Exclusive: Westbrook Inc., Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith’s studio, has named Denise Bailey-Castro as CFO.
Bailey-Castro will oversee all of Westbrook Inc.’s financial operations across new business development, funding, acquisitions and major deals and be based in Westbrook’s LA headquarters.
Bailey-Castro joins Westbrook from Paramount Global’s BET Media Group, where she most recently served as Head of Finance. There, she structured and executed landmark, multi-year deals that grew Betmg’s portfolio of assets to include new ventures such as BET+ and BET Studios, with Tyler Perry and Kenya Barris, respectively. Betmg sustained year-over-year growth across all lines of business, from advertising to streaming, under Bailey-Castro’s financial leadership and discipline.
Prior to Betmg, she managed affiliate accounts and led negotiations with cable, satellite, and streaming partners on Legacy Viacom Media Networks’ Distribution & Business Development Team. Bailey-Castro has held other media roles at Paramount Pictures and HBO,...
Bailey-Castro will oversee all of Westbrook Inc.’s financial operations across new business development, funding, acquisitions and major deals and be based in Westbrook’s LA headquarters.
Bailey-Castro joins Westbrook from Paramount Global’s BET Media Group, where she most recently served as Head of Finance. There, she structured and executed landmark, multi-year deals that grew Betmg’s portfolio of assets to include new ventures such as BET+ and BET Studios, with Tyler Perry and Kenya Barris, respectively. Betmg sustained year-over-year growth across all lines of business, from advertising to streaming, under Bailey-Castro’s financial leadership and discipline.
Prior to Betmg, she managed affiliate accounts and led negotiations with cable, satellite, and streaming partners on Legacy Viacom Media Networks’ Distribution & Business Development Team. Bailey-Castro has held other media roles at Paramount Pictures and HBO,...
- 5/29/2024
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Chudor House Productions and Artist International Group are teaming on a series adaptation of Truth is a Flightless Bird, the internationally bestselling crime novel from Akbar Hussain.
Banshee‘s Adam Targum will serve as showrunner for the drama, with Odiri Iwuji at Chudor House and Aleksey Ageyev at Artist International Group producing. NneNne Iwuji (African Queens: Njinga) is set to co-write alongside Targum and will serve as an executive producer.
Set between Kenya and the U.S., Truth is a Flightless Bird is a brutal love letter to the frontier town that is present-day Nairobi: a studied observation of the failure of bare-knuckled capitalism, the inequality machines our cities have become, and — ultimately — the profoundly irrational human capacity to hope, to risk everything in order to have something in which to believe.
“Truth is a profoundly authentic deep dive of a universally fractured society,” said Targum of the book,...
Banshee‘s Adam Targum will serve as showrunner for the drama, with Odiri Iwuji at Chudor House and Aleksey Ageyev at Artist International Group producing. NneNne Iwuji (African Queens: Njinga) is set to co-write alongside Targum and will serve as an executive producer.
Set between Kenya and the U.S., Truth is a Flightless Bird is a brutal love letter to the frontier town that is present-day Nairobi: a studied observation of the failure of bare-knuckled capitalism, the inequality machines our cities have become, and — ultimately — the profoundly irrational human capacity to hope, to risk everything in order to have something in which to believe.
“Truth is a profoundly authentic deep dive of a universally fractured society,” said Targum of the book,...
- 2/8/2024
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
There is no dearth of historical documentaries on Netflix. The numbers are staggering, and it is interesting how the platform is bringing forward never-before-heard or seen stories of kings and queens from around the world. They also cover stories of other figures from the ancient world, which helps the audience receive a different perspective on the lives they led. It allows us to understand the politics of the world and the contribution of a respective figure in world history. It could be a cultural or political impact that survived all this time for historians to speak about and educate people about. History cannot be restricted to school textbooks anymore. It is interesting that this subject is being presented through Ott platforms in a way that is very different from classroom lessons.
World War II: From the Frontlines, Greatest Events of WWII in Color, Spy Ops, Queen Cleopatra, Roman Empire, The Last Czars,...
World War II: From the Frontlines, Greatest Events of WWII in Color, Spy Ops, Queen Cleopatra, Roman Empire, The Last Czars,...
- 2/1/2024
- by Smriti Kannan
- Film Fugitives
Pictures: Netflix
Welcome to another look back at the biggest hits of 2023. Today, we’ll look through the documentaries and docu-series that picked up the most points in the Netflix top 10s throughout the year.
This list is compiled with data from FlixPatrol, which tracks the daily top 10s in over 90 countries globally. Their data provides a daily snapshot of what’s trending in the TV and movie list by providing points to each title that features. Although we love their data, it’s neither perfect nor an exact measurement of viewership. Netflix does provide its own data on this front, but it doesn’t allow us to paint a big picture of what was watched most in 2023 as it stands.
