Friends Reunion Special Confirmed for HBO Max

The one-off episode will feature the return of all six principal cast members.

Friends Reunion Special Confirmed for HBO Max
Lake Schatz

Consequence of Sound

It’s official: The cast of Friends is reuniting for a one-off unscripted special on HBO Max. Consider it “The One Where They Get Back Together”.

Rumors of a reunion special started simmering in November, but The Hollywood Reporter has now confirmed that the core cast of the beloved series — that’s Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry, and David Schwimmer — is set to return for the limited special. The TV show’s creators, David Crane and Marta Kauffman, are also expected to participate.

The reunion special is set to be filmed in Burbank on Stage 24 of the Warner Bros. Studio lot. If the location sounds familiar, it’s because it’s the same place where the entirety of Friends was shot during its 10-season run from 1994 through 2004.


The reconvening of all six principal cast members didn’t come cheaply, as each actor stands to earn “more than double their former per-episode fee for the reunion and be paid between $2.5 million and $3 million for the special,” per The Hollywood Reporter. If you’ll recall, amidst their original on-air run, the cast famously renegotiated their contracts to receive then-historic salaries ($1 million per episode).

“Guess you could call this the one where they all got back together — we are reuniting with David, Jennifer, Courteney, Matt, Lisa, and Matthew for an HBO Max special that will be programmed alongside the entire Friends library,” Kevin Reilly, chief content officer at HBO Max and president, TBS, TNT and truTV, noted in a statement. “I became aware of Friends when it was in the very early stages of development and then had the opportunity to work on the series many years later and have delighted in seeing it catch on with viewers generation after generation. It taps into an era when friends — and audiences — gathered together in real time and we think this reunion special will capture that spirit, uniting original and new fans.”

The Friends reunion special will debut on HBO Max when the streaming platform officially launches sometime in May. All 236 past episodes of Friends will also be available on HBO Max, following the series’ departure from Netflix late last year.

Below, find the official Friends reunion announcement that was posted by all six cast members.

Friends Reunion Special Confirmed for HBO Max
Lake Schatz

‘Killing Eve’ hires ‘Sex Education’ writer to helm season 4

It comes ahead of the season three premiere in April

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Killing Eve has hired Sex Education writer Laura Neal to be its lead writer for season four of the BBC America show.

Neal has previously worked on such shows as Secret Diary of a Call Girl and My Mad Fat Diary in addition to her writing work on the hit Netflix show.

BBC America renewed Killing Eve for a fourth season last month, with season three set to premiere on April 26.

It’s now been announced that Neal will serve as the lead writer on season four of Killing Eve, which will go into production later this year.

In a statement, Sarah Barnett, AMC Networks Entertainment Group and AMC Studios President, said that Neal will be “the latest incredible leader of the pack” of Killing Eve showrunners.

‘Killing Eve’

Killing Eve smashes television tropes in every way, both on the screen and behind it,” Barnett said. “We have a remarkable squad of ferociously smart women writers passing the baton to each other on this show, aligned around a coherent vision but bringing it to life with their own specific sparkle and brilliance. Laura Neal is the latest incredible leader of the pack on Killing Eve.”

Killing Eve executive producer Sally Woodward Gentle added: “Laura is frighteningly bright, takes no prisoners and can laugh at anything. She’s wicked and wild, emotional and provocative. The stories we are already creating for season four promise a pitch-black riot.”

Neal will succeed season three lead writer Suzanne Heathcote. Phoebe Waller-Bridge (season one) and Emerald Fennell (season two) have previously held the post.

Last year, Killing Eve‘s second season became the most-watched show on BBC iPlayer as it drew over 40 million viewers online.

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Netflix is being sued by children’s book publisher over ‘Black Mirror: Bandersnatch’

They are seeking for $25 million in damages

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Netflix is being sued by a children’s book publisher over its Black Mirror: Bandersnatch film after it lost a bid to dismiss an earlier lawsuit.

Directed by David Slade and written by Charlie Booker, the interactive film, which lets the viewer decide whether game designer Stefan should take his medication, what cereal he should eat, and whether he should kill his dad, was released in December 2018.

Chooseco LLC, which owns the ‘Choose Your Own Adventure’ book series, is now suing Netflix over the film’s inclusion of the book titled Bandersnatch, which the protagonist wants to adapt into a game.

The company launched a trademark infringement legal challenge against the streaming giant back in January 2019. It claimed that Netflix was misleading people into thinking that Bandersnatch is linked to its books, which have sold more than 265 million copies since the 1980s.

