The creative choice to depart from reality is one of the great freedoms of film and television. Unfortunately, like the rest of the real world, film and television production has had to contend with the COVID-19 pandemic. So many TV seasons were cut short and movie premieres postponed since March that I thought it best to skip my August column.
Writing this one in mid-October, I hoped to have better news, but the biggest theater chains in the world are struggling with social distancing and the U.S. is dreading a second wave of the virus as flu season has begun.
EON’s twenty-fifth James Bond movie, Daniel Craig’s final turn, NO TIME TO DIE, delayed since November 2019 due to a director change, was expected to premiere in November 2020, but last week was further postponed to April 2021 due to COVID. Meanwhile, Patty Jenkins’ superhero sequel WONDER WOMAN 1984 hopes to hit theaters Christmas Day, but who knows if that will hold?
On TV, a handful of shows renewed last season have seen those renewals canceled due to COVID. One is ABC’s adaptation of Greg Rucka’s graphic novel P.I. series STUMPTOWN. Filmed in Los Angeles, which is facing wildfires along with COVID, the show’s second season premiere was previously delayed to April 2021 to find a new showrunner.
Several shows shot in Canada recently resumed production, but may have to shut down if their testing resources are overwhelmed. That’s as much as I know for certain right now. I wish everyone luck as we wait for vaccines.
What can we, the viewing audience, watch while we wait? Around the world, physically canceled fan conventions have held panels via videoconferencing and uploaded the recordings to YouTube. This is a good time to catch up on previous seasons of shows on Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, and Disney+. For a look behind the scenes, I recommend SMALLVILLE actor Michael Rosenbaum’s podcast INSIDE OF YOU, LONGMIRE actor Katee Sackhoff’s YouTube channel, or British actor Scott Adkins’ THE ART OF ACTION YouTube series of interviews with his fellow martial artists and stunt performers.
Speaking of martial arts movies, I’m intrigued by the TV followup to THE KARATE KID, COBRA KAI. After two 10-episode seasons on YouTube TV, it has moved to Netflix for its third season (premiering in January 2021) and been renewed for a fourth season. It interests me as a mystery and crime reviewer because it shifts the focus to ex-bully Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) trying to turn his life around.
Also on Netflix as of September 23 is ENOLA HOLMES, Millie Bobby Brown’s adaptation of Nancy Springer’s series of young adult mystery novels that focuses on Sherlock Holmes’ younger sister. The movie is engaging, fairly family-friendly, and also features Henry Cavill as Sherlock and Helena Bonham Carter as Mother Holmes.
And finally for this column, I once again recommend LUCIFER, which premiered its fifth season on Netflix August 18. This season was going to be the last, comprising ten episodes, but it was expanded to sixteen, and a sixth season was ordered. Season 5 sees Tom Ellis in the dual role of Lucifer, who agreed to return to Hell to spare his earthly friends from a demonic revolt, and Michael, his supposedly virtuous twin, who is actually jealous and power-hungry. Along with this acting stretch for Ellis, the season includes a black-and-white film noir-themed episode in which the cast all take on alternate roles. Stay tuned for the second half of the season.
Until my next column, stay safe and feel free to comment with your comfort TV through this trying time.
