FROM BIG-TICKET BLOCKBUSTERS AND STREAMING SMASH HITS TO HEADLINING TOURS AND BROADWAY DEBUTS, HERE’S YOUR ALL-ACCESS PASS TO EVERYTHING BREWING IN SHOW-BIZ THIS SUMMER
BY BLUE SULLIVAN AND AMANDA McCOY
SUMMER FILM BUZZ
BAD BOYS: RIDE OR DIE
Nearly 30 years after the first Bad Boys made its cinematic debut, Will Smith and Martin Lawrence are back in action once again in the latest installment of the ever popular franchise. This one follows the duo as they attempt to repair the image of their late police captain after he’s been smeared with allegations of drug cartel corruption. Expect thousands of flying bullets and seat-gripping explosions, amid frequent wisecracks about getting old. Vanessa Hudgens also co-stars. June 6.
BALLERINA
(JUNE 7)
In this upcoming John Wick spin-off (it was once titled John Wick Presents: Ballerina), Ana de Armas is a bone-breaking ballerina who “seeks revenge by hunting the murderers of her family,” and, in a connection to the John Wick universe, is protected by Winston and Charon at the Continental Hotel in New York City. Keanu Reeves also stars, of course, and Len Wiseman directs.
INSIDE OUT 2
(JUNE 14)
This delightful sequel of Pixar’s 2015 mega-hit once again follows the anthropomorphic personifications of various emotions inside a girl named Riley, though now she’s 13. Given the calm, untroubled, and perfectly rational emotions of teenagers, this should be a relaxing hour and a half (grins). Amy Poehler returns as Riley, with great new additions like Ayo Edibiri (The Bear).
ALIEN: ROMULUS
(AUGUST 16)
The seventh installment in the now 45-year-old franchise boasts serious pedigree, directed by Fede Alvarez, who gave us two of the best horror movies of this millennium, Don’t Breathe (2016) and Evil Dead (1981). This time around, the film takes place in a distant world as “a group of young travelers find themselves confronting the most terrifying life-form in the universe.” Its timeframe slots between the 1979 original and the 1986 sequel, Aliens.
LONGLEGS
(JULY 12)
Throughout his multi-decade career, Nicholas Cage has been especially intoxicating in the horror realm (Vampire’s Kiss, Ghost Rider, Color Out of Space), and this latest sees Cage as a salacious serial killer on a rampant murdering spree. Scream queen Maika Monroe (It Follows) plays the FBI agent, Lee Harker, trying to catch him, until her pursuit “takes an unexpected turn when she discovers a personal connection to the killer.” Directed by Oz Perkins.
THE BIKERIDERS
(JUNE 21)
Like the previously released pre-summer blockbuster Dune: Part Two, this film about a motorcycle gang is a paean to perfect facial symmetry, starring Austin Butler (Elvis), Tom Hardy (Inception), and Jodie Comer (Killing Eve). Set in the ‘60s when the film begins, The Bikeriders follows a fictional biker gang as they evolve from fellowship to organized crime over the ensuing decade. Directed by Jeff Nichols (Take Shelter, Midnight Special).
DEADPOOL 3
DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE. © 2024 20th Century Studios / © and ™ 2024 MARVEL.
(JULY 26)
The first two films following the fourth-wall-breaking antics of Marvel’s lovable anti-hero were, to many, surprisingly heartfelt and emotive, laced with wacky quips and shrewd jokes in Ryan Reynolds’ classic deadpan style, of course. The third installment sees the addition of Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine, and the interplay between he and Reynolds in the trailers is promising. This chapter has beckons fresh blood at the director’s chair in Shawn Levy (who helmed the award-sweeping All the Light We Cannot See), noting Deadpool & Wolverine is going to be both “gnarly and funny,” adding, “I wouldn’t say that there were any big surprises, but you feel where the pace wants to tighten, you feel where you can afford to slow down and have a deeper, more durable character moment.”
DESPICABLE ME 4
(JULY 3)
Following the success of the 2010 original starring Steve Carell, this classic bad-guy-finds-his-way story became a global smash, nabbing $4.6 billion at the box office. This summer, Gru and his adorable yellow henchmen are back, this time facing a new nemesis in prison escapee Maxime Le Mal (Will Ferrell), assisted by his girlfriend Valentina (Sofia Vergara).
