Top 10 Things Coming to Streaming in May 2021
#10: “Marvel’s M.O.D.O.K.” (2021-)
Top 3 Things You Missed in the Captain Marvel Trailer
Hulu: May 21st, 2021 With the success of “WandaVision” and “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier”, it seems unlikely that there will be many Hulu original Marvel shows in the near future. Still, we’re glad that “M.O.D.O.K.” got made and will see the light of day. This character and concept feels at once too weird for Disney+, but also too great to NOT be explored. Co-created by Patton Oswalt, who also voices the titular villain, this adult animated series follows a villain with an oversized head as he navigates a mid-life crisis. The former head of A.I.M. is now just a head looking for a sense of purpose and, in this stop-motion series—which is very reminiscent of “Robot Chicken”—we believe he’s found it.
#9: “Solos” (2021-)
Prime Video: May 21st, 2021 You know what the really great thing is about an anthology series? You can book truly phenomenal talent because it’s a fairly minor time commitment. And it’s safe to say that for this tale of human connections, writer, creator and director David Weil aimed for the stars. Weil, who also created the Amazon Prime series “Hunters”, managed to line up the likes of Anne Hathaway, Helen Mirren, Uzo Aduba, Anthony Mackie, Constance Wu, Dan Stevens, Nicole Beharie and Morgan Freeman to bring his vision to life. Blending sci-fi with the sort of character-centric dialogue more common in the theater, “Solos” puts the actors front and center in what promises to be a cathartic viewing experience.
#8: “Love, Death & Robots” (2019-) Season 2
Top 5 Things to Know About Love and Monsters
Netflix: May 14th, 2021 In case you somehow missed it, “Love, Death & Robots” is an animated anthology series that debuted on Netflix to strong reviews in 2019. In fact, the series took home four Outstanding Individual Achievement in Animation awards at the Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards. Like with any anthology series, some episodes are better than others. But across the board, the creators tapped to contribute to this series all consistently delivered on the show’s title. The 18 episode first season showcased a wide range of animation styles and tackled all manner of themes—pushing boundaries at every turn. Season two offers eight new original animated shorts. But with season three already confirmed, it’s safe to say that Netflix is feeling confident that this robot series has got legs.
#7: “Mythic Quest” (2020-) Season 2
AppleTV+: May 7th, 2021 “Mythic Quest” never got the buzz it deserved when the first season dropped. Sure, Rob McElhenney is playing a character similar to Mac from “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”. But in his position of power as creative director and creator of the Mythic Quest video game, it works! And while the show might fall into the formulaic trappings of the workplace sitcom, this cast of characters has got a lot of heart. Nowhere is this more obvious than in the two specials they released after season one, both of which touched on the impact of the pandemic in moving ways. In season two, the pressure is on to develop the game’s next expansion and we can’t wait to see the chaos that brings.
#6: “Those Who Wish Me Dead” (2021)
Top 10 Things Coming to Streaming in March 2021
HBO Max: May 14th, 2021 It’s been a while since we’ve seen Angelina Jolie in a gritty and grounded film. But from the looks of this trailer, she hasn’t lost her touch one bit. “Those Who Wish Me Dead” tells the story of a veteran fire warden, Hannah Faber, and Connor Casserly, a young boy on the run from assassins in the national park where she works. Directed and co-written by Taylor Sheridan, the film bears all the hallmarks of the filmmaker’s previous work. Sheridan wrote the screenplays for “Sicario” and “Hell or High Water”. He also wrote and directed the powerful 2017 crime drama, “Wind River”, as well as the Paramount series, “Yellowstone”. With Nicholas Hoult, Aidan Gillen, Jon Bernthal and Tyler Perry in tow, Jolie is certainly in good company.