Highlighting a particular scene in its challenge, Chooseco LLC focuses on where Stefan tells his dad that he’s working on a game based on a choose-your-own-adventure book to illustrate the artistic similarities between the two.

“Here, the protagonist of Bandersnatch attempts to convert the fictional book ‘Bandersnatch’ into a video game, placing the book at the centre of the film’s plot”, said the ruling (via The Hollywood Reporter).
“Moreover, Netflix intended this narrative structure to comment on the mounting influence technology has in modern-day life.

“In addition, the mental imagery associated with Chooseco’s mark adds to Bandersnatch’s 1980s aesthetic. Thus, Netflix’s use of Chooseco’s mark clears the purposely-low threshold of Rogers’ artistic-relevance prong.”

Referring to the Rogers v Grimaldi trademark and intellectual freedom case, it is used to look at how much likeness creative properties share and whether the public has been deliberately misled.

A scene from ‘Black Mirror: Bandersnatch’. CREDIT: Press

Despite Netflix requesting that the case be dismissed under the First Amendment (freedom of expression), U.S. District Court Judge William Sessions has said that the case will be allowed to proceed.
“Chooseco has sufficiently alleged that consumers associate its mark with interactive books,” states the ruling. “The protagonist in Bandersnatch explicitly stated that the fictitious book at the centre of the film’s plot was a ‘Choose Your Own Adventure’ book.

“In addition, the book, the videogame, and the film itself all employ the same type of interactivity as Chooseco’s products, [which] increases the likelihood of consumer confusion.”

Seeking for $25 million in damages, the publisher has also taken issue with the aesthetics of the book used in the film.
“The physical characteristics and context of the use demonstrate that it is at least plausible Netflix used the term to attract public attention by associating the film with Chooseco’s book series,” said Judge Sessions.

Read the full ruling here.

Meanwhile, Charlie Brooker has spoken out about his bleak sci-fi anthology series Black Mirror and claimed that he believes viewers miss the ‘dark humour’ the show offers.

Speaking at the Broadcasting Press Guild Awards, Brooker told Press Assocation, “I think it’s often easy for people to overlook the dark humour that is in Black Mirror.

The creator, who has a background in comedy, added that the ideas that end up getting made into shows are the ones that made him laugh.

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‘Masters Of The Universe’: Henry Rollins, Mark Hamill and Lena Headey set for Kevin Smith’s ‘He-Man’ Netflix anime series

Chris Wood, Sarah Michelle Gellar and more are also on board

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Kevin Smith’s new He-Man-featuring Netflix anime series Masters Of The Universe: Revelation has revealed its all-star cast.

Henry Rollins, Mark Hamill, Lena Headey and more are all set for the new reboot of the Masters Of The Universe series, which began with a film of the same name in 1982 and has played out across films (including the 1987 live-action movie featuring Dolph Lundgren as He-Man), animated TV series and comic books for a number of years.

Smith has described the new series, which is yet to confirm a release date, as “pick[ing] up right where the classic era left off to tell an epic tale of what may be the final battle between He-Man and Skeletor.”

He-Man is set to be voiced by Chris Wood in the new show, with Henry Rollins becoming Tri-Klops and Lena Headey as Evil-Lyn. Mark Hamill will voice Skeletor.

Henry Rollins

Last October, Smith, who is directing and executive producing the show, gave an update on progress with Revelation.

“When will you see it? Probably not for a while,” Smith said at the time. “Don’t count on at least for six months but I’ve seen stuff and it’s amazing.”

The full cast list for Masters Of The Universe: Revelation is as follows:

Mark Hamill as Skeletor
Lena Headey as Evil-Lyn
Chris Wood as Prince Adam / He-Man
Sarah Michelle Gellar as Teela
Liam Cunningham as Man-At-Arms
Stephen Root as Cringer
Diedrich Bader as King Randor / Trap Jaw
Griffin Newman as Orko
Tiffany Smith as Andra
Henry Rollins as Tri-Klops
Alan Oppenheimer as Moss Man
Susan Eisenberg as Sorceress
Alicia Silverstone as Queen Marlena
Justin Long as Roboto
Jason Mewes as Stinkor
Phil LaMarr as He-Ro
Tony Todd as Scare Glow
Cree Summer as Priestess
Kevin Michael Richardson as Beast Man
Kevin Conroy as Mer-Man
Harley Quinn Smith as Ileena

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Stranger Things 4 Trailer Confirms Hopper Returns: Watch

The Duffers also announce production on Season 4 has begun.

