The Brainerd Dispatch - Today's Entertainment Magazine
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Brainerd Dispatch • November 14 - 20, 2021 •19 By Raye Smith TV Media WHAT'S NEW ON PRIME "The Wheel of Time" (2021) - Season 1 Get lost in the magic of the epic fantasy series "The Wheel of Time," premiering its first three episodes on Prime on Friday, Nov. 19, with episodes airing weekly thereafter. Based on the New York Times best - selling high-fantasy series of the same name by Robert Jordan, "The Wheel of Time" is set in a world in which the cyclical nature of time means events take place in both the distant past and future. While magic exists, only some are able to access it. Moiraine (Rosamund Pike, "Pride & Prejudice," 2005) is one of them, and circumstances take her on a dangerous journey throughout her world with five young people. Believing that one of them is the dragon reborn, a figure prophesized to either doom or save humanity, Moiraine travels with the group to find it once and for all. Season 1 of the series is based on the first of 15 books, and with Season 2 already greenlit to go ahead, fans of the series can expect to settle in for a true adventure. From showrunner and executive producer Rafe Jud - kins ("Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D."), the series is directed by Uta Briesewitz ("Westworld"), Wayne Yip ("Uto- pia"), Salli Richardson-Whitfield ("The Gilded Age") and Sanaa Hamri ("Empire"). Josha Strad- owski ("Just Friends," 2018), Mar- cus Rutherford ("County Lines," 2019), Zoë Robins ("Power Rangers Ninja Steel"), Sophie Okonedo ("Hotel Rwanda," 2004), Barney Harris ("Brighton Beach," 2020) and Madeleine Madden ("Mystery Road") also star in the series. WHAT'S NEW ON HULU "Hit Monkey" - Season 1 Jump on board for the wild new adult animated series "Hit Mon- key," premiering Wednesday, Nov. 17, on Hulu. The latest addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe's lineup strays from the super-flicks that audiences have become so accustomed to and has shifted focus to action-packed vigilante justice rather than saving the world. Based on the Marvel comic book character of the same name, the series voice stars Fred Tatas- ciore ("He-Man and the Masters of the Universe") as Hit-Monkey, a unique Japanese snow monkey on a mission of vengeance. With the ghost of former American assassin Bryce (Jason Sudeikis, "Ted Lasso") mentoring him along the way, Hit-Monkey (and his bag of guns) takes Tokyo's crime underworld by murderous storm. Created by Josh Gordon and Will Speck, the duo responsible for comedy hits includ- ing "Blades of Glory" (2007), "The Switch" (2010) and "Office Christ- mas Party" (2016), this offbeat super-assassin series brings comic fans something new. Olivia Munn ("X-Men: Apocalypse," 2016), George Takei ("Star Trek: The Origi- nal Series"), Ally Maki ("Wrecked") and Nobi Nakanishi ("The Levia- than Chronicles") also voice star. WHAT'S NEW ON NETFLIX "The Princess Switch 3: Ro- mancing the Star" (2021) The royal doppelgangers are back just in time for Christmas in "The Princess Switch 3: Romancing the Star," premiering Thursday, Nov. 18, on Netflix. Vanessa Hudgens ("Beastly," 2011) does it all in this film, playing Princess Stacey Wynd- ham of Belgravia, Queen Margaret Delacourt of Montenaro and Lady Fiona Pembroke in this fun family film franchise. In this latest instal- lation of the film series, Princess Stacey and Queen Margaret come back together once again to host a traditional Christmas festival in Montenaro. However, when a priceless Christmas relic is stolen, the pair are forced to turn to their old rival, Margaret's cousin, Lady Fiona Pembroke, to help get the relic back by any means necessary. Directed by Mike Rohl ("When Calls the Heart") and written by Robin Bernheim ("Remington Steele"), the film also stars Nick Sagar ("Queen of the South"), Remy Hii ("Spider-Man: Far From Home," 2019), Amanda Donohoe ("Liar Liar," 1997), Will Kemp ("Reign"), Sam Palladio ("Nashville"), Suanne Braun ("Summer of Rockets") and Florence Hall ("Queens of Mystery"). WHAT'S NEW ON PARAMOUNT+ "Mayor of Kingstown" - Sea- son 1 The new crime drama series "Mayor of Kingstown" debuts Sunday, Nov. 14, on Paramount+. The McLuskys are a family of power brokers in the city of Kingstown, Michigan, where incarceration is the only thriving industry around. Tackling themes of systemic rac- ism, inequality and corruption, the series follows the McLuskys as they attempt to bring order and justice to the town. Created and written by Hugh Dillon ("Trigger," 2010) and Taylor Sheridan ("Hell or High Water," 2016), the series is directed by Ben Richardson ("Mare of East- town"), Guy Ferland ("The Walking Dead"), Clark Johnson ("Juanita," 2019) and Stephen Kay ("Sons of Anarchy"). Dianne Wiest ("Bullets Over Broadway," 1994), Jeremy Renner ("The Avengers," 2012), Kyle Chandler ("Argo," 2012), Hugh Dillon ("Yellowstone"), Taylor Handley ("Vegas"), Emma Laird ("From Life," 2018), Tobi Bamtefa ("Tin Star"), Hamish Allan-Headley ("Thinly Veiled," 2009), Aidan Gil- len ("Game of Thrones"), James Jordan ("Those Who Wish Me Dead," 2021) and Pha'rez Lass ("The Society," 2018) star in the series. WHAT'S NEW ON HBO MAX "The Sex Lives of College Girls" - Season 1 Fans of "The Mindy Project" and "Never Have I Ever" get ready, because creator Mindy Kaling ("The Office") is back again with another hilarious new series. "The Sex Lives of College Girls" premieres Thursday, Nov. 18, on HBO Max. Pauline Chalamet ("The King of Staten Island," 2020), Amrit Kaur ("The D Cut"), Reneé Rapp ("Broadway Whodunit: Murder at Montgomery Manor," 2020) and Alyah Chanelle Scott ("Stars in the House") star as four freshman roommates at Evermore College in Vermont. With all the girls coming from different backgrounds and socioeconomic situations, the series explores the ups, downs and sexual exploits of these women as they journey toward self-discovery. Co- executive produced and written by Kaling and Justin Noble ("Brooklyn Nine-Nine"), "The Sex Lives of College Girls" is directed by Kabir Akhtar ("Never Have I Ever"), Zoe Cassavetes ("Ride or Die," 2019) and David Gordon Green ("Hallow- een," 2018). Matt Malloy ("Six Feet Under"), Isabella Roland ("Turnt"), Stephen Guarino ("Happy End- ings"), Kavi Ladnier ("Heroes"), Maureen Bronner ("Love Hard," 2021), Donielle Nash ("Never Have I Ever") and Najee Muhammad ("The Teen Tech Team," 2016) also star in the series. "King Richard" (2021) Get a peek into the beginnings of two of the sports world's biggest superstars in the new biographical drama "King Richard," premiering in theaters and on HBO Max this Friday, Nov. 19. Based on a true story, the film explores the life of Richard Williams, played by Will Smith ("The Fresh Prince of Bel- Air"), father of tennis superstar sisters Venus and Serena Williams, two of the most gifted athletes of all time. Using unconventional methods with a clear vision of the life he wants for his daughters, this determined father has a plan to take Venus (Saniyya Sidney, "Hid- den Figures," 2016) and Serena (Demi Singleton, "Godfather of Harlem") from the streets of Comp- ton, California, to the world athlet- ics stage. Directed by Reinaldo Mar- cus Green ("Monsters and Men," 2018) and written by Zach Baylin ("134 Rivington Street," 2005), this critically acclaimed film, which made its debut at the Telluride Film Festival in September, also stars Jon Bernthal ("The Wolf of Wall Street," 2013), Tony Goldwyn ("Ghost," 1990), Dylan McDermott ("The Perks of Being a Wallflower," 2012), Susie Abromeit ("The Haves and the Have Nots"), Erin Cummings ("Good Girls"), Noah Bean ("9-1- 1") and Aunjanue Ellis ("Lovecraft Country"). Madeleine Madden and Josha Stradowski in "The Wheel of Time" Bryce and Hit-Monkey in "Marvel's Hit Monkey" Vanessa Hudgens stars in "The Princess Switch 3: Romancing the Star"