TWISTERS
JULY 19
Calling all ‘80s nostalgia devotees, your ship has come in! This 2024 reboot about ambitious (and at times borderline reckless) storm chasers boasts an impressive ensemble cast (Glen Powell, Kiernan Shipka, and Daisy Edgar Jones, among others) along with a notable director in Lee Isaac Chung (who helmed 2020’s excellent drama-comedy Minari). History will decide which version is better.
KINDS OF KINDNESS
JUNE 21
Whether you’re a fan of Greek filmmaker Yorgos Lanthimos’ work (Poor Things, The Favourite, he Lobster) might be a matter of personal taste, but it’s tough to argue there’s anyone in Hollywood with a grander unconventional vision at the present moment. This follow-up to the Oscar- nominated Poor Things is an anthology tracking three people as they search to find answers to the central questions and conflicts in their lives: a man who tries to take control of his own life, a policeman whose wife seems like a different person, and a woman who searches for someone with a special ability. This is the third film by the director starring Emma Stone (though she recently announced she prefers to go by Emily from now on). Additional cast members include Jesse Plemons, Willem Dafoe, Margaret Qualley, Hong Chau, Joe Alwyn, Mamoudou Athie, and Hunter Schafer.
STREAMING HITS
THE IDEA OF YOU
(PRIME VIDEO) MAY 2
This contemporary rom-com debuted a few weeks ago, but the cast, premise, and director (Michael Showalter, Search Party, Wet Hot American Summer franchise) deserve a reminder to seek it out. Here, a divorced 40-year-old woman (Anne Hathaway) begins an unexpected romance with her daughter’s 24-year-old pop idol crush (up-and-coming A-lister Nicholas Galtzitine) after a chance meeting at Coachella. The actors have a natural charisma on screen, moving between light-hearted banter and vulnerable exchanges in a way that feels both powerful and believable.
TYLER PERRY’S DIVORCE IN THE BLACK
(PRIME VIDEO) JULY 11
No one consistently provides the kind of earnest, unadulterated camp laughs quite like Tyler Perry. This one follows Ava, a young banking professional who loses her marriage after her husband’s wicked past comes to light, costing her the chance to be with her soulmate. It’s a classic Perry storyline, albeit arguably problematic, but laughs will ensue nonetheless. Plus, it boasts a solid cast in Meagan Good and Cory Hardrict as the leads with support from Joseph Lee Anderson, Taylor Polidore, Shannon Wallace, Richard Lawson, and Debbi Morgan.
JOHN MULANEY PRESENTS: EVERYBODY’S IN L.A.
(NETFLIX, DOCUSERIES) MAY 3
John Mulaney has gifted the world several stellar comedic specials (New In Town, The Comeback Kid, Kid Gorgeous) over his 21 years in stand-up comedy, plus one almost irritatingly catchy kids’ musical one-off that was surprisingly poignant (John Mulaney & the Sack Lunch Bunch), so this eccentric, late-night talk show concept featuring a star-stacked stew of guests in L.A. sounds like just our speed. IMDb describes it as, “Comedian John Mulaney explores Los Angeles during a week when many comedians are in town, captured in six live shows.” One early review in Daily Beast declared it “bizzaro comic genius,” a fitting description of the former SNL writer.
THE BOYS
(PRIME VIDEO) JUNE 13
This iconic reimagining of a world of superheroes, where the heroes are often indistinguishable from the villains by their actions, returns to Amazon. Each season has managed to raise the stakes, the humor, and the shocks without ever becoming puerile nonsense for fanboys. It’s also evolved into a sharp-fanged satiric indictment of fascism through its primary villain, Homelander, played with monstrous, skin crawling menace by Antony Starr. High hopes for the new season are earned and deserved.
I USED TO BE FUNNY
(VIDEO ON DEMAND) JUNE 18
The incredibly funny Rachel Sennott (inside tip: if you haven’t seen Bottoms, Shiva Baby, or Bodies, Bodies, Bodies, seek them out ASAP) stars in this festival favorite comedy-drama about a depressed stand-up comedian struggling with her career after a girl she once nannied for disappears. The material seems perfect for Sennott’s charmingly neurotic and wonderfully vulgar persona.
