Kings

Director Deniz Gamze Ergüven

Genre Crime | Drama | Romance

Cast Halle Berry, Daniel Craig, Lamar Johnson, Kaalan Walker

Rating R

Release Date April 27th, 2018

“The life of a foster family in South Central Los Angeles, a few weeks before the city erupts in violence following the verdict of the Rodney King trial.”

Written and directed by Deniz Gamze Ergüven (Mustang), Kings is a crime drama about the life of a foster family in South Central Los Angeles, a few weeks before the city erupts in violence because of the Rodney King trial verdict. The cast includes Halle Berry, Daniel Craig, Lamar Johnson, and Kaalan Walker. Check out the official trailers below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, Kings:

• Deniz Gamze Ergüven completed this script around 2011, and intended for it to be her feature film debut, however she was unable to get financing for her project. A friend suggested she try a smaller, more intimate film, which became Mustang (2015), an Oscar nominee for Best Foreign Language Film. The considerable attention gained from that film allowed her the clout to finally get this film off the ground.

The Handmaid's Tale: Season 2

Genre Drama | Sci-Fi

Cast Elisabeth Moss, Yvonne Strahovski, Joseph Fiennes, Max Minghella

Rating Unrated

Series Premiere April 25th, 2018 (Hulu)

“Set in a dystopian future, a woman is forced to live as a concubine under a fundamentalist theocratic dictatorship.”

If you watched the Golden Globes you are now familiar with the new Hulu series The Handmaid's Tale which is making big waves among critics and viewers. The show is said to have a unique edge and incredible writing that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats. The show is exclusive to Hulu's monthly subscription streaming service and will make the first two episodes of the new season available on April 26th with episodes releasing each Wednesday thereafter. The cast includes Elisabeth Moss, Yvonne Strahovski, Joseph Fiennes, and Max Minghella. Checkout the official teaser trailers for season 2 below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, The Handmaid's Tale:

• The actresses have said that the head coverings they wear when they go outside are like blinders, completely cutting off their peripheral vision. The actresses can't see each other unless they're looking directly at each other. They have to act largely based on what they can hear.
• Margaret Atwood, the source novel's author, has said that she was greatly inspired by George Orwell's classic dystopian novel, 1984. Atwood makes a cameo as an aunt in episode 1. She is the one who slaps Offred when she is reluctant to join in the group shaming circle.

Disobedience

Director Sebastián Lelio

Genre Drama | Romance

Cast Rachel McAdams, Rachel Weisz, Alessandro Nivola, Anton Lesser

Rating R

Release Date April 27th, 2018

“A woman returns to the community that shunned her for her attraction to a childhood friend. Once back, their passions reignite as they explore the boundaries of faith and sexuality.”

From director Sebastián Lelio (A Fantastic Woman), Disobedience is a romantic drama based on the Naomi Alderman novel about a woman that returns to the community that once shunned her for her attraction to a childhood friend. The cast includes Rachel McAdams, Rachel Weisz, Alessandro Nivola, and Anton Lesser. Check out the official trailer below!!

Backstabbing for Beginners

Director Per Fly

Genre Drama | History | Thriller

Cast Theo James, Ben Kingsley, Jacqueline Bisset, Rossif Sutherland

Rating R

Release Date April 27th, 2018 (Limited)

“A young program coordinator at the United Nations stumbles upon a conspiracy involving Iraq’s oil reserves.”

Co-written and directed by Denmark native Per Fly, Backstabbing for Beginners is a Drama thriller about a young program coordinator at the United Nations who stumbles upon a conspiracy involving Iraq's oil reserves. The cast includes Theo James, Ben Kingsley, Jacqueline Bisset, and Rossif Sutherland. Check out the official trailer below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, Backstabbing for Beginners:

• Josh Hutcherson was set to play the lead role in this film but when director Per Fly informed him they would be shooting in Morocco and Jordan, Hutcherson dropped out because of safety reasons.

