicia Silverstone, Chris Parnell and Angouri Rice as young Stephanie .
— Netflix is also introducing the period drama, “Operation Minsmeat,” on Wednesday, which is based on a real operation in World War II in which a dead Royal Marines officer dressed up as a British intelligence officer attempting to deceive the Axis use the body. Keep the Allied invasion of the Powers and Sicily a secret. The film, directed by John Madden (“Shakespeare in Love”), stars Colin Firth and Matthew McFadden (both have taken spins as Mr. Darcy), as well as Kelly Macdonald and Penelope Wilton.
— “Firestarter,” the creepy tale of a young girl with Stephen King’s pyrokinetic powers, is a new adaptation from director Keith Thomas, coming to Peacock (and theaters) on Friday. Ryan Keira Armstrong played Drew Barrymore in 1984, as the girl grappled with the impossible responsibility of protecting her family and herself against a government agency that hopes to weaponize her powers. Zac Efron plays his father as mother opposite Sidney Lemon.
— Associated Press Film writer Lindsey Bahri
music
— celebrating a significant anniversary with The Black Keys new album. “Dropout Boogie”, released Friday, features collaborations with Reigning Sound’s Greg Cartwright, ZZ Top’s Billy F. Gibbons and Kings of Leon’s Angelo Petraglia. It would be released the day before the 20th anniversary release of The Black Keys’ debut LP, “The Big Come Up”. Opening singles from the new album include “It Ain’t Over” and the classic rocking throwback “Wild Child” written by band members Dan Orbach and Patrick Carney with Cartwright. The new album marks the first time many takes are captured, echoing the stripped-down blues rock of the duo’s early days while making music together in Akron, Ohio. The Black Keys will tour North America for the first time in three years, starting in July.
– Becky G is following up on her hit single “Mummy” with her third studio album, the 14-cut “Escumas,” on Friday. “Mummy” featuring Karol G entered the top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100 and the top 10 on the Billboard Global 200 singles chart. The single — along with a music video featuring “Euphoria” actor Angus Claude — has so far collected 350 million streams globally, with more than 150 million streams on Spotify alone. Another cut from the album is “No Mienten”, a throbbing dance cut led by a pluck of catchy guitar strings. And there’s “Kill Bill,” a murky, slinky banger with the sound of swords hitting and thundering.
— Associated Press Entertainment Writer Mark Kennedy
Television
— Duke Kahanamoku on PBS’ “American Masters: Waterman – Duke: Ambassador of Aloha,” debuts Tuesday and narrated by Jason Momoa. Kahanamoku won a total of five Olympic medals in the 1912, 1920 and 1924 Games and was an advocate for his native Hawaii and surfing. The documentary, directed by Isaac Halasima, traces Kahanamoku’s rise to fame, encounters with racism, and the role in Hawaii’s transition from a state to a US state. Archival footage and new interviews including top surfers Laird Hamilton and Carissa Moore help tell the story.
– Devotees of Audrey Niffenegger’s novel “The Time Traveler’s Wife” made the 2009 film adaptation a success, despite mixed reviews. Perhaps the complex science-fiction romance is better suited for a series, which HBO is pitching with Rose Leslie and Theo James as challenging lovers. “The Time Traveler’s Wife”, debuting Sunday and adapted from the 2003 book by the ever-credible Steven Moffatt (“Sherlock,” “Doctor Who”), follows Henry’s zig-zagging relationship, One who is born with a genetic predisposition that causes it. Decades to jump into, and Claire, whose devotion to her is timeless.
— Another book-to-TV adaptation, Hulu’s “Conversations with Friends,” also arrives Sunday. Based on the acclaimed 2017 novel by Sally Rooney, the 12-episode series stars Alison Oliver and Sasha Lane as Dublin college students Francis and Bobby, who remain close friends and spoken-word poetry collaborators. Their friendship is put to the test when the women meet an older couple, writer Melissa (Jemima Kirke) and her actor-husband Nick (Joe Alwyn). A flirtation for one pair and an affair for the other follows – leading Frances to reevaluate her life and Bobby’s role in it.
— Associated Press Television writer Lynn Elbe
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Watch Associated Press’s entertainment coverage here: https://apnews.com/apf-entertainment.
