Disney Round-Up Part 2: FX, Hulu TV Shows & The New ‘Star’ Service On Disney+
In the second part of our breakdown of the Disney Investor Day announcement (Part 1 is here featuring the Star Wars & Marvel announcements), we cover new and returning shows to FX and Hulu, which include an ‘Alien’ tv series, ‘Y The Last Man’, ‘American Horror Stories’ and so much more. We also cover renewals for ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ and other show, along with the new mature “STAR” channel which will be added to Disney+ in the UK.
STAR – What is it & what shows will be on it?
Let’s begin with a new area which will be coming to Disney+ in various worldwide territories, including the UK – STAR. This new general entertainment content brand will add tv and film from across the Disney-owned services which are outside of the PG13 rated main Disney+ offering. They will be adding parental controls to Disney+, allowing you to lock away that section to your children.
When it comes to what is on STAR, there is a caveat – the content will vary from territory to territory. For example, in some countries, it will carry the “first-run” rights to FX shows, but that is unlikely in the UK (initially), as FX is already under a “first-run” deal with the BBC… However, I believe that deal runs out in October 2021, and I don’t really see a reason for Disney would renew it, given they now have a direct-to-consumer platform (that’s not to say they won’t, but I can’t see why they would!) What we should get straight away are new Hulu original shows coming to Star in the UK, as we don’t have Hulu over here. Older Hulu shows which have already been sold to other platforms may or may not end up on there depending on deals moving forward.
The last point is that it means there will be a price increase, with Disney+ moving to either £7.99 monthly or £79.90 yearly, although if join now for a year you will get it for £59.99 before the price increase kicks in when STAR launches on 23rd February 2021 in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. Now, on to the shows!
FX – TV Shows
These FX Originals will come to FX and Hulu in the US and STAR in multiple international markets In 2021 and beyond. It’s still a little fuzzy as to whether these will fall under the current BBC/FX deal in the UK, or whether the deal will change and they will come to STAR first, we’ll have to wait and see!
The Old Man (2021)
The Old Man starring Academy Award and Golden Globe award-winner Jeff Bridges, Emmy and Golden Globe award winner John Lithgow, and Emmy and Golden Globe award-nominated Amy Brenneman, is a new FX drama series starring Jeff Bridges as a former CIA operative who is forced to reconcile with his past. The Old Man, based on the bestselling novel of the same name by Thomas Perry, is written by John Steinberg & Robert Levine, directed by Jon Watts, and executive produced by Warren Littlefield, Steinberg, Dan Shotz, Levine, Bridges, David Schiff and Watts. (produced by 20th Television)
American Horror Stories (2021)
American Horror Stories is a new anthology series from Emmy and Golden Globe award-winning producer Ryan Murphy spun off from FX’s biggest, longest-running original drama hit, “American Horror Story”. (produced by 20th Television)
Platform (2021)
Platform, from BJ Novak, an actor and award-winning writer of “The Office,” is a half-hour anthological television series from FX that uses the boldest issues of our times as a jumping-off point to tell singular, character-driven stories about the world we live in today. The series will feature a different cast each episode. The first episode stars Lucas Hedges, Kaitlyn Dever, O’Shea Jackson Jr., George Wallace, Ed Asner, Brendan Francis Scannell, among others. The second episode stars Jon Bernthal, Boyd Holbrook, Amy Landecker, Beau Bridges, and more. Novak serves as executive producer and the series is produced by FX Productions. (produced by FXP)
Y: The Last Man (2021)
Y: The Last Man is a new FX drama series based on DC Comics’ acclaimed series of the same name by Brian K. Vaughan and Pia Guerra. Y: The Last Man traverses a post-apocalyptic world in which a cataclysmic event decimates every mammal with a Y chromosome but for one cisgender man and his pet monkey. The series follows the survivors in this new world as they struggle with their efforts to restore what was lost and the opportunity to build something better. Eliza Clark serves as showrunner and an executive producer along with Nina Jacobson, Brad Simpson, Mari Jo Winkler-Ioffreda, Vaughn and Melina Maksoukas. The series stars Diane Lane, Ashley Romans, Ben Schnetzer, Olivia Thirlby, Amber Tamblyn, Marin Ireland, Diana Bang, Elliot Fletcher and Juliana Canfield. The series is produced by FX Productions and will premiere exclusively on FX on Hulu. (produced by FXP)
