TV shows

Emancipation denied: Apple TV+ Oscar bait flops (but Mole gets a nom)

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'Emancipation' on Apple TV+ stars will Smith
"Emancipation" will not be the second Apple TV+ film to win a Best Picture Oscar.
Graphic: Apple TV+

The Apple TV+ Christmas special The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and the Horse earned an Oscar nomination Tuesday in the Animated Short Film category. And Brian Tyree Henry picked up a best supporting actor nom for his role in Causeway, the indie film starring Jennifer Lawrence as a wounded Afghanistan vet returning to her hometown.

However, Apple’s streaming service will not be earning back-to-back Best Picture Oscars. It’s big Oscar bait release — Emancipation, the Civil War-era movie starring Will Smith as a slave fighting for his freedom — was completely shut out by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

How to use Apple TV app’s new data-saving features

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The Apple TV app gets a raft of new features in iOS 12.3.
The Apple TV app just added new data saving features.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Binge-watching your favorite Apple TV shows on an iPhone is a great way to run through your data plan limits if you’re not careful, so Apple is introducing a way to wrangle in your data slurping habits.

iOS 13.4 beta 2 introduced some new settings to the Apple TV app for iPhone and iPad, giving users the option to control the size of downloads as well as lowering the amount of data used while streaming content. If Apple’s TV app is one of your major entertainment hubs, you’ll want to know how to take advantage of the new features.

Apple shows off its kids shows in latest batch of Apple TV+ trailers

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Snoopy
Snoopy in Space looks like Apple's best kids' show.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s full lineup of shows for the upcoming launch of Apple TV+ is starting to come into clearer focus ahead of the big November 1 launch. The iPhone-maker shared three new teaser trailers this morning showcasing what it has in store for kids and its educational shows might be some of Apple’s best content.

The new minute-length teaser trailers for Ghostwriter and Helpsters don’t divulge much details about the plot. However, the new Snoopy in Space trailer provides a solid peek at the Peanuts gang as they help Snoopy try to become a NASA astronaut.

Watch all three:

Apple celebrates Apollo 11 moon landing anniversary with new video

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for all mankind
This looks like one of Apple's best upcoming TV shows.
Photo: Apple

Tomorrow is the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing that put Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin on that big chunk of cheese in the sky. To celebrate, Apple has put out a new video that talks about the Apollo mission’s impact on the world while also offering some glimpses of its upcoming TV show about the space race.

For All Mankind‘s first trailer came out during the WWDC 2019 keynote and instantly shot up onto our must-watch list. This new video makes the hype even bigger.

We can’t wait to see this show:

Apple launches YouTube channel all about TV and movies

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Apple TV
Apple’s new YouTube channel is a bit odd.
Photo: Cult of Mac

Apple is gearing up for the launch of its Apple TV+ streaming service this fall with the creation of a new YouTube channel dedicated to movie and TV shows.

The channel serves up teasers, clips, behind the scenes looks, interviews and more about upcoming shows. While Apple’s lineup of original TV shows are still in development, Apple is focusing on other shows, like Game of Thrones which is in the middle of its final season.

Chris Evans spotted on set of upcoming Apple TV show

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Chris Evans
Chris Evan and his beard on the set.
Photo: Patriot Pics/Backgrid

Captain America star Chris Evans is already hard at work on his next project now that Avengers: Endgame is nearly ready to hit theaters.

Evans was spotted on the set of his upcoming TV series, Defending Jacob, which is being made for Apple TV+. Evans shaved his beard for Endgame but it looks like it’s making a comeback in the Apple TV series.

Terry Gilliam still hasn’t signed contract to remake Time Bandits with Apple

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Time Bandits
The time-traveling dwarves of Time Bandits.
Photo: Handmade Films

Terry Gilliam’s 1981 movie Time Bandits is set to get the TV series treatment by Apple, but in a recent interview, Gilliam revealed he’s still not sure how involved he will be in the project.

