"Project Artemis" to Apple / Ella Purnell joins "Fallout" / "The Staircase" teaser / Netflix "Spy Kids" reboot

Plus today's calendar, "Obi-Wan" release date change, Apple TV+ understaffed, Peacock's "Stinger," "Bridgerton" spin-off, and more

Inside.com Part of   Network March 31, 2022

Apple acquired the new film "Project Artemis" as part of a deal valued at over $100 million, according to Deadline. The film will star Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) vets Scarlett Johansson and Chris Evans; Jason Bateman is attached to direct. More: No plot details were released; Deadline reports that the film is "set against the space race." The script comes from first-time writer Rose Gilroy, the daughter of writer/director Dan Gilroy ("Nightcrawler") and actor René Russo. Both Johansson and Bateman are also attached as executive producers. Apple and Johansson will also team for the upcoming film "Bride," from "A Fantastic Woman" writer/director Sebastián Lelio. DEADLINE

Ella Purnell ("Yellowjackets") signed on for a lead role in Amazon's upcoming series adaptation of the "Fallout" video game franchise. Walton Goggins will also star in the series. More: No details have been released yet about Purnell or Goggins' characters, or the storyline more generally. Unnamed sources told Variety that Purnell will play an "upbeat" character "with an all-American can-do spirit." Purnell also voices a character in the Nickelodeon/Paramount+ series "Star Trek: Prodigy," and was recently seen in Zack Snyder's Netflix film "Army of the Dead." The "Fallout" games are set in an alternate retro-futuristic world, in the aftermath of a devastating nuclear war. Production on "Fallout" will begin later this year. VARIETY

DAILY CALENDAR THURSDAY, MARCH 31 JULIA: Biographical comedy-drama series, based on the life of TV chef Julia Child (Sarah Lancashire), and tracking the development of her landmark series, "The French Chef." David Hyde Pierce, Brittany Bradford, Bebe Neuwirth, Isabella Rossellini, James Cromwell, and Judith Light co-star; "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" vet Daniel Goldfarb created the series. [HBO Max] MOONSHOT: Original sci-fi romantic comedy film starring Lana Condor as a college student in the near future who travels to Mars to visit her boyfriend. During the long space voyage, she helps keep the secret of a laid-back barista friend (Cole Sprouse) who has illegally stowed away on board. [HBO Max] BRENÉ BROWN: ATLAS OF THE HEART: Five-episode unscripted series, based on the best-selling author's most recent book, examining the emotional experiences that bind us all together as humans, from anguish to anxiety to awe to resentment, and how these ideas have been woven through our culture and our history. [HBO Max] THE FAIRLY ODDPARENTS: FAIRLY ODDER: This live-action sequel series to the Nickelodeon cartoon "The Fairly OddParents" picks up many years later, as young Viv Turner (Audrey Grace Marshall) and her new stepbrother Roy (Tyler Wladis) receive everyday help navigating life in the town of Dimmsdale from their (still animated) fairy godparents. Daran Norris and Susanne Blakeslee reprise their roles from the original cartoon as the voices of magical duo Cosmo and Wanda. [Paramount+] HOW WE ROLL: Debut CBS sitcom, based on the life story of pro bowler Tom Smallwood, starring Pete Holmes as a family man who loses his job on a car assembly line and turns to bowling as a new career. Katie Lowes, Chi McBride, Julie White, and Mason Wells co-star. [Paramount+] INVENTIONS THAT CHANGED HISTORY: Debut docuseries exploring the stories behind notable pop culture inventions and trends, featuring commentary from a diverse panel of celebrities and comedians. [Discovery+] NIGHT'S END: The new horror film from "Knives and Skin" director Jennifer Reeder stars Geno Walker as an anxious shut-in who believes his new apartment is haunted and hires a stranger to perform an exorcism. Felonious Munk, Kate Arrington, and Michael Shannon co-star. [Shudder] FIRST DAY: Australian teen drama series starring Evie Macdonald as Hannah, a transgender girl adjusting to the daily challenges of life in high school. "Neighbours" vet Julie Kalceff created the series, based on her own short film. Season 2 comes to Hulu in the US today. [Hulu] SUPER PUPZ: Live-action series for kids and families -- spun off from the "Air Buds" franchise -- about a group of talking, super-powered dogs who team up with some local kids to help a fuzzy baby alien in need. The adult cast includes Dave Foley, Harland Williams, and Brian George. [Netflix] WISTING: The Norwegian police procedural series, based on the novels by Jørn Lier Horst, stars Sven Nordin as senior detective and widower William Wisting. Season 2 is based on Horst's novel "The Inner Darkness," and finds Wisting looking into the past crimes of convicted rapist and serial killer Tom Kerr (Odin Waage); the first four episodes come to AMC+ and Sundance Now in the US today. [AMC+ / Sundance Now]

HBO Max released a teaser for the scripted series "The Staircase," starring Colin Firth and Toni Collette. The series is based on the real-life 2011 death of Kathleen Peterson, and the subsequent investigation into her husband, novelist Michael Peterson. More: The series co-stars Sophie Turner, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Michael Stuhlbarg, Rosemarie DeWitt, Juliette Binoche, Parker Posey, and Odessa Young. The case previously inspired a landmark true-crime docuseries, also called "The Staircase," from creator Jean-Xavier de Lestrade; the first eight episodes debuted in 2004, with additional Netflix installments following in 2018. In February 2017, after spending more than 7 years behind bars for his wife's killing, Micheal Peterson entered an Alford plea to the charge of voluntary manslaughter and was released from custody. "The Staircase" debuts on May 5. PEOPLE

