May the Fourth be with You! It’s Star Wars Day, and no doubt there’s a lot to watch on Disney+ to celebrate. But it’s not the only thing happening in entertainment right now – we have new screenings (with goodies included), new series, and new movie announcements as well.
Looking for the latest release information? Check out the release schedule here, or find the new series coming to this summer on Hulu here.
Metro Detroit Local Events
- Hatsune Miku – Miku Expo 2024
- Leanne Morgan (June 22nd)
- Girls Night Out (July 13th)
- Shrek The Musical (August 2-4)
- FLOW (August 10th)
- Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (September 14th)
- Avatar: The Last Airbender in Concert (October 20th)
- Broadway in Detroit 2024-2025 Season
Screenings
Movie and Series Review
Movie and Entertainment Updates
Hulu Has Apes: “Planet of the Apes” Franchise – Now Streaming
Get ready for this summer’s blockbuster “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” by taking a deep dive into the sci-fi cult classic franchise. Binge watch the entire “Planet of the Apes” franchise on Hulu, perfectly timed for the theatrical release of “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes,” hitting theaters worldwide on May 10.
All nine prior films are now streaming on Hulu!
THE IDEA OF YOU – Now Streaming on Prime Video
Based on the acclaimed, contemporary love story of the same name, The Idea of You centers on Solène (Anne Hathaway), a 40-year-old single mom who begins an unexpected romance with 24-year-old Hayes Campbell (Nicholas Galitzine), the lead singer of August Moon, the hottest boy band on the planet. When Solène must step in to chaperone her teenage daughter’s trip to the Coachella Music Festival after her ex bails at the last minute, she has a chance encounter with Hayes and there is an instant, undeniable spark. As they begin a whirlwind romance, it isn’t long before Hayes’ superstar status poses unavoidable challenges to their relationship, and Solène soon discovers that life in the glare of his spotlight might be more than she bargained for.
KNUCKLES Opening Title Sequence – Now Streaming on Paramount+
In KNUCKLES, Knuckles himself is introduced to ‘earth music’ through Wade Whipples’ ‘Wadejammerz’ mixed CDs. The KNUCKLES main title sequence is a nod to this memorable introduction and a nostalgic 90’s throwback, featuring markered animations of the film’s main characters which jump across the labels of the mixed CDs. The credits roll across the CDs as we flip through the CD case to the tune of “The Warrior” by Scandal featuring Patty Smyth.
ABOUT KNUCKLES:
KNUCKLES, the latest in the “Cinematic World of Sonic the Hedgehog” from Paramount Pictures and SEGA of America, is a new live-action event series following Knuckles (Idris Elba) on a hilarious and action-packed journey of self-discovery as he agrees to train Wade Whipple (Adam Pally) as his protégé and teach him the ways of the Echidna warrior. The series takes place between the films SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 2 and SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 3.
THE FALL GUY | New Featurette – In Theaters Now
He’s a stuntman, and like everyone in the stunt community, he gets blown up, shot, crashed, thrown through windows and dropped from the highest of heights, all for our entertainment. And now, fresh off an almost career-ending accident, this working-class hero has to track down a missing movie star, solve a conspiracy and try to win back the love of his life while still doing his day job. What could possibly go right?
From real life stunt man and director David Leitch, the blockbuster director of Bullet Train, Deadpool 2, Atomic Blonde and Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw and the producer of John Wick, Nobody and Violent Night, comes his most personal film yet. A new hilarious, hard-driving, all-star apex-action thriller and love letter to action movies and the hard-working and under-appreciated crew of people who make them: The Fall Guy.
Oscar® nominee Ryan Gosling (Barbie, La La Land, Drive) stars as Colt Seavers, a battle-scarred stuntman who, having left the business a year earlier to focus on both his physical and mental health, is drafted back into service when the star of a mega-budget studio movie—being directed by his ex, Jody Moreno, played by Golden Globe winner Emily Blunt (Oppenheimer, A Quiet Place films, Sicario)—goes missing.
While the film’s ruthless producer (Emmy winner Hannah Waddingham; Ted Lasso), maneuvers to keep the disappearance of star Tom Ryder (Golden Globe winner Aaron Taylor-Johnson; Bullet Train) a secret from the studio and the media, Colt performs the film’s most outrageous stunts while trying (with limited success) to charm his way back into Jody’s good graces. But as the mystery around the missing star deepens, Colt will find himself ensnared in a sinister, criminal plot that will push him to the edge of a fall more dangerous than any stunt.