Because documentaries feature in the movie lists and docu-series feature in the TV list, we’ll split them separately. We’ll have a look at the documentaries and docu-series to do best globally first,...
Welcome to another look back at the biggest hits of 2023. Today, we’ll look through the documentaries and docu-series that picked up the most points in the Netflix top 10s throughout the year.
This list is compiled with data from FlixPatrol, which tracks the daily top 10s in over 90 countries globally. Their data provides a daily snapshot of what’s trending in the TV and movie list by providing points to each title that features. Although we love their data, it’s neither perfect nor an exact measurement of viewership. Netflix does provide its own data on this front, but it doesn’t allow us to paint a big picture of what was watched most in 2023 as it stands.
Because documentaries feature in the movie lists and docu-series feature in the TV list, we’ll split them separately. We’ll have a look at the documentaries and docu-series to do best globally first,...
- 1/8/2024
- by Kasey Moore
- Whats-on-Netflix
Denzel Washington being cast in Antoine Fuqua’s upcoming Netflix movie as ancient Carthaginian general Hannibal is sparking some controversy in Tunisia, the home country of the great military commander.
According to French newspaper Courrier International, there are complaints about depicting the Carthaginian general as a Black African being made in the media and the Tunisian parliament. Member of Parliament Yassine Mami has pointed out that Hannibal, who was born in 247 BC in Carthage – now known as Tunis, the Tunisian capital – was of West Asian Semitic origin. “There is a risk of falsifying history: we need to take position on this subject,” the Tunisian politician reportedly stated.
Concurrently, French-language Tunisian newspaper La Presse has published an editorial in which it similarly objects that depicting Hannibal as a Black African is “according to Tunisians and many observers, a historical error.”
However, Tunisian culture minister Hayet Ketat-Guermazi had a different, more pragmatic take on the matter.
According to French newspaper Courrier International, there are complaints about depicting the Carthaginian general as a Black African being made in the media and the Tunisian parliament. Member of Parliament Yassine Mami has pointed out that Hannibal, who was born in 247 BC in Carthage – now known as Tunis, the Tunisian capital – was of West Asian Semitic origin. “There is a risk of falsifying history: we need to take position on this subject,” the Tunisian politician reportedly stated.
Concurrently, French-language Tunisian newspaper La Presse has published an editorial in which it similarly objects that depicting Hannibal as a Black African is “according to Tunisians and many observers, a historical error.”
However, Tunisian culture minister Hayet Ketat-Guermazi had a different, more pragmatic take on the matter.
- 12/11/2023
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Monster In My Pocket is the latest the toy brand that is set to be turned into a television series.
Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith’s Westbrook Studios and Altar Rock Pictures have teamed up to develop a live-action series adaptation.
The two companies are currently meeting with writers to turn the collection of over 200 pocket-sized, collectible monsters, drawn from global myths and legend, into a series.
The brand was launched in 1989 by former Mattel execs Joe Morrison and John Weems, and have sold over 500M units globally. It has been turned into an ABC animated TV special, comic books and a Nintendo game.
Terence Carter and David Boorstein will executive produce the project on behalf of Westbrook Studios, alongside Barbara Goldner and Josh Feldman for Altar Rock Pictures, and Joe Morrison and Maggie Morrison for Morrison Entertainment Group (Meg).
Westbrook Studios is behind television projects including Peacock’s Bel-Air,...
Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith’s Westbrook Studios and Altar Rock Pictures have teamed up to develop a live-action series adaptation.
The two companies are currently meeting with writers to turn the collection of over 200 pocket-sized, collectible monsters, drawn from global myths and legend, into a series.
The brand was launched in 1989 by former Mattel execs Joe Morrison and John Weems, and have sold over 500M units globally. It has been turned into an ABC animated TV special, comic books and a Nintendo game.
Terence Carter and David Boorstein will executive produce the project on behalf of Westbrook Studios, alongside Barbara Goldner and Josh Feldman for Altar Rock Pictures, and Joe Morrison and Maggie Morrison for Morrison Entertainment Group (Meg).
Westbrook Studios is behind television projects including Peacock’s Bel-Air,...
- 12/7/2023
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Ewan McGregor saw the strike coming in June, just as filming on his Paramount+ series A Gentleman in Moscow was nearing the finish line.
Like McGregor’s character, a Russian aristocrat under house arrest in a Soviet hotel, the shoot had nowhere to go. Continuing to film without a leading man was not an option, so McGregor, sporting a carefully clipped mustache, gathered colleagues to deliver the news many dreaded: the show would not go on.
