TV Series News

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"Stranger Things 5": First Look at Final Season and New Cast Members
Fans of "Stranger Things" are eagerly anticipating the fifth and final season on Netflix, which is still in production and promises to surpass everything shown so far, according to the creators. Expectations are high for the elaborate grand finale featuring the Hawkins group against the formidable antagonist Vecna.

A new video offers a first look behind the scenes, revealing a few promising glimpses of the upcoming season. The video showcases scenes at Hawkins High School, reunions with the main characters, and hinted battle scenes bathed in red light, typical of confrontations with the powerful foe from the Upside Down.

The show's creators, Matt and Ross Duffer, shared in the video that half of the filming was completed by the beginning of July, marking the 24th week of production: "Week 24. Happy halfway to the best cast and crew ever."

Due to last year's Hollywood strike, production was halted for a while. Filming finally resumed at the beginning of this year (as reported by TV Wunschliste).

New Cast Members Confirmed
The cast has grown with three new additions: Alex Breaux ("Joe Pickett," "Waco: The Aftermath"), along with young stars Nell Fisher and Jake Connelly, joining the fifth season.

The most notable new addition is "Terminator" veteran Linda Hamilton, a huge fan of the series, who is expected to play a central role in the final showdown. Details about the new characters are still under wraps.

Returning main cast members include Finn Wolfhard, Millie Bobby Brown, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton, Noah Schnapp, Sadie Sink, Winona Ryder, and David Harbour.

"Season 5 Will Be Bigger Than Anything Before"
"Our showrunners, Matt and Ross, carry a lot of responsibility. They have a fantastic writing team, but they are very dedicated," revealed Robin actress Maya Hawke in an interview with Deadline. "They write a lot and are very intense and serious about the quality of the script. It takes a long time to write each season - and it takes a long time to shoot them."

She added about the current episodes: "We are basically making eight movies. The episodes are very long."

The creators have teased that the new episodes will begin with a time jump spanning several years. The young heroes must regroup and gather their strength for the decisive battle against the overpowering Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower).

The outlook for Season 5 looks bleak, as hinted at the end of Season 4, when a great calamity looms over Hawkins as the two worlds merge, threatening to engulf Hawkins and the rest of the world in the Upside Down (see the recap of Season 4).

The fate of Max, played by Sadie Sink, remains uncertain (but not hopeless). At the end of Season 4, she is left unconscious in the hospital after Vecna's attack. Ross Duffer cryptically stated at the beginning of filming: "Max is not really alive in the sense that you and I understand it. But that doesn't mean she's dead-dead either!"

Final Season Coming in 2025
The premiere date for the fifth and final season of the hit series is planned for 2025 on Netflix. It is expected that the new episodes, like the previous season, will be released in two parts, although this has not been confirmed yet.

In the meantime, fans can look forward to more productions from the expanded series universe. A yet-unnamed anime series set in the "Stranger Things" world is in the works. Additionally, a stage play titled "The First Shadow" will be performed in London's West End, exploring the backstory of the horrors in Hawkins.

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"Criminal Minds" Star Mandy Patinkin Joins New Medical Drama "Brilliant Minds"
NBC has announced the new medical drama "Brilliant Minds" for this fall, featuring "Star Trek" star Zachary Quinto as the revolutionary neurologist Dr. Oliver Wolf. Emmy-winner Mandy Patinkin, known for his roles in "Criminal Minds" and "Homeland," has been confirmed as a guest star for the premiere of the inaugural season, which starts on September 23. He will be visiting the fictional Bronx General Hospital.

Patinkin, who was recently seen in "Death and Other Details," will play a renowned doctor who will significantly impact the dynamics of the medical staff at the New York hospital. His character will be introduced in two episodes of the debut season, serving as a mentor to Dr. Wolf. Described as a classic "family doctor," Patinkin's character focuses on building long-term relationships with his patients and is known for his willingness to make house calls, contrasting the current trend of cost-cutting and rapid patient turnover in hospitals and clinics.

Series Overview
"Brilliant Minds" centers on Dr. Oliver Wolf, a successful neurologist at Bronx General Hospital, known for his revolutionary techniques and almost mythical reputation. Dr. Wolf, along with his team, explores the human mind, one of the last great frontiers in modern medicine. He is portrayed as a genius, obsessively dedicated to helping those marginalized by society. The series also delves into the personal relationships of the doctors and their struggles with their own mental health.

