The cast of Shrinking is coming back to Apple TV+ for season 2. Image: Apple TV+/Cult of Mac
Shrinking, the hit comedy starring Jason Segel and Harrison Ford as therapists with problems of their own, returns to Apple TV+ on October 16. Friday’s’s announcement came with a tiny teaser video for season 2.
This is another entry in Apple’s collection of shows with a radical premise: People in sitcoms don’t have to be horrible to each other.
Update: Apple TV+ posted on social media about Shrinking season 2 on August 5, then pulled the post and video shortly afterward. The teaser trailer came back on Friday.
Sure, it's got Boston big-shots Damon and Affleck, but you won't believe the supporting cast on this thing. Photo: Apple TV+
Desperate dad Matt Damon and ex-con Casey Affleck join forces for the heist of a lifetime in Boston, and guess what — it goes horribly wrong. With high-speed car chases, multiple explosions and Boston accents flying all over the place from a smart-alecky veteran cast, the new trailer for Apple Original Film The Instigators stormed computer screens Thursday in entertaining fashion.
The Instigators debuts in select theaters on August 2 before streaming on Apple TV+ August 9, but you can watch the first trailer now.
UPDATE: With its week in select theaters now past, star-studded Apple Original Film The Instigators starts streaming Friday on Apple TV+. Reviews of the caper-gone-awry flick find a lot to like, particularly in the chemistry between Boston-bred leads Matt Damon, one of the film’s producers, and Corey Affleck, one of its writers. Doug Liman (Swingers, Go, The Bourne Identity, Mr. & Mrs. Smith) directs.
With Clooney and Pitt headlining, it seems Apple smells a mega-hit. Photo: Apple Original Films
Apple Original Films gave writer, director and producer Jon Watts the nod to write a sequel to action-comedy film Wolfs, with Academy Award winners George Clooney and Brad Pitt — even before the first installment comes out. Wolfs premieres at the 81st Venice International Film Festival ahead of its limited theatrical release on September 20. Then it debuts on Apple TV+ on Friday, September 27. Hey, when Apple plans a Wolfs sequel even before the original proves popular, you know it expects a hit.
Jake Gyllenhaal and Renate Reinsve in Presumed Innocent on Apple TV+. Photo: Apple TV+
The Apple TV+ crime drama Presumed Innocent has been among the most watched shows on streaming since launching in mid-June, according to analysts. Season one of the series — which stars Jake Gyllenhaal as a man who might, or might not, have murdered the woman he’s having an affair with — recently wrapped up, and the opportunity to bingewatch all the episodes pushed the show to become the most viewed on any streaming platform, according to analysts.
Plus, the reimagining of Time Bandits found a big audience, and Natalie Portman’s Lady in the Lake had another strong week.
A Mexican cartel infiltrated big-time American horse racing? Wow. Photo: Apple TV+
A rookie FBI agent uncovers a massive money-laundering operation in American horse racing led by Mexico’s deadly Zetas cartel, according to a trailer Apple TV+ dropped Tuesday for the documentary series Cowboy Cartel. Watch it below.
The fascinating story, featuring first-time interviews with key players, looks like a tough but satisfying ride. The series debuts on Apple TV+ on August 2.
Update: As of Friday, you can watch this documentary and see how Mexican cartel Los Zetas infiltrated American horse racing and what a rookie FBI agent tried to do about it. Reviews so far seem a bit mixed. The story itself is compelling, but the story-telling may be a little forced in its use of re-enactments, for example (according to The New York Times). But other sources, like The Daily Beast, compare it favorably to the Netflix drama Narcos, and not just as a wanna-be version.
Jacobi Jupe and Billy Crystal star in the psychological thriller “Before,” premiering October 25, 2024 on Apple TV+. Photo: Apple TV+
When you think of psychological thrillers, the first two people you picture probably aren’t Billy Crystal and Rosie Perez. But apparently they don’t just do funny — they do tense and scary, too. Apple TV+ gave a first look at the stars in upcoming thriller Beyond on Wednesday.