Despite a brief reprieve as SAG-AFTRA extended talks with studios in early July, A Gentleman in Moscow eventually shut up shop last week. It had just seven days left to shoot. “He was gutted,” says someone in the room as McGregor gave a brief address to cast and crew.
A Gentleman in Moscow was not filming in the fulcrum of strike activity in Hollywood. Instead, it was one of a long line of shoots entrusted to the UK,...
Like McGregor’s character, a Russian aristocrat under house arrest in a Soviet hotel, the shoot had nowhere to go. Continuing to film without a leading man was not an option, so McGregor, sporting a carefully clipped mustache, gathered colleagues to deliver the news many dreaded: the show would not go on.
Despite a brief reprieve as SAG-AFTRA extended talks with studios in early July, A Gentleman in Moscow eventually shut up shop last week. It had just seven days left to shoot. “He was gutted,” says someone in the room as McGregor gave a brief address to cast and crew.
A Gentleman in Moscow was not filming in the fulcrum of strike activity in Hollywood. Instead, it was one of a long line of shoots entrusted to the UK,...
- 7/28/2023
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
Netflix’s Bridgerton prequel Queen Charlotte spent a second straight week as the top title in Nielsen’s streaming rankings — with a viewing time rank almost identical to its opening week. The parent series also rejoined the top 10.
Queen Charlotte recorded 1.88 billion minutes of viewing for the week of May 8-14 — nearly equal to the 1.89 billion minutes from the prior frame. (Taking the numbers out one more decimal point, the series had 1.883 billion minutes for May 8-14 and 1.888 billion for May 1-7.) The prequel also led more Netflix users to revisit Bridgerton, which moved into eighth place among original series with 413 million minutes of viewing (up from 125 million a week earlier, per Nielsen).
Three Netflix shows were new to the top 10 originals: Docuseries Missing: Dead or Alive? (634 million minutes of viewing), the return of Queer Eye for its seventh season (387 million) and docudrama Queen Cleopatra (340 million). Still missing from the...
Queen Charlotte recorded 1.88 billion minutes of viewing for the week of May 8-14 — nearly equal to the 1.89 billion minutes from the prior frame. (Taking the numbers out one more decimal point, the series had 1.883 billion minutes for May 8-14 and 1.888 billion for May 1-7.) The prequel also led more Netflix users to revisit Bridgerton, which moved into eighth place among original series with 413 million minutes of viewing (up from 125 million a week earlier, per Nielsen).
Three Netflix shows were new to the top 10 originals: Docuseries Missing: Dead or Alive? (634 million minutes of viewing), the return of Queer Eye for its seventh season (387 million) and docudrama Queen Cleopatra (340 million). Still missing from the...
- 6/8/2023
- by Rick Porter
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
When I was recently spending time with my 5-year-old nephew, he asked me, "When you were a kid, did you have your own phone?"
Startled by the question, initially I wasn't sure how to answer him. As a Gen Xer who grew up in the 1980s and '90s, my concept of a phone when I was his age was completely different from his today. "Nobody had their own phone," I replied. "Cell phones did not exist when I was your age."
As he opened his mouth wide in disbelief, I was reminded of reignited debates around Cleopatra's race that have emerged with Netflix's depiction of Egypt's last pharaoh in "Queen Cleopatra." This docuseries is part of the African Queens collection, with Jada Pinkett-Smith as executive producer. "Queen Cleopatra" stars Adele James - a light brown-skinned British actress who has a white mother and a Black father - as the famous monarch.
Startled by the question, initially I wasn't sure how to answer him. As a Gen Xer who grew up in the 1980s and '90s, my concept of a phone when I was his age was completely different from his today. "Nobody had their own phone," I replied. "Cell phones did not exist when I was your age."
As he opened his mouth wide in disbelief, I was reminded of reignited debates around Cleopatra's race that have emerged with Netflix's depiction of Egypt's last pharaoh in "Queen Cleopatra." This docuseries is part of the African Queens collection, with Jada Pinkett-Smith as executive producer. "Queen Cleopatra" stars Adele James - a light brown-skinned British actress who has a white mother and a Black father - as the famous monarch.
- 6/8/2023
- by Chinyere Osuji
- Popsugar.com
Jennifer Lopez graced screens across the country during Mother’s Day weekend in her latest action thriller for Netflix, “The Mother.”
The film, which garnered 2.8 million households tuning in for its first three days available to stream, is already well underway as Netflix’s latest original movie sensation in its debut week, according to the Wrap Report for May 10-16, which tracks the most-watched programs across streaming and linear TV, according to viewership trends collected from Samba TV’s panel of more than 3 million households drawn from over 25 million connected TVs, balanced to the U.S. Census.
