Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
A trailblazing tale: Regina King stars in ‘Shirley’
WHAT’S NEW ON NETFLIX “Shirley” (2024)
Get a glimpse of history when the new drama film “Shirley” premieres Friday, March 22, on Netflix. Starring Regina King (“If Beale Street Could Talk,” 2018) as trailblazing political icon Shirley Chisholm, America’s first Black congresswoman, “Shirley” tells the story of Chisholm’s groundbreaking presidential run in 1972. After already breaking major ground in 1968 when she was elected to Congress, Shirley never stopped reaching for the top when she became the first Black candidate to seek a major party’s nomination for president. Produced, written and directed by John Ridley (“12 Years a Slave,” 2013), the film is also produced by Regina King, Reina King (“To Sleep with Anger,” 1990), Anikah McLaren (“Judas and the Black Messiah,” 2021) and Elizabeth Haggard (“Zola,” 2020). Lance Reddick (“John Wick,” 2014), Terrence Howard (“Empire”), Lucas Hedges (“Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri,” 2017), Michael Cherrie (“SistaGod,” 2006), Brian Stokes Mitchell (“Mr. Robot”), Christina Jackson (“Outsiders”), André Holland (“Moonlight,” 2016) and Dorian Crossmond Missick (“Southland”) also star.
“Buying Beverly Hills” - Season 2
The drama returns to sunny Los Angeles when “Buying Beverly Hills” premieres its second season Friday, March 22, on Netflix. Labeled an “occu-soap” by Netflix, the series sees “family drama, luxury listings and fierce competition in the L.A. market” as the top agents from Mauricio Umansky’s billion-dollar real estate empire, The Agency — including his daughters, Farrah, Alexia and Sophia — navigate the high-stakes world of luxury real estate while trying to balance their relationships and friendships on the side. As this family works to stay at the top of the business, with support from mom Kyle Richards (“Real Housewives of Beverly Hills”), they still find that “nothing could have prepared them for the bombshells this season, as the foundation of the Umansky clan is rocked like never before, potentially changing the very fabric of the family forever” (per Netflix Tudum). Alongside the first family of L.A. real estate, the series also stars agents Ben Belack, Joey Ben-Zvi, Melissa Platt, Brandon Graves and Sonika Vaid.
WHAT’S NEW ON DISNEY+ “X-Men “97” - Season 1
Revisiting the iconic era of 1990s animation, the new animated series “X-Men ‘97” premieres Wednesday, March 20, on Disney+. The series follows the adventures of Marvel Comics’ X-Men, a band of mutants who use their unique gifts to protect a world that has never understood them. They will be “challenged like never before as they are forced to face a dangerous and unexpected new future” (per Disney+). Kicking off with a 10-episode debut season, the series voice cast includes Ray Chase (“Licorice Pizza,” 2021) as Cyclops; Jennifer Hale (“Mighty Ducks: The Animated Series”) as Jean Grey; Alison Sealy-Smith (“Friends and Heroes”) as Storm; Cal Dodd (“X-Men: The Animated Series”) as Wolverine; JP Karliak (“Spidey and His Amazing Friends”) as Morph; Lenore Zann (“XMen: The Animated Series”) as Rogue; George Buza (“X-Men: The Animated Series”) as Beast; A.J. LoCascio (“Voltron: Legendary Defender”) as Gambit; Holly Chou (“Players”) as Jubilee; Isaac Robinson-Smith (“Hamster & Gretel”) as Bishop; Matthew Waterson (“Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia”) as Magneto; and Adrian Hough (“Home Before Dark”) as Nightcrawler.
