Peacock adds 4M subs / "Afterparty" S2 casting / Kite Man series / McBride exits "Walking Dead" spinoff

Plus today's calendar, Netflix grabs Iñárritu's next, Pete Davidson in "Bupkis," "Legendary" S3, and more

Inside.com Part of   Network April 28, 2022

Presented by

Peacock added 4 million paid subscribers during the first quarter of 2022, bringing the streamer's total to over 13 million. Including unpaid sign-ups, Peacock closed out the quarter with 28 million monthly active accounts, up from 24.5 million at the end of 2021. More: Comcast chairman and CEO Brian Roberts said Peacock sign-ups exceeded expectations during the company's Q1 earnings call. Roberts credited the Winter Olympics, the Super Bowl, and the debuts of the show "Bel-Air" and the Jennifer Lopez film "Marry Me" specifically with boosting interest in the service. Comcast management also signaled that Peacock's growth will likely slow over the next few months, before ending the year strong with World Cup and NFL coverage, along with the tentpole film "Jurassic World Dominion." Starting in September, all NBC shows -- including the singing competition "The Voice" -- will leave Hulu and stream as Peacock exclusives. HOLLYWOOD REPORTER

Sam Richardson and Zöe Chao will reprise their roles for the second season of the Apple TV+ mystery-comedy series "The Afterparty." Tiffany Haddish will also return from Season 1 as Detective Danner, who's now investigating a different murder at a wedding. More: Seven new actors joined the Season 2 ensemble, including Elizabeth Perkins, Zach Woods, Poppy Liu, Paul Walter Hauser, Anna Kinkle, Jack Whitehall, and Vivian Wu. Chris Miller created the series, serves as co-showrunner with Anthony King ("Search Party"), and co-produces along with his filmmaking partner, Phil Lord. Season 2 will run for 10 episodes, two more than the first season. HOLLYWOOD REPORTER

A message from LAIKA If you’re trying to close deals, SOC 2 is probably a thorn in your side. What is it, and who cares? Your business needs SOC 2. But building compliance from scratch is complicated, time-consuming, and the cost can be crippling. Laika has you covered. Uncomplicate SOC 2 with our guide for growth-minded founders. In the guide by Laika you’ll learn: What is SOC 2 compliance and why it matters for your startup How to close more deals faster by becoming SOC 2 compliant How to prepare for SOC 2 compliance What to expect in terms of time and cost What to do after the report is in What makes Laika the authority on SOC 2? They’re the only compliance automation solution that was built by compliance experts. Learn how to turn compliance from a pain point into a secret edge over your competitors. Download Now