Not only did Lopez, the queen of the rom-com, successfully cross genres and deliver impressive viewership for an entirely different audience on the streamer, but she beat out several of the streamer’s most prominent recent originals during the same initial three-day time frame. The film sailed past initial viewership for “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery...
The film, which garnered 2.8 million households tuning in for its first three days available to stream, is already well underway as Netflix’s latest original movie sensation in its debut week, according to the Wrap Report for May 10-16, which tracks the most-watched programs across streaming and linear TV, according to viewership trends collected from Samba TV’s panel of more than 3 million households drawn from over 25 million connected TVs, balanced to the U.S. Census.
Not only did Lopez, the queen of the rom-com, successfully cross genres and deliver impressive viewership for an entirely different audience on the streamer, but she beat out several of the streamer’s most prominent recent originals during the same initial three-day time frame. The film sailed past initial viewership for “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery...
- 5/22/2023
- by Meredith Brace
- The Wrap
“Queen Cleopatra,” Netflix’s four-part documentary on perhaps the most famous Queen of Egypt, has been very poorly reviewed.
On Rotten Tomatoes it currently has a tomatometer score of 10%, meaning official reviews have been terrible. But it also has a 2% audience score, meaning that the overwhelming majority of non-professional users who bothered reviewing the show themselves hated it too.
But no doubt you’ve seen by now how the show’s star and creators have had to push back against much of the reaction to the show, and the star herself has been harassed. So what’s going on?
It’s complex, but in short, while yes, there are sincere critiques of the show’s historical inaccuracies and the production itself, there is also a separate backlash that is unmistakably racist. Let’s dive in.
Racism
“Queen Cleopatra” focuses on many of the things people know about her. Her rise to power in Egypt,...
On Rotten Tomatoes it currently has a tomatometer score of 10%, meaning official reviews have been terrible. But it also has a 2% audience score, meaning that the overwhelming majority of non-professional users who bothered reviewing the show themselves hated it too.
But no doubt you’ve seen by now how the show’s star and creators have had to push back against much of the reaction to the show, and the star herself has been harassed. So what’s going on?
It’s complex, but in short, while yes, there are sincere critiques of the show’s historical inaccuracies and the production itself, there is also a separate backlash that is unmistakably racist. Let’s dive in.
Racism
“Queen Cleopatra” focuses on many of the things people know about her. Her rise to power in Egypt,...
- 5/18/2023
- by Mason Bissada
- The Wrap
When you debut a new movie starring a major A-lister like Jennifer Lopez on streaming, it’s likely to be successful, and that was the case with Netflix’s new action-thriller “The Mother.” It debuted atop the Netflix Top 10 (Week of May 8) viewing chart, far ahead of the second-place film “A Man Called Otto.” Read on for more analysis.
Directed by Niki Caro, Lopez’s “The Mother” hit the streamer on Friday and managed to rack up 83.7 million global viewing hours to top the English film chart over a number of non-Netflix movies. It was the #1 film in the U.S. and Canada, as well as 80 other countries, and it was in the top 10 in 93 countries total.
Tom Hanks‘ “A Man Called Otto” dropped to second place with 19.9 million hours viewed, followed by DreamWorks Animation’s 10-year-old animated film “The Croods” with 8.7 million hours viewed.
See Netflix shuts down DVD...
Directed by Niki Caro, Lopez’s “The Mother” hit the streamer on Friday and managed to rack up 83.7 million global viewing hours to top the English film chart over a number of non-Netflix movies. It was the #1 film in the U.S. and Canada, as well as 80 other countries, and it was in the top 10 in 93 countries total.
Tom Hanks‘ “A Man Called Otto” dropped to second place with 19.9 million hours viewed, followed by DreamWorks Animation’s 10-year-old animated film “The Croods” with 8.7 million hours viewed.
See Netflix shuts down DVD...
- 5/16/2023
- by Edward Douglas
- Gold Derby
Jennifer Lopez hits another high note with her latest film as “The Mother” becomes Netflix’s biggest opening for a film in 2023, so far. The action-thriller scored 83.71 million hours viewed during the May 8-14 viewing window and was No. 1 in 82 countries with nearly 43 million views. The film premiered on the service on May 12.
On the TV side, “Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story” continued its reign in the No. 1 spot on the English TV List with 158.68 million hours viewed and appeared in the Top 10 in 91 countries. That puts the show’s total views at 307 million total hours viewed. With its six episodes, the series quickly racked up more than 47 million views (307 million hours viewed divided by 6.49 runtime hours) since its May 4 release. Seasons 1 and 2 of “Bridgerton” also re-entered the list with 23.88M hours viewed and 17.25M hours viewed, respectively.
Season 2 of “Firefly Lane” remains in the top 5, with 31.9 million hours viewed.