The new 10-episode series starring Crystal and Perez arrives on Apple TV+ on October 25.
You might see this message soon on Apple TV+. Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac
Apple reportedly met with the U.K.’s TV ratings organization Barb Audiences in what’s being taken as a sign that the company’s streaming service is prepping an ad-supported subscription plan.
Apple TV+ is the only one of the large streaming services that lacks such a pricing tier.
The second season of Silo premieres this autumn! Photo: Apple TV+
Silo will return for a second season on Apple TV+ this fall. Apple announced the premiere date for season two of the popular sci-fi series Saturday at Comic-Con International. In addition, we also learned that Steve Zahn (War for the Planet of the Apes) joined the Silo cast.
Apple apparently thinks thin is in again. But your wallet better be fat! Photo: Priscilla Du Preez/Unsplash License/Modified by Cult of Mac
This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: The latest rumors about a premium “iPhone 17 Slim” leave us scratching our heads. Thickness aside, it sounds like it will bring less of almost everything. Will you pay more for an iPhone Air?
Also on The CultCast:
At least one iPhone 17 might get an extra-fancy camera.
And we might not be that far from a folding iPhone or a deluxe iPhone SE.
After blowing through billions, it sounds like Apple TV+ will be tightening its belt.
Listen to this week’s episode of The CultCast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video live stream, embedded below.
Star power surely helped "Lady in the Lake" pull in viewers. Photo: Apple TV+
The Apple TV+ thriller Lady in the Lake got off to a strong start, immediately becoming a top 10 hit with streaming viewers. Natalie Portman leads the cast of the limited series as new episodes appear each week through late August.
In addition, the Apple TV+ crime drama Presumed Innocent is still pulling in plenty of eyes, as is the mystery series Sunny.
Look for dark comedy series "Where's Wanda?" October 2. And make sure the subtitles are on, because it's in German. Photo: Apple TV+
The first German-language series to air on Apple TV+, a tech-centric dark comedy called Where’s Wanda?, will debut October 2, the streamer said Thursday. So we have an air date, an image (above) and a description (below). Soon enough, a trailer should follow for what looks like it might be a pretty compelling show.
This follows news of the second German-language show coming to Apple TV+, hospital drama KRANK Berlin, starring Haley Louise Jones. Still in production, it has no air date yet.
Are you ready for some (international) football? Fans in more than 100 countries and regions can enjoy all the action of Leagues Cup — which begins on July 26 and includes 77 matches — with MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. Photo: Apple
The sprawling North American Leagues Cup 2024 soccer tournament kicks off July 26 exclusively on MLS Season Pass through the Apple TV app, the iPhone giant said Thursday.
The second annual Leagues Cup is a monthlong tournament featuring all 47 clubs from Major League Soccer and Mexico’s Liga MX. So participating clubs come from the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The Apple TV+adaptation of Time Bandits is for the whole family. Photo: Apple TV+
Apple TV+ turned the 1981 cult classic movie Time Bandits into a comedic adventure series for all ages starring Lisa Kudrow (from Friends, duh). It premiered Wednesday on the streaming service.
The new Apple TV+ series drew considerable praise from reviewers.
Apple TV+ costs billions to produce, but there are reportedly budget cuts. Photo: Apple TV+
Apple reportedly wants to reduce the amount of money it pours into its Apple TV+ streaming service. And the company also wants to get more bang for its buck.
The result likely will be fewer Apple TV+ shows, and decreased spending on marquee projects. Plus, underperforming series can expect to get canceled more quickly.
Sunny is an Apple TV+ mystery/thriller/dark comedy Photo: Apple TV+
Sunny, a mystery thriller with a darkly comic bent starring Rashida Jones and a robot, quickly became one of the most popular shows on streaming after premiering on Apple TV+ earlier in July.
But it’s not even the most-watched Apple series. That honor belongs to the crime drama Presumed Innocent, which has drawn a big audience for weeks.
