Bigelow returns with "Aurora" / Psaki to join MSNBC / "Black Bird" first look / Bella Hadid joins "Ramy"

Plus the weekend calendar, Netflix Abercrombie & Fitch doc, NBCU and WWE's "Pinned," "Halo" on YouTube, and more

Inside.com Part of   Network April 01, 2022

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Oscar-winning director Kathryn Bigelow will direct a film adaptation of the forthcoming David Koepp novel "Aurora" for Netflix. Koepp -- a veteran screenwriter who penned the first "Jurassic Park" and "Mission: Impossible" films -- will write the script himself. More: This will be Bigelow's first film since the 2017 period drama "Detroit." In 2009, she became the first woman to win the Oscar for Best Director, for "The Hurt Locker." "Aurora" follows a divorced mother racing to get her family to a secure desert bunker after a devastating solar storm wipes out most of the world's power grid. The book is due out from HarperCollins on June 7. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the film's budget will come in at around $100 million. HOLLYWOOD REPORTER

Axios reported that White House press secretary Jen Psaki plans to depart her position in May and begin hosting a show for the MSNBC cable news network. According to the report, Psaki will also host an MSNBC-branded show for the Peacock streaming service. More: No contracts have yet been signed; apparently Psaki is still working out her departure with the White House counsel's office. Psaki reportedly also had early conversations with CNN before settling on MSNBC. Though it had been speculated that Psaki may take over the 9 pm slot previously anchored by Rachel Maddow, this apparently is no longer part of the network's plans. AXIOS

