While The Mandalorian drew heavily from the Mandalorian stories first told in the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars, it surprised many by bringing back a character from the 2008 Clone Wars movie. Rotta, a helpless baby Hutt rescued by Anakin Skywalker and Ahsoka Tano, is actually the son of Jabba the Hutt from Return of the Jedi – and he’s all grown up now.
Marvel Studios quickly confirmed Anthony Mackie’s return for the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday film. He will continue playing Sam Wilson, who took on the role of Captain America after the events of the 2021 Disney+ series, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.
Alan Ritchson, famous for his role as Jack Reacher, is back as a strong military character in his new Netflix action film. Called War Machine, the movie is directed by Patrick Hughes (known for The Hitman’s Bodyguard) and stars Ritchson alongside Dennis Quaid, Esai Morales, and Jai Courtney. The plot centers around highly trained Army Ranger recruits who must fight for their lives when an alien robot lands on Earth, delivering a sci-fi action experience full of intense violence for Netflix subscribers.
Released in 2000 and based on Bret Easton Ellis’s novel, the darkly humorous thriller American Psycho quickly became a pop culture icon. Christian Bale recently shared fond memories of working with director Mary Harron on the film, which portrays a narcissistic and murderous Wall Street banker in 1987 Manhattan. The movie, famous for its memorable and often unsettling scenes – including Bateman’s detailed analysis of Huey Lewis while wielding an axe and wearing a clear raincoat – has maintained its status as a cult classic for the past 25 years.
Before we get to the rankings, I wanted to mention how great Watch What Happens Live did this week. The Traitors star Maura Higgins got a Birkin bag live on air, and even Rob Rausch seemed to be enjoying himself – he hasn’t been very energetic during this press tour, but he really let loose on WWHL. He’d be perfect for Winter House. The same goes for Olympic gold medalist Alyssa Liu, who was bartending and had a lot of fun chatting with Andy Cohen. Both Rausch and Liu are new to the spotlight, and WWHL seems like a good way for them to get used to it. Every late-night show has its strengths, and here’s a look at who else stood out this week.
Jantje Friese and Baran bo Odar created the German-language Netflix series Dark, which debuted in 2017 and quickly gained popularity for its complex and intriguing storyline. The show concluded after three seasons in 2020, and the creators followed it up with the briefly-running series 1899. Now, Friese and Odar are starting a new project.
Bandai Namco just announced that Pokémon Plakoro, a classic and somewhat forgotten Pokémon game, is making a comeback. The new trailer shows players engaging in fast-paced dice battles with a diverse range of Pokémon, like Pikachu, Squirtle, Charmander, Bulbasaur, Eevee, and Mew.
David Boreanaz, a familiar face from TV shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Bones, and SEAL Team, will star in NBC’s new version of The Rockford Files. The original Rockford Files aired on NBC from 1974 to 1980 and starred James Garner. While the reboot is still being developed as a pilot, casting is progressing well.
Dree Hemingway plays Hannah on the show. According to creator Per Jacobson, a key aim of the series is to show Hannah’s comfort and knowledge of the social circles Carolyn is unfamiliar with. However, Hannah herself has expressed disagreement with several plot points. She clarifies that she’s never used cocaine, thrown drug-fueled parties, pressured anyone into getting married, damaged family heirlooms, interfered with private memorials, leaked stories to the media, or made insensitive comparisons, such as linking Jacqueline Onassis’ death to the loss of a pet.
Craig Ricci Shaynak, known from his role on ER, brings warmth and understanding to the character of Howard, a patient whose weight reflects a difficult journey. The role is partially inspired by Shaynak’s own life experiences. Howard’s story includes a car accident, burns, multiple surgeries, and years of feeling alone, creating a complex and relatable reason for his arrival at the emergency room with a fever and stomach pain.