The Week Of

Director Robert Smigel

Genre Comedy

Cast Adam Sandler, Chris Rock, Steve Buscemi, and Rachel Dratch

Rating Unrated

Release Date April 27th, 2018 (Netflix)

“The parents of a soon-to-be married couple make the final preparations for the wedding ceremony.”

Co-written alongside Adam Sandler and directed by Robert Smigel, The Week Of is a coemdy about the parents of a soon to be married couple as they make the final preparations for the wedding ceremony. The cast includes Adam Sandler, Chris Rock, Steve Buscemi, and Rachel Dratch. Check out the official trailer below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, The Week Of:

• The 4th movie of the Netflix and Adam Sandler contract. Ridiculous Six, The Do Over, Sandy Wexler, and this.
• 1st Actor and Director Collaboration with Adam Sandler and Director Robert Smigel.

The House of Tomorrow

Director Peter Livolsi

Genre Comedy | Drama

Cast Ellen Burstyn, Nick Offerman, Asa Butterfield, Alex Wolff

Rating Unrated

Release Date April 27th, 2018 (Limited)

“A sheltered, socially-awkward teen becomes friends with a green-haired heart transplant patient who introduces him to punk rock.”

From director Peter Livolsi, The House of Tomorrow is based on the novel by author Peter Bognanni, about a sheltered and socially awkward teen who becomes friends with a green haired heart transplant patient who introduces him to punk rock. The cast includes Ellen Burstyn, Nick Offerman, Asa Butterfield, and Alex Wolff. Check out the official trailer below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, The House of Tomorrow:

• Ellen Burstyn owned the footage of her and Buckminster Fuller together in the car, that is seen in the film. When the director wanted to cast Burstyn, he had no idea they had met in real life.
• Asa Butterfield shaved his head just for this movie. 

I Feel Pretty

Director Abby Kohn, Marc Silverstein

Genre Comedy

Cast Amy Schumer, Michelle Williams, Busy Phillips, Emily Ratajkowski

Rating PG-13

Release Date April 20th, 2018

“A head injury causes a woman to develop an extraordinary amount of confidence and believes she’s drop-dead gorgeous.”

Written and directed by Abby Kohn and Marc Silverstein (Never Been Kissed, The Vow, How to Be Single),  I Feel Pretty is a comedy about a woman who suffers a significant head injury which causes her to develop an excessive sense of overconfidence when it comes to her looks. The cast includes Amy Schumer, Michelle Williams, Busy Phillips, and Emily Ratajkowski. Check out the official trailer below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, I Feel Pretty:

• When filming, Amy Schumer would have her dog on set with her while she was in between filming scenes.

Super Troopers 2

Director Jay Chandrasekhar

Genre Comedy | Crime | Mystery

Cast Brian Cox, Jay Chandrasekhar, Kevin Heffernan, Steve Lemme

Rating R

Release Date April 20th, 2018

“When a border dispute arises between the U.S. and Canada, the Super Troopers are tasked with establishing a Highway Patrol station in the disputed area.”

Co-written and directed by Jay Chandrasekhar (Super Troopers, Dukes of Hazzard, Beer Fest), who also stars in both films, Super Troopers 2 is the follow-up to the 2001 film that quickly became a cult classic. Super Troopers embraces the goofy over the top mentality and it works. The cast includes Brian Cox, Jay Chandrasekhar, Kevin Heffernan, and Steve Lemme. Check out the official trailers below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, Super Troopers 2:

• On March 24th, 2015 Broken Lizard launched an Indiegogo campaign to raise $2 Million to produce the film. Just over 24 hours later they had already surpassed their goal and the movie was greenlit.
• Parts of the movie were filmed in and around the Quabbin Resevoir State Park in Massachusetts under the title "Almond Benefits 2".

Westworld Season 2

Genre Drama | Mystery | Sci-Fi

Cast Evan Rachel Wood, Thandie Newton, James Marsden, Jeffrey Wright

Rating TV-MA

Series Premiere Sunday, April 22nd 2018 9:00PM EST (HBO)

“Set at the intersection of the near future and the reimagined past, explore a world in which every human appetite, no matter how noble or depraved, can be indulged without consequence.”

