I have gotten a plethora of cool press releases have been flooding my inbox recently that you may find interesting. This post includes blurbs on Waco: The Aftermath, Living with Chucky, Am I Being Unreasonable?, The Circus, Em Beihold, Jack Johnson, The Weeknd and Ariana Grande, Sting, Paris Jackson, Outer Banks, and A Gentleman in Moscow.
- SHOWTIME® announced that WACO: THE AFTERMATH, starring Oscar nominee Michael Shannon (GEORGE & TAMMY), will debut on streaming and on demand for all SHOWTIME subscribers on Friday, April 14, before making its on-air debut on Sunday, April 16 at 10 p.m. ET/PT. Coinciding with the 30th anniversary of the tragic events at Mt. Carmel that began on February 28, 1993, WACO: THE AFTERMATH focuses on the fallout of the Waco disaster: the trials of the surviving members of the Branch Davidian sect and the rise of homegrown terrorist, Timothy McVeigh. The five-episode limited series also provides a broader context for the escalation of the American militia movement, which foreshadows the infamous attacks of the Oklahoma City bombing and the storming of the U.S. Capitol on January 6. Viewers will also get the opportunity to watch the 2018 limited series WACO starting on non-linear platforms on Friday, March 3 and on-air beginning Sunday, March 5 at 10 p.m. ET on SHOWTIME. The six-episode limited series is based on the harrowing true story of the 51-day stand-off between the ATF and the Branch Davidians, the small religious community in Texas, that resulted in a deadly shootout and fire. WACO originally aired on Paramount Network in 2018.
- Living with Chucky takes an in depth look at the groundbreaking Child’s Play franchise from the perspective of a filmmaker who grew up within it. Featuring interviews with cast and crew such as Brad Dourif, Jennifer Tilly, Alex Vincent, creator Don Mancini, and much more, this personal film recounts the dedication, creativity and sacrifice that went into making the franchise and its long-lasting impact on the horror community. Storming into pop culture in the late 1980s, the three-foot menace known as Chucky, proved that Child’s Play was anything but. The horror film went on to spawn six sequels, a television series, a reboot, comic books, a video game and merchandise. Written and directed by Kyra Elise Gardner, daughter of legendary special effects artist Tony Gardner, Living With Chucky looks back at the groundbreaking horror franchise by those there from the beginning. The documentary details the history of the Child’s Play films by the cast and crew, in addition to Gardner’s own relationship with the series and the impact it had on her family. Gardner, who grew up alongside Chucky the killer doll, seeks out other families involved with the Child's Play films as they recount their experiences working on the franchise and what it means to be a part of the "Chucky" family.
- In a deal with BBC Studios, Hulu has acquired the U.S. rights to all episodes of the new genre-bending comedy thriller, Am I Being Unreasonable?, written by and starring multi-BAFTA award winning Daisy May Cooper (This Country) and Selin Hizli (Mum). The series is executive produced by Jack Thorne (His Dark Materials, Help, National Treasure) and is slated to debut in the U.S. on April 11, 2023 as a Hulu Original. Co-produced by Boffola Pictures and Lookout Point, critically-acclaimed Am I Being Unreasonable? sees Nic (Daisy May Cooper) grieving a loss that she can’t share with anyone whilst stuck in a depressing marriage. Only her son, Ollie (Lenny Rush, Apple Tree House) who she adores, keeps her going. But when Jen (Selin Hizli) arrives in town, her life is lit up with laughter and, through this kindred soul, her dark secret starts to bubble up. View Trailer: Here
- The Emmy® nominated docuseries THE CIRCUS: INSIDE THE GREATEST POLITICAL SHOW ON EARTH returns for its eighth season this Sunday with President Biden on the world stage in Kyiv rallying support for Ukraine on the one-year anniversary of Russia's invasion. With host John Heilemann on the ground in Warsaw, Poland, and Mark McKinnon and Jennifer Palmieri stateside, the program explores Biden's historic struggle to keep the NATO alliance unified in its support of Ukraine and the political fallout at home. Biden's trip to Poland comes on the heels of his surprise visit to the embattled capital of Ukraine. For a preview, go to: https://youtu.be/QdnFqZXnwlc
- Platinum-certified critically acclaimed singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer Em Beihold shares a new single entitled “Roller Coasters Make Me Sad” via Moon Projects/Republic Records. Listen to “Roller Coasters Make Me Sad” HERE and watch the official lyric video (created by Julia Fernandez) HERE. The track infuses her incredible songwriting with introspection. It’s the anthem for anyone who is confused as to why they aren’t happier when everyone around them seems to be enjoying themselves. “First they take you up the track, build you up and take it back, everybody else will laugh, Roller Coasters make me sad.” She doubles down on the bridge with “I should be having fun, I should be having fun, I should be having fun” which comes across as a puzzling internal chant for those who wish they had stayed home.