Stranger Things 4 Trailer Confirms Hopper Returns: Watch
Michael Roffman

Consequence of Sound

It’s no secret anymore: Sheriff Jim Hopper lives. Even better, he’s the American trapped in Russia at the end of Stranger Things 3. All of this is confirmed in the latest teaser trailer for the show’s fourth season, which dropped early Valentine’s Day morning.

In the clip, the camera pans through wintry terrain, dropping into a prison camp, where several guards watch over prisoners working on what appears to be a new project. Lo and behold, among the unlucky is good ol’ Jimbo — or rather, a shaved and ragged David Harbour. No kidding. He’s lost much of the heft that filled out his Magnum P.I. look in Stranger Things 3.

That’s not all. The teaser itself came paired with a Valentine-of-sorts from the Duffer Brothers, who also confirmed that a.) production has begun on the fourth season and that b.) it’s going to be “the biggest and most frightening season yet.” They signed it off “From Russia with love,” alluding to the iconic sophomore James Bond flick.

Read the message here:

“We’re excited to officially confirm that production on Stranger Things 4 is now underway — and even more excited to announce the return of Hopper! Although it’s not all good news for our “American”; he is imprisoned far from home in the snowy wasteland of Kamchatka, where he will face dangers both human…and other. Meanwhile, back in the states, a new horror is beginning to surface, something long buried, something that connects everything…. Season 4 is shaping up to be the biggest and most frightening season yet, and we cannot wait for everyone to see more. In the meantime — pray for the American.”

And watch the trailer below…

Stranger Things 4 Trailer Confirms Hopper Returns: Watch
Michael Roffman

‘Stranger Things’ season four: trailers, cast, release date, fan theories and everything we know so far

We return to the Upside Down in 2022…

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NME

After almost three years away, Stranger Things is finally coming back into our lives.

Eleven and the gang last appeared all the way back in season three of Netflix’s sci-fi smash hit in 2019, and if, like us, you binged the entirety of the latest season a long time ago, you’ll be scouting around for anything you can find out about future episodes of the show.

Thankfully, the fourth season of the sci-fi smash is soon on the way – here’s everything we know about it so far.

Latest update:

  • The official trailer has now been released
  • Creators the Duffer brothers compare the new season to Game Of Thrones
  • Season four will be released in two volumes, the first on May 27 and the second five weeks later on July 1
  • Netflix has revealed the titles of season four’s episodes

When will Stranger Things season four be released on Netflix?

Netflix has confirmed Stranger Things season four will be released in two volumes. The first will be released on May 27, with the second five weeks later on July 1.

In a note from creators Matt and Ross Duffer, the pair wrote: “With nine scripts, over eight-hundred pages, almost two years of filming, thousands of visual effects shots, and a runtime nearly twice the length of any previous season, Stranger Things 4 was the most challenging season yet, but also the most rewarding one.

“Everyone involved is incredibly proud of the results, and we can’t wait to share it with you.

“Given the unprecedented length, and to get it to you as soon as possible, season four will be released in two volumes. Volume One will release on May 27th; Volume Two will release five weeks later on July 1st.”

Stranger Things (Credit: Netflix)

Producer Shawn Levy previously discussed season four’s delay with Variety: “The delay is due in large measure to COVID and the pace at which we have to work to do so safely, but it also happens to be the season that we chose to go much bigger. It’s the scale of this season and the multi-settings of Season 4.”

Is there a Stranger Things season four trailer yet?

There is indeed! The official trailer was released (April 12) ahead of the May 27 release of Vol.1. Check it out here:

Another teaser was released (August 6) which shows glimpses of season four, alongside footage from the first three seasons. The shots are brief, but there’s a mysterious clock, Eleven rocking a new hairstyle while being held back by suited blokes, and a shaved Jim Hopper sporting a flamethrower (presumably in Russia, if it picks up directly after events in season three).

An earlier trailer shared in May teases Eleven’s storyline for the upcoming season. In it, we watch a series of clips of children being tested in Dr Brenner’s lab. He was the manipulative director of a research lab who forced Millie Bobby Brown’s Eleven to participate in his mind power experiments during season one. Dr. Brenner (Matthew Modine) appeared to be killed by the Demogorgon, but an orderly told Eleven and Kali (Linnea Berthelsen) in season two that he is still alive.

