It's the start of a new week and that means it's time for a brand-new roundup of crime drama news:
THE BIG SCREEN/MOVIES
Nicolas Cage and writer-director, Andrew Niccol, are set to re-team with Vendôme Pictures (the Academy Award winning studio behind CODA), on Lords of War, a sequel to the 2005 crime thriller, Lord of War, which starred Cage as Yuri Orlov, a composite character based on numerous arms dealers. In Lords of War, Yuri Orlov (Cage), the world’s most notorious gunrunner, discovers he has a son, Anton (Bill Skarsgård), who isn’t trying to right his father’s wrongs — he’s trying to top them. Not only selling guns but the "trigger pullers" too, Anton is amassing a mercenary army to fight America’s Middle East conflicts. This is the story of Yuri and Anton’s bitter rivalry — even at odds over the same woman. Who will prevail when father and son go to war?
Idris Elba is set to star in, produce, and direct the action-thriller, Infernus. Elba will play Donovan Kamara, a U.N. human rights activist sent to investigate reports of refugees being illegally detained inside a U.S. black site prison. A seemingly simple task turns deadly when the world’s most dangerous inmates break free. Kamara must work to safely extricate the refugees, all while going head-to-head with a brilliant criminal mastermind. Based on a story by Tom Boyle and screenplay by Robert Mark Kamen, the film is due to go into production on October 9th in London. While most filming will be done in London, additional principal photography will take place in the new TD Akuna Studios in Ghana,
Star Wars actor, Daisy Ridley, is set to star in the action-thriller, Cleaner, from Casino Royale and Golden Eye filmmaker, Martin Campbell. The timely action-thriller, set in present-day London, will see radical activists take over an energy company’s annual gala at the Shard – the tallest skyscraper in Western Europe – seizing 300 hostages in order to expose the corruption of the hosts. Their just cause is hijacked by a zealous extremist within their ranks, who is ready to murder everyone in the building to send his anarchic message to the world. It falls to an ex-soldier turned window cleaner, Joey Locke (Daisy Ridley) – suspended 90 stories up on the outside of the building – to save those trapped inside and take down the killers, whilst also finding a way to bring the corrupt energy moguls to justice.
Mel Gibson is returning to the director’s chair for the first time since 2016 Oscar winner Hacksaw Ridge with Flight Risk, which will star Oscar nominee, Mark Wahlberg. Based on Jared Rosenberg’s 2020 Blacklist script, the film will see Wahlberg play a pilot transporting a dangerous criminal for trial. Additional casting is underway.
TELEVISION/STREAMING
CBS has ordered three new series from this year’s crop of pilots, including two crime dramas, Elspeth and Matlock, the latter of which is a reboot of the classic series that starred Andy Griffith. In the new Matlock project, Kathy Bates stars as brilliant septuagenarian Madeline Matlock, who after achieving success in her younger years, rejoins the work force at a prestigious law firm where she uses her unassuming demeanor and wily tactics to win cases and expose corruption from within. The cast also includes Skye P. Marshall as Olympia, Jason Ritter as Julian, David Del Rio as Billy, and Leah Lewis as Sarah. In Elsbeth, Carrie Preston returns as Elsbeth Tascioni (The Good Wife). After her successful career in Chicago, the astute but unconventional attorney utilizes her singular point of view to make unique observations and corner brilliant criminals alongside the NYPD. Wendell Pierce also stars as Captain CW Wagner, with Carra Patterson as Officer Kaya.
Fans of Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan will be happy to hear the premiere date was announced for the fourth season of the popular Prime Video series starring John Krasinski, although season 4 will be the shortest, consisting of six episodes to be released two at a time starting on June 30, leading to the series finale on July 14. The fourth and final season of Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan finds the titular character on his most dangerous mission yet: facing an enemy both foreign and domestic. As the new CIA Acting Deputy Director, Jack Ryan is tasked with unearthing internal corruption, and in doing so, uncovers a series of suspicious black ops that could expose the vulnerability of the country. The series also stars Wendell Pierce as James Greer, Michael Kelly as Mike November, and Betty Gabriel as CIA Acting Director Elizabeth Wright, with Abbie Cornish returning as Cathy Mueller. Joining the cast this season are Michael Peña as Domingo Chavez and Louis Ozawa as Chao Fah.