Despite already getting an executive producer credit for the series, Gilliam says he still hasn’t signed his contract for the show. Even though he claims he’s delighted that Thor: Ragnarok director Taika Waititi is taking the lead on the pilot episode, Gilliam is concerned about the overall tone of the show.

Finally! Apple might be planning to break up iTunes

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iTunes on Mac
iTunes has been a pain in the ass for way too long.
Photo: Apple

The death of iTunes might finally be on the horizon. Or, at least, the downsizing of iTunes certainly seems to be.

iOS developer Steve Troughton-Smith revealed today that he unearthed evidence about Apple’s plans to make separate apps for Music, Podcasts and Books. iTunes slowly morphed into a bloated beast over the last decade, so paring down the app would be welcomed by Mac users. But Troughton-Smith warns not to get your hopes up too high just yet.

Warren Buffett is skeptical of Apple’s entertainment play

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Buffett
Warren Buffet is Apple's biggest investor.
Photo: CNBC

Mega-investor Warren Buffett doesn’t sound too confident in Apple’s ability to dominate the entertainment industry.

The Oracle of Omaha said in a recent interview that there are so many big players trying to grab eyeballs in the streaming industry that he wouldn’t want to play that game himself. Even though he’s not gung ho on Apple’s TV service, he also doesn’t sound worried if Apple doesn’t knock it out of the park.

All the services Apple unveiled at its ‘show time’ event

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Apple services
Today's keynote didn't feature any new hardware.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s services business is about to kick things into overdrive in 2019. During the company’s “It’s show time” event at Apple Park this morning the company unveil a slew of new services that cover everything from news to credit cards.

There was something for everyone to get excited about at today’s event that packed more celebrity power than any Apple event ever. Tim Cook finally gave us a look at the original TV shows Apple has been brewing up for years, but there are still a lot of questions surrounding Apple’s new services.

Everyone from Netflix to big banks were put on notice today with Apple’s new services lineup. Only one of the new services are launching today, but there’s still a lot to look forward too.

Every Apple TV+ series and movie currently in the works [Updated]

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Apple spent more than $20 million advertising Apple TV+ last month
Here’s what’s on Apple TV+ right now
Photo: Apple

The star-studded Apple TV+ lineup is starting to look like it could become a legitimate contender to Netflix and HBO. After going on a Hollywood spending spree in the last eight months, Apple appears poised to make a huge push into original content.

Thanks to its new worldwide video executive team, many of the Apple TV series in development actually look really promising and diverse. From Steven Spielberg’s Amazing Stories to mysterious new sci-fi series See, Apple’s working on some shows everyone could enjoy.

Check out the full list of Apple TV+ series and movies currently in the pipeline.

Update: We’ve added all the shows we know about heading into Apple’s big March 25 event, where the company expected to finally unveil its TV streaming service.

Netflix confirms it won’t be part of Apple’s TV streaming service

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75% of Netflix users have no plans to jump ship to Apple TV+ (right away)
75% of Netflix users have no plans to jump ship to Apple TV+ (right away)
Photo: Stock Catalog/Flickr CC

Apple won’t officially unveil its streaming video service until next week but Netflix CEO Reed Hastings confirmed that his company will not be part of it.

The new video streaming service will offer subscriptions to other streaming services along with original TV shows from Apple. Everything will be combined into one “easy-to-use” app. However, Netflix doesn’t really see teaming up with Apple for subscribers as an advantage.

5 Apple original shows finish filming ahead of March 25 event

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Apple TV Siri Remote
But they won't be ready for streaming for a while.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Five of Apple’s original TV shows have now finished filming, according to a new report. They have entered post-production ahead of the company’s March 25 event, but they’re not expected to be available until the fall.

Apple is said to be working on around six other shows that are still in production. The company is also developing lots more original content that is planned to debut in 2020.

Apple eyes 2020 Emmys for its slate of original shows

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FireWire lands Apple its first Emmy.
Apple has its eyes on an Emmy.
Photo: The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences/Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple has its eye on awards glory with its original video content, a new report claims. It suggests that Apple is looking to take on not only the likes of Amazon and Netflix, but also established studios.