DAILY CALENDAR THURSDAY, APRIL 28 THE OFFER: Scripted miniseries chronicling the development and production of the landmark 1972 gangster film "The Godfather" from the perspective of producer Albert S. Ruddy (Miles Teller). The cast also includes Matthew Goode as producer Robert Evans, Juno Temple as Ruddy's assistant Bettye McCartt, Dan Fogler as director Francis Ford Coppola, and Patrick Gallo as original "Godfather" author Mario Puzo. [Paramount+] UNDER THE BANNER OF HEAVEN: Seven-episode limited series from FX, based on the non-fiction book by Jon Krakauer. Andrew Garfield stars as a devoutly religious Utah detective investigating a murder with ties to a prominent Mormon family, in a case that ultimately challenges his own faith. Daisy Edgar-Jones, Sam Worthington, Denise Gough, and Wyatt Russell co-star; Dustin Lance Black ("Milk") created the series and wrote the adaptation. [Hulu] MADE FOR LOVE: Cristin Milioti stars in this sci-fi dark comedy series as Hazel, who escaped her suffocating marriage to a tech billionaire (Billy Magnussen) after discovering that he implanted an experimental chip in her brain. Dan Bakkedahl, Noma Dumezweni, and Ray Romano co-star. The show is based on a novel by Alissa Nutting, who co-created the series along with "Station Eleven" vet Patrick Somerville. Season 2 debuts today. [HBO Max] THE WAY DOWN: GOD, GREED, AND THE CULT OF GWEN SHAMBLIN: The docuseries chronicles the life of weight loss guru and Remnant Fellowship Church founder Gwen Shamblin Lara, and the various allegations of exploitation and emotional, psychological and physical abuse against her organization. The first three episodes debuted in September; the final two, which deal with Shamblin's death in a plane crash and its aftermath, arrive today. [HBO Max] DODO: Animated series from the UK, originally commissioned for Sky Kids, following the everyday adventures of 11-year-old Joe Connolly, who constantly finds himself in ridiculous and embarrassing scenarios. Singer-songwriter Ricky Wilson of the band Kaiser Chiefs provides narration; Dylan Llewllyn ("Derry Girls") voices Joe. Season 1 hits HBO Max today. [HBO Max] ANA EMILIA SHOW (DESAFÍO INFLUENCER CON ANA EMILIA): Debut Spanish-language reality competition series in which Mexican social media star and musical artist Ana Emilia will attempt to find Latin America's next mega-influencer within a group of aspiring contestants. [HBO Max] ANA EMILIA IN CONCERT: Emilia's first recorded concert special also debuts on Thursday on HBO Max. [HBO Max] LAMPUT: Series of animated shorts, originally produced by India's Viabhav Studios for Cartoon Network Asia, about a gooey shapeshifting creature that's on the run from its scientist creators. The first three seasons hit HBO Max today. [HBO Max] SAMURAI RABBIT: THE USAGI CHRONICLES: Debut animated kids series, based on the "Usagi Yojimbo" comic books by Stan Sakai. The action centers on a teenage rabbit in the distant future -- a descendant of the legendary Miyamoto Usagi -- who must battle a string of strange monsters on his path to becoming a true samurai. [Netflix] BUBBLE: 2022 anime film from "Attack on Titan" director Tetsurō Araki and Wit Studio, set in a world in which gravity-defying bubbles suddenly rain down from the sky, cutting off Tokyo from the rest of the world. Soon, young people begin using the city's physics-defying skyline to stage large-scale parkour tournaments and battles. [Netflix] DEAR MR. BRODY: Feature documentary profiling 21-year-old "hippie millionaire" Michael Brody Jr., who in 1970 announced a plan to give away his entire $25 million inheritance to anyone in need. The film looks at Brody's story and the media frenzy it ignited, and also examines some of the never-opened letters he received from those seeking some of his funds. [Discovery+] SMOTHER: Irish crime thriller series, originally produced for RTÉ One, starring Dervla Kirwan as a recent widow and mother of three who's forced to re-examine her own history and marriage while investigating the mysterious death of her husband. Season 2 comes to Peacock in the US today; the show has already been renewed for a third season. [Peacock] BANG BANG BABY: This coming-of-age crime comedy-drama series from Italy, set in Milan in the late 1980s, was inspired by a true story. Arianna Becheroni stars as a shy girl with an overactive imagination who, through devotion to her jailed father, becomes the youngest member of the infamous 'Ndrangheta crime syndicate. [Amazon]

HBO Max ordered an animated "Harley Quinn" spinoff centered around the character of Kite Man. In the new series, tentatively titled "Noonan's," Kite Man and his new girlfriend Golden Glider foolishly purchase Gotham's seediest dive bar, then start taking freelance villain jobs to pay off the loan. More: Matt Oberg will reprise his "Harley Quinn" role as the voice of Kite Man; "Harley Quinn" co-creator Dean Lorey will serve as showrunner. HBO Max ordered a 10-episode first season for the series. Season 3 of "Harley Quinn" will debut on HBO Max over the summer. VARIETY

A message from CONNECTEAM Learn How Managers Are Overseeing Their Employees the New Way Working remotely and managing employees in various locations is more common than ever before. How are businesses staying on top of it? Start using the all-in-one business software Connecteam to bring your employee management into the future. Thousands of businesses from more than 90 different industries benefit from Connecteam’s wide range of features. From streamlining internal communication and tracking work hours to shift scheduling - Connecteam does it all. Connecteam is simple and easy to use, meaning that everyone in your business, from your CEO and HR managers to your newest hires, can implement it into their work. Most importantly, you’ll never need to fill in a paper form again. Manage your employees efficiently, and eliminate payroll errors and communication issues for good with Connecteam. Connecteam is free to use for your first 50 users. Paid plans start from $39/month and come with a 14-day free trial. Start your Free Trial

Original "Walking Dead" actor Melissa McBride exited a planned spinoff series centered around her character, Carol, and Norman Reedus' Daryl. In a statement, AMC explained that McBride was unable to relocate to Europe for the summer to film the new series. More: The still-untitled spinoff was first announced in 2020. The main series "The Walking Dead" was produced in Atlanta for more than a decade. Sources who spoke with The Hollywood Reporter suggested that alternate projects featuring McBride as Carol are under discussion. The spinoff is still scheduled to debut in 2023. "The Walking Dead" will wrap up its 11-season run later this year. HOLLYWOOD REPORTER

