Streaming News Roundup: Affleck and Damon’s ‘Animals,’ ‘The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live,’ More
Final Trailer Out for “The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live”
A month ahead of its premiere, AMC Networks has released the final trailer for “The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live.”
The newest spinoff series in the Walking Dead Universe will star Andrew Lincoln and Danai Gurira as they reprise their roles of Rick Grimes and Michonne, respectively, after the events of the original series. Per the logline, “Rick and Michonne are thrown into another world, built on a war against the dead… And ultimately, a war against the living. Can they find each other and who they were in a place and situation unlike any they’ve ever known before? Are they enemies? Lovers? Victims? Victors? Without each other, are they even alive… or will they find that they, too, are the Walking Dead?”
Watch the trailer for “The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live” below:
The highly-anticipated sequel series also stars Pollyanna McIntosh, Lesley-Ann Brandt, Terry O’Quinn, Matthew August Jeffers, Craig Tate, Andrew Bachelor, and others.
“The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live” will premiere on Feb. 25 on AMC and AMC+.
Ben Affleck and Matt Damon Reunite on Netflix’s “Animals”
One of Hollywood’s favorite bromances is back at it again.
Ben Affleck and Matt Damon will continue their decades-long partnership with the new Netflix film “Animals.” Written by Connor McIntyre and Billy Ray, the political crime thriller will reportedly follow a mayoral candidate and his wife who must save their son after he is kidnapped. Damon will star in the feature with Affleck at the helm. Affleck directed Damon on the big screen for the first time in last year’s “Air.”
No further cast details have been announced, nor has a release date, but production is expected to begin in March in Los Angeles.
“Sex and the City” is Coming to Netflix
The girls are making all new moves. Netflix and Warner Bros. Discovery have inked a new deal to bring “Sex and the City” to the platform (United States and other markets TBD) beginning in early April 2024.
Originally airing on HBO from 1998–2004, “Sex and the City” stars Sarah Jessica Parker as New York sex columnist Carrie Bradshaw and her three friends, Charlotte (Kristin Davis), Miranda (Cynthia Nixon), and Samantha (Kim Cattrall), as they explore Manhattan’s dating scene. The groundbreaking series has since led to two spinoff films, a prequel series, and the currently running sequel “And Just Like That.”
Watch the 25th-anniversary trailer for “Sex and the City” below:
The deal, which will bring all six seasons and 94 episodes of the popular comedy, is the latest between Netflix and WBD, which last year licensed several other HBO originals, including “Six Feet Under,” Insecure,” and more. All licensed series, including “Sex and the City” will remain available to stream on both Netflix and Max.
U.K.’s “Love Island” Moves to Peacock
A week and a half after its new season premiere in the United Kingdom, “Love Island” has entered a new relationship across the pond.
The flagship series will be moving from Hulu to Peacock, the home of its U.S. remake.
“Love Island” has changed its format for its latest season, which premiered on Jan. 15 in the U.K. on both ITV and ITV2, a first for the series. Formally “Love Island: All Stars,” Maya Jama hosts the 11th season as former U.K. Islanders return for a second chance at love.
Watch the trailer for “Love Island: All Stars” below:
The first three episodes of the series are set to premiere on the streamer on Jan. 29 with new episodes airing six days a week. Its move to Peacock marks another piece of Peacock’s growing “Love Island” library, which includes “Love Island Games,” “Love Island Spain,” and more.
“Judy Justice” Gets Syndicated
Judge Judy Sheindlin is back home where she belongs: on syndication.
The Freevee court series “Judy Justice” is headed to broadcast syndication after a multi-year deal with over 100 U.S. broadcast markets.
Now in its third season, “Judy Justice” sees Sheindlin back adjudicating real-life small-claims disputes, joined in the courtroom by law clerk Sarah Rose, court stenographer Whitney Kumar; and bailiff Kevin Rasco. The series, which premiered in 2021, became the first original court show on a streaming service and now becomes the first streaming series to sell into broadcast syndication. It joins Sheindlin’s long-running “Judge Judy,” which holds the number two slot in first-run daytime syndicated programs (behind “Family Feud”).
Watch the Season 3 trailer for “Judy Justice” below:
The show, which has been renewed for Seasons 3 and 4, will have nearly 400 episodes available by the time of its planned fall 2024 rollout. “Judy Justice” will be launched in syndication in Fall 2024. New episodes will be released on Freevee every weekday until April 5.
DIRECTV STREAM Adds Two More CW Affiliates
The CW continues to expand its reach with DIRECTV STREAM. Days after adding four new CW stations to its channel guides, the satellite and live TV streaming provider is expanding to two more regions:
- WSAV-CW in Savannah, GA (Ch. 29)
- WCBD-CW in Charleston, SC (Ch. 3)
Each of the stations joined the STREAM lineup on Jan. 23. In the past few months, DIRECTTV STREAM has brought the CW to more and more of its subscribers as it continues to expand into new markets, including Salt Lake City, St. Louis, San Francisco, and more.