The footage from this trailer is almost certainly a flashback or dream sequence, as the end frame pans to Eleven’s face, while Brenner asks: “Eleven, are you listening?” You can watch it in full below.

In an earlier teaser from 2020, it was revealed that a certain key character is not quite as dead as we thought they were…

Watch that trailer below too.

 

A further trailer was shared on November 6, showing Eleven’s new life in California. Ordinary school life soon changes when the visuals flip to a sudden barrage of gunshots, car chases, military action and a desert-set explosion.

What locations will we visit in season four? 

A new location that will feature in Stranger Things season four was revealed during Netflix’s livestream TUDUM event (September 25). In a new teaser premiered on the preview showcase, it was revealed that a house dubbed Creel House will be a “super important location” in the new episodes.

The show’s creators Matt and Ross Duffer, plus stars Gaten Matarazzo (who plays Dustin) and Joe Keery (who plays Steve) presented the new clip. “It’s very, very strange,” Matarazzo said of Creel House. The teaser shows a big, old-fashioned house with a family moving in, but strange things – like lights flickering and dead animal carcasses appearing on the lawn – soon start to happen.

After the children’s bodies are seen lifeless on the floor, the clip shifts to the show’s present-day, with Dustin, Steve, Max (Sadie Sink) and Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin) breaking into the house. “Could you maybe clarify what sort of clues we’re supposed to be looking for here?” Steve asks as they explore the creepy building.

The teaser ends focused on a ticking grandfather clock, with the glass on its clock window cracking as the camera zooms in.

Ross Duffer explained in April 2022 that the show will feature disparate locations, and knew as such when they were coming off of season three, comparing it to Game Of Thrones.

“[But] we didn’t know how big the season was going to get, and we didn’t even realize until we were about halfway through, just in terms of how much story that we wanted to tell this season,” he told Deadline’s Contenders Television panel. “Game Of Thrones is one thing we’ve referenced, but also for us really what it’s about is revelations, in that we really wanted to start giving the audience some answers.”

Do we know the titles of the episodes in season four? 

Yes! On November 6, Netflix shared a video that revealed all the titles of the episodes due to make up season four. They are, in order of the video, ‘The Hellfire Club’, ‘Vecna’s Curse’, ‘The Monster and the Superhero’, ‘Dear Billy’, ‘The Nina Project’, ‘The Dive’, ‘The Massacre at Hawkins Lab’, ‘Papa’ and ‘The Piggyback’. Watch the video reveal below now.

The Duffers have also revealed that they had to add an extra episode halfway through making the season, Matt explaining: “I don’t think we have an episode clocking in under an hour – even in Season 1 there were episodes that were like 35 minutes.

“You kind of forget that. This season, they’re very long, so I think it’s almost double the length of any season. So that’s one reason it’s taken so long. It does have this sort of epic quality to it. It’s a different feel, for sure.”

Are there any photos from the set?

Netflix has released batch of stills from the fourth season. You can check them out below.

Who’s going to be in the cast for Stranger Things season four?

Most of the main cast will return, so Winona Ryder (Joyce Byers), Finn Wolfhard (Mike Wheeler), Millie Bobby Brown (Eleven), Gaten Matarazzo (Dustin Henderson), Caleb McLaughlin (Lucas Sinclair), Natalia Dyer (Nancy Wheeler), Noah Schnapp (Will Byers), Sadie Sink (Max Mayfield), Maya Hawke (Robin) and Charlie Heaton (Jonathan Byers).

However, season three saw some major characters leave the show. Dacre Montgomery, who plays Billy, won’t be returning as his character died sacrificing himself to save Hawkins. And we also saw the tragic death of Hawkins’ chief of police Hopper, although the new trailer (watch above) revealed that the scruffy cop is in fact alive and (not so) well.

In the teaser, he can be seen working on building a railway track somewhere in a very cold and frosty environment.

In a press release, Netflix said: “We’re excited to officially confirm that production on Stranger Things four is now underway – and even more excited to announce the return of Hopper!

“Although it’s not all good news for our “American”; he is imprisoned far from home in the snowy wasteland of Kamchatka, where he will face dangers both human… and other. Meanwhile, back in the States, a new horror is beginning to surface, something long buried, something that connects everything…”

Robin in ‘Stranger Things’ (Credit: Netflix)

Maya Hawke has also been talking to the press about her hopes for season four, and where she can see her character Robin going.