- Multi-platinum musician Jack Johnson announces new album, In Between Dub, featuring a remix collection of some of Johnson’s most beloved recordings from his over two decade long career, but with a dub twist. In Between Dub will be available on all streaming platforms and select retailers on June 2, 2023 through Brushfire and Republic Records. Lead track, “Traffic In The Sky”, one of two new Lee “Scratch” Perry dub remixes, is out today on all streaming platforms. Listen here. In Between Dub, a three-year creation, began after Jack reached out to famed reggae pioneer Lee “Scratch” Perry in early 2020 to produce a dub remix album. After a year-long pandemic pause, Lee “Scratch” Perry began working on several tracks, crafting original music and mixes from his studio in Jamaica. Lee “Scratch” Perry sent the sketches over to Jack in Hawaii and together they connected to collaborate on a direction.
- The Weeknd and Ariana Grande have teamed up for a remix of his single “Die For You” from his highly acclaimed album Starboy. The collaboration comes on the heels of the single’s staggering resurgence where it has completed “the longest climb to #1 in U.S. radio history,” it has also clinched #1 on the Billboard Radio Songs Chart for two weeks and has been on the Billboard Hot 100 for all of 2023, recently vaulting into the Top 10, serving as his 16Th Top 10 entry on the respective chart. The record also broke into the Top 20 of the Billboard Global 200, scoring his 15Th Top 20 in the process. The Weeknd’s anticipated Live at SoFi Stadium special with HBO premieres this Saturday February 25th and will also be starring in his new television show, The Idol, (date tba) on HBO alongside Lily-Rose Depp which he wrote and executive produced with Reza Fahim and Sam Levinson. Live at SoFi Stadium trailer: HERE. Listen to The Weeknd’s new remix of “Die For You” featuring Ariana Grande HERE
- A&M/UMe celebrates the 30th-anniversary of Sting’s fourth solo album, Ten Summoner’s Tales, with a digital-only Expanded Edition released today. Originally released on March 1, 1993, the album title is a somewhat tongue-in-cheek mashup of the artist’s given surname, Sumner, and a character in Geoffrey Chaucer’s 15th-century literary classic The Canterbury Tales, the summoner. The 27-track Expanded Edition features the original 12-song Ten Summoner’s Tales album plus 15 bonus tracks consisting of B-sides, remixes, alternate versions, and live performances (complete track listing included below). Eleven of these 15 bonus tracks were previously unavailable for digital download or streaming. Mixed by 4-time Grammy Award winning Robert “Hitmixer” Orton, the album is also available in Dolby Atmos. Listen to or purchase Sting’s Ten Summoner’s Tales – Expanded Edition HERE.
-Singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, actress, and activist paris jackson unveils her new single “bandaid” out via Republic Records—listen HERE. Drawing influences from 90’s grunge and alternative, the spirited anthem was sonically inspired by Interpol, Smashing Pumpkins, and Nirvana and lyrically inspired by Andy Hull and Conor Oberst. It follows her critically acclaimed 2022 singles “just you” and “lighthouse.” Last fall, paris debuted “bandaid” live for the first time with a stripped-back, acoustic performance for SPIN—watch it HERE.
- Mercury Records and Netflix present the Outer Banks: Season 3 (Soundtrack from the Netflix Series)—available now. Meanwhile, Season 3 of Outer Banks just premiered on Netflix. Listen to Outer Banks: Season 3 (Soundtrack from the Netflix Series)—HERE. This notably serves as the first official Soundtrack from the series, speaking to the spirit of the show with breezy rock, sun-soaked reggae, and folk gems. The 12-track collection features a brand new recording by rapidly rising Nashville-based singer and songwriter Joy Oladokun. For the album, she reimagines and reignites “Out On The Weekend” originally by Neil Young. Her vocals resound over cinematic production on the track, bringing it to life with fresh fire. Additionally, the album boasts recent standouts from the likes of Jack Johnson and Marcus King in addition to a Bob Marley classic and more.
- SHOWTIME announced today that Mary Elizabeth Winstead (Ahsoka, Kate, Birds of Prey) will join A GENTLEMAN IN MOSCOW, starring alongside Emmy® winner Ewan McGregor. An adaptation of Amor Towles’ internationally best-selling novel, the limited series has begun filming this week. A GENTLEMAN IN MOSCOW is produced by eOne in association with Paramount, and will debut exclusively on SHOWTIME in the U.S. and on Paramount+ in additional markets around the world. Winstead will star as Anna Urbanova, a glamorous, independent and self-made film actress, at the height of her fame. She uses her wit and beauty to dazzle Count Alexander Rostov, played by McGregor (Star Wars franchise, Halston, Trainspotting). She's an enigmatic character who keeps her cards very close to her chest. Reluctant to reveal her true self, Anna plays a role off-screen as well as on. The Count and Anna’s sizzling chemistry is clear from the moment they meet in the Metropol Hotel where he has been banished by a Soviet trial, but will this be true love, or just the latest in a long line of roles Anna is playing?
