This combination photo shows promotional art for "Born For Business," a series premiering on Peacock on Aug. 23, "Clickbait," a series premiering Aug. 25 on Netflix, and "He's All That," a film premiering Aug. 27 on Netflix. (Peacock/Netflix/Netflix via AP)
Here’s a collection curated by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists of what’s arriving on TV, streaming services and music platforms this week.
MOVIES
— The pickings are a little slim for new streaming film options as August comes to a close, but there are a few fresh selections. For one, TikTok star Addison Rae (she has over 4.7 million YouTube subscribers) makes her acting debut in a remake of the 1999 Freddie Prinze Jr and Rachael Leigh Cook teen comedy “She’s All That,” which itself was loosely inspired by “Pygmalion.” But no, Rae is not playing an updated Laney Boggs. She’s the Freddie Prinze Jr. character because this version, called “He’s All That,” is gender-flipped. “He’s All That” hits Netflix on Aug. 27.
— For something a little more adult and a little less covered in Gen Z influencers, Hulu has an R-rated comedy “Vacation Friends” coming Aug. 27 in which some chaotic party people played by John Cena and Meredith Hanger decide to crash the wedding of a couple (Lil Rel Howery and Yvonne Orji) they met on vacation Mexico and (asterisk)thought(asterisk) they bonded with.
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— Or for a more serious entry, the underrated Cold War thriller “The Courier” hits Amazon Prime Video on Friday. The film, based on a true story about a Soviet whistleblower (played Merab Ninidze) and the ordinary British businessman (Benedict Cumberbatch) recruited by intelligence agencies to pass information back and forth, got a little buried earlier this year in the Oscar leadup. The filmmakers take liberties with the story, which isn’t even really agreed upon by history books, but it’s still an exciting watch for anyone missing classic, adult-targeted espionage thrillers.
— AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr
MUSIC
— Sturgill Simpson knows how to do a concept record. His latest, “The Ballad of Dood & Juanita,” proves once again he is a prodigious musical chameleon. It couldn’t be more different than his last album of original material, 2019′s fuzz rock, eardrum-blasting anime soundtrack “Sound & Fury.” In between he recorded a couple bluegrass records covering his own songs. “Dood & Juanita” has more in common with the two most recent records, both released in the past year, and even employs the same top-notch band. Willie Nelson takes a guest turn on the track “Juanita.” In his review, Scott Bauer said the album almost feels like a “radio serial from the 1940s.”
— Here comes another listening session from Kanye West. This time, the 22-time Grammy winner is expected to unveil his 10th studio album “Donda” on Thursday at Soldier Field in Chicago. It’s the third time West will hold a listening session for his highly-anticipated album, which was named after his mother, Donda West, who died at the age of 58 in 2007. His first two massive sessions were both held in front of sold-out crowds at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Several big names who attended include Rick Ross, Khloe Kardashian and his estranged wife, Kim Kardashian West, who showed up with their kids.
— AP Entertainment Writer Jonathan Landrum Jr.
TELEVISION
— Looking for something to rouse you from the late summer doldrums? Trust “American Horror Story: Double Feature” to do the job. The two-part series opens in a beach town, where a dad with writer’s block, pregnant mom and their daughter have come expecting a quiet winter but are bound to be disappointed. Part two shifts to the desert, specifically Death Valley. Uh, oh. The FX series debuts 10 p.m. EDT Wednesday (Thursday on FX on Hulu) with Sarah Paulson, Frances Conroy and Macaulay Culkin part of the cast.
— Want more angst? Try Netflix’s thriller “Clickbait,” in which an apparently ideal family man vanishes and then resurfaces, but not in a good way. An injured Nick (Adrian Grenier) is seen online holding a placard that says, “I abuse women. At 5 million views, I die.” A rescue effort by his sister (Zoe Kazan) and wife (Betty Gabriel) discovers what they didn’t know about Nick, as the drama promises to explore the gap between “our virtual and real-life personas.” The eight-episode series debuts Wednesday.
— AP Television Writer Lynn Elber
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16 books to read before TV or movie versions arrive
‘The Last Letter from Your Lover’ by Jojo Moyes
Jojo Moyes’ 2008 romance novel follows a driven journalist named Ellie on a quest to piece together a love story of an earlier generation after she finds a mysterious letter in her newspaper archives. Directed by Augustine Frizzell, the film stars Felicity Jones, Shailene Woodley, Callum Turner and Joe Alwyn.
Out now on Netflix
‘The Reincarnationist Papers’ by D. Eric Maikranz
“The Reincarnationist Papers” offers eerie glimpses into a secret society of people with total memory of their past lives. Protagonist Evan struggles with his confusing abilities; then he meets Poppy, who tells him that he’s immortal. Maikranz’s book is the basis of the film “Infinite,” starring Mark Wahlberg.
Out now on Paramount+
‘Fear Street’ by R.L. Stine
A trilogy of movies based on R.L. Stine’s iconic series of novels follows a group of 1990s teens across different time periods as they work to uncover the riddled history of their Ohio hometown. Cast members include Gillian Jacobs, Sadie Sink, Kiana Madeira, Olivia Welch, Benjamin Flores Jr., Ashley Zukerman, Fred Hechinger and Julia Rehwald.
