Apple TV Plus released a trailer for “Invasion,” which launches Oct. 22 with it first three episodes.
The new series hails from Simon Kinberg and David Weil and is set across multiple continents as citizens across the globe struggle to deal with the titular event, which at first presents as smaller and more manageable issues.
“My fellow citizens of the world, what I have to say to you is not something I was ever prepared to say. As many of you know by now, we are suffering from inexplicable and seemingly unrelated incidents ranging from power outages to the destruction of infrastructure and homes,” the president says in the trailer, which you can watch below.
But what was once thought of as being individual incidents very quickly are realized to be connected and being caused by something “not of our Earth,” she continues.
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Soon it will come to light that this encounter may not be some characters’ only or first encounters with extraterrestrial life. The question will be how characters can keep themselves and their loved ones safe when faced with immediate threats, while the larger concern about humanity surviving looms.
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The science-fiction drama stars Shamier Anderson, Golshifteh Farahani, Sam Neill, Firas Nassar and Shioli Kutsuna. The show comes from Boat Rocker Studios. Kinberg, Weil and Andrew Baldwin serve as writers and executive producers; Jakob Verbruggen is an executive producer and director; and Katie O’Connell Marsh serves as executive producer for Boat Rocker Studios.
The show will roll out its other seven episodes of its first season weekly on Fridays.
Also in today’s TV news roundup:
DATES
“Passion Play: Russell Westbrook,” will premiere on Oct. 15 at 9 p.m on Showtime. The documentary examines the titular basketball player’s journey from high school through four different NBA teams, including his current position as a point guard for the Los Angeles Lakers, using interviews with Westbrook, his family, former teammates Kevin Love and Nick Collison, and more. Westbrook executive produces alongside Donnell Beverly. Religion of Sports co-founder Gotham Chopra and creative director Erik LeDrew co-direct the film. Religion of Sports produces with Showtime Sports.
Andy Cohen Books announced that journalist Dave Quinn’s “Not All Diamonds and Rosé: The Inside Story of the Real Housewives from the People Who Lived It,” will be published on Oct. 19. The book includes over 100 interviews with women who have appeared in the “Real Housewives” franchise in Atlanta, Beverly Hills, Dallas, D.C., Miami, New York, New Jersey, Orange County and Potomac. Producers, network executives, casting directors and friends of the housewives are also featured. Cohen is an executive producer of the “Real Housewives” franchise, and Andy Cohen Books is an imprint of Henry Holt.
Netflix announced that the second season of “Sexy Beasts” will launch on Oct. 7. Consisting of six new episodes, the second season will once again follow masked strangers as they go on dates and attempt to making lasting romantic connections based on personality and mental compatibility, rather than physical attraction. The show hails from Lion Television with Simon Welton serving as executive producer. See some first-look images from Season 2 below.
Hallmark Channel’s “Countdown to Christmas” programming lineup will kick off on Oct. 22 with “You, Me & The Christmas Trees,” starring Danica McKellar, Benjamin Ayres and Jason Hervey, at 8 p.m. There will be a handful of movies premiering before Halloween even happens, also including “Boyfriends of Christmas Past, starring Catherine Haena Kim, Raymond Ablack and Paul Sun-Hyung Lee, which premieres Oct. 23 at 8 p.m.; “The Santa Stakeout,” which stars Tamera Mowry-Housely, Paul Campbell and Joe Pantoliano and launches Oct. 24 at 8 p.m.; “Christmas in Harmony,” which stars Ashleigh Murray, Luke James, Loretta Devine, Michelle Williams and Basil Wallace and premieres Oct. 29 at 8 p.m.; and “Coyote Creek Christmas,” starring Janel Parrish and Ryan Paevey, which premieres Oct. 30 at 8 p.m. On Halloween night at 8 p.m. comes “Christmas Sail,” starring Katee Sackhoff, Patrick Sabongui and Terry O’Quinn. Then in November, “Open by Christmas” stars Alison Sweeney, Erica Durance and Brennan Elliott and premieres Nov. 5 at 8 p.m., while “Next Stop, Christmas” stars Lyndsy Fonseca, Chandler Massey, Lea Thompson and Christopher Lloyd and premieres Nov. 6 at 8 p.m., and “A Christmas Treasure” stars Jordin Sparks and Michael Xavier and premieres Nov. 7 at 8 p.m. Other Hallmark Channel holiday movies to be scheduled include “Christmas at Castle Heart,” “The Christmas Contest” (working title), “The Christmas House 2: Deck Those Halls” (working title), “The Nine Kittens of Christmas” and two new “Sister Swap” movies: “Sister Swap: A Hometown Holiday” and “Sister Swap: Christmas in the City.”