Talking to Consequence of Sound in July 2020, Hawke said: “Robin evolved a lot as we filmed the season. I think the Duffer brothers take a lot of inspiration from their actors, so the better the brothers got to know me, the more the character changed. But you would have to ask the brothers about that.

“Robin sees herself as an under-the-radar big fish in a small pond. She is really driven and works really hard at school, because she knows someday, she’ll make it out of Hawkins and she wants to be ready.”

Speaking about her hopes for Robin in season four, Hawke said: “I wanna see her at the video store. So many of the great minds of the ‘80s and ‘90s filmmakers and creatives started out working in video stores, and as far as I know, that environment hasn’t really been explored on TV. I think that would be really fun.”

Andrey Ivchenko, who played the part of Terminator-style villain Grigori, has also hinted that he could return for season four. Whilst his character was seemingly killed off in the final episode of season three, he revealed at the San Diego Comic-Con that a return could be possible.

He said: “It’s sci-fi, you know, so things can happen…For now, what I know is he’s dead. But who knows?”

‘Stranger Things’ creators the Duffer Brothers (Credit: Getty)

Brett Gelman, who portrays journalist-turned-conspiracy theorist Murray Bauman in the show, has been promoted to a series regular for season four, Deadline reported in March 2020.

Sources also confirmed to TVLine exclusively that the show’s creators the Duffer Brothers were looking to cast four new male characters for season four.

Three of the new characters are teenagers and one is an adult. The piece described the new teenage characters as “a metalhead”, “an entitled jock” and a character that sounds an awful lot like the twin of Fast Times at Ridgemont High stoner Jeff Spicoli”.

The adult, meanwhile, looks to be pivotal in the Russian storyline that’s set to unfold in the new season.

The Duffers have also teased some big guest stars appearing, Matt telling Deadline: “We have a couple of cool ones this year. It’s a really fun way to get to meet one of your icons, you know? Write a part for them and see if they want to do it… these are actors we grew up watching so it’s amazing and surreal.”

What will happen in season four of Stranger Things?

When we left Hawkins we saw Joyce and her sons Will and Jonathan, along with Eleven, packing up their home into a removal van, ready to move away. This means season four will see the gang separated, and the show move away from Hawkins for the first time.

Comparing the scope to another big series, Matt Duffer said in April 2022: “We kind of jokingly call it our Game Of Thrones season because it’s so spread out, so I think that’s what’s unique or most unique about the season.”

Addressing season four’s timescale, Matt added: “Joyce and Byers family to have left at the end of Season 3. They are in California – we’ve always wanted to have that like ‘E.T’.-esque suburb aesthetic, which we finally got to do this year in the desert; and then we have Hopper in Russia; and then of course we have a group remaining in Hawkins.

“So we have these three storylines, are all connected and kind of interwoven together, but it’s just very different tones.”

Steve and Dustin in ‘Stranger Things’ (Credit: Netflix)

They have also teased some answers about the supernatural occurrences in Hawkins, saying: “Back when we did Season 1, Netflix just kept going ‘Can you explain all this mythology to us?’ So we wrote this giant 20-page document, which talked about everything in terms of what was going on and what exactly the Upside Down was.

“And then each season we’re just sort of peeling back the layers of that onion, so to speak. But this season, we really wanted to really get into it and [revealing] some of those answers. But to do that properly, we needed time, so it just became bigger and bigger.”

Previously, in a July 2020 interview with Entertainment Weekly, the Duffer brothers teased more about the “portals” which may take the characters out of Hawkins, Indiana, into different worlds.

“We have the big broad strokes,” Ross said. “It’s just now about filling in those lines in the details. We’re pretty excited about where it’s potentially going to go. Again, like we said, it’s going to feel very different than this season. But I think that’s the right thing to do and I think it’ll be exciting.”

Matt added: “I think the biggest thing that’s going to happen is it’s going to open up a little bit, not necessarily in terms of scale [or] in terms of special effects…but open up in terms of allowing portals into areas outside of Hawkins.”

He continued: “Assuming there’s a season four, obviously the question of who that American is in that cell and then also what they’re doing with the Demogorgon, is a tease…That’s obviously going to play a huge role in a potential season four.”

‘Stranger Things’ star Millie Bobbie Brown (Credit: Getty)

More fan theories have also been popping up about what’s set to go down in our fourth trip to Hawkins. One Reddit user has some pretty big ideas about the next edition of the show, hinting that a huge nuclear disaster is set to be at the forefront of the plot.

