Also coming to streaming
Life & Beth (Disney+, from May 18)
Amy Schumer heads the cast of this eagerly awaited comedy-drama. The first series proved to be so successful with American TV viewers that it was immediately renewed for a second. Schumer herself created the programme (describing it as her ‘passion projects) and takes the lead role of Beth, a Manhattan-based woman fast approaching her 40th birthday. She’s recently broken up with her boyfriend, is disenchanted with her career and prefers shopping to clubbing. Then, after a bizarre incident takes place, she begins having flashbacks of her younger self which begin to reveal where she’s gone wrong with her life – and what she must do to get back on track. Michael Cera and Michael Rapaport co-star, with Violet
Young as the teenage Beth.
Now and Then (Apple TV+, from May 20)
The streaming service’s first bilingual series is about to make its debut. Shot in both Spanish and English, it’s a thrilling tale told across eight episodes – the first three are being made available immediately, with one new edition following every Friday. It begins as a group of best friends celebrate the end of their college days with a huge weekend party – during which one of them dies. Fast forward 20 years as the remaining five are reluctantly brought back together by a threat that could ruin their seemingly perfect lives. A musing on the differences between youthful aspirations and the realities of adulthood, the show stars Rosie Perez, Marina de Tavira, Zeljko Ivanek and Jorge Lopez.
Night Sky (Amazon Prime, from May 20)
Imagine suddenly discovering a portal in your back garden that can transport you into outer space – what would you do about it? That idea forms the premise of this new sci-fi drama starring Oscarwinners Sissy Spacek and JK Simmons. They play Irene and Franklin York who, years ago, uncovered a chamber buried on their property that can mysteriously transport them to a deserted planet. They’ve kept quiet about it for decades, but their secret is about to be unearthed by a charismatic young man who manages to earn their confidence. Soon the Yorks begin to realise their portal is far more important than they ever thought possible. Chai Hansen and Adam Bartley are among the supporting cast.