WHAT’S NEW ON HULU “Freaknik: The Wildest Party Never Told” (2024)
In the 1980s and ‘90s, the iconic Freaknik street party forever changed the landscape of Atlanta. “A celebratory exploration of the boisterous times” (Hulu), the new documentary “Freaknik: The Wildest Party Never Told” premieres Thursday, March 21, on Hulu. An event that began as a Black college cookout, Freaknik soon turned into a “traffic stopping, city-shuttering, juggernaut” (per Hulu) that drew in crowds of hundreds of thousands and put Atlanta on the cultural map and, “rooted deep in its history of civil rights, thriving Black leadership, and focus on the uplifting of Black culture and education, Atlanta became the only place a festival like this could grow and thrive” (Hulu). But, becoming known for “lurid tales of highway hookups and legendary late-night parties” (Hulu), the annual event came to an abrupt end as the century closed out. Offering a glimpse at the enduring legacy of the event, “while acknowledging the complexities it introduced into the social fabric and leaving an indelible mark on the cultural landscape of Atlanta and beyond” (Hulu), the film features appearances by 21 Savage (“redrum”), Lil Jon (“Turn Down for What”), Killer Mike (“DOWN BY LAW”), Jalen Rose (“Jalen & Jacoby”), Too $hort (“Blow the Whistle”), former Atlanta mayor Kasim Reed, Erick Sermon (“React”), CeeLo Green (“Crazy”) and music producer Rico Wade, among others.
“Davey & Jonesie’s Locker” - Season 1
Get swept off to a new dimension when the teen comedy series “Davey & Jonesie’s Locker” premieres Friday, March 22, on Hulu. Davey (Veronika Slowikowska, “Homeschooled”) and Jonesie (Jaelynn Thora Brooks, “How We Ended Us,” 2023) are two eccentric best friends who’ve never quite aligned with their peers at school. So, when they discover that their locker is actually a portal to the multiverse, they’re more than ready to hop into a wild new adventure and leave the mediocrity of their ordinary lives behind. But, the multiverse isn’t quite what they’d hoped, and every new reality drops them right back in different bizarre, alternate versions of their high school, complete with offbeat versions of all of their classmates. “Fortunately, these audacious and creative besties are ready to make the most of this vacation from reality by leaving their mark on every universe they visit ... even if it means choosing interdimensional chaos while they’re at it. Worth it for the vibes” (per Hulu). Directed by Allison Johnston (“This Hour Has 22 Minutes”) and Morgan Waters (“The Amazing Gayl Pile”), the series features writing by Evany Rosen (“Baroness Von Sketch Show”). The series also stars Rosen, Dan Beirne (“Ginny & Georgia”), Emily Piggford (“The Sounds”), Sydney Topliffe (“Murdoch Mysteries”), Erika Swayze (“Workin’ Moms”) Kevin Osea (“Prom Pact,” 2023), Alexa Yaphe (“13: The Musical,” 2022) and new talent Nikko Angelo Hinayo.
WHAT’S NEW ON PRIME VIDEO “Road House” (2024)
Jake Gyllenhaal (“The Covenant,” 2023) stars in this remake of the late ‘80s classic “Road House,” premiering Thursday, March 21, on Prime Video. Dalton (Gyllenhaal), an ex-UFC fighter, is trying to escape his dark past and barely scraping by on what’s left of his reputation. Given a new chance when he’s spotted by Frankie (Jessica Williams, “Shrinking”), the owner of a roadhouse in the Florida Keys, Dalton takes up a job as a bouncer at the bar, trying to help Frankie stop a violent gang boss (Billy Magnussen, “No Time to Die,” 2021) from ruining her establishment. But, the stakes are raised even higher when Knox (MMA fighter and boxer Conor McGregor), a ruthless gun for hire, shows up on the scene. Directed by Doug Liman (“Edge of Tomorrow,” 2014), featuring a screenplay by Anthony Bagarozzi (“The Nice Guys,” 2016) and new screenwriter Charles Mondry, “Road House” is based on the original screenplay by David Lee Henry (“Out for Justice,” 1991) and Hilary Henkin (“Wag the Dog,” 1997). Daniela Melchior (“Fast X,” 2023), Joaquim De Almeida (“Ganglands”) and Lukas Gage (“Fargo”) also star.