HBO Releases “Dune: Prophecy” First Look

The rise of the Sisterhood is nigh. HBO has released the first official image of Emily Watson as Bene Gesserit leader Valya Harkonnen from its upcoming “Dune“-iverse series “Dune: Prophecy.”

Set 10,000 years before the ascension of Paul Atreides and inspired by the novel “Sisterhood of Dune” by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson, “Dune: Prophecy” follows sisters Valya and Tula Harkonnenas (Olivia Williams) as they combat forces that threaten the future of humankind, and establish the fabled sect that will become known as the Bene Gesserit.

The prequel series will also star Travis Fimmel, Jodhi May, Mark Strong, Sarah-Sofie Boussnina, Josh Heuston, Chloe Lea, Jade Anouka, Faoileann Cunningham, Edward Davis, Aoife Hinds, Chris Mason, Shalom Brune-Franklin, Jihae, Tabu, Charithra Chandran, Jessica Barden, Emma Canning, and Yerin Ha, among others.

“Dune: Prophecy” is currently slated to premiere this fall on both HBO and Max (after some ado) with an official date to be announced.

Apple TV+ Announces “Severance” Season 2 Premiere With Teaser

It’s been over two years since “Severance” Season 1 premiered and the hit sci-fi psychological thriller series was renewed for a second season, and while it’s not quite time to clock back in yet, Apple TV+ has at least given a start date, with the Emmy-winning series set to return for its highly anticipated 10-episode sophomore season on Friday, Jan. 17, 2025.

Directed and executive produced by Ben Stiller and created, written, and executive produced by Dan Erickson, “Severance” follows Mark Scout (played by Adam Scott) and his team at Lumon Industries, whose employees have undergone a severance procedure that surgically divides their memories between their work and personal lives for the true “work-life balance.” Mark soon finds himself at the center of an unraveling mystery that will force him to confront both facets, and the second season will see Mark and company “learn the dire consequences of trifling with the severance barrier, leading them further down a path of woe.”

Watch the “Severance” Season 2 date announcement teaser below:

Also returning for the second season will be Britt Lower, Tramell Tillman, Zach Cherry, Jen Tullock, Michael Chernus, Dichen Lachman, John Turturro, Christopher Walken, and Patricia Arquette. Season 2 additions are Sarah Bock, Gwendoline Christie, Bob Balaban, Merritt Wever, Alia Shawkat, Robby Benson, Stefano Carannante, Ólafur Darri Ólafsson, and John Noble.

“Severance” Season 2 will debut globally on Apple TV+ on Jan. 17 followed by one episode every Friday through March 21.

Rachel Bloom Sets One-Woman Musical at Netflix

The show will go on for Rachel Bloom, death be damned! Netflix has announced a filmed special of the “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” creator and star’s recent Off-Broadway one-woman musical comedy “Death, Let Me Do My Show” will premiere on the streamer later this year.

Directed by Seth Barrish, the show, per the official description, “is definitely NOT about the ever-present specter of death” and “is filled with raunchy and escapist material that will in NO way explore the pandemic and all the tumultuous events that ensued in her personal life. NOTHING will stop Rachel from partying like it’s 2019!”

Bloom premiered the Drama Desk Award-winning show Off-Broadway at the Lucille Lortel Theatre in September 2023 before subsequent runs at the Netflix Is A Joke festival and the currently running Williamstown Theater Festival run, which will close on Sunday, July 14. The July 12 and 13 performances will be filmed for the Netflix special.

“Death, Let Me Do My Show” will premiere on Netflix in the fall with an official date to be announced later.

“Presumed Innocent” Renewed at Apple TV+

Ahead of its premiere season finale on Wednesday, July 24, Apple TV+ has already announced a Season 2 renewal for its new legal thriller “Presumed Innocent,” starring Jake Gyllenhaal.

Based on the novel of the same name by Scott Turow and showrun by David E. Kelley (“Big Little Lies,” “Boston Legal”), “Presumed Innocent” centers on Rusty Sabich (Gyllenhaal), a prosecutor who is accused of the murder of one of his colleagues. The novel, Turow’s first, has previously been adapted as a film starring Harrison Ford.

The drama, which was originally promoted as a limited series, premiered on June 12 and, according to Apple, is the streamer’s most-viewed drama in the platform’s history (although Apple does not provide viewership information to back up that claim).

Watch the trailer for “Presumed Innocent” below:

No plot details have been revealed about the second season, other than it “will focus on an entirely new case.” It is also not confirmed if Gyllenhaal will return to star in the second season, though he will return as an executive producer.

The all-star cast of the current first season also stars Ruth Negga, Bill Camp, O-T Fagbenle, Chase Infiniti, Nana Mensah, Renate Reinsve, Peter Sarsgaard, Kingston Rumi Southwick, and Elizabeth Marvel, with Lily Rabe, James Hiroyuki Liao, Virginia Kull, Gabby Beans, and others recurring.

“Young Woman and the Sea” to Stream Soon on Disney+

Disney+ has officially announced the arrival of the Daisy Ridley-led “Young Woman and the Sea,” coming to the platform later this month.

Directed by Joachim Rønning, written by Jeff Nathanson, and based on the book “Young Woman and the Sea: How Trudy Ederle Conquered the English Channel and Inspired the World” by Glenn Stout, the sports drama tells the story of Ederle, an accomplished swimmer who was born to immigrant parents in New York City in 1905. Through a strong support network of her sister and trainers, she overcame adversity and animosity to rise through the ranks of the Olympic swimming team and complete an unbelievable 21-mile trek from France to England.

Watch the trailer for “Young Woman and the Sea” below:

In addition to Ridley, “Young Woman and the Sea” also stars Tilda Cobham-Hervey, Stephen Graham, Kim Bodnia, Christopher Eccleston, Jeanette Hain, Glenn Fleshler, and Sian Clifford.

Once planned to be a Disney+ exclusive, the film began a limited theatrical run on May 31 and was positively received, with the film currently holding at 85% on the Tomatometer with a 98% Audience Score on Rotten Tomatoes.

“Young Woman and the Sea” will begin streaming on Disney+ next Friday, July 19.

Teaser Trailer for “The Perfect Couple” Out Now

You are cordially invited to the wedding of Benji Winbury and Amelia Sacks.

Netflix has released a teaser for its upcoming series adaptation of Elin Hilderbrand’s “The Perfect Couple,” starring Eve Hewson, Nicole Kidman, and more.

The mystery drama centers on Amelia (Hewson), a bride marrying into one of Nantucket’s wealthiest families, the Winburys, and Greer Garrison Winbury (Kidman), the groom’s mother and a famous novelist, is sparing no expense on the high-society wedding. But when a dead body appears on the beach, secrets bubble up, and “an investigation takes hold that feels plucked from one of Greer’s books.”

Watch the teaser for “The Perfect Couple” below:

Also starring are Liev Schreiber, Dakota Fanning, Billy Howle, Meghann Fahy, Ishaan Khatter, Jack Reynor, Mia Isaac, Sam Nivola, Michael Beach, Donna Lynne Champlin, and Isabelle Adjani. The six-episode limited series is led by Jenna Lamia (“Good Girls”) and is directed by Emmy and Oscar winner Susanne Bier (“The Night Manager”).

“The Perfect Couple” will premiere on Netflix on Thursday, Sept. 5.