‘The Simpsons’ Short ‘Playdate With Disney’ Is Hitting Disney+ Tomorrow

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April 9, 2020

The theatrical run of Disney/Pixar’s Onward was disappointing, and was ultimately cut short by the coronavirus. That limited the number of people who had a chance to see The Simpsons short film that preceded it, Playdate with Destiny, the first Fox property to precede a Pixar movie since Disney’s acquisition. Now the short is making its way to Disney+ starting tomorrow, April 10th.

Playdate with Destiny is a Maggie Simpson story, in which the family’s toddler falls for a boy named Hudson and fantasizes a whirlwind playdate with him. This marks the third Simpsons animated movie following 2007’s The Simpsons Movie and 2012’s Oscar-nominated short The Longest Daycare.

SYNOPSIS: “Maggie Simpson in ‘Playdate With Destiny’” begins “on a day that seemed like just another day at the park for Maggie Simpson. But when Maggie faces playground peril, a heroic young baby whisks her from danger — and steals her heart. After a blissful first playdate, Maggie can’t wait to see her new baby beau again the following day, but things don’t go exactly as planned. Will fate (or Homer) get in her way?”

This is a move by Disney to further solidify their control over The Simpsons brand by tying it closely with their other properties. With more than 50 million paid subscribers for Disney+, it’s also a way for them to keep providing fresh content. The Simpsons may have been around for three decades but none of those have been with Disney, and that means the potential for new stories.

The announcement was made by The Simpsons creator Matt Groening on Instagram:

View this post on Instagram

Straight from the source.☝ ⠀ ⠀ Maggie Simpson in “Playdate With Destiny” is coming April 10 to #DisneyPlus! #TheSimpsons

A post shared by Disney+ (@disneyplus) on Apr 9, 2020 at 6:00am PDT

Matt Reeves ‘The Batman’ To Explore The Psychology Of Bruce Wayne

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John Nolan

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April 9, 2020

When it comes to a character like Batman, who has been covered multiple times in every medium possible it can be understandably tough to bring in a fresh perspective. Thankfully Matt Reeves revealed, in his talk with Nerdist, that he is looking at telling this tale from a very specific angle. One of the most interesting questions surrounding Bruce Wayne from his earliest days is which one is the mask, Batman or Bruce Wayne? Reeves interview sounds like the personal level of The Batman is going to explore the origins of his mental state instead of the events that lead to his donning of the cowl. This fills me with SO much hope for this film, the surface level stuff has been done to death for the caped crusader so a deeper dive into his motivations, coupled with the psychological motivations of his rouge’s gallery and the striking similarities between the two is something that can make for an epic film.

I’ll let Reeves explain it better:

“I wanted to do not an origin tale, but a tale that would still acknowledge his origins, in that it formed who he is. Like this guy, he’s majorly struggling, and this is how he’s trying to rise above that struggle, But that doesn’t mean that he even fully understands, you know. It’s that whole idea of the shadow self and what’s driving you, and how much of that you can incorporate, and how much of it you’re doing that you’re unaware of.”

For more of our coverage on The Batman check out our archive here!

Quibi’s ‘The Stranger’ Will Make You Re-Think Your Ride Sharing Options

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John Nolan

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April 9, 2020

I’m happy to admit when I’m wrong, sometimes really happy to do so. This is one of those cases. When Quibi, the new short-form streaming service which is targeted at mobile users, was announced I was very old-man on the porch about it “These damn kids! In my day we watched TV on the TV where God intended, blah blah, something about commies, etc” (it was the 80s that’s how every conversation went). Then the first few shows started hitting the streams with trailers and they looked…ok. Since then the game has been elevated to a level that has me contemplating one more streaming service on the monthly bill. This latest offering which stars Maika Monroe (It Follows) and Dane DeHann (Chronicle) is the last thing that Uber and Lyft wanted to see. It’s bad enough that Coronavirus has made the idea of ride-sharing a biological risk but with this new show it’s going to be akin to hopping in the ocean in the summer of 1975 right after a screening of Jaws. The trailer itself proves three things, 1. Maika Monroe needs to be way more famous, 2. We are all crazy for ever climbing or letting a stranger climb into or cars, 3. Dane DeHann is mean to play stone-cold killers.

For all of our coverage on Quibi’s line up click here!

Check out the trailer below and look for The Stranger this month on Quibi.

First Look: Dave Franco’s Vacation Horror ‘The Rental’, IFC Films Sets July Release
Stars Alison Brie and Dan Stevens

By
Travis Hopson
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April 9, 2020

Almost exactly a year ago we learned Dave Franco would be following in his brother James’ footsteps as a director. He would make his debut with AirBNB horror The Rental, and we knew at the time it would star Alison Brie and Dan Stevens. Not a bad place to start. IFC Films must have liked what they saw, too, because they have not only picked up the rights but set a summer date for its release.

