Batman swings back onto TV

We won't find out why Batman doesn't dance anymore in a new animated series being brought to TV by JJ Abrams and Matt Reeves - director of the upcoming film The Batman.

The new cartoon is expected to be a dark noir take on Batman “We are beyond excited to be working together to bring this character back, to tell engrossing new stories in Gotham City,” said Abrams (Star Wars: The Force Awakens) and Reeves (The Batman) in a statement. “The series will be thrilling, cinematic and evocative of Batman’s noir roots, while diving deeper into the psychology of these iconic characters. We cannot wait to share this new world.”

One assumes that this series will be different to the take on Batman seen in the upcoming Reeves film. It does sound like the show will be a little darker than the animated Batman shows we have seen in the past.

Jack Quaid is Superman

The Boys star Jack Quaid will voice Clark Kent/Superman in a new animated series that, like Batman: Caped Crusader, is coming to HBO Max. It sounds like this cartoon will be a lot more family friendly, with the series exploring Clark/Superman, Lois, and Jimmy in their twenties as they get involved in newspaper-related adventures. It looks like Jimmy Olsen (and maybe Lois) also has a new ethnicity. Okay.

It's a smart move to make a Superman show as family friendly as possible - it does feel like this is a character who badly needs to bring on a big new fan base of youngsters.

Source: THR

Arnold Schwarzenegger - star of screens

Two unrelated, but totally related, Arnold Schwarzenegger stories to note today...

Schwarzenegger appeared at the The Big Screen is Back conference to tell the industry that the theatrical experience is set to be just as big on the other side of COVID. Of course, for this to resonate, it would probably be best if we ignore that Schwarzenegger hasn't really been the lead in a big blockbuster release since, what, 2000's The 6th Day?

But just as faded movie star Schwarzenegger is wowing the exhibition industry, Netflix announced that it has given the greenlight to Arnold Schwarzenegger's first TV series. It's a father-daughter spy series that's not entirely unlike True Lies.

Scorpions creator Nick Santora is set to showrun the series, which Netflix has given the okay to an 8-episode first season.

The untitled project stars Schwarzenegger and Monica Barbaro (Top Gun: Maverick, Zack Snyder’s Army of the Dead) as a father and daughter duo who “learn that they’ve each secretly been working as CIA Operatives for years, they realize their entire relationship has been a lie and they truly don’t know one another at all. Forced to team up as partners, our series tackles universal family dynamics set against a global backdrop of spies, fantastic action and humor.”

The big screen is back! As long as we're talking about a newly purchased 85-inch TV set.

Netflix has its Wednesday Addams

The smoke plumes are being seen across TV land - Jenny Ortega is our new Wednesday Addams. The Jane The Virgin actor will play the goth twentysomething in the new series Wednesday, helmed by Tim Burton.

Rock out with new Mouse Rat album

Mouse Rat have a new album. The iconic band from Pawnee, Indiana will release The Awesome Album on August 27. Of course, the album will include hit single 5,000 Candles in the Wind and there will be collaborations with contributions from famed jazz legend Duke Silver and local Pawnee band Land Ho.

The full track listing:

5,000 Candles in the Wind (Bye, Bye Lil Sebastian)
The Pit
Sex Hair
Catch Your Dream (feat. Duke Silver)
Two Birds Holding Hands
Ann Song
The Way You Look Tonight
Menace Ball
Remember
I Get A Kick Out Of You
Lovely Tonight
I’ve Got You Under My Skin
I Only Have Eyes For You
Pickled Ginger (performed by Land Ho!)
Cold Water (performed by Scott Tanner feat. Duke Silver)

Find out more at /Film:

The final season of Kim's Convenience

The fifth and final season of the simply wonderful Kim's Convenience is coming to Netflix (in The US) on June 2 pic.twitter.com/MrAGKUBQx1
— Netflix (@netflix) May 19, 2021

TeeVee Snacks

The Vampire Diaries creator Julie Plec will adapt the YA Vampire Academy book series into a series for Peacock. Read: Deadline
RIP comedian Paul Mooney, who died at age 79. Read: Variety
Fans of the boy wizard will want to check out the upcoming Harry Potter TV quiz show. Read: THR
The BBC has announced 6 new series, including a new project from Michaela Coel. Read: TBI
Kumail Nanjiani will star in a scripted series about The Chippendales for Hulu. Read: C21)
HBO Max has confirmed that it will launch its ad-supported service in June for $9.99. Read: Variety
Seinfeld writer Larry Charles says Kramer would be into QAnon. He's probably right. Read: The Daily Beast
The WarnerMedia/Discovery merger was structured to make it easier to sell the combined company yet again. Read: CNBC

Spotify streaming concerts

Spotify is live streaming a series of concerts for US fifteen bucks apiece. The concerts will be pre-recorded, but stream as-live. This means that once the concert starts at the designated time, there's no pausing, rewinding, or fast-forwarding. Streams will start multiple times over a few days, meaning you can select a time that suits you. Just make sure you're in front of your device when it starts.

Artists include: Black Keys (May 27), followed by Rag’n’Bone Man (June 3), Bleachers’ Jack Antonoff (June 10), Leon Bridges (June 17); and Girl in Red (June 24).

What isn't clear to me is whether this is a video stream (which I assume it is) or just audio.

Trailer Park

Friends: The Reunion debuts on HBO Max 27 May.

Animal Kingdom returns to TNT for season 5 on July 11.

RL Stine's Fear Street drops three movies on Netflix on July 2, July 9, and July 16.

In 1994, a group of teenagers discovers that the terrifying events that have haunted their town for generations may all be connected - and that they may be the next targets. Based on R.L. Stine's best selling horror series, the trilogy follows the nightmare through Shadyside's sinister history.

Elite Short Stories drops new short stories (four of them) daily from June 14 on Netflix. A new season of Elite then kicks off on June 18.