The line between film and television has officially been blurred. With the likes of Al Pacino and Cate Blanchett making their television debut and other prominent actors returning, Instep handpicks five shows you should look out for…
Major film actors such as Priyanka Chopra, Cate Blanchett, Al Pacino and several others have been cast in new binge-worthy series on a variety of streaming services. This new decade is the battle between streaming moguls as Netflix and Amazon (among others). Then there is Hulu, Apple+ and Disney’s upcoming streaming service that is threatening to take all Marvel, X-Men and Disney content from other streaming giants. NBC, CBS are some of the others who have also launched streaming service – in addition to starting out as network TV.
But right now, the battle is between Amazon (that has a stake in Hulu) and Netflix (that jumpstarted the streaming game when they launched House of Cards).
In order to stay ahead of the game, streaming networks are casting A-list actors in their shows in order to receive the highest numbers in viewership. Who will win this pop culture competition? Only time will tell.
1. Cate Blanchett
Catch the Australian star in Hulu’s new historical drama Mrs. America. Cate Blanchett and Rose Byrne lead a powerhouse cast in this first ever Hulu and FX’s collaboration. The series follows the anti-feminist crusader Phyllis Schlafly - played by Blanchett - in her fight against the feminist movement of the 1970s. Hulu and FX have assembled a directing team to match the star-studded cast, with episodes directed by Captain Marvel directors Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, while the show itself was created and written by Dahvi Waller; his resume includes a long stint on Desperate Housewives as well as episodes of iconic masterpieces such as Mad Men and Halt and Catch Fire. The two- time Oscar winning actress will undoubtedly do wonders with her new lead role, and we are looking forward to seeing her bring the character of Phyllis Schlafly to life.
Release date: April 15, 2020
2. Al Pacino
From the time he starred in Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather trilogy to starring in the most recent Martin Scorsese epic, The Irishman, Al Pacino is the world’s favourite mafioso. And now he’s coming to TV with a new drama called Hunters on Amazon Prime Video.
Hunters follow a diverse band of Nazi hunters living in New York City in 1977. The Hunters, as they’re known, will set out on a bloody quest to bring a rank of Nazi officials to justice and thwart their new genocidal plans. Not only does the plot of this new thriller alone sound super suspenseful, but the fact that it is starring Hollywood icon Al Pacino makes it even more intriguing.
In a career spanning over five decades, Pacino has received several honors, including an Academy Award, two Tony Awards, and two Primetime Emmy Awards, becoming one of the few performers to have received the Triple Crown of Acting. Let’s put our Nazi-fighting helmets on and join our beloved Michael Corleone (The Godfather) in his newest adventure next month.
Release date: February 21, 2020
3. Hugh Laurie
After knocking it out of the park with eight seasons of House in the titular role and as the antagonist in the brilliant series, The Night Manager (for which he won awards), Hugh Laurie is finally returning to television. Our favourite British actor has entered the world of HBO with his new and promising series, Avenue 5. It is a comedic telling of an ill-fated voyage, helmed by ill-equipped leaders.
Director Armando Iannucci’s latest comedy can be described as a snub to uber-rich cruise-takers and mega-rich entrepreneurs of the future. Laurie, renowned for starring in House received two Golden Globe Awards and nominations for his role in the medical drama. The actor’s versatility was later conveyed through his work in The Night Manager as arms dealer Richard Onslow Roper, dubbed in the series as “the worst man in the world”. We can’t wait to see what this brilliant performer has in store for us this 2020.
Release date: January 19, 2020
4. Patrick Stewart
Professor Charles Xavier from X-Men and its many offshoots such as Logan is coming back to TV in what is still his most prominent television role. The actor has returned to his starship with the new series Star Trek: Picard on CBS. Jean-Luc Picard was captain of the starship enterprise for 178 episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation and four theatrical films.
18 years after his last appearance in the movie Star Trek: Nemesis, Picard has come out of retirement and is ready to travel through the galaxy’s darkest new frontiers. CBS’s new show fairs surprisingly well for people who have not seen a moment of Star Trek as well as for longtime fans. But can we talk about just how amazing Patrick Stewart is? The British actor has been in the film industry for nearly seven decades. He has been nominated for Olivier, Golden Globe, Emmy, Screen Actors Guild, and Saturn Awards and has acted in two of science fiction’s biggest franchises. Regardless of your opinions on Star Trek, opt to check out this new show for simply the genius of Sir Patrick Stewart.
Release date: January 23, 2020
5. Richard Madden-Priyanka Chopra
Game of Thrones/Bodyguard actor Richard Madden and Quantico star Priyanka Chopra are set to headline Citadel, the Russo brothers’ upcoming spy-series for Amazon Studios. Chopra’s shift from Bollywood to Hollywood has been extremely successful; the Indian actress is set to star in the upcoming Netflix film, We Can Be Heroes by Robert Rodriguez and is also developing an “untitled” Indian wedding comedy with Mindy Kaling for Universal.
Madden is presently continuing his award winning portrayal of David Budd in BBC’s Bodyguard and is currently set to star in Chloe Zaho’s The Eternals, in which he will play the character of Ikaris opposite actress Angelina Jolie and GOT co-star Kit Harington. The future looks bright for both of these promising actors and we are excited to see their newest global thriller.
Release date: No release date has been set so far