Hallmark Movies & Mysteries announced the first wave of programming in its “Miracle of Christmas” lineup, which begins on Oct. 23 at 10 p.m. with “Christmas In My Heart” starring Heather Hemmens, Luke Macfarlane and Sheryl Lee Ralph. The following Saturday, Oct. 30, sees “The Christmas Promise,” starring Torrey DeVitto, Dylan Bruce, Patrick Duffy and Greyston Holt, at 10 p.m., while the week after that brings “Debbie Macomber’s A Mrs. Miracle Christmas,” starring Kaitlin Doubleday, Steve Lund and Caroline Rhea on Nov. 6 at 10 p.m. Upcoming titles on this slate that are still to be scheduled include “The Christmas Bond” (working title).
FIRST LOOKS
Starz released a trailer for the second season of “Hightown,” which premieres Oct. 17 at p.m. In the new season, Jackie (Monica Raymund) is thrust into a crime wave when carfentanyl floods Cape Cod, becoming laser-focused on bringing down dealer Frankie Cuevas (Amaury Nolasco). Frankie’s cousin Jorge (Luis Guzmán) joins his operation, introducing a new level of violence and chaos. Disgraced officer Ray (James Badge Dale) finds himself steeped in depression, while Jackie finds a new partner in Leslie (Tonya Glanz). Riley Voelkel, Atkins Estimond, and Dohn Norwood also star. The show comes from creator Rebecca Cutter, who executive produces alongside Gary Lennon, Jerry Bruckheimer, Jonathan Littman, KristieAnne Reed and Ellen H. Schwartz. Watch the trailer below.
PROGRAMMING
GAC Family added three new Christmas movies to its slate. “The Great Christmas Switch,” premiering on Nov. 6, stars Sarah Lind and Dillon Casey and follows adult identical twins with opposite personalities who switch lives for Christmas. “Royally Wrapped for Christmas” premieres on Nov. 27 and stars Jen Lilley as Lindsay, a New Yorker whose philanthropic work earns her an invitation to meet with the royal family of Veronia, where Prince Aiden (Brendan Fehr) realizes he’s falling for her. In “Christmas is You,” premiering on Nov. 28, Becca Tobin and Matthew MacCaull play Emma and Tyler, exes who meet up at Christmastime and may need each other to help advance their careers in the music industry. GAC Family is a new network being launched by Great American Country on Sept. 27.
Hallmark Movies Now announced a new, upcoming holiday film titled “Every Time a Bell Rings” will debut later this year. Starring Erin Cahill, Brittany Ishibashi, Ali Liebert and Wes Brown, the film follows three sisters who reunite in their hometown of Natchez, Miss. for Christmas. There, they learn their late father planned one last scavenger hunt for them to find their family’s beloved wishing bell, which was a holiday tradition when they were young. They will have to search for clues in the days leading up to Christmas, rekindling their bond and visiting many places that hold special meaning, while learning what they really want out of life in the process.
CASTING
Peacock announced that Colin Donnell will star in its upcoming crime thriller “Irreverent,” with other cast members including P.J. Byrne, Kylie Bracknell, Briallen Clarke, Tegan Stimson, Ed Oxenbould, Wayne Blair, Russell Dykstra, Calen Tassone and Jason Wilder. The series follows criminal mediator Paulo (Donnell) as he flees the U.S. after a mediation gone wrong — changing his name to Mack. In Australia, Mack poses as a devoted reverend in order to stay alive while searching for an exit strategy. Paddy Macrae is the showrunner of the series, with Debbie Lee and Andrew Knight also serving as executive producers. “Irreverent” is produced by Matchbox Pictures, which is part of NBCUniversal International Studios, a division of Universal Studio Group, and will be a co-production between Peacock and Netflix Australia.
AWARDS
The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences announced the hosts and presenters for the 42nd annual News and Documentary Emmy Awards. The news ceremony will take place on Sept. 28 and the documentary ceremony will take place on Sept. 29, both at 5 p.m. PST on Watch.TheEmmys.TV powered by Vimeo. Hosts of the news ceremony are Wolf Blitzer, Jonathan Capehart, Juju Chang, Norah O’Donnell, Teresa Rodríguez, Alzo Slade, Stephanie Sy and Julio Vaqueiro. The documentary ceremony will be hosted by Carlos Watson, with presenters including June Cross, C.J. Hunt and Sonja Sohn.
LATE NIGHT
Steve Martin, Martin Short, Margaret Qualley, Dr. Jane Goodall and Cynthia Erivo will appear on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” while Julianne Moore and My Morning Jacket will be on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” John Kerry and Jim Gaffigan will be on “Late Night With Seth Meyers.” “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” will feature Shawn Mendes, and Nicole Kidman, Melissa McCarthy and Bill Gates will be on “The Late Late Show With James Corden.”