THE ACOLYTE
(DISNEY+, NEW SERIES) JUNE 4
Disney’s press team describes this new entry in the Star Wars megaverse as pitting “a respected Jedi Master against a dangerous warrior from his past,” as the result of an investigation of a “shocking crime spree.” Squid Game’s Lee Jung-jae stars, with pop star/actor Amandla Stenberg as the villain. (As a side note, though Lee Jung-jae’s typical persona is hero, he was deliciously terrifying as the tattooed killer Ray in 2020’s excellent actioner, Deliver Us From Evil.)
UNFROSTED: THE POP TART STORY
(NETFLIX) MAY 3
The latest, loosely-based-on-a-true-story tale about how decade-specific cultural phenomena got its start (see last year’s The Beanie Bubble and Flamin’ Hot), this one examines the creation of Pop-Tarts toaster pastries. Jerry Seinfeld wrote, directed, and stars in the film, joined by a rockstar cast in Melissa McCarthy, Hugh Grant, Bill Burr, Jim Gaffigan, and Amy Schumer. Seinfeld told Netflix the idea began as a joke, but it came to fruition once the pandemic hit and he (and co-creator Spike Feresten) had extra time on their hands.
DISCO: SOUNDTRACK OF A REVOLUTION
(PBS, PRIME VIDEO) JUNE 18
PBS seems like an odd fit to recount the journey of a once ridiculed, now-celebrated musical genre that began in the cocaine-dusted, glamorous squalor of 1970s New York to pop star mega-success via The Bee Gees, Donna Summer, and the Saturday Night Fever film. Yet it’s clear they’ve invested a lot of time, love, and effort into its creation. The modern realms of pop and dance music would not exist had disco not paved the way, so if any genre deserves a proper celebration, this is the one.
BEVERLY HILLS COP: AXEL F
(NETFLIX) JULY 3
Why this brilliant resurrection of an ‘80s cult classic is going straight to streaming, without a theatrical release, is utterly bewildering for film buffs everywhere. The first two Beverly Hills Cop movies were cultural phenomena, with the 1984 original still ranking in the box office’s top 15 R-rated movies of all time. Soapbox aside, the inimitable Eddy Murphy is back as Axel Foley, alongside returning cast members Judge Reinhold, John Ashton, and Bronson Pinchot, plus new faces in Kevin Bacon, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. The premise, according to IMDb: Axel Foley returns to Beverly Hills after his daughter’s life is threatened for a family reunion that includes old pals John Taggart and Billy Rosewood to uncover a conspiracy.
THE BACHELORETTE
(ABC, HULU SEASON 21) JULY 8
It’s the most successful reality dating show of all time, credited with launching the genre. To date, the Bachelor and Bachelorette have been on air for a collective 48 seasons, sparking numerous spin-offs and a romance-hungry culture. This summer, the female-fronted competition for love is returning to ABC for its 21st year. This time around, 26-year-old Jenn Tran will try her hand in finding the one among 28 potential suitors. Production is ongoing in Northwest England.
MADONNA
How to define a woman who defined an era: Madonna has sold more than 300 records worldwide to date, won seven Grammys and two Golden Globes, holds 16 official Guinness World Records, is the best-selling female recording artist of all time. If you haven’t seen her action yet, mark your calendars for December 13, 14, and 16 in Brooklyn (she’s also playing MSG early next year).
ADELE
Trivia question: did you know that, despite having one of the most powerful and distinctive voices to ever grace pop music, Adele suffers from stage fright? That’s the reason, until now, she’s rarely taken her talents live, but that all changed when she took on a lengthy residency in Vegas. Adele wanted to face her fear in front of slightly smaller (but still expansive) audiences, night after night, in a setting that felt more intimate. Fortunately, this experiment in immersive therapy worked, and her 2024 international tour will be breathtaking proof.
ALANIS MORISSETTE
If one day in the far future, a scholar attempted to capture pop music in the ‘90s in as concise a manner as possible, it could simply read: Jagged Little Pill. Alanis Morissette’s ode to vengeance by the wronged post-breakup femme fatale is one of the best-selling albums of all time (33 million copies and counting). She hasn’t toured Pill or any of her hit albums very often, but this summer, fans will get the chance to belt out “You Outghta Know” alongside the Canadian alt-princess on her 2024 tour with Joan Jett and the Blackhearts. She’ll be in Camden on July 2 and Holmdel July 3.
