"Axel F." trailer / GRRM on "Knight of the 7 Kingdoms" / "The Acolyte" to drop in primetime / UCLA Hollywood Diversity Report 2023

Plus today's calendar, 50 Cent making Diddy series, Netflix grabs "Monsanto," "Nurse Jackie" sequel to Prime Video, and more

Inside Streaming For May 23, 2024

Thanks for opening today's Inside Streaming daily brief! I'm really hoping that things work out for "Beverly Hills Cop 4." I'm a big fan of this franchise -- yes, even the oft-slighted third entry -- and I'm always just rooting for Eddie Murphy. When he's at his best, few movie stars can match his presence, energy, and charisma. Even relatively weak material like "The Golden Child" or "The Nutty Professor" can shine if Eddie Murphy is properly unleashed on it. But his streaming output, at least so far, has been pretty uniformly disappointing and flat. "Coming 2 America" had some promise, but was way too content to lean on easy nostalgia and legacy sequel callbacks. (Wesley Snipes was actually the funniest part of that movie, stealing Murphy's own franchise out from under him.) "Candy Cane Lane" was depressingly dry and airless for a zany holiday comedy. The less said about the race-based social satire "You People," the better. I'm always rooting for Murphy, as I said. Here's hoping he can turn this trend around. Lon p/lon-harris

1 Netflix released a full trailer for the upcoming "Beverly Hills Cop" sequel, "Axel F." The action comedy stars Eddie Murphy, reprising his classic role as Detroit police officer Axel Foley; Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Taylour Paige, Judge Reinhold, John Ashton, Paul Reiser, Bronson Pinchot, and Kevin Bacon co-star. More: In the film, Foley returns to Los Angeles once more to rescue his daughter (Paige) and thwart a conspiracy. The Foley character debuted in the original "Beverly Hills Cop," the highest-grossing American film of 1984; he returned in two theatrical sequels, in 1987 and 1994. Australian filmmaker Mark Molloy, a veteran of commercials and shorts, makes his feature directorial debut with the film. "Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F" debuts on July 3.

2 In a post to his blog this week, "Game of Thrones" author George R.R. Martin offered some insight into HBO's next spinoff series, "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms." Martin suggests the new show will be "shorter than 'Game of Thrones' or 'House of the Dragon,' with a much different tone." More: Martin added that, because the show is still set in his fictional, politically turbulent continent of Westeros, "no one is truly safe." "Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" is based three Martin novellas, collectively known as "Tales of Dunk and Egg." The stories follow knight Ser Duncan the Tall (Peter Claffey) and his young squire Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell) as they encounter "powerful foes," around 90 years before the events of "Game of Thrones." The show will debut sometime in 2025 on Max and cable.

