Sizzling Samachar: Mark Wahlberg’s crime thriller gets a ‘Wonder’-ful upgrade; Jeff Bezos shakes up Bond’s future- and he wants your help

Welcome to your daily dose of entertainment news , Im your host Nikhil Kumar. News first from Hollywood.

Mark Wahlberg’s crime thriller gets a ‘Wonder’-ful upgrade

Mark Wahlberg’s upcoming crime thriller By Any Means just swapped one powerhouse for another! Originally set to star Sterling K. Brown, the film now features Wonder Man star Yahya Abdul-Mateen II in a gripping true story about a mafia hitman and a young Black FBI agent tracking down those behind the 1966 Civil Rights murders in Mississippi. Directed by Elegance Bratton with a script by Theodore Witcher and Sascha Penn, the film’s production timeline remains under wraps. Meanwhile, Wahlberg is busy with Play Dirty, while Mateen is gearing up for Man on Fire. Stay tuned for more updates!

Jeff Bezos shakes up Bond’s future- and he wants your help

Amazon’s $1 billion takeover of James Bond has given Jeff Bezos the ultimate license to stir, and he’s already shaking things up! The billionaire recently asked fans who they’d cast as the next 007, sparking a frenzy of picks- from Henry Cavill to the wild-card Tom Cruise. With longtime Bond guardians Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson stepping aside, speculation is rife about Amazon’s plans for a sprawling Bond universe, packed with spin-offs and prequels. Will this new era elevate the suave spy or water down his legacy? Only time will tell. Stay tuned for updates!

Mahershala Ali’s ‘Blade’ reunion: New project with former director takes shape

While Marvel’s Blade reboot remains stuck in development limbo, Mahershala Ali is moving forward with a fresh collaboration. The Oscar-winning actor has signed on for Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother, a mysterious new project directed by Bassam Tariq, the same filmmaker who was once attached to Blade before parting ways in 2022. With Blade still without a director or release date, this unexpected reunion might hit screens before the long-awaited Marvel film. Ali also has Jurassic World: Rebirth and Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse lined up, proving that while Blade is stalled, his career certainly isn’t.

Harley Quinn season 6 teases “something very different” while Season 5 brings brainiac chaos

Harley Quinn never fails to push the chaos meter higher, and Season 5 is no different. With Kaley Cuoco’s acrobatic anti-hero now wreaking havoc in Metropolis, things are bound to get wilder, especially with Stephen Fry’s Brainiac as the big bad. Writer Dean Lorey teases that if Season 6 happens, it’ll be something very different and totally unexpected. Meanwhile, Gotham’s green queen Poison Ivy, voiced by Lake Bell, is keeping things interesting, and Batman is tangled up with Lena Luthor, played by Aisha Tyler. For now, fans can binge Season 5 on Max and stay tuned for updates on more mayhem in the making!

‘Grace’ gets a sixth season because detective drama never goes out of style

British crime drama Grace isn’t just solving cases, it’s cracking records! Since its 2021 debut, this ITV hit has kept viewers hooked with John Simm’s brooding Detective Superintendent Roy Grace and Richie Campbell’s ever-reliable DS Glenn Branson. With Season 5 set to premiere this spring, ITV is already doubling down on its faith in the show by renewing it for a sixth season. Expect more standalone mysteries, a stellar returning cast, and plenty of Brighton’s gritty charm. US fans can catch Grace on Prime Video, while UK viewers can watch it on ITV and ITVX. Detective drama never looked this good!

Disney’s ‘Holes’ digs up a TV series with a Marvel twist

Disney’s Holes is tunnelling its way to television with WandaVision and Agatha All Along director Jac Schaeffer leading the charge. The series, greenlit for a pilot, takes a fresh spin on Louis Sachar’s classic novel, shifting the focus to a teenage girl at a detention camp where a ruthless Warden forces inmates to dig for a secret treasure. Powerhouse producers Drew Goddard (The Martian), Sarah Edberg, and Liz Phang are on board, with Alina Mankin writing and executive producing. With Schaeffer’s Marvel magic, this adaptation is set to be a game-changer.

NCIS: Sydney returns for another round of crime-fighting down under

CBS isn’t done with its Aussie adventure just yet, NCIS: Sydney is coming back for another season! Despite a lukewarm 28% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, the show pulled in strong ratings, proving the NCIS franchise still has legs. Led by Olivia Swann as Special Agent-in-Charge Michelle Mackey, the series follows a team of U.S. NCIS agents and the Australian Federal Police as they tackle naval crimes. The renewal joins NCIS staples like NCIS: Origins, expanding the ever-growing universe. With the potential for crossovers, NCIS: Sydney is here to stay, whether fans love it or love to hate it!

‘Elsbeth’ cracks the case again- Season 3 is official

CBS isn’t letting go of its quirky legal ace just yet, Elsbeth has been renewed for a third season! The Good Wife spin-off, starring Carrie Preston as the delightfully eccentric yet brilliant attorney Elsbeth Tascioni, has won over audiences with its mix of humour and crime-solving. Season 2 pulled in an impressive 11 million viewers, making its return a no-brainer. Set in New York City, the show follows Elsbeth’s unconventional methods as she navigates the NYPD. With Wendell Pierce and Carra Patterson by her side, the legal drama’s unique charm is here to stay. Catch new episodes on CBS and Prime Video.

Netflix expands the ‘Extraction’ universe with Omar Sy in action-packed spin-off

Brace yourself for more high-octane rescues, Netflix has greenlit an Extraction spin-off series starring Lupin star Omar Sy! The eight-episode thriller will see Sy navigating a hostage rescue mission in Libya while dodging warring factions and ruthless mercenaries. Glen Mazzara from his work on The Walking Dead helms as showrunner, with Extraction masterminds Joe and Anthony Russo producing. With Sy’s charisma and Netflix’s adrenaline-fueled action formula, this expansion promises intense, edge-of-your-seat entertainment. While we await its release, both Extraction films starring Chris Hemsworth are streaming on Netflix, ready to pump up the action before this thrilling new chapter drops!

Well thats all for this episode, until the next time its your host Nikhil Kumar signing out.

Aaj kya dekhoge OTTplay se poocho

- Written by Apurva Dutta

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