Specifically, they believe that Eleven will spark the Chernobyl power plant disaster of 1986. The theory comes from the fact that season three drew to a close in October 1985, just six months before the April disaster in the following year. It also links together with the Russian spies introduced in the most recent season, with the new theory believing that the disaster could even be fabricated in an attempt to cover up a battle between Eleven and the spies.

The possibility of such a storyline is backed by the Russians using reactors of a similar kind to open gateways in season three. It also comes back to the idea that Chief Jim Hopper isn’t actually dead, and is “the American” mentioned in season three’s mid-credits sequence.

Winona Ryder (Credit: WireImage)

There have also been rumblings amongst fans of something called The Winona Collision. It revolves around the possibility of casting a body double for Winona Ryder’s character, as the show’s setting in the ’80s causes some headaches when contrasted against real life timelines from the past.

Speaking about the possible collision of worlds and the real-life ascendence of Ryder, Matt said in April 2022: “That’s the threshold we can’t cross, which is once Winona is a superstar in the world, like the show has to stop, because [the kids’ heads] will spontaneously combust or something,” laughed Matt,

“That’s the final scene: the kids go to see Beetlejuice and their heads explode,” Ross joked.

The Duffer brothers previously released a series of cryptic tweets (October 17), with each seemingly a clue to something that could be happening in the upcoming new season. You can see the tweets below:

 

David Harbour added detail on the development of his character, Hopper, saying how season four will let fans see a different side to him.

“He is painted in a bit of a darker palette,” Harbour told Deadline. “He’s able to express some of these really deep things that we’ve… hinted at with the boxes in Season two.”

Describing the show’s action, the actor added: “It’s very epic. There are monsters and horror and scares. There’s also some great Indiana Jones-type action.”

What about Eleven’s powers, is she going to get those back?

We’ll have to wait and see. At the end of season three Eleven loses her powers after battling with the Mind Flayer, and there was no sign at the end that these powers would return. Mike was confident they would – but time will tell on whether she gets them back.

Did season three leave behind any Easter Eggs hinting at the storyline for season four?

Well, we’re glad you asked – yes!

Ever-eager Stranger Things fans have discovered another Easter Egg buried in season three, and it’s one they believe holds hints as to an unexplained death in the season, and potential ramifications for season four.

During a scene in season three, the phone number of Murray Bauman – an associate of police chief Hopper who is renowned for investigating conspiracy theories – is read aloud on screen.

Fans have now been calling the number – 618-625-8313 – and finding a message Bauman left for Joyce Byers (Winona Ryder) after Hopper was presumed dead in the finale of season three.

The message reads: “Hi, you have reached the residence of Murray Bauman. Mom, if this is you, please hang up and call me between the hours of 5 and 6pm as previously discussed, okay? If this is Joyce: Joyce, thank you for calling, I have been trying to reach you. I have an update. It’s about… well, it’s probably best if we speak in person. It’s not good or bad, but it’s something.”

There’s still much confusion among fans as to what actually happened to Hopper in the season finale (see above), and fans believe that this message is related to the police chief. Couple that with the revelation that he is in fact still breathing (thank you new trailer) and Russian prison guards referring to an unidentified “American” in the most recent episode, and it all starts to make a little more sense.

Further to this, ScreenRant has noted a new theory that Joyce and Bauman will be the ones who end up rescuing Hopper from the prison camp in Kamchatka, Russia.

“Before filming for season four shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic, the crew shot scenes in Vilnius, Lithuania to act as the Russian setting,” the publication wrote.

“Rumors also suggest that Ryder and Gelman may have been involved in the Lithuania shoot. If that’s the case, it adds even more evidence to the notion that Joyce and Murray go a mission to find Hopper, which was teased by a special Stranger Things Easter egg.

“If Joyce and Murray did find evidence that the Russians captured Hopper, it would make sense that they lead their own rescue mission. The trio had been through a lot together and they understand that the Russians are a huge threat.”

Will season four be the last season of Stranger Things?

The Duffer Brothers have confirmed Stranger Things will come to an end after season five.

In a note announcing season four’s release date, the pair wrote: “Seven years ago, we planned out the complete story arc for Stranger Things. At the time, we predicted the story would last four to five seasons. It proved too large to tell in four, but – as you’ll soon see for yourselves – we are now hurtling toward our finale. Season four will be the penultimate season; season five will be the last.