BAD BUNNY
In the same way Adele and Alanis Morissette have become decade-defining icons, Bad Bunny has laid his own claim to the domain known as the 2020s. Proof: his 2023 album, Un Verano Sin Ti, was not only the most streamed record of the year, it also set a Guinness World Record with 4.5 billion+ streams. He named his 2022 tour El Ultimo Tour (The Last Tour), but fortunately that distinctive style and roguish charm will be here again to break new tour box office records.
BLINK-182
Even dyed-in-the-wool music snobs have a soft spot for Blink-182. A quarter-century after they debuted, tracks like “Dammit,” “What’s My Age Again,” “Rock Show,” and “Stay Together for the Kids” still blaze. When headliner Frank Ocean experienced an epic collapse via failing stage and sound equipment during the first weekend of Coachella last year, Blink stepped in and mesmerized the massive, music-hungry crowds. They’ll be descending upon the Northeast this July.
CENTER STAGE
THE NOTEBOOK
The musical adaptation of the 2004 tear-jerker (itself based on the 1996 book by Nicholas Sparks) follows the 54-year romance between one of modern pop culture’s most famous couples. Featuring an original score by the multi-platinum singer-songwriter Ingrid Michaelson, The Notebook opened at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre on March 14. Expect passionate highs, tearful lows, and stunning performances by a team of Noahs and Allies at various ages. (Hopeless romantics can even purchase $5 boxes of Notebook-branded tissues before the show.) Michael Greif (Dear Evan Hansen, Next to Normal, RENT) and Schele Williams (The Wiz, Aida) direct. notebookmusical.com
THE GREAT GATSBY
This spring, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s sparkle-soaked masterstroke hit the grand stage, debuting at The Broadway Theatre on April 25. Produced by Tony award winner Chunsoo Shin, the musical adaptation features a jazz- and pop-influenced original score by Jason Howland (Little Women) and Nathan Tysen (Paradise Square). “I am passionate about producing this show because it provides a modern audience with the true essence of idealism that is expressed eloquently in the novel and now on stage,” said Shin of the show. Expect big billowy solos, high-tech projections, and miles of sequins and swagger. broadwaygatsby.com
HELL’S KITCHEN
Grammy Award-winning artist Alicia Keys and Pulitzer Prize-finalist playwright Kristoffer Diaz team up on this soulful smash, based on the singer’s rise to stardom in the gritty streets of mid Manhattan. The story begins in a shoebox apartment just off Times Square with a 17-year-old Keys, an ambitious, love-struck aspiring singer who forges an unlikely friendship with a piano-playing neighbor. It’s fun, fresh, and filled with bangers from throughout the pop-soul icon’s prolific three decade career. Tony Award nominee Michael Greif directs. hellskitchen.com
THE WHO’S TOMMY
There was ample buzz surrounding this Tony-nominated revival (The Who’s Tommy enjoyed an 899-show run from 1993 to 1995), kicking off at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago ahead of its Great White Way debut this March. Inspired by one of the greatest rock albums of all time (The Who released Tommy in 1969, and the album has since sold more than 20 million copies worldwide, accounting for about one fifth of the British rock giant’s total sales), the show is a modern-day rock opera of sorts. Audiences follow Tommy as he navigates the trauma of witnessing his father shoot someone as a young boy, eventually becoming a pinball wizard and cult leader. Expect a full slate of the album’s anthems like “I’m Free,” “See Me, Feel Me,” “Sensation” and “Pinball Wizard.” tommythemusical.com
WATER FOR ELEPHANTS
Based on Sara Gruen’s award-winning novel, this musical spectacular follows a wistful young man who, after a great loss, hops a train and joins a traveling circus, inviting audiences along a wild, spectacle-filled ride. (“In musicals, you talk until you have to sing and you sing until you have to dance,” Jessica Stone, the show’s director, told the New York Times. “And in our case, you dance until you have to leap into the air.”) Water for Elephants is a story of adventure, love, and finding yourself again. waterforelephantsthemusical.com