Out now on Netflix
‘Nine Perfect Strangers’ by Liane Moriarty
Settle in for this captivating thriller by “Big Little Lies” author Liane Moriarty, in which nine strangers gather at a health and wellness resort, where their existential questions are answered by the others they meet. The upcoming series stars Nicole Kidman, Melissa McCarthy and Luke Evans, among others.
Premieres Aug. 18 on Hulu
‘American Rust’ by Philipp Meyer
Meyer’s acclaimed first novel takes readers into the contemporary heartland of America, in an economically devastated Pennsylvania steel town. The story follows the irritable chief of police Del Harris as he’s forced into a sticky situation when his girlfriend’s son is accused of murder. Showtime is adapting the book into a drama series starring Jeff Daniels, Maura Tierney and Alex Neustaedter.
Premieres Sept. 12 on Showtime
‘The Last Duel’ by Eric Jager
The book tells the gripping true story of one of the most infamous duels in medieval France, where a resolute knight defends his wife’s honor when she accuses a squire of committing a crime against her. Ridley Scott’s upcoming film adaptation stars Jodie Comer, Ben Affleck, Matt Damon and Adam Driver.
Premieres Oct. 15 in theaters
‘Dune’ by Frank Herbert
This image released by Warner Bros. Entertainment shows Timothee Chalamet, left, and Rebecca Ferguson in a scene from "Dune."
Denis Villeneuve’s upcoming adaptation of the iconic futuristic novel “Dune” is one of this year’s most anticipated films. Protagonist Paul Atreides (Timothee Chalamet) leads nomadic tribes on a distant planet as he takes over his family’s business empire. The film also stars Zendaya, Jason Momoa, Oscar Isaac and Rebecca Ferguson.
Premieres Oct. 22 in theaters and on HBO Max
‘The House of Gucci’ by Sara Gay Forden
Lady Gaga portrays Patrizia Reggiani Martinelli, the ex-wife of Gucci heir Maurizio Gucci, in another of director Ridley Scott’s movies coming this fall. The film, based on Sara Gay Forden’s book, tells the true story of Patrizia’s trial and conviction for orchestrating the 1995 murder of her husband, played by Adam Driver.
Premieres Nov. 24 in theaters
‘Nightmare Alley’ by William Lindsay Gresham
This 1940s psychological thriller follows a con man as he finds his victims in voyeuristic carnival crowds. Guillermo del Toro helms the upcoming film adaptation, which stars Bradley Cooper as the cunning Stan Carlisle and Cate Blanchett as his psychiatrist partner, plus Ron Perlman, Rooney Mara and Willem Dafoe.
Premieres Dec. 3 in theaters
‘The Power of the Dog’ by Thomas Savage
Set in 1920s Montana, Thomas Savage’s Western tells the tale of a tenuous relationship between two brothers, whose bond becomes even more strained when one marries a young widow and the other hatches a plan to ruin her life. The upcoming film adaptation stars Benedict Cumberbatch, Kristen Dunst and Jesse Plemons and is directed by Jane Campion.
Premiering in 2021 on Netflix
‘Dopesick’ by Beth Macy
The upcoming drama series adapted by Danny Strong is based off of Beth Macy’s acclaimed nonfiction book that paints a comprehensive and captivating glimpse into the epicenter of America’s opioid crisis. The series stars Michael Keaton, Peter Sarsgaard, Kaitlyn Dever and Will Poulter.
Premiering in 2021 on Hulu
‘Paper Girls’ by Brian K. Vaughan
The morning after Halloween 1988, four young girls delivering newspapers become unwittingly caught in a conflict between warring factions of time-travelers, sending them on an adventure through time that will save the world. “Toy Story 4” writer Stephany Folsom adapts the popular graphic novels into an eight-episode series.
Premiering in 2021 on Amazon Prime Video
‘Deep Water’ by Patricia Highsmith
This erotic thriller follows couple Melinda and Vic Van Allen, whose marriage is being held together by a precarious agreement: Melinda can take on as many lovers as she pleases as long as she agrees not to leave the family. The arrangement goes well until her lovers begin to mysteriously disappear, with Vic as the prime suspect. The film adaptation stars Ben Affleck and Ana de Armas as the Van Allens and also features Tracy Letts, Rachel Blanchard, Lil Rel Howery, Jacob Elordi and Finn Wittrock.
Premieres Jan. 14 in theaters
‘Where the Crawdads Sing’ by Delia Owens
Based on the bestselling novel, the film adaptation of this crime drama story follows the wild and unkempt Kye (played by actress Daisy Edgar-Jones), who is suspected of a mysterious murder in a quiet fishing village.
Premieres June 24 in theaters
‘Blonde’ by Joyce Carol Oates
Ana de Armas stars as Marilyn Monroe in this powerful tale that offers a tantalizing glimpse into the life of the pop-culture icon. Andrew Dominik is directing the film adaptation of Joyce Carol Oates’ fictionalized story, which also stars Adrien Brody, Bobby Cannavale and Julianne Nicholson.
Premiering in 2022 on Netflix
‘Conversations with Friends’ by Sally Rooney
Two university students in Dublin are best friends and former lovers who perform poetry together. Their bond is strained when they form a relationship with an older married couple. A 12-episode series stars Joe Alwyn, Sasha Lane and Jemima Kirke.
Premiering in 2022 on Hulu
