Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Mortal millions: John Cena and Awkwafina risk it all in ‘Jackpot!’
WHAT’S NEW ON PRIME VIDEO “Jackpot!” (2024)
What would you do to be a billionaire? The fight for the prize kicks off Thursday, Aug. 15, on Prime Video, when the new action comedy film “Jackpot!” makes its debut. Set in the near future, the “Jackpot!” universe centers around a lottery that’s recently been established in California. While the winner has the opportunity to walk away with a multibillion-dollar jackpot, there’s one mammoth condition: anyone who can kill the person with the winning ticket before sundown can claim the prize for their own. Having recently moved to Los Angeles, Katie Kim (Awkwafina, “Awkwafina is Nora from Queens”) mistakenly finds herself with the winning ticket. Desperate to survive the ruthless horde of would-be jackpot killers, Katie reluctantly teams up with Noel Cassidy (John Cena, “Ricky Stanicky,” 2024), an amateur lottery protection agent, who will do everything in his power to keep her alive in exchange for a portion of her prize money. However, Louis Lewis (Simu Liu, “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,” 2021), Noel’s rival, is hot on their tail and prepared to do whatever it takes to claim the prize for himself. Directed by Paul Feig (“Freaks and Geeks”), “Jackpot!” is written by Rob Yescombe (“Outside the Wire,” 2021). The cast is rounded out by Ayden Mayeri (“I Love That for You”), Donald Elise Watkins (“Fly Me to the Moon,” 2024), Sam Asghari (“Lioness”), Murray Hill (“Somebody Somewhere”), Seann William Scott (“Welcome to Flatch”), Dolly de Leon (“Triangle of Sadness,” 2022) and Colson “Machine Gun Kelly” Baker (“Bupkis”).
WHAT’S NEW ON MAX “Industry” - Season 3
Get back down to business with Season 3 of “Industry,” premiering Sunday, Aug. 11, on Max. New episodes stream weekly on Sundays. Taking a drama-packed look into the world of high finance, this critically acclaimed series follows “a group of young bankers as they forge their identities within the pressure cooker environment and sexand drug-fueled blitz of international bank Pierpoint & Co’s London office” (per HBO). This season, as Pierpoint turns its attention towards ethical investing, Yasmin (Marisa Abela), Robert (Harry Lawtey) and Eric (Ken Leung) find themselves enmeshed with Lumi, a green tech energy company. Led by Sir Henry Muck (Kit Harington, “Game of Thrones”), Lumi puts the Pierpoint crew front and center in a story that twists and turns all the way to the very top of not only the finance world but also the highest levels of media and government. Meanwhile, Harper (Myha’la, “Leave the World Behind,” 2023), now navigating a future outside of Pierpoint, is keen to get back into the finance world and finds an unlikely partner in FutureDawn portfolio manager Petra Koenig (Sarah Goldberg, “Barry”). Alongside returning cast members Conor MacNeill (“The Tourist”), Sagar Radia (“Unicorns,” 2023), Indy Lewis (“La Fortuna”), Adam Levy (“The Witcher”), Sarah Parish (“Cutting It”), Trevor White (“X Company”), Elena Saurel (“Buffering”) and Irfan Shamji (“The Ipcress File”), Season 3 also welcomes new cast members Miriam Petche (“The Worst Witch”), Andrew Havill (“The Crown”), Roger Barclay (“The Undertaker,” 2023), Fady Elsayed (“Gangs of London”) and Fiona Button (“The Split”).
WHAT’S NEW ON NETFLIX
“Emily in Paris” - Season 4, Part 1
It’s a “Seine” in the city when “Emily in Paris” debuts the first five episodes from its fourth season Thursday, Aug. 15, on Netflix. Season 4, Part 2, is slated to stream in September. This season, Chicago native Emily (Lily Collins, “Tolkien,” 2019), now firmly settled in Paris, is still reeling from the events of Camille (Camille Razat, “Disparue”) and Gabriel’s (Lucas Bravo, “Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris”) wedding. As if being caught up with strong feelings for two men wasn’t enough, “Gabriel’s expecting a baby with his ex, and Alfie’s [Lucien Laviscount, “Snatch”] worst fears about her and Gabriel have been confirmed” (per Netflix). As Emily and Gabriel work towards a Michelin star, some big secrets threaten to unravel all their hard work. Meanwhile, Sylvie (Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu, “Call My Agent!”) faces a difficult choice at work for the sake of her marriage, while Mindy (Ashley Park, “Tales of the City”) and her band get creative and thrifty as they prepare for Eurovision. From creator Darren Star (“Sex and the City”), “Emily in Paris” also stars Samuel Arnold (“Platane”), Bruno Gouery (“Doc Martin”) and William Abadie (“Homeland”). Season 4 guest stars include Eugenio Franceschini (“Medici”), Thalia Besson (“Dangerous Waters,” 2023), Rupert Everett (“Funny Woman”), Anna Galiena (“The Hairdresser’s Husband,” 1990) and Raoul Bova (“Under the Tuscan Sun,” 2003).
WHAT’S NEW ON HULU
“Solar Opposites” - Season 5
Home is where the pupa is. Season 5 of the oddball animated comedy “Solar Opposites” premieres Monday, Aug. 12, on Hulu. From executive producers Mike McMahan (“Rick and Morty”) and Josh Bycel (“Psych”), “Solar Opposites” follows a team of aliens from the planet Shlorp as they make the most of their new lives after crash landing in middle America. Armed with a pupa (first-time voice actor Sagan McMahan) that should eventually terraform Earth into the new planet Shlorp, aliens Korvo (Dan Stevens, “Downton Abbey”), Terry (Thomas Middleditch, “B Positive”), Yumyulack (Sean Giambrone, “The Goldbergs”) and Jesse (Mary Mack, “Twin Cities,” 2017) have stayed split on whether Earth is awful or amazing. While they enjoy junk food, TV and other fun activities, they are repulsed by humanity’s pollution, consumerism and frailty as a race. Heading into the new season, the Solar Opposites are focused on family values now that Terry and Corvo are married. From honeymooning to getting settled into their new life, the series follows their seemingly ordinary — but often outrageous — adventures.
WHAT’S NEW ON DISNEY+
“Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures” Season 2
Let the power of the Force in once more when Season 2 of “Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures” premieres its first installment Wednesday, Aug. 14, on Disney+. Set during the High Republic era, this computer-animated Disney Junior series follows a group of Jedi younglings as they are sent by Master Yoda (Piotr Michael, “What If…?”) to train at a Jedi temple on Tenoo, where they study the ways of the Force. As they learn about their powers and the responsibilities that they hold, the young Jedis — including Kai Brightstar (JeCobi Swain, “Home Economics”), Lys Solay (Juliet Donenfeld, “Gabby’s Dollhouse”) and Nubs (“Dee Bradley Baker, “Adventure Time”) — explore the galaxy and help citizens and creatures in need as they learn the many valuable skills needed to wield the Force along the way. This season, the Jedi younglings continue their training and embark on even bigger missions across the galaxy, helped along by Master Zia’s (Nasim Pedrad, “Despicable Me 2,” 2013) new Padawan, Wes Vinik (Gunnar Sizemore, “Kung Fu Panda: The Paws of Destiny”), and his astromech R0-M1 as they “travel to new planets with new and old friends and encounter adversaries such as The Ganguls, who are growing in their pirate ranks” (per Disney+). “Young Jedi Adventures” is developed for television by Shellie Kvilvang (“Puppy Dog Pals”), Michael Olson (“Puppy Dog Pals”) and Josh Rimes (“Star Wars: The Bad Batch”).