The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
STARS On SCREEn
’39 STEpS’» “Sherlock” actor Benedict Cumberbatch — also known as Doctor Strange in the Marvel Cinematic Universe — will soon be heading to Netflix.
According to Deadline, Cumberbatch has officially signed on as the lead of a new limited series titled “The 39 Steps.” If the title sounds familiar, the conspiracy thriller is based on a 1915 novel by John Buchan, and that work of fiction also inspired Alfred Hitchcock’s 1935 film of the same name.
The Netflix version will update the story to reflect modern times and will play out in six hour-long episodes. As the series lead (and one of its executive producers), Cumberbatch will play the role of Richard Hannay, an “ordinary” man who becomes “an unwitting pawn in a vast, global conspiracy to reset the world order: 39 steps that will change the world as we know it” (per Deadline).
This project will effectively reteam Cumberbatch and Edward Berger, who directed the actor in the Showtime miniseries “Patrick Melrose.” Both earned Emmy nominations for their respective work on the 2018 production, and Berger is also attached to this project as director. As for the writing, the task falls to screenwriter Mark L. Smith, who previously penned the script for “The Revenant” (2015).
Production will reportedly begin in 2022, the same year “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” is slated to hit theaters. In the meantime, Cumberbatch appears in the recently released film “The Mauritanian,” and he will play the lead opposite Claire Foy (“The Crown”) in the upcoming biographical film “The Electrical Life of Louis Wain” (2021). And, of course, look for his Doctor Strange character to make an appearance in “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” due out later this year.
nO ‘HARTS’» Fox has been tinkering with its slate of animated comedies ahead of the 2021-22 season, and it seems “Bless the Harts” didn’t make the cut. Despite a voice cast that includes “Saturday Night Live” alumnae Kristen Wiig and Maya Rudolph, the adult animated comedy from creator Emily Spivey (“The Awesomes”) will not return for a third season. That means the series will effectively wrap in May. And while it’s sad news for fans, it shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise if you look at the ratings: a recent episode pulled in just 56,000 sameday viewers.
But it’s not all bad news. Fox did hand out an early Season 3 renewal to “Duncanville,” which hasn’t even premiered its second season yet — it returns on May 23 before settling into a Monday time-slot. Actress Amy Poehler (“Baby Mama,” 2008), who voices the lead character (a 15-year-old boy named Duncan), co-created “Duncanville” with Mike and Julie (Thacker) Scully (“The Simpsons”), and the voice cast also includes Ty Burrell (“Modern Family”), Rashida Jones (“Parks and Recreation”) and rapper Wiz Khalifa (“Dickenson”).
Why the early renewal? Animated comedies take a while to produce, and having a firm commitment from the network helps ensure new episodes are in the can ahead of the series’ return to the schedule.
It’s worth noting that Fox recently purchased the animated studio Bento Box as part of a move to own more of its lineup (those streaming, licensing and merchandising rights can be pretty lucrative). The network has also renewed all of the Sunday big hitters — “The Simpsons,” “Family Guy” and “Bob’s Burgers” (produced by Bento Box) — as well as “The Great North” for the fall-winter broadcast season.
’mAgiC mikE’ TV» Next year marks the 10th anniversary of the 2012 film “Magic Mike,” but surprisingly, we might see a TV adaptation before that.
HBO Max is teaming up with the film’s lead, Channing Tatum (“Step Up,” 2006), its director, Steven Soderbergh, and its screenwriter, Reid Carolin, who will all serve as executive producers on a new unscripted series titled “The Real Magic Mike.” The series, which is being eyed for a late 2021 premiere, will feature 10 men competing for a cash prize and a chance to perform as part of the “Magic Mike Live” experience. According to HBO Max,
the contestants will “bare their souls and more as they evolve their bodies, learn to perform spectacular routines, and develop a new level of self-confidence.” But this is still a competition, so in the end, only one contestant will be crowned the “Real” Magic Mike.
“From box office hits to soldout live shows, ‘Magic Mike’ has
proven to be a pop-culture juggernaut that continues to delight people across the globe,” Sarah Aubrey, head of original content at HBO Max, said. “We’re excited to work with Channing [Tatum], Steven [Soderbergh] and the team behind ‘Magic Mike Live’ to continue this successful franchise that celebrates self-confidence and sexiness both inside and out.”
Inspired by both the 2012 film and its 2015 sequel, “Magic Mike Live” originally opened in 2017 at the Hard Rock Hotel before announcing its move to Sahara Las Vegas in 2020 — a move that’s been twice delayed by the pandemic and the availability of creative/production teams. The popular Vegas revue is now scheduled to reopen this August.