New this week on Apple TV+
Plus, the broadly acclaimed hit limited series “Black Bird” premieres its sixth and final chapter this Friday, and the second season of “Physical” drops its season finale episode.
Luck – New Apple Original Film
From Apple Original Films and Skydance Animation, “Luck” centers around the story of Sam Greenfield (voiced by Eva Noblezada), the unluckiest person in the world. When she discovers the never-before-seen Land of Luck, Sam must unite with the magical creatures there to turn her luck around. When she ages out of foster care, Sam discovers the Land of Luck and embarks on a quest that could change her luck forever. Simon Pegg (“Mission: Impossible,” “Ice Age,” “Star Trek Beyond”) provides the voice for Bob, a lucky black cat from the Land of Luck, where the Captain, voiced by Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony winner Whoopi Goldberg, stands guard as the head of security. Bob becomes Sam’s partner in the quest to find a lucky penny in hopes of preserving his lucky life.
Also starring is Flula Borg (“Suicide Squad 2,” “Pitch Perfect,” “Trolls World Tour”), who provides the voice for Jeff the Unicorn, a larger-than-life facilities engineer who maintains the magical machine that distributes good and bad luck to the human world and who dreams of one day being reunited with his one true love, the CEO of Good Luck, the Dragon, voiced by two-time Academy Award winner Jane Fonda. Lil Rel Howery (“Free Guy,” “Vacation Friends,” “Judas and the Black Messiah”) provides the voice for Marv, the owner of the Flowers & More store where Sam gets her first job, who is upbeat, sharply-dressed, and always ready with an encouraging word for unlucky Sam.
The magical and adventurous animated film is helmed by Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Peggy Holmes (“The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Beginning”), from an original screenplay written by Kiel Murray (“Raya and the Last Dragon,” “Cars 3,” “Cars”), Jon Aibel and Glenn Berger (“Kung Fu Panda 2,” “Trolls”). John Lasseter, David Ellison, Dana Goldberg and David Eisenmann are producing for Skydance Animation.
“Luck” makes its global debut this Friday, August 5 on Apple TV+.
Black Bird – Series finale
Starring Taron Egerton as ‘Jimmy Keene,’ Paul Walter Hauser as ‘Larry Hall,’ Greg Kinnear as ‘Brian Miller,’ Sepideh Moafi as ‘Lauren McCauley,’ and Ray Liotta as Jimmy Keene’s father, ‘Big Jim Keene,’ “Black Bird” is a six-episode psychological thriller inspired by actual events. When high school football hero and decorated policeman’s son, Jimmy Keene (Taron Egerton) is sentenced to 10 years in a minimum security prison, he is given the choice of a lifetime – enter a maximum-security prison for the criminally insane and befriend suspected serial killer Larry Hall (Paul Walter Hauser), or stay where he is and serve his full sentence with no possibility of parole. Keene quickly realizes his only way out is to elicit a confession and find out where the bodies of several young girls are buried before Hall’s appeal goes through. But is this suspected killer telling the truth? Or is it just another tale from a serial liar? This dramatic and captivating story subverts the crime genre by enlisting the help of the very people put behind bars to solve its mysteries.
Developed and executive produced by Dennis Lehane, “Black Bird” is adapted from the true crime memoir “In With The Devil: A Fallen Hero, A Serial Killer, and A Dangerous Bargain for Redemption” by James Keene and Hillel Levin.
In the highly anticipated series finale, “You Promised,” Jimmy reaches his breaking point. Larry becomes suspicious. McCauley and Miller talk to an important person in Larry’s life.
The sixth and final episode of “Black Bird” premieres this Friday.
Physical – season two finale
From creator, writer and executive producer Annie Weisman, season two of “Physical” finds our hero Sheila Rubin (Byrne) having successfully launched her first fitness video only to encounter some new and bigger obstacles on her path. She is torn between loyalty to her husband (Scovel) and the values he represents, and a dangerous attraction to someone else. And since she’s no longer the only game in town, she finds herself having to outrun some fierce new competitors on the road to building a full-fledged fitness empire.