IFC Films will release The Rental on July 24th, and have released some first-look photos to go with the announcement. Presumably, they’re hoping for a theatrical release but at this point nothing has been specified and may not be for some time. It all depends on the continued impact of the COVID-19 outbreak.

The Rental is based on a story by Franco and Joe Swanberg (Drinking Buddies), and co-stars Sheila Vand, Toby Huss, and Jeremy Allen White. Here’s the synopsis:

In THE RENTAL, two couples embark on a weekend getaway to a seemingly perfect house they’ve booked online. But what begins as a celebratory weekend for the four close friends turns into something far more sinister as secrets they’ve kept from each other are exposed and they realize they may not be alone.

‘The Half Of It’ Trailer: Director Alice Wu Returns On Netflix’s YA Rom-Com With A Twist

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Travis Hopson

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April 9, 2020

In 2005 Alice Wu made a big splash in the Asian-American and LGBTQ community with Saving Face, a film that explored identity and tradition in a way few films did. As one of the first movies since The Joy Luck Club to focus on Chinese lead characters, it set Wu as a filmmaker whose influence could be far-reaching. And yet, the wait for a followup has stretched all the way until now with the upcoming release of The Half of It on Netflix.

The Half of It is a love story, a coming-of-age story, and a twist on the classic story of Cyrano de Bergerac. Only in this one, the lead character is bookish high schooler Ellie (played by Nancy Drew actress Leah Lewis), who helps a jock write love letters to a girl they both like.

This looks like it will fit right in with Netflix’s stable of YA romances, such as To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before. At the same time, it touches on some of Wu’s pet themes in a story that is universal. I’m looking forward to this.

Also starring Daniel Diemer, Alexxis Lemire, Enrique Murciano, Wolfgang Novogratz, Catherine Curtin, Becky Ann Baker, and Collin Chou, The Half of It comes to Netflix on May 1st.

SYNOPSIS: Bookish introvert Ellie Chu is perfectly content with her life: watching old movies with her widowed father and ghostwriting papers for her high school classmates to help pay the bills. But her side gig turns personal when lovelorn jock Paul Munsky (Daniel Diemer) hires her to craft love notes to Aster Flores (Alexxis Lemire) — a smart, popular girl out of both their leagues… and Ellie’s own secret crush. Just as the duo’s plan begins to work, a new wrinkle emerges: Ellie and Paul have fallen into a deep friendship neither could have anticipated, giving rise to a surprising love triangle. Written and directed by Alice Wu, THE HALF OF IT is a heartfelt comedy-of-errors about searching for perfect love—and finding yourself in the process.

Disney+ Has Over 50 Million Subscribers Already

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Travis Hopson

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April 9, 2020

We knew long before Disney+ ever launched that it was going to be a gigantic gamechanger for the business. Nobody has the sheer content muscle and recognized branding than Disney. The only question was how many millions would shell out subscriber fees to get their fix of Star Wars, Marvel, and other Disney entertainment. Well, now we have a good idea, and it’s a lot.

Disney has announced that its streaming service has surpassed the 50 million subscriber milestone. This isn’t long after their previous quarterly report counted 27 million subscribers. So what accounts for the sudden boom? Well, there’s a worldwide expansion which has played a large role. But also there’s the coronavirus outbreak which has left families locked away indoors and in need of stuff to watch. Need to keep the kids busy for a while? Throw on Disney+, that’ll shut ’em up.

“We’re truly humbled that Disney+ is resonating with millions around the globe, and believe this bodes well for our continued expansion throughout Western Europe and into Japan and all of Latin America later this year,” said Kevin Mayer, Chairman of Walt Disney Direct-to-Consumer & International. “Great storytelling inspires and uplifts, and we are in the fortunate position of being able to deliver a vast array of great entertainment rooted in joy and optimism on Disney+.”

Disney+ still has a long way to go to compare to Netflix’s 167 million subscribers, but this is a very good start for a service that isn’t even a year old. It’s not easy launching a new streamer nowadays with so much competition out there. Just look at poor Quibi, which had only 300,000 downloads at launch, which is about 7.5% of what Disney+ had. Ouch.

A ‘Doogie Howser’ Reboot With Multiracial Female Lead Is Coming To Disney+

By

Travis Hopson

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April 9, 2020

Editorial use only. No book cover usage. Mandatory Credit: Photo by 20th Century Fox Television/Kobal/Shutterstock (5876429a) Neil Patrick Harris Doogie Howser, Md - 1989-1993 Director: David Carson 20th Century Fox Television USA TV Portrait Tv Classics

D’oh! Somebody’s been rifling through their VHS tapes from the 1980s again! If you’re wondering why Neil Patrick Harris is, it’s because of the 1989 sitcom Doogie Howser, M.D. in which he played a brilliant teenage doctor. Well, like everything else that you ever liked growing up, it’s getting a reboot with a modern, multicultural spin.