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3 DAILY CALENDAR THURSDAY, MAY 23 EVIL: The procedural horror drama, originally developed for CBS before jumping over to Paramount+, returns this week for its fourth and final season. Katja Herbers, Mike Colter, and Aasif Mandvi star as a trio of investigators who look into reports of the miraculous, demonic, and supernatural on behalf of the Vatican. "The Good Wife" duo Robert and Michelle King co-created and showrun. [Paramount+] THE KARDASHIANS: The reality series follows the personal lives of various members of the Jenner and Kardashian families, including Kris, Kendall, and Kylie Jenner; and Kourtney, Kim, and Khloé Kardashian. It's back for a fifth season. [Hulu] GORDON RAMSAY'S FOOD STARS: The Fox reality competition series is back this week for Season 2. Co-hosts Ramsay and Lisa Vanderpump select their own "teams" of competitors to go head-to-head in "Business Bootcamp" challenges, with the winner receiving a $250,000 grand prize. [Hulu] THE SEEDING: 2024 thriller from writer/director Barnaby Clay, about two strangers who find themselves trapped in the desert together and surrounded by a pack of maniacal, sadistic teens. Scott Haze and Kate Lyn Sheil co-star. [Hulu] THIRST WITH SHAY MITCHELL: Debut food and travel series in which the "Pretty Little Liars" actress travels the world, visiting bars, tasting various alcohols, and learning more about international drinking history and culture. [Max] LAST CHANCE GARAGE: Debut unscripted series from MotorTrend in which Tony D'Antonio and his team at Philadelphia's D'Antonio Automotive fix mistakes that were made during specialty and classic car restorations. The full first season hits Max today. [Max] TEXAS METAL'S LOUD AND LIFTED: MotorTrend reality series set within the world of custom truck enthusiasts in Houston, Texas, where long-time gold standard Bill Carlton's shop faces increased competition from newcomers. Season 2 hits Max this week. [Max] ROMÁRIO: THE GUY (ROMÁRIO: O CARA): Sports docuseries from Brazil profiling soccer star and later politician Romário de Souza Faria, known simply as "Romário" in his native country. The series focuses on Romário's early life, culminating in Brazil's 1994 victory in the FIFA World Cup. [Max] THE BLUE ANGELS: Documentary feature about the US Navy's famed flight demonstration squadron and aerobatic team, which perform in dramatic air shows across the US and Canada. The film features a mix of Blue Angel veterans and new recruits undergoing the squad's intense training program. J.J. Abrams and Glen Powell executive produced; Paul Crowder ("UFO") directs. [Prime Video] THE 1% CLUB: Debut Fox game show, inspired by a British concept, which tests contestants' use of logic and ability to problem-solve, rather than recall facts and trivia. Patton Oswalt hosts. The series debuts in June on Fox; Amazon Prime Video subscribers get a sneak preview this week. [Prime Video] TIRES: Debut workplace comedy series from co-stars, co-writers, and co-creators Shane Gillis and Steven Gerbeg. When Will (Gerben) inherits his father's struggling Pennsylvania auto repair chain, he taps his unreliable cousin (Gillis) for help. Stavros Halkias and Andrew Schulz co-star. [Netflix] GAROUDEN: THE WAY OF THE LONE WOLF: Debut anime series, based on the novels by Baku Yumemakura, about a wanted fugitive who's blackmailed into participating in a deadly underground martial arts tournament. [Netflix] ILLUSIONS FOR SALE: THE RISE AND FALL OF GENERATION ZOE (EL VENDEDOR DE ILUSIONES: EL CASO GENERACIÓN ZOE): Spanish-language true-crime documentary from Argentina looking back at the "spiritual coaching network" and financial scam Generation Zoe, along with its eccentric founder, Leonardo Cositorto. The Ponzi scheme allegedly bilked more than $120 million from investors. [Netflix] FRANCO ESCAMILLA: LADIES' MAN: Spanish-language special in which the Mexican comedian takes on various topics, including teenage love gone wrong, bad kisses, and unexpected cameo appearances. [Netflix] IN GOOD HANDS 2 (SEN BÜYÜMEYE BAK): Comedy-drama feature from Turkey, following up on 2022's "In Good Hands." Newly-reunited father and son Firat (Kaan Urgancioglu) and Can (Mert Ege Ak) try to move on with their lives following the tragic loss of their wife and mom, Melisa. Ketche returns as director. [Netflix] DEAD DEAD DEMONS DEDEDEDE DESTRUCTION: Anime series adapted from the graphic novel by Asano Inio and a two-part feature film released earlier this year in Japan. The story combines a coming-of-age drama with sci-fi, chronicling the friendship of two teens amidst an alien invasion of Earth. [Crunchyroll]

4 Disney+ will release new episodes of the live-action "Star Wars" series "The Acolyte" during primetime in the US. The two-episode premiere will become available on June 4 at 6 pm PT/9 pm ET. More: In the past, Disney+ has typically released new shows at midnight PT on their premiere day. Recently, the streamer has started releasing select, high-profile shows during primetime hours, allowing North American viewers to enjoy a more traditional, communal viewing experience. Season 2 episodes of "Loki" and the recent series adaptation of "Percy Jackson and the Olympians" also debuted new episodes during primetime. "The Acolyte" is the first "Star Wars" series set during the High Republic era, long before the events of the franchise's primary films and TV shows.

5 The 2023 UCLA Hollywood Diversity Report suggests that women and people of color drove viewership for the year's most popular streaming content. Women made up the majority of viewership for nine of the Top 10 streaming films of 2023. More: The report suggests that female creators -- in front of and behind the camera -- find significantly more opportunities on streaming platforms than in the theatrical film marketplace. Women creators continue to receive smaller budgets and fewer resources, on average, than their male counterparts. Women also reached proportionate representation as leads in streaming films, but those films were more likely to have smaller budgets and casts. People of color also reached roughly proportionate representation on screen in streaming projects in 2023, but continue to lag behind in terms of behind-the-scenes opportunities.

6 In a post to Instagram, Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson announced that he's developing a docuseries about the lawsuits and sexual assault allegations against fellow rapper and mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs. Jackson suggested the series, tentatively titled "Diddy Do It," is headed for Netflix; the streamer declined to comment on the post. More: Jackson is developing the project through his company, G-Unit Film and Television; he made the social media announcement after TMZ first broke the story. Combs' home was raided in March of this year by federal agents with both the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security, as part of an "ongoing investigation." Recently, video footage also surfaced that appears to show Combs physically abusing his ex-partner, Cassie Ventura. Model Crystal McKinney also filed a lawsuit against Combs this week, accusing him of drugging and sexual assaulting her in 2003.