The HBO original series Westworld is poised to make it's return with the 2nd season, and man am I beyond excited! I absolutely love this show, from the amazing intro, to the characters, the acting, the dialogue, and simply the way it makes you feel like you are a part of the story simply because it has so many layers. This is an example of television as a work of art, and if you have yet to watch Westworld be sure to check out the first season prior to the release of season 2. The cast includes Evan Rachel Wood, Thandie Newton, James Marsden, and Jeffrey Wright. Check out the official trailers below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, Westworld:

• Ben Barnes broke his foot before arriving to the first day of shooting. Being afraid of losing the job, he didn't tell anyone and just used the limp to look like a character choice. He then had to maintain the limp throughout the filming.
• Jonathan Nolan describes Westworld as "the next chapter of the human story, in which we stop being protagonists."
• The repetitive three chord phrase often heard in the background music comes from the original movie, where it underscored the Gunslinger's slow but relentless pursuit of the hero.

Ghost Stories

Director Jeremy Dyson, Andy Nyman

Genre Drama | Horror

Cast Andy Nyman, Martin Freeman, Paul Whitehouse, Alex Lawther

Rating Unrated

Release Date April 20th, 2018

“Arch skeptic Professor Phillip Goodman embarks upon a terror-filled quest when he stumbles across a long-lost file containing details of three cases of inexplicable ‘hauntings’.”

Written and directed by Jeremy Dyson and Andy Nyman, the feature-film directorial debut for both, Ghost Stories horror drama about a skeptic professor who embarks on a terror-filled quest when he stumbles upon a long lost file containing details on three inexplicable hauntings. The cast includes Andy Nyman, Martin Freeman, Paul Whitehouse, and Alex Lawther. Check out the official trailer below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, Ghost Stories:

• Based on the West End play by League of Gentleman writer Jeremy Dyson.
• Filmed over the Halloween weekend of 2016 in Roundhay Park, Leeds.

Traffik

Director Deon Taylor

Genre Thriller

Cast Paula Patton, Omar Epps, Roselyn Sanchez, Laz Alonso

Rating R

Release Date April 20th, 2018

“A couple off for a romantic weekend in the mountains are accosted by a biker gang. Alone in the mountains, Brea and John must defend themselves against the gang, who will stop at nothing to protect their secrets.”

Written and directed by Deon Taylor (Meet the Blacks), Traffik is a crime thriller about a couple who decide to take a romantic getaway weekend and find themselves face to face with a violent biker gang attempted to protect a secret at all costs. The cast includes Paula Patton, Omar Epps, Roselyn Sanchez, and Laz Alonso. Check out the official trailer below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, Traffik:

• Paula Patton and Laz Alonso third collaboration together following 2010's Just Wright and 2011's Jumping the Broom.

Wildling

Director Fritz Böhm

Genre Fantasy | Horror

Cast Liv Tyler, Brad Dourif, Bel Powley, James Le Gros

Rating R

Release Date April 20th, 2018 (Limited)

“A blossoming teenager uncovers the dark secret behind her traumatic childhood.”

Co-written and directed by Fritz Böhm, Wildling is a horror thriller about a teenager who escapes a traumatic childhood only to find herself deeply impacted by nightmares and eventually the uncovering of a terrifying secret. The film was an official selection at the SXSW film festival. The cast includes Liv Tyler, Brad Dourif, Bel Powley, and James Le Gros. Check out the official trailer below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, Wildling:

• Principal photography comprised only 23 days with generally no overtime. According to the director Fritz Bohm, he and his DP Toby Oliver averaged between 50 and 65 setups per day while maximizing set times for child actors, animals and water scenes.
• Film features roughly 350 visual effect shots.

Kodachrome

Director Mark Raso

Genre Drama

Cast Ed Harris, Jason Sudeikis, Elizabeth Olsen, Bruce Greenwood

Rating Unrated

Release Date April 20th, 2018 (Netflix)

“Set during the final days of the admired photo development system known as Kodachrome, a father and son hit the road in order to reach the Kansas photo lab before it closes its doors for good.”

