Adam Sandler’s daughter Sadie takes center stage in Netflix’s new comedy ‘Roommates,’ while former One Direction star Zayn Malik drops fresh music as part of this week’s streaming lineup.
Entertainment options arriving on various platforms this week include Elle Fanning portraying a struggling single mother who turns to OnlyFans in ‘Margo’s Got Money Troubles,’ a lunar adventure game from Capcom called Pragmata, and the highly anticipated return of Netflix’s award-winning drama ‘Beef’ featuring an entirely new cast for its second season.
Sadie Sandler, Adam’s oldest child, headlines Netflix’s new comedy ‘Roommates,’ which follows a college student dealing with her intrusive dorm neighbor played by Chloe East. The supporting cast features Nick Kroll and Natasha Lyonne as her parents, alongside Francesca Scorsese, Carol Kane and Storm Reid. The series begins streaming Friday, April 17.
Director Edgar Wright has reimagined Stephen King’s 1982 dystopian novel ‘The Running Man’ with Glen Powell in the lead role, arriving on Prime Video Friday, April 17. Despite underperforming at theaters with earnings under $69 million against a $110 million production cost, the film offers Wright’s interpretation of King’s dark vision. Associated Press critic Jake Coyle noted that ‘from the start, the darkest shades of King’s book have been snuffed out of this blandly entertaining remake that swaps out the brutalist 1980s nihilism of the Arnold Schwarzenegger movie for a satirical portrait of America lacking in bite and prescience.’ However, Coyle acknowledged that ‘if there’s one aspect of Wright’s film that feels genuinely connected to today, it’s the movie’s media metaphor.’
HBO Max debuts the R-rated thriller ‘Dust Bunny’ on Friday, April 17, featuring a young girl (Sophie Sloan) who enlists her hitman neighbor (Mads Mikkelsen) to eliminate the creatures she believes consumed her family. This marks the directorial debut of ‘Hannibal’ series creator Bryan Fuller. The New York Times’ Manohla Dargis praised it as ‘a blast of delightful, visually sumptuous nonsense.’
Exactly a decade has passed since Zayn Malik became the first One Direction member to pursue solo work. His 2016 debut ‘Mind of Mine’ showcased his independence through ambitious R&B compositions that highlighted his distinctive breathy falsetto vocals. He continues building on those strengths with ‘Konnakol,’ his fifth solo album releasing Friday, April 17.
Brooklyn R&B and soul artist Yaya Bey follows up last year’s successful ‘do it afraid’ with ‘Fidelity,’ dropping Friday, April 17. Her previous work demonstrated versatility, from ‘Merlot and Grigio’ featuring Bajan dancehall performer Father Philis to the Prince-influenced ‘Dream Girl’ and jazz-infused ‘Raisins.’ The new album serves as an emotional outlet, processing grief and love after losing her father, respected rapper and Juice Crew member Grand Daddy I.U.
Electronic dance music heavyweight John Summit releases ‘Ctrl Escape’ Friday, April 17, through Experts Only and Darkroom Records. The house music superstar has crafted an album appealing to both club-goers and home listeners who enjoy watching festival performances online.
British disco-pop performer Jessie Ware unveils ‘Superbloom’ on Friday, April 17. Her latest work maintains her dance floor appeal, exemplified by the track ‘Ride,’ which samples the 1966 Western film ‘The Good, the Bad and the Ugly’ theme while incorporating her signature sparkling synthesizers. ‘Come be my cowboy, baby, come, let’s ride,’ she croons, ‘You know I want you, I need you tonight, tonight.’
Apple TV’s dramedy ‘Margo’s Got Money Troubles’ stars Elle Fanning as a young mother navigating single parenthood after an affair with her college instructor resulted in pregnancy. She creates an OnlyFans profile to generate income, with Michelle Pfeiffer and Nick Offerman portraying her parents. Based on a popular novel, the series premieres Wednesday.
Peacock presents the second season of ‘Love Island: Beyond the Villa’ on Wednesday, continuing to follow contestants from last summer’s ‘Love Island USA’ after their return from Fiji. The show tracks former winners and ex-couple Amaya Espinal and Bryan Arenales, along with other participants, as their romantic drama continues off the island.
The Emmy-winning anthology series ‘Beef’ returns Thursday, April 16, on Netflix with fresh faces after originally being conceived as a limited series. This season features Oscar Isaac, Carey Mulligan, Charles Melton, and Cailee Spaeny in the lead roles.
Tubi brings back Nicola Coughlan’s dark comedy ‘Big Mood’ for its second season Thursday, April 16. Coughlan and Lydia West reprise their roles as Maggie and Eddie, codependent best friends from East London whose relationship fractured when Maggie stopped her bipolar medication and Eddie felt abandoned. The new season jumps forward one year.
Gamers can explore the moon through Capcom’s Pragmata, set on a lunar facility devastated by a massive moonquake and mysteriously affected by a substance called Lunafilament. Players control Hugh, a weapons expert, and Diana, an android hacker, as they work together to repair the base while battling rogue robots controlled by malicious artificial intelligence. The game launches Friday, April 17, on PlayStation 5, Xbox X/S, Switch 2, and PC.
Nintendo Switch welcomes Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream on Thursday, allowing players to populate an island with customizable Mii characters resembling friends and family. Players must keep their virtual residents content with food, clothing, and furniture while constructing entertainment venues. These digital people will form relationships, fall in love, and start families, with options to visit other players’ islands.
