The long weekend may need to be even longer as the streaming release schedule is stuffed with big titles like mega-budget spy series Citadel, Disney’s new Peter Pan & Wendy film, Bridgerton spinoff Queen Charlotte, Vol. 2 of Star Wars: Visions, and more!
SERIES
Citadel S1
Amazon Prime Video – 28 April 2023
The Russo Bros. made their collective name with some of the most ambitious movies in cinema history, but the ex-Marvel Cinematic Universe whizzes have yet to claim that level of success again. And while I doubt they will ever be able to produce another Avengers: Endgame-level hit again, that hasn’t dulled their ambition one bit. Enter Citadel, a new spy action thriller series on Prime Video unlike anything else that has come before. The basic concept is a simple one: Richard Madden and Priyanka Chopra Jonas star as Mason Kane and Nadia Sinh, agents for Citadel, an independent global spy agency, with Madden’s Kane having to deal with losing his memory eight years prior and rebuilding his life from scratch. The twist though is that this is just a core “mothership” series. There will be multiple spinoffs produced in different countries, filmed in that country’s local language with local cast and crew, featuring different agents from different Citadel chapters. These stories will all overlap and intertwine to push forward one major overarching plot. Currently spinoffs are set for India, Italy, Spain, and Mexico. Just how much all of this will cost is anybody’s guess, as the first season of Citadel alone is now billed as the second most expensive TV series off all time with a production budget of $300 million, despite having just six-episodes!
Star Wars: Visions Volume 2
Netflix – 4 May 2023
May the Fourth be with you! And what better way to celebrate Star Wars Day than with the release of Volume 2 of Star Wars: Visions? The acclaimed animated anthology series is back with a diverse batch of shorts from nine studios from around the world, each bringing their own unique twists on this beloved galaxy far, far away. Of special note is that Volume 2 contains Aau’s Song, a short developed by none other than South Africa’s own Trigger Fish animation studio!
Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story S1
Netflix – 4 May 2023
Seeing as how I’m still yet to watch a single minute of Bridgerton, Netflix’s uber successful period romantic drama series from creator Shonda Rhimes, I may not be the best person to sell Queen Charlotte to you. However, I have a feeling that the fanbase needs no salesmanship from me to get pumped for this prequel spinoff! Golda Rosheuvel reprises her scene-stealing titular role from the original series, with India Amarteifio taking on the role of young Queen Charlotte as this limited series goes back in time to spill the beans on the start of the romantic relationship between Charlotte and her eventual hermit-like husband King George III. By all accounts, Queen Charlotte is not just that rare really good spinoff series, but a few are saying it’s actually even better than the original Bridgerton!
Sanctuary S1
Netflix – 4 May 2023
When it comes to sumo, I know the basics of how the national sport of Japan works, but not the inner workings. That may be my fault, but it could also have something to do with the fact that inner world of this sport is still veiled in some secrecy. However, we can now step behind the proverbial curtain with Sanctuary, the intense-looking new drama series that follows Enno, a former delinquent troublemaker who tries to take on the world of sumo wrestling and become the new Yokozuna, while not having any respects for its rituals or the “doyho”, the ring where all the drama unfolds that is considered a sanctuary by many.
MOVIES
Peter Pan & Wendy
Disney+ – 28 April 2023
Let’s be honest: We’ve had a lot of adaptations of children story Peter Pan. Well, Disney thinks we’re due at least one more and this one looks kind of good! Peter Pan & Wendy – as the more fairly balanced name implies – pulls in some more modern sensibilities to retell this tale, minus some of its rather problematic details. Ever Anderson (actually the daughter of Milla Jovovich, if you’re wondering why she looks so familiar) stars as Wendy Darling, a closeted young girl who meets Alexander Molony’s Peter Pan, the flying rogue adventurer who refuses to grow up, and who – with the help of the fairy Tinker Bell – transports Wendy and her siblings to the magical realm of Neverland! Unfortunately, it’s there that they run into the dastardly Captain Hook, played by an extravagantly mustachioed Jude Law seemingly having the time of his life!