“There are still many more exciting stories to tell within the world of Stranger Things; new mysteries, new adventures, new unexpected heroes. But first we hope that you stay with us as we finish this tale of a powerful girl named Eleven and her brave friends, of a broken police chief and a ferocious mom, of a small town called Hawkins and an alternate dimension known only as the Upside Down. As always, we are grateful for your patience and support.”

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Migos’ Quavo cooks up crack in surprise ‘Narcos: Mexico’ season 2 appearance

“Whip it like stir fry, you feel me?”

The post Migos’ Quavo cooks up crack in surprise ‘Narcos: Mexico’ season 2 appearance appeared first on NME Music News, Reviews, Videos, Galleries, Tickets and Blogs | NME.COM.

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Quavo makes a surprise cameo in the new series of Narcos: Mexico, portraying an LA drug dealer who educates his Mexican counterparts about a new drug, crack.

It’s no secret that the Migos rapper and his fellow bandmates, Offset and Takeoff, are big Narcos fans. The Atlanta hip-hop trio paid homage to the series and the legacy of Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar in ‘Narcos’, a single from their 2018 album ‘Culture II’.

Fans were perhaps not so surprised to see Quavo star in the season 2 of Narcos: Mexico, which premiered yesterday (February 13) on Netflix. In episode two, Quavo gives a group of Mexican dealers a lesson in how to cook up crack.

Quavo also manages to slide in a Migos reference. While demonstrating the process of making the drug, Quavo says in one clip: “Whip it like stir fry, you feel me?” ‘Stir Fry’ is another of Migos’ songs (learn about how they made the song here).

Later in the episode – shown in another clip shared by Quavo on Instagram – his character explains why he refuses to partake in the crack smoking going on at a party.

“I know you ain’t gonna understand this, but I’m going to tell you, like a bad bitch told Tony, ‘Don’t get high on your own supply,’” he declares, referencing Tony Montana (Al Pacino) in Scarface. “Tony should’ve listened.”

According to Entertainment Weekly, Offset and Takeoff were also supposed to feature in the show but failed to show up to the filming.

Meanwhile, Migos today (February 14) teamed up with Travis Scott and Young Thug for their new track ‘Give No Fxk’.

The song follows on from the news that Migos will play at Reading & Leeds Festival this summer. They’ll perform just before headliner Stormzy at Reading on August 28, before playing at Leeds the following day (August 29).

The post Migos’ Quavo cooks up crack in surprise ‘Narcos: Mexico’ season 2 appearance appeared first on NME Music News, Reviews, Videos, Galleries, Tickets and Blogs | NME.COM.

These useful codes will take you to Netflix’s Valentine’s Day content hassle-free

‘Steamy Romantic Films’, anyone?

The post These useful codes will take you to Netflix’s Valentine’s Day content hassle-free appeared first on NME Music News, Reviews, Videos, Galleries, Tickets and Blogs | NME.COM.

NME Music News, Reviews, Videos, Galleries, Tickets and Blogs | NME.COM

Netflix has a selection of “secret” codes that take viewers to Valentine’s Day-themed film and TV playlists.

The codes help subscribers narrow down specific categories or genres such as ‘Romantic Favourites’, ‘Valentine’s Day Favourites’ and ‘Feel-good Romantic Films’.

Timothée Chalamet in ‘Call Me By Your Name’

Users need to use this URL and then add one of the following codes (after adding forward stoke) to get a unique sub-genre:

Valentine’s Day Films – 50117
Romantic Favourites – 502675
Valentine’s Day Favourites – 1952249
Romantic – 100052
Romantic Films – 8883
Feel-good Romantic Films – 35714
Romantic Teen Comedies – 3186
Romantic Teen Comedies – 3186
Romantic Comedies – 5475
Steamy Romantic Films – 35800
Feel-good Romantic Comedies – 35797
Comedies for Hopeless Romantics – 81506
Romantic Teen Films – 1764
Romantic Dramas – 1255

Valentine’s Day-related films that are currently on the platform include Call Me By Your Name, Marriage Story, or rom-coms such as To All The Boys P.S. I Still Love You and Long Shot.

In NME’s five-star review of Marriage Story Greg Wetherall wrote: “Arguably Baumbach’s [writer/director] greatest achievement in this film lies in the writing and how he manages to portray both sides’ opinion – and apportion blame equally. His characters are fully fleshed-out, replete with failings and foibles. There are no villains. There are no heroes. This only heightens the heartbreak.

Driver and Johansson reel you in and hold you tight until the closing credits roll. In the meantime, you flip and you flop, cheering on one side and then the other. The outcome is an utterly absorbing, highly emotional and exhausting journey. Magnificent.”