Netflix grabbed the global rights to the new film from "The Revenant" and "Birdman" filmmaker Alejandro G. Iñárritu, titled "Bardo, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths." The film -- which Iñárritu both co-wrote and directed -- is currently in post-production and will wrap later this year. More: The film is described as a "nostalgic comedy" about a Mexican journalist and filmmaker who works through an existential crisis while taking a journey back in time within his own memories. The film will get a theatrical release in Mexico, the U.S., Canada, the U.K., and many other countries prior to hitting Netflix. This is Iñárritu's first feature since "The Revenant" in 2015, for which star Leonardo DiCaprio won his first Oscar. DEADLINE

Peacock ordered a first season of "Bupkis," a new comedy series from "Saturday Night Live" vet Pete Davidson. Davidson will star in the half-hour comedy series as a "heightened" version of himself; he'll also executive produce and write episodes. More: The series in some ways sounds similar to HBO's "Curb Your Enthusiasm," and will feature a character based on Davidson in a grounded world with "absurd elements." "SNL" creator Lorne Michaels is also on board as an executive producer. It's unclear if this will be Davidson's final season on "SNL" or if he plans to split his time between both series. TV LINE

HBO Max released a trailer for the third season of the reality ballroom competition series "Legendary." Keke Palmer will join the panel of judges for Season 3, replacing Megan Thee Stallion, who has exited the series. More: No reason was provided for Megan Thee Stallion's departure from the show. Leiomy Maldonado, Jameela Jamil, and Law Roach will all return as judges for the new season, along with host Dashaun Wesley. New episodes debut on May 19. EW

Blumhouse founder and CEO Jason Blum wrote an editorial for The New York Times with suggestions for Netflix. Blum defines the challenge facing the streamer as "how to make mainstream movies and television that its customers enjoy, at scale and for a reasonable price." More: Blum suggested Netflix follow the same model as his company: giving artists creative freedom along with tightly controlled budgets. Blum cites his own successful projects -- including "Get Out," "Whiplash," "The Invisible Man," and the original "Paranormal Activity" -- in making a case for the "Blumhouse model." The producer also recommends paying creators and artists the minimum allowed by unions, with the promise of "healthy bonuses" based on actual returns. NEW YORK TIMES

QUICK HITS Over 5,000 global customers trust Outreach as their Sales Execution Platform. Find out why it’s the right solution for your team.* "Chernobyl" vet Johan Renck will direct the first two episodes of the HBO Max "Dune" prequel series "The Sisterhood." Netflix canceled the multi-camera comedy series "Pretty Smart" after one season. Showtime suspended production on its series adaptation of "American Gigolo" after cutting ties with writer/director David Hollander, who was dismissed following a misconduct investigation. A new trailer for the Disney+ animation/live-action hybrid film "Chip n' Dale: Rescue Rangers" features cameos from a number of notable Disney favorites, including Lumiere from "Beauty and the Beast," Flounder from "The Little Mermaid," and even Peter Pan; the film arrives on May 20. The climate change documentary "Black Gold," from executive producer Darren Aronofsky, hits Paramount+ on May 17. The full run of iconic Canadian comedy series "Schitt's Creek" will move from Netflix over to Hulu in the U.S. later this year. Entertainment Weekly has a few preview images from the upcoming third and final season of "Love, Victor." The Starz comedy series "Run the World" added several new cast members in recurring roles for its upcoming second season, including Tika Sumpter, Chris "Comedian CP" Powell, and Isha Blaaker; Cree Summer and Ashley Blaine Featherson-Jenkins will make guest appearances. During a conversation with Deadline, "Grace and Frankie" co-creator Marta Kaufmann mused about ending the series and why it may not have sold today, as networks and streamers have less interest in comedy-drama projects about "women at a certain age." Amazon unveiled a slate of over 40 original TV series and films bound for Prime Video India, along with a new on-demand rental service. HBO Max greenlit international editions of the reality dating series "FBoy Island" for Denmark, Spain, Sweden, and The Netherlands. To deliver real-time analytics on massive datasets developers must balance latency, throughput, concurrency, and data freshness. Watch Molecula's Webinar.* *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.

Laika is a unified compliance platform that automates workflows for audits, infosec monitoring, and vendor due diligence in a single, collaborative space.

Connecteam is the all-In-One Employee Management Software. Time Tracking, Shift Scheduling, Communication, and Much More.

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.