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Gold Derby’s top news stories for April 29, 2025.
Julia Garner’s Sinister Turn in Weapons Trailer
The horror thriller Weapons, directed by Zach Cregger, known for Barbarian, has released its much-anticipated trailer, shedding light on its unsettling premise. The narrative begins with the mysterious disappearance of Mrs. Gandy’s (Julia Garner) students, all vanishing from their homes at 2:17 AM. As Cregger notes, this enigma is just the starting point, promising escalating chaos as the film progresses. The cast features notable actors like Josh Brolin, Alden Ehrenreich, Austin Abrams, Cary Christopher, Benedict Wong, and Amy Madigan. Audiences can catch Weapons in theaters starting August 8.
There’s something wrong in Maybrook. #WeaponsMovie – only in theaters August 8. pic.twitter.com/Jb8xd5xkfq
— New Line Cinema (@newlinecinema) April 29, 2025
Conan O’Brien Honored at Kennedy Center
Conan O’Brien was awarded the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor on March 23 during a ceremony at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. The event has been captured for a Netflix special, set to premiere on May 4, along with a newly released trailer. The special features tributes from celebrities such as Will Ferrell, David Letterman, and Adam Sandler, with Triumph the Insult Comic Dog returning as the announcer.
In other news, Academy Award nominee Sam Elliott is joining the cast of Season 2 for Landman, a series produced by Taylor Sheridan. Details about his character remain undisclosed, but he will be featured prominently alongside other actors like Billy Bob Thornton and Demi Moore. This marks Elliott’s second collaboration with Sheridan, following his role in the Yellowstone prequel 1883.
Natasha Lyonne’s Directorial Debut with AI Film
Natasha Lyonne, known for her captivating role in Poker Face, is set to make her directorial debut with the upcoming sci-fi film Uncanny Valley, which will uniquely incorporate generative AI elements. Lyonne penned the script alongside Brit Marling from The OA. The film tells the story of a young girl deeply engrossed in an augmented reality video game. Lyonne described her vision for the film, likening it to a humorous journey through The Matrix with the essence of iconic actresses Dianne Wiest and Diane Keaton. This project is backed by Asteria, an AI studio co-founded by Lyonne and Bryn Mooser, focused on ensuring the AI-generated content is based on copyright-cleared material. Uncanny Valley may pave the way for future narratives that utilize AI technology in storytelling.
Nicole Kidman reprises her role as the enigmatic Masha Dmitrichenko in the trailer for Season 2 of Nine Perfect Strangers, available on Hulu starting May 21. This season sets an unconventional wellness retreat in the Austrian Alps, aiming to test the limits of its participants. The cast includes Henry Golding, Lena Olin, Annie Murphy, and Christine Baranski. Unlike Season 1, which was based on Liane Moriarty’s novel, this season tells an original story crafted by executive producers including David E. Kelley and Kidman.
Dexter: Resurrection, a revival of the beloved series, has been slated for a July 11 premiere on Paramount+, with Showtime airing it two days later. The teaser hints at a storyline where Dexter Morgan, played by Michael C. Hall, is seen reading a newspaper headline declaring his supposed death. Following the events of 2021’s Dexter: New Blood, Dexter finds himself in New York City to reunite with his son, Harrison (Jack Alcott). Returning cast members include David Zayas as Angel Batista, alongside Uma Thurman and Peter Dinklage.
Celia Keenan-Bolger Honored with 2025 Isabelle Stevenson Tony Award
The 2025 Isabelle Stevenson Tony Award will be presented to Celia Keenan-Bolger, recognized for her dedication to humanitarian work alongside her career in theatre. As a Tony-winning actress from To Kill a Mockingbird, Keenan-Bolger has notably contributed to several causes including Broadway for Obama and Broadway Feeds Bellevue during the pandemic, reflecting her commitment to leveraging her influence for social good.
The classic game show Match Game is set for a revival on ABC, featuring a new host—Martin Short. The show last aired in the summer of 2021 with Alec Baldwin behind the podium. As Short takes the helm, he becomes the fifth host in the show’s extensive history, which dates back over 60 years. A premiere date for this latest iteration is yet to be announced.
Jordan Klepper Explores Young Republican Voters in Special
Jordan Klepper, co-host of The Daily Show, is set to present a special titled MAGA: The Next Generation, focusing on the perspectives of young Republican voters. The special will take the audience on a journey, exploring environments from college campuses to MMA venues. It aims to dissect why Donald Trump resonated with voters under 30, as well as whether this shift in political sentiment is lasting. The premiere will air following The Daily Show at 11:30 PM on May 19, with availability to stream on Paramount+ and YouTube starting May 20.
Star Wars Comes to Fortnite
In an innovative collaboration, Disney and Epic Games are launching the first fully Star Wars-themed Battle Royale season in Fortnite, coinciding with the in-game premiere of the animated series Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld on May 2, ahead of its Disney+ release. This unprecedented event marks the inaugural debut of a Disney+ original series within a video game context. Players will have the opportunity to view the first two episodes of Tales of the Underworld on the Star Wars Watch Party island starting at 10 AM ET. This anthology series, created by Dave Filoni, delves into the criminal subculture of the Star Wars universe as seen through the eyes of infamous villains.
CBS Dominates Ratings as Most-Watched Network
CBS has achieved an impressive milestone by becoming the most-watched network in total viewers for the 17th consecutive season, as per Nielsen ratings. Averaging 5.72 million viewers in primetime during the 2024-25 broadcast season, CBS slightly improved from its previous year’s statistics. Notably, it features TV’s most-watched non-sports program, Tracker, which is the only network series to attract over 10 million viewers per episode prior to streaming.
Matthew Broderick, Sally Hawkins, and Martin Freeman Lead WWII Dramedy
Matthew Broderick, Sally Hawkins, and Martin Freeman will star in Pretend I’m Not Here, a World War II dramedy directed by Simon Bird. The film revolves around a couple who provide refuge to a Jewish perfume salesman during the Nazi occupation in the Netherlands. The film is set to begin international sales at Cannes and will be filmed in the UK and the Netherlands later this year.
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