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WEEKEND CALENDAR FRIDAY, APRIL 1 KILLING IT: Craig Robinson stars in this debut comedy series from "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" vets Dan Goor and Luke Del Tredici as a security guard and father who enlists in a state-wide snake hunt in the hopes of winning a considerable cash prize. The first episode debuts today; the remainder of Season 1 will drop on April 14. WWE HALL OF FAME: The 2022 WWE Hall of Fame ceremony, inducting the 23rd overall class, will stream live on Peacock at 10 pm ET on Friday night from American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. This year's inductees include Vader (Leon White), Queen Sharmell (Sharmell Sullivan), and The Undertaker (Mark Calaway). Shad Gaspard will be posthumously presented with the Warrior Award. [Peacock] THE BUBBLE: The latest comedy film from writer/director Judd Apatow ("Knocked Up") centers on a group of actors filming a big-budget franchise movie on a closed set together during the COVID-19 pandemic. The cast includes Karen Gillan, Pedro Pascal, Iris Apatow, Fred Armisen, David Duchovny, Keegan-Michael Key, Leslie Mann, Kate McKennon, and Maria Bakalova. [Netflix] APOLLO 10 1/2: A SPACE AGE CHILDHOOD: Coming-of-age sci-fi comedy from writer/director/producer Richard Linklater, utilizing the same rotoscope animation technique as his films "Waking Life" and "A Scanner Darkly." The semi-autobiographical film centers on a Texas boy named Stanley (Milo Coy) during the summer of 1969 who imagines himself taking part in the Apollo 11 Moon landing. The voice cast includes Jack Black, Glen Powell, Zachary Levi, and Josh Wiggins. [Netflix] GET ORGANIZED WITH THE HOME EDIT: The home makeover reality series finds Home Edit founders and organizations Clea Shearer and Joanna Teplin helping celebrities and everyday clients transform their living spaces and conquer clutter. It's back for a second season. [Netflix] TRIVIA QUEST: This animated, interactive quiz series was inspired by the popular "Trivia Crack" app. Each day throughout the month of April, a new 24-question episode will debut, covering a range of topics, such as pop culture and science. [Netflix] HEARTLAND: The family series, now the longest-running hour-long scripted drama in Canadian TV history, is based on the books by Lauren Brooke, and centers on daily life on an Alberta family ranch. Season 14 debuted in January 2021 on the CBC and comes to Netflix today. [Netflix] THE LAST BUS: 2021 drama starring Timothy Spall as a recent widower who travels across the length of the United Kingdom -- from Scotland to Cornwall -- via a free bus pass, scattering his late wife's ashes along the way. Gillies MacKinnon ("Whisky Galore!") directed. [Netflix] POLLY POCKET: The animated series, based on the doll line from Mattel, centers around an 11-year-old genius (Emily Tennant) who can shrink down to tiny size with help from a magical locket. Season 4 debuts today. [Netflix] ABBY HATCHER: Educational animated series about an energetic 7-year-old who's constantly cleaning up after the quirky creatures -- the Fuzzlies -- who have made their home in her family's hotel. Season 2 aired on Nickelodeon in the US early last year and hits Netflix today. [Netflix] FOREVER OUT OF MY LEAGUE (SEMPRE PIÙ BELLO): This romantic comedy-drama feature from Italy is the third film in a trilogy, following 2020's "Out of My League" and 2021's "Still Out of My League." The new entry finds terminally ill but perenially upbeat Marta (Ludovica Francesconi) once again searching for love, and setting her sights on the mysterious and handsome Gabriele (Giancarlo Commare). [Netflix] TOMORROW: Debut fantasy drama series from Korea -- based on a popular online comic -- starring K-pop sensation Rowoon as a young man who encounters two grim reapers (Kim Hee Sun and Yoon Ji On) following a tragic accident. Ultimately, he joins a team of spirits aiming to save the lives of people who are contemplating suicide. [Netflix] CAPTAIN NOVA: Family sci-fi adventure film from The Netherlands, about a fighter pilot named Nova (Anniek Pheifer) who travels back in time to prevent an environmental calamity. Upon arriving in the past, however, Nova discovers she has de-aged back into a child (Kika van de Vijver) and can't get anyone to listen to her dire warnings. [Netflix] BATTLE: FREESTYLE: Musical romantic drama feature from Norway about a young dancer who finds her time and loyalty spread thin between her boyfriend, her mother, and her increasingly-successful dance crew. Lisa Teige, Fabian Svegaard Tapia, Ellen Dorrit Petersen, and Bao Andrew Nguyen co-star. [Netflix] CELEB FIVE: BEHIND THE CURTAIN: Largely improvised comic mockumentary from South Korea following a group of four women comedians -- Ahn Young-mi, Song Eun-yi, Kim Shin-young, and Shin Bong-seon -- as they plan out and develop their next Netflix comedy special. [Netflix] SLOW HORSES: Six-episode spy thriller series, based on the novel by Mick Herron, about a team of rejects and outcasts from the UK security service MI5 who nonetheless find themselves caught up in a dangerous conspiracy. Gary Oldman, Olivia Cooke, Jonathan Pryce, Kristin Scott Thomas, and Jack Lowden co-star; "Veep" vet Will Smith wrote the adaptation. [Apple TV+] DOUG UNPLUGS: Animated kids show from DreamWorks, based on the books by Dan Yaccarino, about a young robot (Brandon James Cienfuegos) exploring the human world along with his new friend (Kyrie McAlpin). The second half of the show's second season arrives on Friday. [Apple TV+] BETTER NATE THAN EVER: Musical family comedy film from writer/director Tim Federle ("High School Musical: The Musical: The Series"), based on his book. Rueby Wood stars as a middle school student from Pittsburgh who will stop at nothing to realize his dream of becoming a Broadway star. Joshua Bassett, Aria Brooks, Lisa Kudrow, and Norbert Leo Butz co-star. [Disney+] JERROD CARMICHAEL: ROTHANIEL: The actor and comedian recorded his latest HBO special -- his third overall -- at the Blue Note Jazz Club in New York. It includes his first public discussion about his homosexuality. Fellow