Dan Levy, known for his roles in “Night Court” and “Schitt’s Creek”, is making his directorial debut with “Good Grief”, which will soon be available on various devices along with other new TV shows and films.

The entertainment journalists at The Associated Press have chosen some noteworthy streaming options, including new game shows on Fox and the arrival of “Transformers: Rise of the Beasts” on Amazon Prime.

J.A. Bayona, the director, has a talent for creating intense survival stories. In 2012, he presented a gripping portrayal of a family’s struggle during the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. Now, he returns with “Society of the Snow,” which follows the true story of the Uruguayan Air Force Flight that crashed in the Andes mountains in 1972. This disaster has been depicted and analyzed in multiple books and films, including Frank Marshall’s 1993 movie “Alive.” However, Bayona was motivated to explore the story further after reading Pablo Vierci’s “Society of the Snow.” His goal was to not only share the experiences of the survivors, but also shed light on those who did not make it, in a raw and authentic style similar to a documentary. The Spanish-language film was chosen to represent Spain in the Oscars and is being considered for best international film. “Society of the Snow” will be available for streaming on Netflix starting January 4th.

On January 5, Netflix will release “Good Grief,” the first film directed by Dan Levy. Levy, who also wrote the film, stars alongside Luke Evans, Ruth Negga, and Himesh Patel. The story follows a widower who brings his friends to Paris as he copes with the loss of his husband and searches for inner peace.

The Criterion Channel is offering a variety of highlights for January, such as a selection of cat-themed movies (ranging from “That Darn Cat” to “Inside Llewyn Davis”), a tribute to Ava Gardner (featuring “The Barefoot Contessa” and “Pandora and the Flying Dutchman”), and a special collection on James Gray’s New York. The films in this collection include his debut work “Little Odessa” from 1994, which follows a hitman returning to Brighton Beach, and the captivating romantic drama “Two Lovers” starring Joaquin Phoenix and Gwyneth Paltrow as the alluring Michelle. And if that wasn’t enough Joaquin for you, there will also be screenings of “The Yards,” “We Own the Night,” and “The Immigrant.”

Two films on Prime Video have received mixed reviews, but they are available for viewing if you have an Amazon Prime account. The first is “Transformers: Rise of the Beasts,” a globetrotting action movie featuring Anthony Ramos and Dominique Fishback as they journey from Brooklyn to Peru. Directed by Steven Caple Jr., it serves as a sequel to “Bumblebee.” The second film is “Foe,” a sci-fi psychological thriller directed by Garth Davis and starring Saoirse Ronan and Paul Mescal. Both films will be available for streaming on Jan. 5.

Lindsey Bahr, the film writer for the Associated Press.

In the upcoming year, Fox will be introducing new game shows to its lineup. One of these shows is “The Floor,” a trivia show that will be executive produced and hosted by Rob Lowe, starting on January 2nd. Another new addition is “We Are Family,” a musical show co-hosted by Anthony Anderson and his mother Doris Bowman, beginning on January 3rd. Originally, the show was planned to feature Jamie Foxx and his daughter Corinne, but due to an undisclosed medical issue in 2023, Foxx will now serve as executive producer. Both shows will also be available for streaming on Hulu.

— The acclaimed Hulu series “Only Murders in the Building” comes to broadcast television in early 2024. The comedy whodunit stars Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez as neighbors in a posh New York apartment building who start their own true crime podcast after another resident is murdered. The first three episodes of season one begin airing on ABC on Tuesday, Jan. 2.

The first season of the revived “Night Court” on NBC concluded with a surprising return of original cast member Marsha Warfield, leaving viewers on a cliffhanger. The second season, premiering Tuesday and also available on Peacock, continues from where the previous season ended. The reboot features original series star John Larroquette and newcomer Melissa Rauch as the new judge of the night court.

— Alicia Rancilio

___

Stay updated with AP’s coverage of the entertainment world at: https://apnews.com/entertainment.

Source: wral.com