By putting together a dedicated team with awards strategy experience, Apple is reportedly aiming to be in the running for Emmy awards as early as 2020.

Apple’s ‘intrusive’ execs criticized by Hollywood

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Tim Cook and Co. bring the hardware heat at The Brooklyn Academy of Music during the
Tim Cook wants TV shows to be family-friendly.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s “intrusive” executives, including CEO Tim Cook, have been criticized by Hollywood for becoming too involved in ongoing TV projects.

Agents and producers have complained about how “difficult” Apple is to work with, according to a new report. The company’s “nitpicking” has led to delays that mean only a handful of shows will be available when its new streaming service launches.

Hollywood stars tapped to attend Apple’s March event

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Reese Witherspoon
Reese Witherspoon is playing a huge role in Apple's original content creation.
Photo: HBO

Some of the biggest names in Hollywood are coming to Silicon Valley for Apple’s first big event of 2019.

Apple is rumored to be planning a late March keynote where a slew of new services will be unveiled. To help with its pitch to customers, Apple reportedly asked some of the stars from its original TV shows to join the festivities.

Apple poaches new head of casting from Sony

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Tamara Hunter
Apple's new head of casting, Tamara Hunter.
Photo: The Headshot Truck LLC

Apple’s TV team just hired seasoned Hollywood executive to lead its casting efforts for its many TV shows currently in development. Tamara Hunter, the vice president of casting at Sony Pictures Entertainment, is reportedly leaving her post to join Apple as the head of casting.

Kevin Durant TV show gets ordered to series by Apple

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Kevin Durant
Kevin Durant is branching into TV.
Photo: NBA

The early-life of NBA superstar Kevin Durant is set to become the focus of Apple’s latest TV show project.

Apple reportedly ordered Durant’s “Swagger” TV show to series this week, adding the sports-based drama to its growing roster of TV shows as the company prepares to launch its original content package next year.

Apple inks movie deal with Oscar-winning indie studio

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mid90s cast
The cast of A24's latest movie, mid90s
Photo: A24

One of the hottest indie movie studios in Hollywood is joining forces with Apple to make a series of movies.

A24, the studio behind the Oscar-winning film Moonlight, has inked a multi-year deal to produce a slate of films, in what is the first major movie deal for Apple.

Apple plans to give away its $1 billion TV shows

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Apple TV
Apple is loading up with original content.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple’s new TV streaming service will allegedly debut in early 2019 — and all those original Apple TV shows won’t cost customers anything, according to a recent report.

Despite planning to spend more than $1 billion on original content this year, Apple will supposedly give away its original content to customers that already own an iPhone, iPad or Apple TV.

Video game developers are set to shine in Apple comedy show

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Rob McElhenney, one of the writers of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, has teamed up with an old partner on a new Apple TV show.
Rob McElhenney, one of the writers of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, has teamed up with an old partner on a new Apple TV show.
Photo: Gage Skidmore/Flickr CC

Another day, another Apple TV series. The company continues to build a library of shows, despite having announced no plans what it will do with them.

The latest is a comedy set at a video game development studio. It’s reportedly being created by the team behind It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.

Microsoft may be building a ‘Movies & TV’ app for Android and iOS

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Watching a movie on iPad
Microsoft hopes it will boost Microsoft Store downloads.
Photo: Apple

Microsoft is developing a “Movies & TV” app for Android and iOS in an effort to boost downloads from the Microsoft Store, according to a new report.

Customers can enjoy content purchased from Microsoft only on Windows platforms for now. The company hopes that by supporting new platforms, it will encourage more people to use its store over competitors like iTunes.

Apple ropes in new showrunners for Amazing Stories reboot

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Amazing Stories
Expect the unexpected.
Photo: Ace Books

Apple has finally found a replacement to guide the development of its new TV show Amazing Stories.

“Once Upon a Time” co-creators Adam Horowitz and Edward Kitsis have signed a deal with Apple to be the new showrunners for Amazing Stories, a reboot of Steven Spielberg’s anthology TV show from the 1980’s.