comedian Bo Burnham directed. [HBO Max] FANTASTIC BEASTS: A NATURAL HISTORY: Nature documentary special from BBC One and HBO, looking at both the fantastical creatures of the "Harry Potter" series alongside the incredible real-life animals that helped to inspire them. The special includes a visit to the Natural History Museum's "Fantastic Beasts" exhibit and a conversation with "Harry Potter" author JK Rowling. Stephen Fry hosts. [HBO Max] BRIE'S BAKE OFF CHALLENGE: Family comedy feature from writer/director Emily Aguilar about Brie (Devyn Mitchell), a pre-teen aspiring baker who enters a big competition, only to discover that she's going head-to-head against her arch-nemesis, Vanessa (Delaney Disque). [HBO Max] THE INFORMANT (A BESÚGÓ): Period thriller series from Hungary, set in the year 1985, about a freshman (Gergely Váradi) at the Budapest University of Economics who agrees to report on his politically active classmates to the government in order to help his brother out of a jam. [HBO Max] CZECH IT OUT! (SPOLU & HLADOVÍ): Eight-part food and travel docuseries in which the father-daughter team Lukáš Hejlík and Klára Hejlíková tour around the Czech Republic sampling local cuisine, visiting unusual or out-of-the-way destinations, and meeting local leaders in their fields. [HBO Max] ONE TRUE SINGER: Debut reality competition series from Romania, in which 14 aspiring singers move into a house together and face off in a variety of challenges for a shot at a $110,000 prize and a recording contract. [HBO Max] THE THAW (ODWILŻ): Crime drama series from Poland, about a murder investigation that takes a strange turn when it becomes evident that the victim gave birth shortly before her death. Katarzyna Wajda stars. [HBO Max] NIGHT RAIDERS: Indie sci-fi thriller from debut feature writer/director Danis Goulet, starring Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers as a mother in a dystopian future North America who teams up with a group of vigilantes to free her daughter (Brooklyn Letexier-Hart) from a state-run institution. It premiered at last year's Berlin Film Festival. [Hulu] LOVE ME: Drama series from Australia, based on the Swedish series "Älska Mig," looking at love and relationships from the perspectives of different members of a large family, at different points in their lives. The cast includes Hugo Weaving, Bojana Novakovic, William Lodder, Sarah Peirse, and Shalom Brune-Franklin. All six episodes hit Hulu today. [Hulu] LUXE LISTINGS SYDNEY: Australian realtors Gavin Rubinstein, D'Leanne Lewis, and Simon Cohen return for the reality show's second season, alongside newcomer Monika Tu. [Amazon] THE BOARDING SCHOOL: LAS CUMBRES: The Spanish-language teen horror-drama series -- a reboot of the classic series "El Internado" -- centers on students at a boarding school for troubled youth, located in a mysterious ancient monastery. Season 2 makes its US debut on Friday. [Amazon] SATURDAY, APRIL 2 WRESTLEMANIA 38: This year's Wrestlemania event streams live throughout the weekend from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Night 1 matches include Becky Lynch vs. Bianca Belair, Edge vs. AJ Styles, and Charlotte Flair vs. Ronda Rousey for the SmackDown Women's Championship. Night 2 finds Johnny Knoxville taking on Sami Zayn in an "Anything Goes" match and Brock Lesnar taking on Roman Reigns for the WWE Championship and the WWE Universal Championship. [Peacock] NXT STAND & DELIVER: The wrestling event, produced by WWE, will stream on Peacock this Saturday from the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas, starting at 1 pm ET. Matches include LA Knight vs. Gunther, Dolph Ziggler vs. Bron Breakker, and a Triple Threat Tag Team match between Imperium, The Creed Brothers, and MSK. [Peacock] PGA TOUR GOLF VALERO TEXAS OPEN: NBC Sports' coverage of the Valero Texas Open begins at 2:30 pm CT. The stream is available for Peacock Premium subscribers. [Peacock] AUGUSTA NATIONAL WOMEN'S AMATEUR GOLF: The final round of the 2022 tournament will air on NBC and stream on Peacock starting at 12 pm ET on Saturday. [Peacock] PREMIER LEAGUE: This weekend's Premier League matchups include Liverpool v. Watford, Brighton v. Norwich City, Leeds United v. Southampton, Chelsea v. Brentford, and Manchester United vs. Leicester City. [Peacock] PREMIERSHIP RUGBY: This week's rugby match-ups include Exeter Chiefs v. Bath Rugby, Northampton Saints v. Bristol Bears, Worcester Warriors v. Newcastle Falcons, and Gloucester Rugby v. the Wasps. [Peacock] LIGA MX: Saturday's Mexican football match between Guadalajara and Monterrey streams for Peacock Premium subscribers starting at 8 pm PT from the Estadio Akron in Zapopan. [Peacock] BATWOMAN: Season 3 of The CW superhero drama -- which stars Javicia Leslie as Gotham's crime-fighting vigilante Ryan Wilder aka Batwoman -- wrapped up its TV run in early March and hits HBO Max on Saturday. Victoria Cartagena joined the cast as former Gotham cop Renee Montoya; Robin Givens co-stars as powerful CEO Jada Jet. [HBO Max] CHAD: "Saturday Night Live" vet Nasim Pedrad co-created this TBS comedy series and stars as an awkward 14-year-old Persian boy who's desperate to fit in at school and find himself. Season 1 comes to HBO Max today. [HBO Max] WHITNEY, A LOOK BACK: One-hour special from "Entertainment Tonight," debuting Saturday night at 8 pm ET on CBS and Paramount+, looking back on the life and career of late singer Whitney Houston. The special includes new interviews with Dionee Warwick, Clive Davis, CeCe Winans, Monica, Kelly Price, and others. [Paramount+] SUNDAY, APRIL 3 64th ANNUAL GRAMMY AWARDS: Sunday's Grammy Awards ceremony will air on CBS and stream live on Paramount+ from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, starting at 4 pm PT. Performers include H.E.R., Olivia Rodrigo, Nas, Lil Nas X with Jack Harlow, BTS, Cynthia Erivo, Ben Platt, Leslie Odom Jr., and Rachel Zegler; Trevor Noah hosts. [Paramount+] MUSHOKU TENSEI: JOBLESS REINCARNATION: Anime series from Japan about a directionless 34-year-old who dies in a random accident, only to be reborn with his memories intact in a fantastical new world full of adventure. [Hulu]