Main Cast
Zachary Quinto as Dr. Oliver Wolf
Teddy Sears as Dr. Josh Nichols
Ashleigh LaThrop as Dr. Ericka Kinney
Alex MacNicoll as Dr. Van Markus
Tamberla Perry as Dr. Carol Pierce
Spence Moore II as Dr. Jacob Nash
Aury Krebs as Dr. Dana Dang
Production Team
"Brilliant Minds" (previously titled "Dr. Wolf") is developed by showrunner, writer, and producer Michael Grassi ("Riverdale"), with Lee Toland Krieger directing. The series is produced by Greg Berlanti and Sarah Schechter of Berlanti Productions in collaboration with Fabel Entertainment for Warner Bros. Television and Universal Television (Universal Studio Group).

The show is inspired by the work of the late British neurologist Oliver Sacks, known for his research on rare neurological disorders and his popular science books, such as "The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat" and "An Anthropologist on Mars." Sacks' work also inspired the acclaimed 1990 film "Awakenings," starring Robert De Niro and Robin Williams.

"Brilliant Minds" promises to offer a compelling blend of groundbreaking medical science and deeply personal storytelling, anchored by a stellar cast and a renowned production team.

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"Moonflower Murders" and "Van der Valk": Trailers for New Seasons
The public US broadcaster PBS has provided a preview of its upcoming fall lineup of fictional formats during a press event. This includes the second season of "Ridley," the miniseries "Moonflower Murders," and the fourth season of "Van der Valk" (aka "Kommissar Van der Valk"). All these will be shown on PBS Masterpiece starting September 15.

PBS Masterpiece mainly showcases projects co-produced with British broadcasters like BBC and ITV (and their streaming service BritBox). This means that most of the projects announced for US broadcast may have their world premieres in the UK earlier, although those dates have not yet been announced. Despite this, the PBS preview provided some new information and trailers.

Ridley
The four-part first season of the crime series "Ridley" premiered on ITV in August 2022. It stars Adrian Dunbar, known from "Line of Duty," as the titular character, Detective Inspector Alex Ridley—a retired British police officer who returns to duty at the request of his former protégé after a family tragedy. Ridley’s wife and daughter were killed in an arson attack on their home. By the end of the first season, Ridley had begun a therapy process to heal from his trauma.

Details about the second season are scarce: Ridley's protégé, Carol Farman (Bronagh Waugh), has been promoted to Detective Inspector following the success of their investigation in season one. Ridley’s role as a consultant for the police has now been formalized. Like the first season, the second season will consist of four episodes. The series has yet to be broadcast in Germany.

Moonflower Murders
In "Magpie Murders," editor Susan Ryeland (Lesley Manville) had to solve the murder of author Alan Conway (Conleth Hill), with clues hidden in his unfinished final book.

In the sequel "Moonflower Murders," the parents of a missing young woman approach Ryeland. They know that author Conway was present at their daughter's wedding and had overheard a secret, which he then incorporated into one of his novels (the parents found details of the wedding in the book). The parents believe that the events at the wedding are connected to their daughter’s disappearance and that a clue to the perpetrator might be hidden in Conway's works or his estate.

To help the parents, Ryeland must dive into another novel by the deceased author and investigate an adventure of his fictional detective Atticus Pünd (played by Tim McMullan) to uncover the truth.

Van der Valk
PBS has released a trailer for the fourth season of the newly revamped crime series "Kommissar Van der Valk." Based on an ITV crime series from the 1970s, this show follows the cases of Commissioner Piet Van der Valk (played by Marc Warren) in the Dutch port city of Amsterdam.

Details about the new season have not yet been confirmed. The series is produced by ITV in collaboration with NL Film, ARD Degeto, and PBS, with each episode having feature-length runtime. In Germany, the series premieres on Das Erste.

With these exciting new seasons and series, PBS Masterpiece continues to bring high-quality British co-productions to American audiences.