Reservation Dogs
Reservation Dogs, a new half-hour comedy, a coming-of-age story about four Native American teenagers growing up on a reservation in eastern Oklahoma who spend their days committing crimes… and fighting it. The series co-created by Sterlin Harjo, a Native American who also directed the pilot episode, and Academy Award-winner Taika Waititi (“JoJo Rabbit,” “What We Do in the Shadows”). The series stars D’Pharoah Woon-A-Tai, Devery Jacobs, Paulina Alexis and Lane Factor. Reservation Dogs is executive produced by Sterlin Harjo, Taika Waititi and Garrett Basch. (produced by FXP)
Alien
FX is moving quickly to bring audiences the first television series based on one of the greatest science fiction horror classics ever made: “Alien.” Alien will be helmed by Fargo and Legion’s Noah Hawley stepping into the creator/executive producer chair, and FX is in advanced negotiations with Academy Award winner, Sir Ridley Scott—director of the first “Alien” film and the sequel, “Alien: Covenant”—to join the project as an Executive Producer. Set not too far into our future, it’s the first Alien story set on Earth—and by blending both the timeless horror of the first “Alien” film with the non-stop action of the second, it’s going to be a scary thrill ride that will blow people back in their seats. (produced by FXP)
Shogun
FX is embarking on one of the most sweeping, sophisticated and adult series FX has ever created—a retelling of James Clavell’s beloved epic saga, Shogun, set within the riveting and real Game of Thrones that was feudal Japan. It is adapted by Justin Marks and Rachel Kondo. Tim Van Patten, the highly decorated, award-winning producer of The Sopranos and Boardwalk Empire, and the director of the pilot and early episodes of “Game of Thrones,” has signed on to bring this giant and visceral canvas to life. (produced by FXP)
Hulu/Star – TV Shows
All of these should come to Star in the UK, and Hulu in the USA.
Only Murders In The Building
Only Murders In The Building follows three strangers (played by Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez) who share an obsession with true crime and suddenly find themselves wrapped up in one. The 10-episode series is expected to debut in 2021. Co-creators and co-writers Steve Martin and John Hoffman executive produce along with Martin Short, Selena Gomez, Jamie Babbitt, “This is Us” creator Dan Fogelman and Jess Rosenthal. 20th Television, part of Disney TV Studios, is the studio.
The Dropout
The Dropout is inspired by the ABC News podcast of the same name chronicling the rise and fall of Elizabeth Holmes (played by Kate McKinnon) and her company, Theranos. The series will explore what caused the world’s youngest self-made female billionaire, once heralded as “the next Steve Jobs,” to lose everything in the blink of an eye. The eight-episode series is expected to debut in 2021. The Dropout is executive produced by Kate McKinnon, showrunner Liz Meriwether and the producing team behind the ABC News podcast, host and Chief Business, Technology and Economics Correspondent for ABC News Rebecca Jarvis, Taylor Dunn and Victoria Thompson. The series comes to Hulu from Searchlight Television and 20th Television.
Dopesick
Dopesick is an ambitious, harrowing, and compelling look into the epicentre of America’s struggle with Opioid addiction, taking viewers from a distressed Virginia mining community to the hallways of the DEA, and to the opulence of “one-percenter” Big Pharma Manhattan. The unsparing yet deeply human portraits of the various affected families and their intersecting stories hold up a mirror to where America is right now while shining a hopeful light on the heroes battling the worst drug epidemic in American history. The eight-episode series is expected to debut in 2021.
Dopesick is written by Emmy winner Danny Strong (“Empire,” “Recount,” “Game Change”) and directed by Oscar-winner Barry Levinson (“Paterno,” “Rain Man”). Executive producers for Dopesick include Danny Strong, John Goldwyn (“Dexter”), Barry Levinson, Warren Littlefield (“The Handmaid’s Tale,” “Fargo,” “The Old Man”), Beth Macy (Dopesick) and Karen Rosenfelt (“Twilight”). The limited series is based on the New York Times bestselling book of the same name by Beth Macy, coming to Hulu from 20th Television and The Littlefield Company.