#5: “Jupiter’s Legacy” (2021-)
Netflix: May 7th, 2021 Getting sick of superhero content yet? Yep, us neither! Even for those who are feeling comic book exhaustion, we think that Jupiter’s Legacy will be enough of a departure from the formula to feel fresh. Like “The Boys” before it, this superhero drama takes a unique approach to the genre. It follows the world’s first superheroes and their superpowered children, diving deep into questions of legacy, responsibility and celebrity culture. Adapted from Mark Millar’s comic book series of the same name, “Jupiter’s Legacy” is the first of many planned Netflix adaptations of “Millarworld” properties. With Steven S. DeKnight of “Spartacus” fame serving as the show’s creator, you can be sure that the action will be on point.
#4: “Cruella” (2021)
The Evolution of Cruella de Vil
Disney+: May 28th Hey, if a film centering on the “Sleeping Beauty” villain can work, why not Cruella? Made famous by the 1961 Disney film “One Hundred and One Dalmatians”, Cruella de Vil is just about one of the most deplorable evildoers in the history of animated film. A character that wants to turn puppies into a coat… is a tough sell. But hey, “Joker” made a billion dollars! And if there’s anyone who can make this character work as the star of her own film, it’s Emma Stone. Further upping the intrigue surrounding this project is director Craig Gillespie, who certainly knows his way around a complex character after directing “I, Tonya”. Add Glenn Close—who previously played the character—and this tale of a fallen fashionista could be great.
#3: “The Underground Railroad” (2021)
Top 10 Things Coming to Streaming in April 2021
Prime Video: May 14th, 2021 This limited series has generated much discussion since it was first announced back in 2016. Based on Colson Whitehead’s novel of the same name, “The Underground Railroad” is a work of historical fiction. In reality, the “underground railroad” was the name given to a complex system of safehouses and routes that helped slaves escape the American south. In this Prime Video original, however, that railroad is a literal underground train built with the same purpose. This sprawling and impressive limited series is directed by Barry Jenkins, the Oscar-winning writer and director behind “Moonlight”, which claimed Best Picture at the 89th Academy Awards. With such an accomplished and confident filmmaker directing all ten episodes, this will likely prove to be a must-watch.
#2: “Star Wars: The Bad Batch” (2021-)
Top 10 Things to Remember Before Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
Disney+: May 4th, 2021 In honor of Star Wars day, May the 4th, Disney+ will be unveiling its newest addition to the Star wars canon with “The Bad Batch”. After experimenting with an alternative animation style for “Star Wars Resistance”, the franchise is returning to that distinct look popularized by “Star Wars: The Clone Wars”. Created by Dave Filoni, this spinoff series picks up after the events of “Clone Wars”. It will focus on the ragtag group of genetically mutated clones collectively known as Clone Force 99—or, more informally, The Bad Batch. After the series premiere on May 4th, additional episodes will be dropping May 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th. That’s a whole lot of clone quality time. May the force be with us all starting May 4th! Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. “Tenet” (2020) HBO Max: May 1st, 2021 “Girls5eva” (2021-) Peacock: May 6th, 2021 “MLK/FBI” (2021) Hulu: May 14th, 2021 “Plan B” (2021) Hulu: May 28th, 2021 “The Woman in the Window” (2021) Netflix: May 14th, 2021
#1: “Army of the Dead” (2021)
Top 10 Best Zombie Kills in Army of the Dead
Netflix: May 21st, 2021 It’s safe to say that the fans are pleased with Zack Snyder these days. After years of campaigning, his original vision for “Justice League” was released on HBO Max to positive reviews. Hot off that momentum, Snyder’s newest film, “Army of the Dead” is making its way to Netflix. Zack Snyder knows his way around an action scene, so this is all but guaranteed to be fun. But this also sees the director going back to his roots. After all, it was his 2004 remake of George A. Romero’s “Dawn of the Dead” that put the then-first time film director on the map. From the looks of the trailer, this promises to be a gory good time. Plus… it’s got a zombie tiger. What else could you want?
0
1
report