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"The Mandalorian" and "Dawson's Creek" Stars Join Season Two of Hit Crime Drama "Poker Face"
Recently, it was announced that filming for the second season of the crime series "Poker Face" had begun in the USA. At that time, it was highlighted that main actress Natasha Lyonne would direct the second episode herself. Now, the first prominent guest stars for the new season have been confirmed.

"Poker Face" follows the adventures of Charlie (Lyonne), who is a human lie detector: she can tell when someone is lying but has no idea what the truth is or why the person is lying. After a brief career as a poker player drifting through casinos, Charlie ended up as a cocktail waitress in Las Vegas. When someone tried to exploit her abilities, she uncovered a murder and went on the run. Since then, she has been traveling across the USA in her Plymouth Barracuda, with a pursuer from Las Vegas (played by Benjamin Bratt) hot on her trail, preventing her from settling down. Like Jessica Fletcher in "Murder, She Wrote," Charlie stumbles upon new crimes every week, solving them in a "Columbo"-style by trapping the perpetrators in deeper lies until they are ultimately exposed.

Thanks to the small, fixed cast and the clout of series creator and producer Rian Johnson ("Knives Out"), the show has enough financial flexibility to attract notable actors for individual episodes.

Confirmed Guest Stars for Season Two
The first guest stars for the second season have been confirmed, though details about their roles and the episodes they will appear in have not yet been revealed.

Giancarlo Esposito: Known for his role as Gus Fring in "Breaking Bad," Esposito is a highly sought-after actor with roles in "The Mandalorian" and "The Boys."

Katie Holmes: The former "Dawson's Creek" star has returned to the entertainment industry after a hiatus, with recent roles in "Ray Donovan" and the miniseries "The Kennedys: After Camelot." Holmes has primarily been seen in films in recent years.

Kumail Nanjiani: One of the most well-known actors of Pakistani descent in the USA, Nanjiani gained fame with his role in HBO's "Silicon Valley." His film "The Big Sick," which he co-wrote with his wife, further cemented his reputation.

Gaby Hoffmann: With a career that started in film (including "Field of Dreams" and "Volcano"), Hoffmann has made a significant mark in television over the past decade, earning three Emmy nominations for her roles in "Girls" and "Transparent."

Production and Availability
"Poker Face" is produced in the USA by MRC for the streaming service Peacock. In Germany, the series premiered on Sky and is currently available through Sky's on-demand services as well as Amazon (Prime Video and Freevee).

With these exciting guest stars and the show's unique premise, the second season of "Poker Face" promises to bring more thrilling and captivating episodes to its audience.

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Leven Rambin schließt sich "Fire Country" für Staffel 3 an
Die erfolgreiche US-Serie "Fire Country" wurde bereits frühzeitig für eine dritte Staffel verlängert. Neben der Ankündigung eines Spin-Offs namens "Sheriff Country" mit Morena Baccarin in der Hauptrolle, startet die neue Staffel des Feuerwehr-Dramas am 18. Oktober im US-Fernsehen. Ein Highlight der kommenden Staffel ist der prominente Neuzugang Leven Rambin, bekannt aus "True Detective" und "Grey's Anatomy".

Leven Rambin übernimmt eine wiederkehrende Gastrolle als Audrey, eine ehemalige Insassin und Teilnehmerin des Feuerbekämpfungs-Programms. Audrey wird als eine Frau mit einer umfangreichen Gefängnisakte und zahlreichen Tattoos beschrieben. Sie ist mutig und hartnäckig, zeigt aber auch eine empathische und gefühlvolle Seite durch ihr Talent als Musikerin.

Gerüchten zufolge könnte Audrey als neues Love-Interest für die Hauptfigur Bode (gespielt von Max Thieriot) in die Handlung eingeführt werden, nachdem seine Ex-Freundin Gabriela am Ende der zweiten Staffel Diego geheiratet hat. Leven Rambin erlangte Bekanntheit als Sloan Riley in "Grey's Anatomy" und hatte eine Hauptrolle in "True Detective" und "Gone".

Im Zentrum der Serie steht der junge Häftling Bode, der durch die Teilnahme am Feuerbekämpfungs-Programm (genannt Cal Fire) auf eine Verkürzung seiner Strafe hofft. In seinem Heimatort muss er sich den Geistern seiner Vergangenheit stellen, da seine Familie die örtliche Feuerwehr leitet: Vater Vince (Billy Burke) und Mutter Sharon Leone (Diane Farr).