A Doogie Howser reboot is in the works (via Variety) over at Disney+ from Fresh off the Boat writer Kourtney Kang. The series, which is going under the working title of Doogie Kealoha, M.D., will focus on a half-Asian, half-white 16-year-old girl from Hawaii, which happens to be where Kang is from. On board as producers are Jesse and Dayna Bochco, the son widow of original series co-creator (and TV legend) Steven Bochco. Jumanji director Jake Kasdan is also set to exec-produce, which is interesting and makes you wonder if he’ll direct an episode or two.

Doogie Howser ran through four seasons on ABC (hence the Disney connect) from 1989-1993, and made Neil Patrick Harris a cultural icon. Any smart, young white professional kid may still find himself nicknamed “Doogie” as a result of the series, and Harris frequently will make callbacks to his time playing the character. Turning the tables by casting a multiracial female is a smart way for the new version to go, although I have doubts it’ll capture the zeitgeist like the original.

‘Tiger King’ Did ‘Stranger Things’-Level Ratings For Netflix

By

Travis Hopson

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April 9, 2020

Well, you’ve gone and done it, America. We are never going to be finished with the terrible people from Tiger King. They’re all awful, and apparently we just can’t get enough. It should come as no surprise the bizarre docuseries was #1 most-viewed for Netflix over the last couple of weeks, but what may surprise you is just how well it did. We’re talking Stranger Things numbers.

According to Variety, Tiger King scored a “U.S. TV audience of 34.3 unique viewers within the first 10 days of its release (March 20-29), according to Nielsen estimates.” Those numbers surpass the 31.2 million uniques of Stranger Things 2. Damn. It falls short of the 36.3 million of Stranger Things 3, but whoever would’ve guessed it would be so close?

The thing is, Tiger King didn’t even start off that hot. Debuting on March 20th, the big cat series reached about 740,000 unique viewers before absolutely exploding due to the national buzz. People heard about the incredible story of Joe Exotic, the mulleted owner of a big cat zoo with his gay marriage to two straight dudes, a murderous obsession with animal activist Carole Baskin, a truck full of expired Walmart deli meat, a surreal pop music career, and they just HAD to watch. Hey, I’m in the club, too. Watched the entire thing in about a day. I feel horrible about myself, too.

And so now what? Well, more Tiger King, of course!!! Unconfirmed reports are there’s an extra episode airing on Netflix this week, plus Investigation Discovery has a sequel series on the way. Oh yeah, and Kate McKinnon is starring in a TV adaptation. Like I said, we’ll never be done with these people.

Ronny Chieng In For ‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings’

By

John Nolan

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April 9, 2020

Comedian Ronny Chieng, one of the breakouts from the recent hit Crazy Rich Asians is the latest to sign on for Marvel’s upcoming Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. While this isn’t a press-stopping casting event it’s damn good to know that the world is going on. A little bit of normalcy goes a long way these days. Chieng, who first came to the public eye in the states after a bit on The Daily Show. The funnyman reportedly signed on prior to the pandemic, but the news is just being revealed now thanks to TheDisInsider.com. No word as to who he’ll play but smart money is that he’ll fill the sidekick role for Simu Liu’s Shang-Chi. Thankfully we’re due to start getting much more news on this flick soon, and as someone who thinks proper martial arts is sorely missing from today’s film slate I can’t wait to see all this film has to offer. Until then make sure to check out all of our previous coverage for the movie here.

‘Homecoming’ Season 2 Trailer: Janelle Monae Is Adrift In A Brand New Mystery

By

Travis Hopson

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April 8, 2020

Amazon found themselves with an unexpected hit with Homecoming, the mysterious Golden Globes-nominated thriller led by Julia Roberts and created by Sam Esmail. That makes season 2 a little bit dicey because the tables have been flipped with a brand new cast, a new director, and a brand new mystery surrounding the Homeland Initiative.

Janelle Monae takes over as the lead of season two, and in the new trailer we see her waking up, amnesiac, in a rowboat in the middle of a lake. How’d she get there? Who is she? These are just a couple of the questions new director Kyle Patrick Alvarez (The Stanford Prison Experiment) will be attempting to answer. Stephan James and Hong Chau are the only two characters to return from the prior season. They’re joined by Oscar-winner Chris Cooper and Joan Cusack. The series is based on the popular podcast by co-showrunners Eli Horowitz and Micah Bloomberg.

Amazon Prime will premiere Homecoming season 2 on May 22nd.

SYNOPSIS: The critically-acclaimed series Homecoming returns for its second season with new twists and an exciting new star, Janelle Monáe. Her character wakes in a rowboat adrift a lake, with no memory of how she got there — or even who she is. Her ensuing search for identity will lead her into the heart of the Geist Group, the unconventional wellness company behind the Homecoming Initiative.