The series stars Michael Keaton, Peter Sarsgaard, Will Poulter, John Hoogenakker with Kaitlyn Dever and Rosario Dawson.
Returning/Renewed TV Series
These shows could show up in various places in the UK due to existing deals or could possibly be moved to STAR if Disney decides not to option the rights moving forward.
- Seasons three and four of the Emmy and Golden Globe award-winning comedy Atlanta (produced by FXP) – Aired on FOX previously in the UK, but as Disney also own that, it may come to STAR as well or instead.
- Season 10 of the Emmy and Golden Globe award-winning anthological series American Horror Story (produced by 20th Television) – Again, aired on FOX previously in the UK so may come to STAR as well or instead.
- Season two of the acclaimed hit comedy Dave (produced by FXP) – Aired on the BBC as part of the BBC/FX deal.
- Season three of the Emmy nominated comedy series, What We Do In The Shadows (produced by FXP) – Aired on the BBC as part of the BBC/FX deal.
- Season three of the hit drama series Mayans M.C. (produced by 20th Television and FXP) – Aired on the BBC as part of the BBC/FX deal.
- Season five of the Emmy Award-nominated and Peabody Award-winning comedy Better Things (produced by FXP) – Aired on the BBC as part of the BBC/FX deal.
- The hit drama series Snowfall (produced by FXP) – Aired on the BBC as part of the BBC/FX deal.
- The Emmy Award-winning animated series Archer (produced by FXP) – Currently premieres on Netflix in the UK.
- FOUR more seasons of the smash hit It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia, which will take Sunny to season 18 – four seasons longer than the prior record-holder for the longest-running live-action sitcom in television history, Ozzy and Harriet. – Currently premieres on Netflix in the UK.
- The Handmaid’s Tale, has been renewed for a fifth season ahead of its season four premiere. In the upcoming fourth season of The Handmaid’s Tale, June (Elisabeth Moss) strikes back against Gilead as a fierce rebel leader, but the risks she takes bring unexpected and dangerous new challenges. Her quest for justice and revenge threatens to consume her and destroy her most cherished relationships. – Airs on Channel 4 in the UK and seems likely it will stay there. Although it is a Hulu series in the USA, it is produced by MGM Television and internationally distributed by MGM, so not owned by Disney directly.
Nine Perfect Strangers
This last show is a bit of an oddity, as it’s a Hulu series in the USA, but not made or owned by Disney, so could end up anywhere internationally.
Based on The New York Times bestselling book by author Liane Moriarty, Nine Perfect Strangers takes place at a boutique health-and-wellness resort that promises healing and transformation as nine stressed city dwellers try to get on a path to a better way of living. Watching over them during this ten-day retreat is the resort’s director Masha (Nicole Kidman), a woman on a mission to reinvigorate their tired minds and bodies. However, these nine “perfect” strangers have no idea what is about to hit them. The eight-episode series is expected to debut in 2021.
The series stars Nicole Kidman, Melissa McCarthy, Michael Shannon, Luke Evans, Bobby Cannavale, Regina Hall, Samara Weaving, Melvin Gregg, Asher Keddie, Grace Van Patten, Tiffany Boone and Manny Jacinto.
Nine Perfect Strangers is from David E. Kelley, Bruna Papandrea’s Made Up Stories, Nicole Kidman’s Blossom Films and Endeavor Content. Jonathan Levine directs all eight episodes of the series and serves as executive producer alongside Papandrea, Steve Hutensky and Jodi Matterson for Made Up Stories, Nicole Kidman and Per Saari for Blossom Films, Liane Moriarty, David E. Kelley, John Henry Butterworth, Molly Allen, Samantha Strauss and Melissa McCarthy. The series is co-written by David E. Kelley, John Henry Butterworth and Samantha Strauss and co-showrun by David E. Kelley and John Henry Butterworth.