There's good news and bad news for Walker fans: The CW has given a 13-episode Season 4 order to Walker, starring Jared Padalecki, to air in 2023-24 broadcast season. However, the network also canceled the Walker prequel, Walker Independence after only one season. The former is a re-imagining of the popular CBS drama Walker, Texas Ranger, and centers on Cordell Walker (Padalecki), a widower and father of two with his own moral code who returns home to Austin after being undercover for two years, only to discover there’s harder work to be done at home. The prequel is set in the late 1800s and follows an affluent Bostonian named Abby Walker (Katherine McNamara), whose husband is murdered in front of her while on their trek out West. Consumed by a need for vengeance, Abby crosses paths with Hoyt Rawlins (Matt Barr), described as a "lovable rogue in search of a purpose," and the pair soon find themselves in Independence, Texas, where they encounter a diverse and eclectic cohort of citizens hiding from their demons and chasing their dreams, all while becoming agents of change themselves in the small town.
CBS cancelled S.W.A.T., and then, after a successful social media campaign by lead actor, Shemar Moore, CBS un-cancelled the show. Moore expressed frustration via his IG account that CBS had promised the show would "have time to say goodbye." The drama was then picked up for 13 more episodes, which will give Moore’s Hondo and crew a chance to say farewell to their devoted fans.
CBS is axing freshmen crime dramas East New York and True Lies after one season. The CBS dramas’ Season 1 finales will now mark the end of both shows, airing Sunday, May 14, and Wednesday, May 17, respectively. East New York followed the officers and detectives of the NYPD’s 74th precinct in Brooklyn, headed up by Deputy Inspector Regina Haywood, the newly promoted commanding officer. True Lies, a reboot of the successful film from James Cameron, revolved around a suburban housewife who discovers her computer consultant husband is an international spy, a discovery that sets them on a path to save the world and their marriage.
The CW has picked up both seasons of 61st Street, the dramatic thriller starring Courtney B. Vance and Aunjanue Ellis, in partnership with AMC Networks, which canceled the series amid the company’s cost-cutting drive in January. Season 1 will air at its new home this fall followed by its sophomore season in 2024. 61st Street tells the story of Moses Johnson (Tosin Cole), a promising Black high school athlete who is swept up into the infamously corrupt Chicago criminal justice system. Taken by the police as a supposed gang member, he finds himself in the eye of the storm as cops and prosecutors seek revenge for the death of an officer during a drug bust gone wrong. The AMC Studios series also stars Mark O’Brien, Holt McCallany, Tosin Cole, Andrene Ward-Hammond, and Bentley Green.
A trailer was released for the popular PBS crime drama, Grantchester, which is set to return for an eighth season on MASTERPIECE PBS, premiering Sunday night, July 9th at 9/8c. The six new episodes of Grantchester will range from Speedway to spies, exploring the lives of invisible women and the very visible problems caused by Leonard's new vocation which may, once again, find him battling the law. Exploring faith, forgiveness, and redemption – this explosive series tests Will and Geordie to the limit.
AMC has released a teaser trailer for the second season of Dark Winds, based on the Leaphorn & Chee crime fiction series by Tony Hillerman. In the new season, Lt. Joe Leaphorn (Zahn McClarnon) reunites with Jim Chee (Kiowa Gordon), his former deputy turned private eye when their separate cases bring them together in pursuit of the same suspect. Jessica Matten returns as Sgt. Manuelito. Guest stars include Jeri Ryan (Star Trek: Picard) and Nicholas Logan (Dopesick).
Very much enjoyed EAST NEW YORK and wish they had kept it. TRUE LIES was silly fun.
The deal with SWAT is weird as they had record ratings.
ELSEBETH and MATLOCK appear horrible in the trailers and I won't be watching. Probably means both will be hits and end up running for ten seasons.
Posted by: Kevin Ralton Tipple | May 16, 2023 at 10:36 AM
Oh, Kevin, you sound like me! Shows the critics (and TV execs) often love are ones I hate. I've heard from a lot of folks who are upset about "East New York," and I'm really surprised it was canceled. But it may pop up on another network, as sometimes happens.
Posted by: BV Lawson | May 16, 2023 at 06:27 PM