The post These useful codes will take you to Netflix’s Valentine’s Day content hassle-free appeared first on NME Music News, Reviews, Videos, Galleries, Tickets and Blogs | NME.COM.

‘After Life’: release date confirmed for season 2 of Ricky Gervais’ Netflix series

Get a first look at the return of one of 2019’s biggest new comedies

The post ‘After Life’: release date confirmed for season 2 of Ricky Gervais’ Netflix series appeared first on NME Music News, Reviews, Videos, Galleries, Tickets and Blogs | NME.COM.

NME Music News, Reviews, Videos, Galleries, Tickets and Blogs | NME.COM

Netflix have confirmed the release date for season 2 of Ricky Gervais’ series After Life.

The second run of the show was confirmed last April, only a month after it debuted on the streaming service.

The comedy drama sees Gervais starring as Tony Johnson, a man who is struggling to cope with widowed life following the death of his wife.

Now, a six-episode second season has been confirmed to land on Netflix on April 24. “I have never had a reaction like this before,” Gervais said in a statement last year, announcing the second season.

“It’s been insane. And heartwarming. But now I have to make sure the second season is even better so I’ll probably have to work much harder than usual. Annoying really.”

A series of first-look images of the second season have also been shared to mark the release date announcement.

‘After Life’ season 2. Credit: Netflix

Speaking to NME about the show upon the release of the first season, Gervais said that After Life was “the most dramatic, the darkest [and] the most uncompromising” thing he’s ever worked on.

“It’s the comedy cast of the century even if you don’t like every single person in it. It’s amazing,” he said. “Some people will love it, some people will hate it, most people won’t know it exists, so I’m all for that.”

‘After Life’ season 2. Credit: Netflix

After Life was recently named as one of the top 10 most-watched TV shows of 2019 by Netflix.

The post ‘After Life’: release date confirmed for season 2 of Ricky Gervais’ Netflix series appeared first on NME Music News, Reviews, Videos, Galleries, Tickets and Blogs | NME.COM.

Netflix Reveals Altered Carbon Season 2 Release Date, First Trailer: Watch

The sci-fi thriller returns on February 27th.

Netflix Reveals Altered Carbon Season 2 Release Date, First Trailer: Watch
Nina Corcoran

Consequence of Sound

Netflix has announced the release date for season 2 of Altered Carbon. The sci-fi series will return on February 27th, with all eight episodes dropping at once on the streaming platform. Update: The first trailer has also been unveiled.

Season 2 has several new faces, including Takeshi Kovacs himself — Avengers star Anthony Mackie has officially replaced Joel Kinnaman in the role. Newcomers include Simone Missick as Trepp, an expert bounty hunter; James Saito as Tanaseda Hideki, an old Yakuza boss; Lela Loren as Danica Harlan, governor of the planet Harlan’s World; Dina Shihabi as Dig 301, a job-less A.I. programmed to aid in archeology; and Torben Liebrecht as Colonel Carrera, a Protectorate Special Forces unit leader. Chris Conner will return as Poe, the A.I. role he had in Season 1.

(Read: 50 Most Anticipated TV Shows in 2020)

According to Netflix’s show description, the plot of Altered Carbon‘s next season will focus primarily on Takeshi Kovacs trying to reunite with his longtime love, Quellcrist Falconer, as that quest coincides with his crime-solving mission regardless. It reads:

“Season 2 of the sophisticated and compelling sci-fi drama finds Takeshi Kovacs (Anthony Mackie), the lone surviving soldier of a group of elite interstellar warriors, continuing his centuries-old quest to find his lost love Quellcrist Falconer (Renée Elise Goldsberry). After decades of planet-hopping and searching the galaxy, Kovacs finds himself recruited back to his home planet of Harlan’s World with the promise of finding Quell. Haunted by his past and responsible for investigating a series of brutal murders, Kovacs is stunned to discover his new mission to solve the crime and his pursuit to find Quell are one and the same. With the help of his loyal A.I. Poe (Chris Conner), Kovacs must now partner with new allies to outwit his enemies and find the truth: Who is Quellcrist Falconer?”

Pass the time until season 2 drops on Netflix by revisiting our interview with Dr. Virginie Mansuy Aubert, an actual neuroscientist who broke down the science behind Altered Carbon.

Netflix Reveals Altered Carbon Season 2 Release Date, First Trailer: Watch
Nina Corcoran

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