Written and directed by Mark Raso, Kodachrome is a drama set in the final days of the admired photo development system known as Kodachrome where a father and son embark on a journey to the Kansas photo lab before it closes its doors for good. The cast includes Ed Harris, Jason Sudeikis, Elizabeth Olsen, and Bruce Greenwood. Check out the official trailer below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, Kodachrome:

• Kodachrome is a brand name for a non-substantive, color reversal film introduced by Eastman Kodak in 1935.It was one of the first successful color materials and was used for both cinematography and still photography.

Best F(r)iends: Volume One

Director Justin MacGregor

Genre Comedy | Thriller

Cast Greg Sestero, Tommy Wiseau, Kristen StephensonPino, Vince Jolivette

Rating Unrated

Release Date March 30th, 2018 (Limited)

“When a drifter befriends a quirky mortician, an unlikely business partnership is formed. Paranoia soon develops, however, and both men are forced to come to terms with the fragility of friendship and loyalty.”

From director Justin MacGregor, Best F(r)iends is a comedy thriller that reunites the duo that brought us the cult classic The Room (2003) that was so bad it was actually amazing. Written by The Room star Greg Sestero, Best F(r)iends is about a drifter that befriends a quirky mortician, forming a unlikely business partnership. The cast includes Greg Sestero, Tommy Wiseau, Kristen StephensonPino, and Vince Jolivette. Check out the official trailer below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, Best F(r)iends:

• This is the first project that Greg Sestero and Tommy Wiseau have appeared in together since the 2003 cult phenomenon The Room (2003).
• The film is based on a story by Greg Sestero about a road trip he took with Tommy Wiseau in 2003.
• Director Justin MacGregor is a friend of Greg Sestero. He saw The Room (2003) for the first time when he was 16 years old.

Blockers

Director Kay Cannon

Genre Comedy

Cast Leslie Mann, John Cena, Ike Barinholtz, Kathryn Newton

Rating R

Release Date April 6th, 2018

“Three parents try to stop their daughters from having sex on Prom night.”

The directorial debut for up-and-coming screenwriter Kay Cannon, who wrote all three Pitch Perfect Films, Blockers is a seemingly raunchy comedy about a trio of parents who try to stop their daughters from having sex on Prom night. With this talented cast this movie could be one heck of a debut for Cannon and I hope it is! The cast includes Leslie Mann, John Cena, Ike Barinholtz, and Kathryn Newton. Check out the official trailers below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, Blockers:

• The film marks the second collaboration between John Cena and Ike Barinholtz after Sisters (2015).
• Originally planned to be released with the title Cock Blockers but it was decided marketing would be difficult with that title so it was changed to Blockers with the rooster logo to get the point across. 

A Quiet Place

Director John Krasinski

Genre Drama | Horror | Thriller

Cast Emily Blunt, John Krasinski, Noah Jupe, Millicent Simmonds

Rating PG-13

Release Date April 6th, 2018

“A family lives an isolated existence in utter silence, for fear of an unknown threat that follows and attacks at any sound.”

From actor turned director John Krasinski, who has two directorial credits on his resume thus far, A Quiet Place is a horror thriller about a family forced to live in silence as a way to survive in a very dangerous world. Married in real-llife, Krasinski and Emily Blunt play a married couple in the film. I am a HUGE Blunt fan and I think these two are quickly becoming a Hollywood "power couple". Early reviews for the film have been incredible, and considering the lack of quality horror thrillers as of late and my obsession with the genre, I can't wait for this (hopefully I can keep my high expectations in check). The full cast includes Emily Blunt, John Krasinski, Noah Jupe, and Millicent Simmonds. Check out the official trailers below!!

Ted Takes Film Facts, A Quiet Place:

• Written by Scott Beck & Bryan Woods for Paramount, who submitted the script to John Krasinski to star. His wife, Emily Blunt, also read the script and then wanted to co-star in the film. She also persuaded Kraskinski to direct the film.
• Bryan Woods and Scott Beck's original screenplay only contained one line of dialogue.
• Actress Millicent Simmonds has been deaf since infancy due to a medication overdose. This was the second film she starred in, with Wonderstruck (2017) being her first.