Netflix greenlit a new entry in the cinematic "Spy Kids" franchise from filmmaker Robert Rodriguez. The new project will reimagine and relaunch the concept for a new generation. More: Rodriguez will write, direct and produce the new film, which was announced on the 21st anniversary of the original film's theatrical debut. The original "Spy Kids" starred Alexa PenaVega and Daryl Sabara as the children of two superspies (Antonio Banderas and Carla Gugino) who must come to their parents' rescue. The new film will be made in collaboration with "Spy Kids" rights owner Spyglass Media; the series has grossed more than $550 million at the global box office to date. HOLLYWOOD REPORTER

@ObiWanKenobi on Twitter Disney+ bumped the series premiere of "Obi-Wan Kenobi" back by two days, to Friday, May 27. The first two episodes will debut simultaneously on the 27th. More: Star Ewan McGregor made the announcement via social media.  The series is set between the "Star Wars" films "Revenge of the Sith" and "A New Hope," and finds Kenobi (McGregor) watching over a young Luke Skywalker on Tatooine. CBR

According to a new report in Business Insider, resources at Apple TV+'s content arm have been stretched thin, with insiders referring to the division as "understaffed." The report claims that lack of infrastructure has led to various issues when rolling out new shows, including not having adequate press materials ready in time for launch. More: The report features related complaints from unnamed insiders as well, including that Apple's lawyers are unfamiliar with common entertainment industry practices, employee burnout, and other internal management issues. Apple's stated goal is to produce all of its shows and films in-house rather than licensing content from outside studios, but this has apparently led to "growing pains." Apple's big push into live sports starts with Friday Night Baseball next week. 9 TO 5 MAC

Peacock entered development on a series adaptation of the Robert McCammon horror-thriller novel "Stinger." Filmmaker James Wan will produce the TV project, which has tentatively been re-titled "Teacup." More: "Yellowstone" vet Ian McCulloch will script the adaptation. "Stinger" concerns an extraterrestrial hunter on a deadly mission who lands outside the small town of Inferno, Texas, and clashes with a desperate group of locals. Series episodes will run just a half-hour in length. HOLLYWOOD REPORTER

Netflix announced the cast for its upcoming "Bridgerton" spin-off, which is centered on Queen Charlotte. Golda Rosheuvel will reprise her role as Charlotte from "Bridgerton," along with Adjoa Andoh and Ruth Gemmell as Lady Agatha Danbury and Lady Violet Bridgerton, respectively. More: The series will serve as a prequel to "Bridgerton," relating the story of the young Queen's marriage to King George. "Game of Thrones" vet Michelle Fairley will join the "Bridgerton"-verse in a new role, as Princess Augusta. New cast members also include India Amateifio as Young Queen Charlotte, Corey Mylchreest as Young King George, and Arsema Thomas as Young Agatha Danbury. Shonda Rhimes will serve as writer and showrunner on the limited series. TV LINE

QUICK HITS Quality custom NIGHT GUARDS & TEETH WHITENING KITS for 80% less than the dentist. Use exclusive code INSIDE33 for 33% off your order.* According to Disney+, digitally altered episodes of "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier" -- modified to tone down some graphic violence -- were uploaded to the platform by mistake, and will be replaced by the original episodes. The supernatural procedural series "Evil" returns to Paramount+ for a third season on June 12. The new Netflix romantic comedy feature "Choose Love" will include an interactive element, allowing viewers to make decisions on behalf of the film's characters. "Transparent" vets Micah Fitzerman-Blue and Noah Harpster will serve as co-showrunners for the upcoming WWE/Blumhouse TV limited series "The United States of America vs. Vince McMahon," about a 1990s FBI investigation into accusations that the wrestling executive was supplying his talent with anabolic steroids. Disney hired former Google executive Jeremy Doig as chief technology officer for its streaming division. Netflix released a trailer for "Speakeasy," the streamer's second stand-up special from former "The Daily Show" correspondent Ronny Chieng; in the new special, whcih debuts on April 5, Chieng performs at a Chinese tuxedo bar and restaurant in New York. Shout! Factory will launch a niche streaming service dedicated exclusively to horror films, called Scream Factory TV, on April 15. The British remake of the hit French series "Call My Agent!" hits Amazon Prime Video in the US on April 29. Netflix ordered an eight-part behind-the-scenes docuseries chronicling the 2022 Tour de France cycling race; episodes will track the journeys of eight teams participating in the event, from the preparation phase through the finish line. CBS announced season finale dates for 20 series, including the sixth and final season of the legal drama "Bull," which wraps up on May 26. Netflix extended its lease agreement with Martini Film Studios of Vancouver, British Columbia, for an additional five year period. ABC renewed the medical drama series "The Good Doctor" for a sixth season. 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.

Click to Share ➞

767 Bryant St. #203, San Francisco, CA 94107 Copyright © 2022 Inside.com

Did someone forward this email to you? Head over to inside.com to get your very own free subscription! You received this email because you subscribed to Inside Streaming. Click here to unsubscribe from Inside Streaming list or manage your subscriptions.