Inspired by the hit 1980s TV series, The Fall Guy also stars Winston Duke (Black Panther franchise) and Academy Award® nominee Stephanie Hsu (Everything Everywhere All at Once).
From a screenplay by Hobbs & Shaw screenwriter Drew Pearce, The Fall Guy is produced by Kelly McCormick (Bullet Train, Nobody, Atomic Blonde) and David Leitch for their company 87North, and by Ryan Gosling and by Guymon Casady (Game of Thrones, Steve Jobs and executive producer of the upcoming series Ripley) for Entertainment 360. The film is executive produced by Drew Pearce, Entertainment 360’s Geoff Shaevitz and the creator of the original Fall Guy television series, Glen A. Larson.
THE SIMPSONS CELEBRATE MOTHER’S DAY IN NEW SHORT “MAY THE 12TH BE WITH YOU” PREMIERING on Disney+ MAY 10th
Disney+ announced “May the 12th Be With You,’” a new promotional short from “The Simpsons,”’ will launch May 10th, exclusively on Disney+. In the upcoming short, it’s Mother’s Day and Marge Simpson joins the moms of Disney+ on a special holiday outing that turns into an epic galactic adventure filled with heroes, villains and a surprising old friend. New key art for the upcoming short can be downloaded here.
“May the 12th Be With You” is the latest in a collection of shorts from “The Simpsons” created exclusively for Disney+. The previously released shorts “Maggie Simpson in ‘Rogue Not Quite One’” (2024 Webby Winner), “The Simpsons meet the Bocellis in ‘Feliz Navidad,’” “Welcome to the Club,” “When Billie Met Lisa” (Emmy® nominated), “Maggie Simpson in ‘The Force Awakens from Its Nap’” (Emmy® nominated), “The Good, The Bart, and The Loki” and “The Simpsons in Plusaversary” are currently available on Disney+. All of these and more can be found in “The Simpsons” collection on the streaming service here: https://www.disneyplus.com/franchise/the-simpsons
THE COUNTDOWN IS ON! 10 DAYS, THE ACTION-ADVENTURE SPECTACLE OF THE SUMMER, “KINGDOM OF THE PLANET OF THE APES,” HITS THEATERS WORLDWIDE May 10th
20th Century Studios has debuted an all-new trailer for “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” in celebration of the 10-day countdown to the film’s global release. The action-adventure spectacle of the Summer opens exclusively in theaters worldwide on May 10 and will be available in IMAX®, Dolby Cinema®, 4DX, ScreenX, and premium screens everywhere. Get tickets now at Fandango or wherever tickets are sold.Be the first to see the film on premium screens when you buy tickets to an early access screening on May 8 and receive a commemorative poster.
Director Wes Ball breathes new life into the global, epic franchise set several generations in the future following Caesar’s reign, in which apes are the dominant species living harmoniously and humans have been reduced to living in the shadows. As a new tyrannical ape leader builds his empire, one young ape undertakes a harrowing journey that will cause him to question all that he has known about the past and to make choices that will define a future for apes and humans alike.
“Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” is directed by Wes Ball (the “Maze Runner” trilogy) and stars Owen Teague (“IT”), Freya Allan (“The Witcher”), Kevin Durand (“Locke & Key”), Peter Macon (“Shameless”), and William H. Macy (“Fargo”). The screenplay is by Josh Friedman (“War of the Worlds”), based on characters created by Rick Jaffa & Amanda Silver (“Avatar: The Way of Water”), and the producers are Wes Ball, Joe Hartwick, Jr., p.g.a. (“The Maze Runner”), Rick Jaffa, p.g.a., Amanda Silver, p.g.a., Jason Reed, p.g.a. (“Mulan”), with Peter Chernin (the “Planet of the Apes” trilogy) and Jenno Topping (“Ford v. Ferrari”) serving as executive producers.
IF | Cast Featurette – In Theaters May 17th
From writer and director John Krasinski, IF is about a girl who discovers that she can see everyone’s imaginary friends — and what she does with that superpower — as she embarks on a magical adventure to reconnect forgotten IFs with their kids. IF stars Ryan Reynolds, John Krasinski, Cailey Fleming, Fiona Shaw, and the voices of Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Louis Gossett Jr. and Steve Carell alongside many more as the wonderfully unique characters that reflect the incredible power of a child’s imagination.