On the TV side, “Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story” continued its reign in the No. 1 spot on the English TV List with 158.68 million hours viewed and appeared in the Top 10 in 91 countries. That puts the show’s total views at 307 million total hours viewed. With its six episodes, the series quickly racked up more than 47 million views (307 million hours viewed divided by 6.49 runtime hours) since its May 4 release. Seasons 1 and 2 of “Bridgerton” also re-entered the list with 23.88M hours viewed and 17.25M hours viewed, respectively.
Season 2 of “Firefly Lane” remains in the top 5, with 31.9 million hours viewed.
- 5/16/2023
- by BreAnna Bell
- Variety Film + TV
If you enjoyed Netflix’s docudrama Queen Cleopatra, you might be in the mood for a fully fictionalised dramatization of Cleopatra’s story, or for something else set around the same time period and following some of the same people. If so, we have got you covered!
We’ve given each of these series an “accuracy rating” to indicate how near or far they are to reality, but these should be taken with a bit of a pinch of salt, as a general guideline only. Real life ancient history’s relationship to TV and film versions of it is pretty much the same as the relationship between George Rr Martin’s Fire and Blood and the TV adaptation House of the Dragon. Fire and Blood is a pretend history, and it provides several different versions of events from different sources, with little to no indication which one is the “truth.
We’ve given each of these series an “accuracy rating” to indicate how near or far they are to reality, but these should be taken with a bit of a pinch of salt, as a general guideline only. Real life ancient history’s relationship to TV and film versions of it is pretty much the same as the relationship between George Rr Martin’s Fire and Blood and the TV adaptation House of the Dragon. Fire and Blood is a pretend history, and it provides several different versions of events from different sources, with little to no indication which one is the “truth.
- 5/13/2023
- by Louisa Mellor
- Den of Geek
The penultimate third episode of Queen Cleopatra had many things going on in the documentary. In detail, it talked about the losses that Antony faced and his coming back to Cleopatra not just out of love but to seek out help in the form of money and forces that would help him fight his war in the eastern faction of the republic. Antony and Cleopatra face another loss in the battle of Actium, and with that, it is certain that Octavian will come back for them. Octavian in Rome began a smear campaign against Cleopatra in the hope of gathering as much support as possible. Where are the fates of Antony and Cleopatra headed?
Queen Cleopatra’s first instinct was to safeguard her country, her children, and the power she had over the locals. She knew an attack was imminent, and she and her husband Antony began to prepare for another siege.
Queen Cleopatra’s first instinct was to safeguard her country, her children, and the power she had over the locals. She knew an attack was imminent, and she and her husband Antony began to prepare for another siege.
- 5/10/2023
- by Smriti Kannan
- Film Fugitives
The EP behind Netflix’s Queen Cleopatra docu-drama has defended the casting of an actor of mixed heritage descent in the title role, stating that Adele James reflects the “multicultural nature of ancient Egypt.”
With Queen Cleopatra premiering today as the second instalment of the African Queens series, Jane Root, who runs the Jada Pinkett Smith-narrated show’s production outfit Nutopia, said Netflix “asked us to promote a conversation and that’s just what has happened.”
The series has been generating headlines aplenty over the past weeks following the Egyptian government’s staunch criticism of James’ casting, with the government insisting that the ancient Queen was likely of Greek descent and would have been fair skinned. The discussion has been debated on the likes of The Daily Show and Piers Morgan’s Talk TV show and, according to the Egypt Independent, the government-backed al-Wathaeqya documentary channel has begun producing...
With Queen Cleopatra premiering today as the second instalment of the African Queens series, Jane Root, who runs the Jada Pinkett Smith-narrated show’s production outfit Nutopia, said Netflix “asked us to promote a conversation and that’s just what has happened.”
The series has been generating headlines aplenty over the past weeks following the Egyptian government’s staunch criticism of James’ casting, with the government insisting that the ancient Queen was likely of Greek descent and would have been fair skinned. The discussion has been debated on the likes of The Daily Show and Piers Morgan’s Talk TV show and, according to the Egypt Independent, the government-backed al-Wathaeqya documentary channel has begun producing...
- 5/10/2023
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Episode two of Queen Cleopatra ended with Mark Antony making his entry into Cleopatra’s life after executing her sister Arsinoe. Arsinoe was charged with sheltering the assassins who had murdered Julius Caesar. It was only fitting to get rid of her. With her last sibling gone, Queen Cleopatra, who is essentially Pharaoh, has the full power to rule Egypt as per her wishes. The episode also had Cleopatra visiting Rome with her child with Julius Caesar, Caesarion, whom she had hoped would get public recognition as his son. Unfortunately for her, Caesar was murdered by his people, and she was forced to flee Rome to save herself and her child. What would happen with Mark Antony now in Alexandria?