This series starring Natalie Portman and Moses Ingram looks a lot weirder than expected. Photo: Apple TV+
At first glance a Baltimore crime story set in 1966, the limited series Lady in the Lake soon turns into a surreal nightmare, as shown in the trailer Apple TV+ dropped for it recently. As the streamer said in press materials, the show, starring Natalie Portman and Moses Ingram, turns into a “feverish noir thriller and an unexpected tale about the price women pay for their dreams.”
So it’s a bizarre and arresting trailer. It includes “live performances” that are like fever dreams. The seven-part series debuts with its first two episodes on Friday, July 19.
Update: The new Apple TV+ drama series Lady in the Lake is now streaming, as of Friday. Reviews look a bit mixed — with some offering high praise for Portman in her TV debut — but you should see for yourself and watch the new show here.
Apple's temporary addition of hit movies recently went well. Now the streamer is talking to Hollywood studios to license more. Photo: Apple
Here’s some good news for those who loved it when Apple TV+ recently added dozens of Hollywood films to its library (temporarily): The streamer is in talks to license more titles from major studios, according to a new report. So Apple TV+ may add Hollywood movies — maybe in huge numbers — soon enough.
"Silo " star Sarah Ferguson peers at you mysteriously in this season 2 teaser image. Photo: Apple TV+
Release dates for new seasons of hit Apple TV+ shows like Severance and Slow Horses are in the news, and now we can add Silo to that list — maybe. The show’s stars and producers will discuss season 2 details at San Diego Comic-Con July 27, Apple TV+ said Friday. And a release date — and maybe more, like a trailer — will probably come out of that panel discussion.
Rashida Jones and her robot star in Sunny on Apple TV+. Photo: Apple TV+
Suzie’s Japanese husband and son are missing and possibly dead, so her husband’s secretive company gives her a creepy robot named Sunny as a consolation prize. Together they’ll uncover the dark truth of what’s really going on. Intrigued? Stream the newly released Apple TV+ mystery series Sunny now.
It’s already earned a high score from Rotten Tomatoes.
How did that tasty food wind up on your plate? Watch Omnivore to find out. Image: Apple TV+
Upcoming Apple TV+ docuseries Omnivore looks like a visually stunning deep dive into key ingredients that feed the world. The globe-hopping trailer takes us on a whirlwind tour of farmland, fisheries and more. It’s a tasty tease for a show that delivers an international perspective on humanity’s common denominator: food.
Each episode of the show, which arrives July 19 on Apple TV+, focuses on a single ingredient — salt, pork, bananas, etc. — and explores the long path it takes to wind up on hungry diners’ plates.
The WWDC24 keynote featured an Apple TV+ reel with Severance season two footage of Adam Scott walking down a Lumon Industries hallway with balloons. Photo: Apple TV+
Apple TV+ dropped an odd Severance Morse code teaser video Tuesday that simply spells out “tomorrow,” suggesting news about the workplace thriller’s second season will arrive Wednesday. We expect an air date announcement for fall 2024, and perhaps more.
Apple offered a scant first look at the upcoming season of the hit show during the WWDC24 keynote in June. But other than that, fans of the funny and disturbing workplace thriller have had little to go on — until now (or until tomorrow, that is).
Brad Pitt and Damson Idris star in F1, Apple TV's Oscar-nominated racing movie. Photo: Warner Bros.
A revving engine drowns out the thunderous sound of Queen’s “We Will Rock You” in the first teaser trailer for F1, Brad Pitt’s upcoming Apple TV+ film about Formula One racing.
You’ll hear precious little dialogue in the trailer, released Sunday by Warner Bros. Pictures. Instead, the promo spot focuses on harrowing racetrack footage shot during actual Grand Prix weekends in collaboration with Formula One teams.
Colin Farrell is a big reason "Sugar" was an hit with fans. Photo: Apple TV+
Sugar, Colin Farrell’s homage to classic film noir detective movies on Apple TV+, is well worth watching for anyone who enjoys top-notch acting, a mystery wrapped in an enigma, and a really huge twist.
But go in knowing that the drama series gets darker and darker as it goes along.