In addition to Byrne, “Physical” stars Rory Scovel, Dierdre Friel, Della Saba, Lou Taylor Pucci and Paul Sparks. Joining the all-star ensemble cast for season two is Critics Choice Award-winner Murray Bartlett (“The White Lotus”) in the new role of “Vincent ‘Vinnie’ Green,” a charismatic fitness instructor, weight-loss guru, and pioneer of the late-night infomercial. apple.co/_
In the season two finale, “Don’t You Say It’s Over,” with Sheila and Greta embarking on a new endeavor, Danny wants what he thinks he deserves.
The “Physical” season two finale premieres this Friday on Apple TV+.
Surface – New episode
Set in high-end San Francisco, “Surface,” stars Gugu Mbatha-Raw (“The Morning Show”) as Sophie, a woman who has suffered a traumatic head injury that has left her with extreme memory loss, believed to be a result of a suicide attempt. As Sophie embarks on a quest to put the pieces of her life back together with the help of her husband and friends, she begins to question whether or not the truth she is told is in fact the truth she has lived. Through twists and turns and a shocking love triangle, this sexy, elevated thriller asks: What if you woke up one day and didn’t know your own secrets? “Surface” is a story of self- discovery which contemplates if we are pre-programmed to become who we are, or if we choose our own identity.
The ensemble cast also includes Oliver Jackson-Cohen (“The Haunting of Hill House”), Stephan James (“If Beale Street Could Talk”), Ari Graynor (“I’m Dying Up Here”), Academy Award nominee Marianne Jean-Baptiste (“Secrets & Lies”), François Arnaud (“I Killed My Mother”) and Millie Brady (“Pride and Prejudice and Zombies”).
In this week’s new episode, “Psychogenic,” Sophie pushes the boundaries of her recovery, hoping to excavate the secrets buried deep in her mind.
The fourth episode of “Surface” premieres this Friday, August 5 on Apple TV+.
Trying – New episode
After a dramatic end to season two, the eight-episode third season picks up with Nikki (BAFTA nominee Esther Smith) and Jason (SAG Award nominee Rafe Spall) waking up as new parents to two children they are still getting to know. Now they just have to keep hold of them, which proves to be trickier than they initially thought. Thrown straight into the parental deep end, Nikki and Jason’s relationships with each other and with their nearest and dearest are tested as they desperately try to navigate the ups and downs of parenting — while hanging onto their kids, and their sanity.
In addition to Smith and Spall, the season three cast includes Eden Togwell (as Princess), Mickey McAnulty (as Tyler), Oliver Chris (as Freddy), Sian Brooke (as Karen), Darren Boyd (as Scott) and Robyn Cara (as Jen). apple.co/_Trying
In this week’s new episode of “Trying” season three, “Little Steps,” planning Tyler’s birthday party proves tricker than Nikki and Jason expected— especially when Karen shares some difficult news.
Episode four of “Trying” season three premieres this on Apple TV+.
Loot – New episode
Recently renewed for a second season, “Loot” is a hit Apple original comedy series from creators Alan Yang (“Little America,” “Master of None”) and Matt Hubbard (“30 Rock,” “Forever”) that follows Molly (played by Maya Rudolph), a woman whose seemingly perfect life is upended after her husband leaves her with nothing but 87 billion dollars. In addition to Rudolph, the series stars an ensemble cast, including Michaela Jaé (Mj) Rodriguez, Joel Kim Booster, Ron Funches, Nat Faxon and more.
Created, written and executive produced by Yang and Hubbard, “Loot” is also executive produced by Rudolph through her production company, Animal Pictures, with Natasha Lyonne and Danielle Renfrew Behrens also executive producing. Dave Becky of 3 Arts executive produces. Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, serves as the studio.
In this week’s new episode, “Cahoga Lake,” The Wells Foundation team received exciting news from both Molly and Sofia. Nicholas gets a new opportunity.
The ninth episode of “Loot” premieres this on Friday on Apple TV+.