CREATION OF THE GODS I: KINGDOM OF STORMS – On Digital & Blu-ray May 28th
From director Wuershan (Painted Skin: The Resurrection, Mojin: The Lost Legend)) comes the award-winning epic fantasy CREATION OF THE GODS I: KINGDOM OF STORMS,debuting on DVD, Blu-ray™ and Digital May 28 from Well Go USA Entertainment. After killing the emperor, King Zhou reigns as a tyrant so brutal that he earns Heaven’s wrath. To save the mortal world, the gods intervene and invest in a champion brave enough to challenge the king—even if it may cost him everything. CREATION OF THE GODS I: KINGDOM OF STORMS stars Kris Phillips (The Monkey King 2), Li Xuejian (The Wandering Earth II), Huang Bo (Journey to the West), Yu Shi (Born to Fly), Chen Muchi, highly praised newcomer Naran, and Ci Sha. Bonus Features include an all-new English dub and behind-the-scenes content.
CREATION OF THE GODS I: KINGDOM OF STORMS won Best Film and Best Supporting Actor (Li Xuejian) at the Golden Rooster Awards and Wuershan was named Director of the Year by the China Film Critics Association.
Synopsis:
After conspiring with a conniving fox demon to kill the emperor and seize power, King Zhou reigns as a tyrant so brutal that he incurs the wrath of Heaven. In a final attempt to save the mortal world from desperate peril, the gods decide to intervene and invest in an unlikely champion brave enough to challenge the evil king—even if it may cost him everything.
YOUNG WOMAN AND THE SEA – New Featurette – In Theaters May 31st
Disney released a new featurette for “Young Woman and the Sea,” the extraordinary true story of Trudy Ederle, the first woman to successfully swim the English Channel. Advance tickets for the inspirational drama starring Daisy Ridley – the ultimate underdog story – are now available for purchase at Fandango (https://www.fandango.com/YoungWomanandtheSea) or wherever tickets are sold. For information on group sales, go to https://grouptickets.disneystudios.com/youngwomanandthesea. “Young Woman and the Sea” is coming to theaters nationwide in a special engagement May 31, 2024.
Daisy Ridley stars as the accomplished swimmer who was born to immigrant parents in New York City in 1905. Through the steadfast support of her older sister and supportive trainers, she overcame adversity and the animosity of a patriarchal society to rise through the ranks of the Olympic swimming team and complete the staggering achievement – a 21-mile trek from France to England. “Young Woman and the Sea,” which also stars Tilda Cobham-Hervey, Stephen Graham, Kim Bodnia, Christopher Eccleston, Jeanette Hain, Sian Clifford, and Glenn Fleshler, is directed by Joachim Rønning and written by Jeff Nathanson, based on the book “Young Woman and the Sea: How Trudy Ederle Conquered the English Channel and Inspired the World” by Glenn Stout. The producers are Jerry Bruckheimer, Chad Oman, and Jeff Nathanson, with John G. Scotti, Daisy Ridley, and Joachim Rønning serving as executive producers.
Presumed Innocent – premieres globally on Apple TV+ June 12th
Apple TV+ debuted the teaser for “Presumed Innocent,” the upcoming, eight-part limited series starring and executive produced by Jake Gyllenhaal, hailing from multi Emmy Award-winners David E. Kelley and executive producer J.J. Abrams. The star-studded ensemble cast also includes Ruth Negga, Bill Camp, O-T Fagbenle, Chase Infiniti, Elizabeth Marvel, Nana Mensah, Renate Reinsve, Peter Sarsgaard and Kingston Rumi Southwick. “Presumed Innocent” will make its global debut on Apple TV+, premiering the first two episodes on Wednesday, June 12 followed by a new episode every Wednesday through July 24.
Based on The New York Times bestselling novel of the same name by Scott Turow, the gripping series takes viewers on a journey through the horrific murder that upends the Chicago Prosecuting Attorney’s office when chief deputy prosecutor Rusty Sabich (played by Gyllenhaal) is suspected of the crime. The series explores obsession, sex, politics, and the power and limits of love, as the accused fights to hold his family and marriage together.