7 Netflix picked up the global rights for the feature "Monsanto" at the Cannes film market. Glen Powell stars in the fact-based drama as a novice attorney who leads a lawsuit against the infamous chemical giant. More: According to Deadline, Netflix is paying in the $30-$40 million range for the film's distribution rights. "Little Things" and "The Founder" vet John Lee Hancock directed. Anthony Mackie co-stars as the high school groundskeeper who files suit against Monsanto, claiming that the weed and grass pesticide product Roundup is toxic; Laura Dern portrays Monsanto's chief toxicologist. Powell stars in two high-profile films this summer: Richard Linklater's crime comedy "Hit Man" and the visual effects-heavy sequel "Twisters."

8 QUICK HITS A planned "Nurse Jackie" sequel series jumped from Showtime to Amazon Prime Video; Lionsgate Television is developing the project, for which original star Edie Falco will reprise her role. David Letterman's Netflix chat series "My Next Guest Needs No Introduction" returns on June 12 with two new episodes, featuring interviews with Miley Cyrus and Charles Barkley; Netflix is considering this the show's fifth season. Showtime's "Dexter" prequel series "Original Sin" announced its main cast lineup; Patrick Gibson will portray a younger version of Miami serial killer Dexter Morgan, while Christian Slater and Molly Brown co-star as his father Harry and sister Deb, respectively. Amazon released a trailer for "I Am: Celine Dion," a documentary profile in which the iconic singer chronicles her struggle with a rare neurological disorder known as stiff person syndrome; the film hits Prime Video on June 25. Hulu grabbed the adult animated comedy series "Bad Friends" following a bidding war with other networks and streamers; the project was inspired by the podcast of the same name, and was developed by co-hosts Andrew Santino and Bobby Lee along with Nick Kreiss and Andres Salaff. According to CinemaBlend, Amazon's "Reacher" has cast one of the iconic villains from author Lee Child's novels ahead of the show's third season; Olivier Richters, an actor colorfully nicknamed "The Dutch Giant," will join the ensemble as deranged bodybuilder Paulie. Richard Jenkins joined the cast of Amazon's crime drama "Criminal," based on the graphic novels by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips; the series, which Brubaker will showrun, features a collection of interlocking stories. A number of notable actors joined the cast of the original Netflix thriller "Night Always Comes," including Jennifer Jason Leigh, Stephan James, Julia Fox, Eli Roth, Randall Park, Zack Gottsagen, and Michael Kelly; Vanessa Kirby stars and produces through her company, Aluna Entertainment. In a post to X, YouTube channel Linus Tech Tips claims that, following an extensive review by an independent law firm, allegations of bullying and sexual harassment made last year by a former employee were "not substantiated." During an appearance on the "Comedy Bang Bang" podcast, comic Nikki Glaser revealed that jokes about a 2018 viral video featuring Tom Brady kissing his 11-year-old son on the lips were "off limits" at the football star's recent Netflix roast. Jon Lovett, a "Pod Save America" co-host and former speechwriter for President Obama, is among the competitors on the upcoming 47th season of CBS's reality juggernaut "Survivor." In a legal complaint filed this week in Los Angeles, an assistant costume designer from the Martin Scorsese film "Killers of the Flower Moon" accuses Apple Studios and the Costume Designers Guild of collaborating on a scheme to erase her contributions to the film and exclude her from its marketing and promotion. Laura Linney will direct episodes of the upcoming Netflix limited series "Black Rabbit"; the series co-stars Jason Bateman, who previously appeared alongside Linney in the Netflix series "Ozark." Though actor Gael García Bernal confirmed late last year that Amazon is developing a "Boys" spinoff set in Mexico, showrunner Eric Kripke suggests that the series remains "a while away," as deals for the pilot remain in progress. Disney dropped a trailer for the next installment in the "Descendants" franchise, "The Rise of Red," about the rivalry between the daughters of the Queen of Hearts and Cinderella; the musical comedy hits Disney+ on July 12 before airing on the Disney Channel in August. Netflix released a trailer for "Stranger Things: The First Shadow," the stage play prequel to the coming-of-age horror series; the show recently extended its run on London's West End into 2025. Peacock's upcoming comedy series "Laid" announced a line-up of Season 1 guest stars, including "Office" vet David Denman, "Saturday Night Live" regular Chloe Fineman, comedian John Early, and WWE superstar Ettore "Big E" Ewen; Stephane Hsu stars as a woman who discovers her former lovers are all dying mysteriously.

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Lon Harris Writer 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." This newsletter was edited by Lon Harris

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