Half Man will premiere in the US on HBO and HBO Max on April 23rd and in the UK on BBC iPlayer on April 24th
Apple TV+11. Widows Bay
Matthew Rhys (The Americans, The Beast Inside Me) plays Tom Loftis, the mayor of the small New England island town of Widow’s Bay, and shows off his deft comic timing in this witty horror parody. He wants to turn the community into a tourist destination, with cute spots like the Salty Whale restaurant, but locals believe the place is haunted by everything from fog to deadly creatures called sea hags. The show includes nods to classic horror such as The Shining. And like the seaside mayor in Jaws, Tom is willing to overlook warning signs to avoid scaring tourists. The series was created by Katie Dippold, who wrote the highly entertaining film The Heat starring Melissa McCarthy and Sandra Bullock. said“I think it expresses the feeling of going to a haunted house on the boardwalk in the summer.” The sharp direction is the work of experts such as Hiro Murai (Atlanta) and Ti West (Movie X Trilogy).
Widow’s Bay premieres worldwide on Apple TV on April 29th
Netflix12. Man on Fire
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II played an aspiring superhero actor in the recent sharp and witty Marvel film Wonder Man, proving how well he can lead a series as the title character. He moves into the world of drama in this action-thriller, playing the role of John Creasy, a former U.S. Army special forces, Iraq and Afghanistan veteran, and mercenary who currently struggles with PTSD. He becomes the guardian of a young girl named Poe, who is the only living witness to a tragic incident in Brazil. Alice Braga plays Creasy’s hired driver, who becomes Creasy’s partner as he tries to protect the girl and track down the terrorists who threaten her. The show is based on the 1980 novel of the same name by A.J. Quenell, which also served as the basis for the 2004 film starring Denzel Washington, so there seems to be something about the role that appeals to the best.
Man on Fire premieres worldwide on Netflix on April 30th
—
If you liked this story, Sign up for the Essential List newsletter – Hand-picked features, videos and can’t-miss news delivered to your inbox twice a week.
For more culture coverage from the BBC, follow us on facebook and Instagram.
Source: BBC Culture – www.bbc.com