Mark Antony has been in Alexandria for quite some time. The expert chipped in that he was finding it comfortable around here, now with the power of the eastern side...
Mark Antony has been in Alexandria for quite some time. The expert chipped in that he was finding it comfortable around here, now with the power of the eastern side...
- 5/10/2023
- by Smriti Kannan
- Film Fugitives
Queen Cleopatra is a Netflix documentary directed by Tina Gharavi and Victoria Adeola Thomas, starring Adele James, Craig Russell and Jada Pinkett Smith.
Do you remember the Joseph L. Mankiewicz movie, Cleopatra, starring Elisabeth Taylor? Well, absolutely nothing to do with it.
A documentary series that follows in the footsteps of African Queens: Njinga in its treatment and approach to dramatized documentary.
Queen Cleopatra About the series
To say it with (much) subtlety: the series is not a ten, nor a seven… from there, let’s go down and let everyone places it where they want. A series that undoubtedly lacks the means to recreate the grandeur of Ancient Egypt and that, without the actors or the imagination of I, Claudius (the mythical BBC series) pretends to do something similar, but with not enough resources for the choice of a subject so… grandiose.
And with such a brutal and imperial...
Do you remember the Joseph L. Mankiewicz movie, Cleopatra, starring Elisabeth Taylor? Well, absolutely nothing to do with it.
A documentary series that follows in the footsteps of African Queens: Njinga in its treatment and approach to dramatized documentary.
Queen Cleopatra About the series
To say it with (much) subtlety: the series is not a ten, nor a seven… from there, let’s go down and let everyone places it where they want. A series that undoubtedly lacks the means to recreate the grandeur of Ancient Egypt and that, without the actors or the imagination of I, Claudius (the mythical BBC series) pretends to do something similar, but with not enough resources for the choice of a subject so… grandiose.
And with such a brutal and imperial...
- 5/10/2023
- by TV Shows Martin Cid Magazine
- Martin Cid - TV
Netflix’s first-ever “Bridgerton” spin-off, “Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story,” exploded into the global viewing charts this week, while movies were led by Tom Hanks‘ “A Man Called Otto.” Read on for the Netflix Top 10 (Week of May 1) viewing chart analysis.
It probably was a no-brainer for Netflix to explore the past of a popular character from Shonda Rhimes‘ hit streaming series “Bridgerton,” with Golda Rosheuvel reprising her title role in “Queen Charlotte” with India Amarteifio playing her younger self. Corey Mylchreest and Arsema Thomas were also part of the cast, playing Young King George and Young Agatha Danbury in the series building on Shondaland’s “Bridgerton-verse.” In its very first week, “Charlotte” received 148.3 million viewing hours worldwide, as the #1 series in the U.S., Canada and dozens of other countries.
Having just been renewed for a third season, the second season of “Sweet Tooth” followed in second place with 60.5 million hours viewed,...
It probably was a no-brainer for Netflix to explore the past of a popular character from Shonda Rhimes‘ hit streaming series “Bridgerton,” with Golda Rosheuvel reprising her title role in “Queen Charlotte” with India Amarteifio playing her younger self. Corey Mylchreest and Arsema Thomas were also part of the cast, playing Young King George and Young Agatha Danbury in the series building on Shondaland’s “Bridgerton-verse.” In its very first week, “Charlotte” received 148.3 million viewing hours worldwide, as the #1 series in the U.S., Canada and dozens of other countries.
Having just been renewed for a third season, the second season of “Sweet Tooth” followed in second place with 60.5 million hours viewed,...
- 5/9/2023
- by Edward Douglas
- Gold Derby
In light of Netflix’s new docuseries “Queen Cleopatra” casting a Black woman in the title role, Egyptian officials are pushing back, calling it “a blatant historical fallacy.” But “The Daily Show” guest host Dulcé Sloan isn’t buying it.
To kick off her week guest-hosting the show, Sloan mocked Egyptian officials for their outrage, after they claimed the ancient queen was actually “fair-skinned” and Greek.
“Oh, Ok. Egypt is concerned about ‘historical accuracy.’ I didn’t hear you complain when all them ‘Mummy’ movies came out,” Sloan mocked.
“What are you talking about? We got mummies coming back from the dead, chasing Brendan Fraser, and y’all don’t have a problem,” she continued. “And then a Black woman plays Cleopatra, and all of a sudden it’s like ‘Uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, that didn’t happen, that didn’t happen! No. ‘The Mummy,’ that was real. This,...
To kick off her week guest-hosting the show, Sloan mocked Egyptian officials for their outrage, after they claimed the ancient queen was actually “fair-skinned” and Greek.
