There’s already a COVID-19-themed TV series in the works at HBO. Producer Adam McKay (Succession, The Big Short) is on board. The series will be based on a book proposal The First Shot, by journalist Brendan Borrell, that will examine the global race to get a vaccine to market. If McKay is interested in this, expect it to take a critical look at the role of government and business in producing the vaccine.
Like most people, I’m not sure I’m eager to see a series about the human tragedy associated with COVID-19, but a series like this that explores the backroom wheeling and dealing that has global repercussions? That sounds great.
Read more: Variety
Tenet scores a date
Tenet has a release date. On Aug 26 it will launch in: Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, Russia, and the United Kingdom. On Sept 3 it will launch in select cities in the US. Those cities are yet to be revealed.
Source: Variety
What the world needs now: More Oprah
Oprah continues her Apple TV+ takeover. In addition to her monthly book club and COVID special, Apple TV+ will now be the home of her new show The Oprah Conversation. It debuts on July 30 - her conversation will be with Ibram X. Kendi.
Source: Vulture
Load up with some edibles
Mobile streaming failure Quibi has today announced a new series based on the Japanese game show Sokkuri Sweets. The format has teams of celebrities and everyday people have to distinguish whether the ordinary object they are about to eat is what it looks like or if it is actually a candy treat.
The original show airs annually on New Years Day, which I think is a fantastic tradition.
The British invasion
Streaming service Britbox is already available in the US, Canada, and UK. Later this year it’s launching in Australia. Today there’s news that it is going to launch in another 25 countries across Europe, Asia, the Middle East, South America, and Africa.
Source: Deadline
The evidence mounts on The Kissing Booth 3
Following wild accusations earlier this week that The Kissing Booth 3 was already filmed… there’s now a teaser trailer for the upcoming Netflix movie.
HBO’s new Luca Guadagnino drama
Luca Guadagnino (director of Call Me By Your Name, A Bigger Splash) has a new HBO series We Are Who We Are.
The blurb:
A story about two American kids who live on a U.S. military base in Italy, the series explores friendship, first-love, identity, and immerses the audience in all the messy exhilaration and anguish of being a teenager – a story which could happen anywhere in the world, but in this case, happens in this little slice of America in Italy.
The trailer:
Quick-ish Bites
- Star Trek Discovery will return on Oct 15. Source: Collider
- P-Valley has been greenlit for a second season. Source: TVLine
- Australian breakfast TV presenter David Koch has re-signed with Seven to host Sunrise for another two years. Source: TV Tonight
What’s next?