“Presumed Innocent” hails from Bad Robot Productions and David E. Kelley Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television, where Bad Robot is under an overall deal. Abrams and Rachel Rusch Rich executive produce for Bad Robot. Kelley serves as showrunner and executive produces through David E. Kelley Productions alongside Matthew Tinker. Dustin Thomason, Sharr White and Gyllenhaal also serve as executive producers. Turow and Miki Johnson serve as co-executive producers. Anne Sewitsky serves as executive producer and directs the first two episodes and episode eight, and Emmy Award-winner Greg Yaitanes executive produces and directs episodes three through seven.
Shoresy S3 | Key Art – Streaming on Hulu June 21st
SHORESY (Jared Keeso) and the Sudbury Blueberry Bulldogs compete in the National Senior Tournament.
THE BIKERIDERS |Official Poster – In Theaters June 21st
THE BIKERIDERS follows the rise of a midwestern motorcycle club, the Vandals. Seen through the lives of its members, the club evolves over the course of a decade from a gathering place for local outsiders into a more sinister gang, threatening the original group’s unique way of life.
LEE – Official Trailer – In Theaters September 27th
LEE, the directorial feature from award-winning Cinematographer Ellen Kuras, portrays a pivotal decade in the life of American war correspondent and photographer, Lee Miller (Kate Winslett). Miller’s singular talent and unbridled tenacity resulted in some of the 20th century’s most indelible images of war, including an iconic photo of Miller herself, posing defiantly in Hitler’s private bathtub.
Miller had a profound understanding and empathy for women and the voiceless victims of war. Her images display both the fragility and ferocity of the human experience. Above all, the film shows how Miller lived her life at full throttle in pursuit of truth, for which she paid a huge personal price, forcing her to confront a traumatic and deeply buried secret from her childhood.
Mufasa: The Lion King – In Theaters December 20th
Disney unveiled a first look at “Mufasa: The Lion King,” the new film coming to theaters Dec. 20 that explores the unlikely rise of the beloved king of the Pride Lands. The new trailer, poster and images are now available to download and share. Announced this morning is an all-star roster of talent bringing new and fan-favorite characters to life—plus, celebrated award-winning songwriter Lin-Manuel Miranda is writing the film’s songs produced by Mark Mancina and Miranda, with additional music and performances by Lebo M.
Said Miranda, “Elton John. Tim Rice. Hans Zimmer. Lebo M. Mark Mancina. Beyoncé, Labrinth, Ilya Salmanzadeh. Beau Black, Ford Riley, the incredible music team on ‘The Lion Guard,’ and so many musical contributors over the years. ‘The Lion King’ has an incredible musical legacy with music from some of the greatest songwriters around, and I’m humbled and proud to be a part of it. It’s been a joy working alongside Barry Jenkins to bring Mufasa’s story to life, and we can’t wait for audiences to experience this film in theaters.”
“Mufasa: The Lion King” enlists Rafiki to relay the legend of Mufasa to young lion cub Kiara, daughter of Simba and Nala, with Timon and Pumbaa lending their signature schtick. Told in flashbacks, the story introduces Mufasa as an orphaned cub, lost and alone until he meets a sympathetic lion named Taka—the heir to a royal bloodline. The chance meeting sets in motion an expansive journey of an extraordinary group of misfits searching for their destiny—their bonds will be tested as they work together to evade a threatening and deadly foe.
New and returning cast members were called on to lend their voices to the film:
- Aaron Pierre as Mufasa
- Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Taka, a lion prince with a bright future who accepts Mufasa into his family as a brother
- Tiffany Boone as Sarabi
- Kagiso Lediga as Young Rafiki
- Preston Nyman as Zazu
- Mads Mikkelsen as Kiros, a formidable lion with big plans for his pride
- Thandiwe Newton as Taka’s mother, Eshe
- Lennie James as Taka’s father, Obasi
- Anika Noni Rose as Mufasa’s mother, Afia
- Keith David as Mufasa’s father, Masego
- John Kani as Rafiki
- Seth Rogen as Pumbaa
- Billy Eichner as Timon
- Donald Glover as Simba
- Introducing Blue Ivy Carter as Kiara, daughter of King Simba and Queen Nala
- And Beyoncé Knowles-Carter as Nala
Additional casting includes Braelyn Rankins, Theo Somolu, Folake Olowofoyeku, Joanna Jones, Thuso Mbedu, Sheila Atim, Abdul Salis and Dominique Jennings.
Blending live-action filmmaking techniques with photoreal computer-generated imagery, “Mufasa: The Lion King” is directed by Barry Jenkins, produced by Adele Romanski & Mark Ceryak, and executive produced by Peter Tobyansen.