For All Mankind – new episode
Recently renewed for a fourth season, the third season of the alternate-reality series takes viewers to a new decade, moving into the early ‘90s with a high-octane race to a new planetary frontier: MARS. The Red Planet becomes the new front in the Space Race not only for the U.S. and the Soviet Union, but also an unexpected new entrant with a lot to prove and even more at stake. Our characters find themselves going head-to-head as their ambitions for Mars come into conflict and their loyalties are tested, creating a pressure cooker that builds to a climactic conclusion.
The ensemble cast returning for season three includes Joel Kinnaman, Shantel VanSanten, Jodi Balfour, Sonya Walger, Krys Marshall, Cynthy Wu, Casey Johnson, Coral Peña and Wrenn Schmidt, along with new series regular Edi Gathegi who will play ‘Dev Ayesa,’ a charismatic visionary with his sights set on the stars.
In this week’s new episode, “Coming Home,” plans to leave Mars are complicated by an unforeseen issue.
The ninth episode of “For All Mankind” season three premieres this Friday, August 5 on Apple TV+.
Five Days at Memorial – New limited series
Based on actual events and adapted from the book by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Sheri Fink, “Five Days at Memorial” is an eight-episode limited series that chronicles the impact of Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath on a local hospital. When the floodwaters rose, power failed and heat soared, exhausted caregivers at a New Orleans hospital were forced to make decisions that would follow them for years to come.
“Five Days at Memorial” is executive produced and written by Carlton Cuse and John Ridley. The series is directed by Cuse, Ridley and Wendey Stanzler, and stars Vera Farmiga, Robert Pine, Cherry Jones, Julie Ann Emery, Cornelius Smith Jr., Adepero Oduye, Molly Hager, Michael Gaston and W. Earl Brown.
“Five Days at Memorial” will premiere with the first three episodes on Friday, August 12, 2022.
Lucy’s School – New Peanuts Special
“Lucy’s School,” is the newest original special hailing from Apple’s partnership with Peanuts and WildBrain, celebrating educators and based on the classic “Peanuts” comic strip by Charles M. Schulz. The Peanuts gang are anxious about starting at a new school in the fall, inspiring Lucy to start her own school instead, but teaching isn’t as easy as it sounds. “Lucy’s School” is a love letter to teachers, and an appreciation of the impact a teacher can have on a child. It explores the fear of change, and shows how Lucy, supported by her friends, faces and overcomes her own fears.
Produced for Apple TV+ by Peanuts and WildBrain, the special is directed by Raymond S. Persi (“It’s the Small Things, Charlie Brown”), written by Craig Schulz, Bryan Schulz and Cornelius Uliano, who also executive produce alongside Paige Braddock, Josh Scherba, Stephanie Betts, Amir Nasrabadi and Anne Loi, and is produced by James Brown and Timothy Jason Smith.
“Lucy’s School,” the latest original Peanuts special, will premiere Friday, August 12, on Apple TV+.
NOW STREAMING
Based on the bestselling book series by Paula Danziger, with over 10 million copies in print, “Amber Brown” is a live action, unfiltered series about a girl finding her voice through art and music in the wake of her parents’ divorce. Directed and written by Bonnie Hunt (“Life with Bonnie,” “The Bonnie Hunt Show”), the series stars Carsyn Rose (“The Rookie,” “Cousins for Life”), Sarah Drew (“Grey’s Anatomy,” “Cruel Summer”) with an ensemble cast including Darin Brooks (“Blue Mountain State,” “The Croods: Family Tree”) as Max, and newcomer Liliana Inouye (“The Slows”) as Brandi Colwin. “Amber Brown” is produced by Boat Rocker. Bob Higgins (“A Tale Dark and Grimm,” “The Who Was? Show”) and Jon Rutherford (“A Tale Dark and Grimm,” “Daniel Spellbound”) are executive producing for Boat Rocker.
Complete first season now streaming on Apple TV+.