The psychological thriller series "Black Bird" hits Apple TV+ on July 8. The series is based on the true-crime memoir "In with the Devil: A Fallen Hero, a Serial Killer, and a Dangerous Bargain for Redemption" by James Keene and Hillel Levin. More: Taron Egerton stars as Keene, a convict serving a 10-year sentence for drug dealing who's offered early parole, if he's willing to befriend suspected serial killer Larry Hall (Hauser). The two developed a friendship that enabled Keene to probe for further information about Hall's crimes. Author Dennis Lehane ("Mystic River") developed the series and executive produced alongside Keene; Michaël R. Roskam ("The Drop") directed the first three episodes. THE PLAYLIST

Supermodel Bella Hadid will join the cast of Hulu's "Ramy" for its upcoming third season in a recurring role. This will be Hadid's acting debut; details about her character and storyline are being kept under wraps. More: The series stars writer, director, and creator Ramy Youssef as a first-generation Egyptian-American living in New Jersey who finds himself pulled between his traditional religious community and the freedom of secular life. The series is produced by the A24 film studio, and won a Peabody Award for its first season. Hadid can currently be seen on the April 2022 cover of Vogue; she's also the co-founder of the "alcohol-free spirit" company Kin Euphorics. DEADLINE

Netflix released a trailer for the documentary "White Hot: The Rise & Fall of Abercrombie & Fitch." The film, from writer/director Alison Klayman ("Jagged"), takes a critical eye at the clothing brand's controversial marketing strategies, along with long-standing allegations of corruption and discrimination. More: The company ultimately settled a 2004 class-action discrimination lawsuit for $40 million, along with a promise to revise hiring practices. The film will also look at a 2009 lawsuit -- that ultimately went all the way to the Supreme Court -- from a teen job applicant who was told that wearing her hijab violated the store's "look policy." "White Hot" hits Netflix on April 19. DAILY BEAST

NBCUniversal and WWE plan to collaborate on a scripted drama series set in the world of professional wrestling. "Pinned" is described as "an adrenalized upstairs-downstairs soap opera" about colleagues in a fictional wrestling organization. More: WWE CEO Vince McMahon will serve as an executive producer on the series. It's currently unknown whether the series is destined for NBC, one of NBCUniversal's cable networks, or the Peacock streaming service. This is one of two high-profile scripted series in development from WWE; the other, "The United States of America vs. Vince McMahon," will focus on allegations in the '90s that the wrestling executive was providing his talent with anabolic steroids. VARIETY

QUICK HITS Quality custom NIGHT GUARDS & TEETH WHITENING KITS for 80% less than the dentist. Use exclusive code INSIDE33 for 33% off your order.* Paramount+ has made the entire pilot episode for its new "Halo" TV series available to stream for free on YouTube. Apple reported a surge in viewership of the 2021 indie drama "CODA" on TV+ in the week after it was awarded the Academy Award for Best Picture; according to the tech company, viewership increased by 300% this week vs. the week before the awards. "Waco" star Michael Shannon will return to executive produce the follow-up Paramount+ series "American Tragedies: Waco – The Trials," which will explore the aftermath of the violent 1993 stand-off between the FBI and the Branch Davidian community of Waco, Texas. During a discussion with Variety, Oscar Isaac revealed that he's not contractually obliged to appear in any future Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) projects after the Disney+ "Moon Knight" series. NBC announced its slate of unscripted original series for the summer, which includes the network's first new season of the genealogy series "Who Do You Think You Are?" in 10 years; following its initial NBC run, the series aired for a few additional seasons on TLC. HBO Max released a trailer for "The Garcias," a spin-off series to the Nickelodeon live-action hit "The Brothers García" that picks up the action 15 years later on the Mexican Riviera. Netflix renewed its "Top Boy" revival series for a third and final season; the British crime drama originally aired for two seasons on Channel 4 before being picked up by the streamer. Baltimore musical duo Beach House recorded their first film score for the upcoming Netflix teen romance "Along for the Ride." Actor David Hyde Pierce talked about playing Julia Child's largely obscure husband, Paul Child, and why the new HBO Max show about their lives is "an unusual thing for television," in a chat with People. "Grey's Anatomy" writer Elisabeth Finch has taken a leave of absence from the ABC medical drama, following allegations that she fabricated some elements of her personal history that were then woven into the series; Finch has declined to allow ABC to speak with her physician. Give your recruiting team an unfair advantage with Trinsly. Start your 21 day free trial.* *This is sponsored content

Lon Harris is the writer and editor of Inside Streaming and was the very first person to ever write an Inside newsletter. He lives in Los Angeles, California, and also writes about TV and film for Fandom, Screen Junkies, Rotten Tomatoes, Gamma Ray and others. Plus he has a Game of Thrones podcast called "Casterly Talk" and competes on The Movie Trivia Schmoedown as "The Professor." Editor Jonathan Harris is a writer and editor who lives in Los Angeles.

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