The Miracle Season

Director Sean McNamara

Genre Drama

Cast Danika Yarosh, Helen Hunt, Tiera Skovbye, William Hurt

Rating PG

Release Date April 6th, 2018

“After the tragic death of star volleyball player Caroline “Line” Found, a team of dispirited high school girls must band together under the guidance of their tough-love coach in hopes of winning the state championship.”

From director Sean McNamara, The Miracle Season is based on the tragic but uplifting story of the Iowa City West High School volleyball team who lost a star teammate prior to her senior year. The cast includes Danika Yarosh, Helen Hunt, Tiera Skovbye, and William Hurt. Check out the official trailer below!!

Ted Takes Film Facts, The Miracle Season:

• Based on the true story of Iowa City West High School student and volleyball star Caroline Found's tragic death the week before her senior year began.
• Erin Moriarty's character name is same as her character name in her other movie 'The Kings of Summer' as Kelly.

Legion: Season 2

Genre Action | Drama | Sci-Fi

Cast Dan Stevens, Rachel Keller, Amber Midthunder, Aubrey Plaza

Rating TV-MA

Series Premiere April 3rd, 2018 (FX)

“David Haller is a troubled young man diagnosed as schizophrenic, but after a strange encounter, he discovers special powers that will change his life forever.”

Legion, a sci-fi drama series that is a part of the X-Men cinematic universe focused on the character David Haller, blew critics away with its first season. Touting stellar visuals and complex characters, the new season looks to bring back more of what made the debut season so successful. The cast includes Dan Stevens, Rachel Keller, Amber Midthunder, and Aubrey Plaza. Check out the official trailer for season 2 below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, Legion:

• Noah Hawley has hinted at the possibility of Charles Xavier appearing in the series. It is currently unknown if Patrick Stewart or James McAvoy would reprise their roles. Although Patrick Stewart has said that he would "absolutely 100%" reprise his role on the show despite previously claiming that "Logan" (2017) would be his last time portraying the character.

Paterno

Director Barry Levinson

Genre Biography | Drama

Cast Al Pacino, Riley Keough, Annie Parisse, Kathy Baker

Rating Unrated

Release Date April 7th, 2018 8:00PM EST (HBO)

“The film centers on Joe Paterno, who, after becoming the winningest coach in college football history, is embroiled in Penn State’s Jerry Sandusky sexual abuse scandal, challenging his legacy and forcing him to face questions of institutional failure regarding the victims.”

From director Barry Levinson, Paterno is the dramatic retelling of the scandal that rocked the nation involving legendary and larger than life former Penn State football coach Joe Paterno. The cast includes Al Pacino (as Paterno), Riley Keough, Annie Parisse, and Kathy Baker. Check out the official trailer below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, Paterno:

• This marks the third collaboration between Al Pacino and Barry Levinson, and the second one to be a TV movie.

You Were Never Really Here

Director Lynne Ramsay

Genre Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Cast Joaquin Phoenix, Ekaterina Samsonov, Alessandro Nivola, Alex Manette

Rating R

Release Date April 6th, 2018

“A missing teenage girl. A brutal and tormented enforcer on a rescue mission. Corrupt power and vengeance unleash a storm of violence that may lead to his awakening.”

From director Lynne Ramsay, You Were Never Really Here is a unique and extremely intense drama thriller that will undoubtedly keep you on the edge of your seat. I am huge fan of Phoenix when he is given the right role and this looks like a game changer for him. The cast includes Joaquin Phoenix, Ekaterina Samsonov, Alessandro Nivola, and Alex Manette. Check out the official trailer below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, You Were Never Really Here:

• Based on the 2013 novel from American author Jonathan Ames, adapted by Lynn Ramsay.
• Received a seven-minute standing ovation at its Cannes Film Festival premiere, on May 27, 2017. Lynne Ramsay won the award for Best Screenplay and Joaquin Phoenix won for Best Actor.