Here’s a roundup curated by Associated Press entertainment reporters of what’s coming to TV, streaming services and music and video game platforms this week.
MOVIE THEATER
— Keira Knightley and Carrie Coon play American reporters Loretta McLaughlin and Gene Cole of the Boston Record, who linked several murders in the Boston area in the early 1960s to a single suspect they named the Boston Strangler. The serial killer sexually assaulted and killed at least 11 women between 1962 and 1964. The case has been the subject of several books and movies over the years, but writer-director Matt Ruskin is the first to focus on the reporters. “The Boston Strangler” debuts on Hulu on Friday.
— A new documentary on Netflix, “Money Shot: The Pornhub Story,” coming Wednesday, takes a look at the Pornhub phenomenon and the accusations that the site hosted and profited from rape videos and underage sex. The filmmakers speak to lawyers, Pornhub employees who were told “nothing was wrong” and sex workers to delve into the complicated subject. “We hope this film creates important conversations about sex and consent, both online and in the world,” said director Suzanne Hillinger.
— AP Writer Lindsey Bahr
MUSIC
— Fitting for St. Patrick’s Day, plenty of U2 is in the works. “Bonus & The Edge: A Sort of Homecoming, with Dave Letterman” is set to premiere worldwide on Disney+ on Friday, the same day U2 release “Songs Of Surrender,” a collection of 40 seminal U2 songs from across their catalog Irish band, re-recorded and remastered. The Edge have said the project “started as an experiment” but quickly became “an obsession as so many early U2 songs ended up being reinterpreted”. “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Look For” takes on a cowboy vibe and unexpected honky-tonk current. “Desire” has Bono high on his falsetto against a maddened strum, and the result is hypnotic.
— Maybe some old fashioned rock is more your speed? Look no further than the gritty, riff-heavy Theory of a Deadman, whose new album is “Dinosaur.” It was produced by Martin Terefe and recorded in Sweden at Atlantis Studios, made famous by ABBA. The 10-track collection from the quartet of Tyler Connolly, Dave Brenner, Dean Back and Joey Dandeneau features the rousing title tune, the party song “Ambulance” – with the lyrics “cheap drinks/sticky floors/in my safe place” – and a darker take on the classic “Just the Two of Us” called “Two Of Us (Stuck).”
— AP Entertainment Writer Mark Kennedy
TV
— “Ted Lasso” returns Wednesday to Apple TV+ with all the heart, one-liners and pop culture references viewers have come to love from its first two seasons. The Emmy-winning series starring Jason Sudeikis, Brett Goldstein, Hannah Waddingham and Juno Temple picks up a few months after the second season ended. Sudeikis, who is a co-creator of the series, has said that the third season is the end of that story, but has not given a clear answer as to whether the series could take a new direction, start a spinoff or return for another season down the road.
— Elvis Presley famously loved comics, and now the late singer is the star of his own animated series coming to Netflix. In “Agent Elvis,” Presley – voiced by Matthew McConaughey – is still the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll, but also moonlights as a government spy by night. Kaitlin Olson, Johnny Knoxville, Niecy Nash and Don Cheadle also voice characters. Priscilla Presley, who co-created and executive produced, plays herself. “Agent Elvis,” which opens Friday, is the first adult animated project from the studio behind “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.” The show is violent, profane and features an NSFW chimpanzee, so definitely not suitable for children.
— A new iteration of “Marie Antoinette” comes to PBS on Sunday. This version stars Emilia Schüle as a teenage Antoinette who is sent to Versailles to marry the future king of France, played by Louis Cunningham. PBS says this “Marie Antoinette” tells the story through a more modern lens, focusing on how the young woman navigated French court politics, the pressure to deliver an heir and left her mark on Versailles and history. James Purefoy plays Louis XV.
— Alicia Rancilio
VIDEO GAMES
— Platinum Games completed the Bayonetta trilogy just a few months ago. But no video game series ever ends, and the studio is already back with a prequel, Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon. Ceresa is a young, outcast witch who summons a demon named Cheshire who possesses her favorite stuffed toy. Can Cereza help Cheshire find his way home? Will this adorable girl really turn into the flashy fighter fans know and love? Can Platinum really deliver a family-friendly version of this ultra-violent franchise? Find out Friday, on Nintendo Switch.
— John Cena returns to the ring for WWE 2K23, the latest installment in 2K Sports’ long-running professional wrestling series. The ‘Peacemaker’ actor is featured in this year’s Showcase feature, which puts you in the trunks of the big wing during the biggest fights of his career. You can also choose from dozens of other WWE stars, from legends like Hulk Hogan to current champions like Roman Reigns, or create your own rookie brawler from scratch. The 2023 model also introduces WarGames, a fan favorite in which teams of three or four compete in two rings covered by a steel cage. Mayhem follows on Friday on PlayStation 5/4, Xbox X/S/One and PC.
— Lou Kesten
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Catch up on AP’s entertainment coverage here: https://apnews.com/apf-entertainment.