Weitere Hauptrollen beinhalten Kevin Alejandro als Feuerwehrmann Manny Perez, Jordan Calloway als Jake Crawford und Jules Latimer als Eve Edwards. Die Serie wurde von Max Thieriot, Tony Phelan und Joan Rater gemeinsam mit Erfolgsproduzent Jerry Bruckheimer für CBS Studios entwickelt.

In Deutschland ist die erste Staffel von "Fire Country" bei WOW, Sky Go, MagentaTV und Freevee abrufbar. Universal TV wird die zweite Staffel ab Montag, den 2. September wöchentlich ab 20:15 Uhr mit jeweils zwei Folgen am Stück ausstrahlen.

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"Private Practice" Star Joins "Chicago Fire" Cast
The upcoming seasons of the "One Chicago" universe are shaping up with exciting new additions. Following a significant cast update for "Chicago P.D." (as reported by TV Wunschliste), "Chicago Fire" is also expanding its team. KaDee Strickland, best known for her role in "Private Practice," will join the cast for the 13th season. In addition, there's a notable promotion within the show's ranks.

Jake Lockett, who has been portraying firefighter Sam Carver since the beginning of season 11, will now be a main cast member. Carver joined the team as a potential recruit for Truck 81 and initially had a rocky start with Lieutenant Stella Kidd (Miranda Rae Mayo). However, their relationship has since stabilized. Recently, Carver embarked on a complex romantic relationship with paramedic Violet Mikami (Hanako Greensmith).

KaDee Strickland will appear on a recurring basis in season 13, playing Monica Pascal, the wife of the new Chief, Dom Pascal. Dermot Mulroney ("Shameless") will portray Dom Pascal, who is taking over from Eamonn Walker's character, Chief Boden (as reported by TV Wunschliste). Dom and Monica have been living separately for some time, and Dom's leadership style is expected to differ significantly from Boden's. Additionally, a conflict with Christopher Herrmann (David Eigenberg), who was initially expected to succeed Boden, is anticipated.

KaDee Strickland was prominently featured as Dr. Charlotte King, a chief of staff and urologist, for six seasons in the "Grey's Anatomy" spin-off "Private Practice." She also starred in the second season of the horror anthology "Cruel Summer" and had main roles in "Secrets and Lies" and "Shut Eye."

The 13th season of "Chicago Fire" will premiere on NBC on September 25th. Meanwhile, in Germany, VOXup is re-airing the very first season every Friday at 8:15 PM.

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New "Yellowstone" Spin-Off: Meet the Stars of "The Madison"
Creator Taylor Sheridan has already explored the Dutton family's past with the miniseries "1883" and "1923." Now, he ventures into the present with a new spin-off, originally known as "2024" but now officially titled "The Madison," featuring an impressive cast.

The new series will star Michelle Pfeiffer, Kurt Russell, and "Suits" star Patrick J. Adams. According to TVLine, the storyline revolves around the wealthy matriarch Stacy Clyburn and her family, who leave New York City for Montana after the tragic deaths of Stacy's husband and brother-in-law in a plane crash. While official confirmation is pending, Michelle Pfeiffer is anticipated to be a perfect fit for the role of Stacy Clyburn.

Production of "The Madison" is set to begin at the end of August, with the premiere expected in 2025. This timing positions the series as a successor to the highly successful neo-Western "Yellowstone," which will conclude after the second part of its fifth season. The final episodes, notably without Kevin Costner, will air on the Paramount Network starting November 10.

"The Madison" received the green light from the US network last fall under its working title "2024." Initially, there was speculation that Matthew McConaughey might take a lead role, but this is no longer the case. It remains unclear which characters or storylines from "Yellowstone" might transition into the new series. There were discussions about Kelly Reilly, Cole Hauser, and Luke Grimes reprising their roles as Beth Dutton, Rip Wheeler, and Kayce Dutton, respectively, but this has yet to be confirmed.

As fans eagerly await more details, "The Madison" promises to continue the legacy of drama and intrigue that "Yellowstone" has masterfully crafted.