Severance – 14x Emmy nominated drama series
Recently picked up for a second season, the complete first season of “Severance”is now streaming on Apple TV+. The broadly acclaimed workplace thriller from director and executive producer Ben Stiller, and creator Dan Erickson, reunites Emmy and DGA Award winner Stiller with Academy Award and Emmy Award winner Patricia Arquette, who stars in the ensemble cast alongside Adam Scott, Emmy Award winner John Turturro, Britt Lower, Zach Cherry, Dichen Lachman, Jen Tullock, Tramell Tillman, Michael Chernus and Academy Award winner Christopher Walken.
In “Severance,” Mark Scout (Adam Scott) leads a team at Lumon Industries, whose employees have undergone a severance procedure, which surgically divides their memories between their work and personal lives. This daring experiment in ‘work-life balance’ is called into question as Mark finds himself at the center of an unraveling mystery that will force him to confront the true nature of his work … and of himself.
The season finale of “Severance” premieres on Apple TV+ this Friday, April 8, 2022.
Cha Cha Real Smooth – Sundance Award-winning film
Winner of the 2022 Sundance Film Festival U.S. Dramatic Audience Award, “Cha Cha Real Smooth” stars Cooper Raiff as 22-year-old Andrew, who is fresh out of college and without a clear life path going forward and stuck back at home with his family in New Jersey. But if there’s one thing that belongs on his nonexistent résumé, it’s how to get a party started, which lands him the perfect job of motivational dancing at the bar and bat mitzvahs for his younger brother’s classmates. When Andrew befriends a local mom, Domino, and her daughter, Lola, he finally discovers a future he wants—even if it might not be his own. Raiff writes, directs, and stars alongside Dakota Johnson, Brad Garrett, Leslie Mann, and newcomers Vanessa Burghardt and Evan Assante in this tale of unconventional love that brims with emotional honesty.
“Cha Cha Real Smooth” is now streaming globally on Apple TV+.
Best Foot Forward – season one now streaming
Based on the book “Just Don’t Fall” by real-life paralympic athlete, author, motivational speaker and comedian Josh Sundquist, “Best Foot Forward” is a live-action series follows 12-year-old Josh Dubin as he goes from homeschool to public school, eager to experience everything middle school has to offer! But along the way, Josh also faces a brand-new set of challenges, including how to get an entire school of kids to see past his prosthetic leg, and get to know him for who he is. With the support of his parents and the help of his best friends Kyle and Gabriella, Josh learns, laughs and grows, eager to come back every day for more.
The series was developed for television by Matt Fleckenstein (“iCarly,” “Nicky, Ricky, Dicky & Dawn”), with the first four episodes directed and executive produced by Victor Nelli Jr. (“The Wonder Years”). From Apple Studios in association with Muse Entertainment, “Best Foot Forward’ stars Logan Marmino, Stephen Schneider (“Players”), Joy Suprano (“Fleishman Is In Trouble,” “Hightown”), Peyton Jackson (“American Refugee”) and Trinity Jo-Li Bliss (“Avatar: The Way of Water”).
Complete first season is now streaming.
Now & Then – Season one now streaming
Set in Miami, “Now & Then” is an eight-episode bilingual and multi-layered thriller told in Spanish and English that explores the differences between youthful aspirations and the reality of adulthood, when the lives of a group of college best friends are forever changed after a celebratory weekend ends up with one of them dead. Now, 20 years later, the remaining five are reluctantly reunited by a threat that puts their seemingly perfect worlds at risk. The exceptional ensemble cast includes Academy Award nominees Marina de Tavira and Rosie Perez, Ariel Award winner José María Yazpik, multi-Goya Award winner Maribel Verdú, Manolo Cardona, Goya Award winner Soledad Villamil, Emmy Award winner Željko Ivanek, Jorge López, Alicia Jaziz, Dario Yazbek Bernal, Alicia Sanz, Jack Duarte and Miranda de la Serna.
In the season finale, “Tape 35,” Pedro gets unexpected news. Sofia shares her discovery. Flora follows Belinda’s footsteps.
Catch up on the complete first season of “Now & Then,” now streaming on Apple TV+.