The Last of Us: Season 2

THE LAST OF US is a post-apocalyptic drama television series from creators Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin. The first season made it’s debut on HBO Max in 2023. Druckmann is an Israeli-American writer, creative director, designer, programmer and co-president of Naughty Dog, best known for his work on the Uncharted and The Last of Us video game franchises. Mazin previously created the successful miniseries Chernobyl for HBO.

Based on the 2013 video game of the same name developed by Naughty Dog, the series follows Joel (Pedro Pascal), a smuggler tasked with escorting the teenage Ellie (Bella Ramsey) across a post-apocalyptic United States. It also features Gabriel Luna as Joel's younger brother Tommy, Merle Dandridge as resistance leader Marlene, and Anna Torv as Joel's smuggler partner Tess.

It is the first HBO series to be based on a video game, and is a joint production by Sony Pictures Television, PlayStation Productions, Naughty Dog, The Mighty Mint, and Word Games.

THE LAST OF US: SEASON 2 is set to debut in April 13th, only on HBO Max. Watch the official trailers below.

Father Stu

Father Stu is a 2022 biographical drama film written and directed by Rosalind Ross, in her directorial debut. The film is based on the inspirational true story of Stuart Long.

After surviving a motorcycle accident, a former boxer and longtime agnostic starts to wonder if he can use his second chance to help others, leading to the surprising realization that he's meant to be a Catholic priest.

The cast includes Mark Wahlberg, Mel Gibson, Jacki Weaver, and Winter Ave Zoli.

Father Stu is set to debut in theaters on April 13th. Watch the official trailer below.

Our Towns

From Academy Award-nominated filmmakers Steven Ascher and Jeanne Jordan, Our Towns is a documentary that paints a remarkable picture of America and how the rise of civic and economic reinvention is transforming small cities and towns across the country.

Based on journalists James and Deborah Fallows' book Our Towns: A 100,000-Mile Journey into the Heart of America, the film spotlights local initiatives and explores how a sense of community and common language of change can help people and towns find a different path to the future.

Our Towns premieres April 13th on HBO. Watch the official trailer below.

Guava Island

Director Hiro Murai

Genre Comedy | Music | Thriller

Cast Donald Glover, Rihanna, Letitia Wright, Nonso Anozie

Rating TV-MA

Release Date April 13th, 2019 (Amazon Prime)

“A young musician seeks to hold a festival to liberate the oppressed people of Guava Island, even if only for a day.”

From director Hiro Murai (Atlanta), Guava Island tells the story of a young musician who seeks to hold a festival to liberate the oppressed people of Guava Island, even if only for a day. Check out a few clips for the movie below!!

Rampage

Director Brad Peyton

Genre Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi

Cast Dwayne Johnson, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Malin Akerman, Joe Manganiello

Rating PG-13

Release Date April 13th, 2018

“Based on the classic 1980s video game featuring apes and monsters destroying cities.”

From director Brad Peyton (San Andreas, Incarnate), Rampage is the feature-film based on the popular videogame from the 80's which in a nutshell included giant apes and monsters smashing buildings. Well given that premise it only makes sense that larger than life actor Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson star in the lead role. The full cast includes Dwayne Johnson, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Malin Akerman, and Joe Manganiello. Check out the official trailers below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, Rampage:

• This will be Dwayne Johnson's 2nd video game movie, Doom (2005) was his first.
• This will be Brad Peyton and Dwayne Johnson's 3rd film together. Previously they worked together in San Andreas (2015) and Journey 2: The Mysterious Island (2012).
• Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Malin Ackerman previously starred together in  Watchmen (2009).

The Rider

Director Chloé Zhao

Genre Drama

Cast Brady Jandreau, Tim Jandreau, Lilly Jandreau, Cat Clifford

Rating R

Release Date April 13th, 2018

“After suffering a near fatal head injury, a young cowboy undertakes a search for new identity and what it means to be a man in the heartland of America.”

Written and directed by Chloé Zhao, The Rider is a drama about a young cowboy who suffers a near fatal head injury and is forced to forge a new path in life in the Heartland of America. The cast Includes Brady Jandreau, Tim Jandreau, Lilly Jandreau, and Cat Clifford. Check out the official trailer below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, The Rider:

• The character Brady Blackburn is based on actor Brady Jandreau, who suffered the kind of head injury shown in the film after a fall from a horse.
• Writer and director Chloé Zhao first met Brady Jandreau during her research for her earlier film Songs My Brothers Taught Me (2015). She visited the ranch where Jandreau was working and he was teaching her how to ride a horse. She wanted put him in one of her films, and when he had the accident that left him with life changing head injuries, she decided to base the script for her next film on his story.

20 Weeks

Director Leena Pendharkar

Genre Drama | Romance

Cast Amir Arison, Anna Margaret Hollyman, Richard Riehle, Michelle Krusiec

Rating Unrated

Release Date April 13th, 2018 (Limited)

“A couple must decide on how to move forward when their baby is diagnosed with a serious health condition at the 20 week scan.”

Written and directed by Leena Pendharkar, 20 Weeks is a romantic drama about a couple faced with a very difficult life event after their baby is diagnosed with a serious health condition at the 20-week scan. The cast includes Amir Arison, Anna Margaret Hollyman, Richard Riehle, and Michelle Krusiec. Check out the official trailer below!!

Lost in Space

Genre Sci-Fi

Cast Mina Sundwall, Molly Parker, Toby Stephens, Parker Posey

Rating Unrated

Series Premiere April 13th, 2018 (Netflix)

“A remake of the 1960s sci-fi series about a family struggling for survival in outer space.”

A remake of the 1960's sci-fi series about a family struggling for survival in outer space, this Lost in Space series remake is a Netflix exclusive and stars Mina Sundwall, Molly Parker, Toby Stephens, and Parker Posey. Check out the official trailer below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, Lost in Space:

• Featuring Parker Posey in a gender flipped character known as Dr. Smith. In the previous two incarnations of this property Dr. Smith was named Zachary Smith, and has been played by male actors. In the original series the character was played by Jonathan Harris for almost the entire run (83 out of 84 episodes), and in the 1998 film adaptation the character was played by Gary Oldman. There was no Dr. Smith in the unsold pilot The Robinsons: Lost in Space (2004) from the last decade.

Submergence

Director Wim Wenders

Genre Drama | Romance | Thriller

Cast James McAvoy, Alicia Vikander, Alexander Siddig, Celyn Jones

Rating Unrated

Release Date April 13th, 2018 (Limited)

“In a room with no windows on the eastern coast of Africa, an Englishman, James More, is held captive by jihadist fighters. Thousands of miles away in the Greenland Sea, Danielle Flinders prepares to dive in a submersible to the ocean floor. In their confines they are drawn back to the Christmas of the previous year, where a chance encounter on a beach in France led to an intense and enduring romance.”

From director Wim Wenders (Paris, Texas), Submergence is a romance drama based on the novel of the same name written by author J.M. Ledgard. The cast includes James McAvoy, Alicia Vikander, Alexander Siddig, and Celyn Jones. Check out the official trailers below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, Submergence:

• This is the third time McAvoy will play a soldier (Atonement and Band of Brothers) and the third time Vikander will be in an ocean centric film (Tulip Fever and The Light Between Oceans)