“Oh, Ok. Egypt is concerned about ‘historical accuracy.’ I didn’t hear you complain when all them ‘Mummy’ movies came out,” Sloan mocked.
“What are you talking about? We got mummies coming back from the dead, chasing Brendan Fraser, and y’all don’t have a problem,” she continued. “And then a Black woman plays Cleopatra, and all of a sudden it’s like ‘Uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, that didn’t happen, that didn’t happen! No. ‘The Mummy,’ that was real. This,...
- 5/2/2023
- by Andi Ortiz
- The Wrap
Must-watch comedy series, eye-opening documentaries and an expansion of the “Bridgerton” universe are among the noteworthy additions to Netflix this month. May 12 sees the premiere of Jennifer Lopez’s new Netflix original film “The Mother,” in which she plays an assassin lured back in for one last job. And on May 23, the documentary “Victim/Suspect” examines how sexual assault victims too often get turned into suspects when they report their assaults.
“Queen Charlotte,” the “Bridgerton” prequel series, arrives on May 4 while a new season of Tim Robinson’s sketch series “I Think You Should Leave” drops on May 30. And if you missed the most recent season of the niche (but delightful) comedy series “Documentary Now!,” you can stream that on Netflix starting May 9.
Check out the full list of what’s new on Netflix in May 2023 below.
Also Read:
The 50 Best Movies on Netflix Right Now Arriving May 1
Above Suspicion
Airport...
“Queen Charlotte,” the “Bridgerton” prequel series, arrives on May 4 while a new season of Tim Robinson’s sketch series “I Think You Should Leave” drops on May 30. And if you missed the most recent season of the niche (but delightful) comedy series “Documentary Now!,” you can stream that on Netflix starting May 9.
Check out the full list of what’s new on Netflix in May 2023 below.
Also Read:
The 50 Best Movies on Netflix Right Now Arriving May 1
Above Suspicion
Airport...
- 5/1/2023
- by Adam Chitwood
- The Wrap
Netflix recently announced it would be investing $2.5 billion into South Korean programming. Before Squid Game season 2 comes down the pike, however, the first seeds of that investment will bear fruit for Netflix in May 2023.
Netflix’s list of new releases for May 2023 is highlighted by the May 12 release of Korean series Black Knight. Set “in a dystopian 2071 devastated by air pollution,” this show will follow world-saving deliverymen known as “Black Knights.” Other international offerings this month include Japanese sumo drama Sanctuary on May 4 and Spanish crime thriller Muted on May 19.
Netflix’s domestic TV options this month include Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story on May 4. That will be followed by post-apocalyptic animated comedy Mulligan on May 12 and Arnold Schwarzenegger’s TV debut Fubar on May 25. And for those hoping for “triples,” I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson premieres on May 30.
On the movie side of things, Netflix has an unusually busy month.
Netflix’s list of new releases for May 2023 is highlighted by the May 12 release of Korean series Black Knight. Set “in a dystopian 2071 devastated by air pollution,” this show will follow world-saving deliverymen known as “Black Knights.” Other international offerings this month include Japanese sumo drama Sanctuary on May 4 and Spanish crime thriller Muted on May 19.
Netflix’s domestic TV options this month include Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story on May 4. That will be followed by post-apocalyptic animated comedy Mulligan on May 12 and Arnold Schwarzenegger’s TV debut Fubar on May 25. And for those hoping for “triples,” I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson premieres on May 30.
On the movie side of things, Netflix has an unusually busy month.
- 5/1/2023
- by Alec Bojalad
- Den of Geek
Netflix’s lineup of new films and TV shows joining the streaming service in May 2023 includes Sylvester Stallone’s series debut in Fubar and a controversial examination of the life of Queen Cleopatra. Netflix is also expanding the award-winning Bridgerton series with the prequel Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story focusing on the relationship between Charlotte and King George.
New specials from Hannah Gadsby and Wanda Sykes debut in May, along with documentaries on Anna Nicole Smith, Connor McGregor, and underwater performers.
Series & Films Arriving On Netflix In May 2023
May 2, 2023
Love Village – Netflix Series
Singles 35 and over of various backgrounds relocate to a house in the countryside for another chance at love. Will they find “the one” — or leave alone?
The Tailor – Netflix Series
A famous tailor begins to sew a wedding dress for his best friend’s fiancée – but all three have dark secrets that will soon upend their lives.
New specials from Hannah Gadsby and Wanda Sykes debut in May, along with documentaries on Anna Nicole Smith, Connor McGregor, and underwater performers.
Series & Films Arriving On Netflix In May 2023
May 2, 2023
Love Village – Netflix Series
Singles 35 and over of various backgrounds relocate to a house in the countryside for another chance at love. Will they find “the one” — or leave alone?
The Tailor – Netflix Series
A famous tailor begins to sew a wedding dress for his best friend’s fiancée – but all three have dark secrets that will soon upend their lives.
- 4/29/2023
- by Rebecca Murray
- Showbiz Junkies
"Queen Cleopatra" is a new 'docudrama' TV series, narrated by Jada Pinkett Smith, that is not controversial just because a black actor was cast in the leading role, but that there is absolutely no explanation as to Who and How the massive pyramids and other sophisticated, astronomically-attuned architecture of ancient Egypt were constructed thousands of years before the reign of the 'pharaohs', streaming May 10, 2023 on Netflix:
"...'Queen Cleopatra' is the world’s most famous, powerful, and misunderstood woman -- a daring queen whose beauty and romances came to overshadow her real asset: her intellect. Cleopatra’s heritage has been the subject of much academic debate, which has often been ignored by Hollywood. Now our series re-assesses this fascinating part of her story..."
Cast also includes Craig Russell, John Partridge, Kaysha Woollery, Andira Crichlow, Greg Lockett and Philip Walker.
Click the images to enlarge...
"...'Queen Cleopatra' is the world’s most famous, powerful, and misunderstood woman -- a daring queen whose beauty and romances came to overshadow her real asset: her intellect. Cleopatra’s heritage has been the subject of much academic debate, which has often been ignored by Hollywood. Now our series re-assesses this fascinating part of her story..."
Cast also includes Craig Russell, John Partridge, Kaysha Woollery, Andira Crichlow, Greg Lockett and Philip Walker.
Click the images to enlarge...
- 4/29/2023
- by Unknown
- SneakPeek
As the calendar turns to May, the world’s largest streaming service is set to introduce a slew of new titles to the service. Perhaps most anticipated will be “Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story,” when it debuts on May 4. Young Queen Charlotte’s marriage to King George of England sparks an epic love story and transforms high society in Netflix’s “Bridgerton” universe prequel. India Amarteifio plays Young Queen Charlotte.
Check out the trailer for “Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story”:
In the first series role of his career, Arnold Schwarzenegger plays an undercover CIA operative ready to enjoy retirement. However, when he discovers a family secret, he is forced to go back into the field for one last job. What he doesn’t know is that his daughter — also a CIA operative — is on the case. The action comedy “Fubar” is set to debut on the service on May...
Check out the trailer for “Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story”:
In the first series role of his career, Arnold Schwarzenegger plays an undercover CIA operative ready to enjoy retirement. However, when he discovers a family secret, he is forced to go back into the field for one last job. What he doesn’t know is that his daughter — also a CIA operative — is on the case. The action comedy “Fubar” is set to debut on the service on May...
- 4/28/2023
- by Fern Siegel
- The Streamable
“African Queens: Queen Cleopatra” director Tina Gharavi is addressing the casting of biracial Black actress Adele James as the titular Greek-Egyptian ruler.
The trailer for Netflix docuseries “Queen Cleopatra” caused a stir and led to allegations that the streamer was “blackwashing” the heritage of Queen Cleopatra VII. Egyptian scholars claim that Cleopatra, who was born in Egyptian city Alexandria in 69 Bce, was born of European descent and not Black. Historians have confirmed that Cleopatra was Macedonian-Greek on her father Ptolemy Xii’s side but her mother’s ethnic origin is unknown.
Egyptian lawyer Mahmoud al-Semary filed a complaint with the nation’s public prosecutor to request that Netflix be blocked in Egypt due to the promotion of “Afrocentric thinking” including “slogans and writings aimed at distorting and erasing the Egyptian identity.” Two petitions to “Cancel Netflix’s ‘Queen Cleopatra’” circulated with more than 88,000 signatures combined.
“Queen Cleopatra” director Gharavi spoke...
The trailer for Netflix docuseries “Queen Cleopatra” caused a stir and led to allegations that the streamer was “blackwashing” the heritage of Queen Cleopatra VII. Egyptian scholars claim that Cleopatra, who was born in Egyptian city Alexandria in 69 Bce, was born of European descent and not Black. Historians have confirmed that Cleopatra was Macedonian-Greek on her father Ptolemy Xii’s side but her mother’s ethnic origin is unknown.
Egyptian lawyer Mahmoud al-Semary filed a complaint with the nation’s public prosecutor to request that Netflix be blocked in Egypt due to the promotion of “Afrocentric thinking” including “slogans and writings aimed at distorting and erasing the Egyptian identity.” Two petitions to “Cancel Netflix’s ‘Queen Cleopatra’” circulated with more than 88,000 signatures combined.
“Queen Cleopatra” director Gharavi spoke...
- 4/23/2023
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
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