| News Short | News Headline |
| 'Artful Dodger' renewed for third and final season | Disney+ and Hulu have renewed The Artful Dodger for a third and final season. Set in 19th century Australia and based on the characters from Charles Dickens' classic novel, Oliver Twist, the adventure dramedy stars Thomas Brodie-Sangster as the titular con man-turned-surgeon Jack "Artful Dodger" Dawkins and David Thewlis as his mentor in grifting Fagin. Maia Mitchell plays Jack's love interest, Belle. Both leads are returning for Season 3, although it is unclear when the fresh episodes will premiere. "Dodger is constantly struggling with his relationship with Fagin. He's the closest thing that he has to a father and, yet, he is the most untrustworthy individual he knows," Brodie-Sangster, 36, told UPI earlier this year. |
| Jack Gleeson, James Nesbitt to co-star in 'Hercule' | Game of Thrones alum Jack Gleeson and The Hobbit actor James Nesbitt have signed on to co-star in BritBox's new mystery drama, Hercule. Edward Bluemel was previously announced to play author Agatha Christie's famous Belgian detective, Hercule Poirot. The cast will also include Henry Ashton, James D'Arcy, Calvin Demba, Phil Dunning, Tamsin Greig, Guy Remmers, Rebecca Rittenhouse and Mawaan Rizwan. "Hercule will chronicle the story of the world's greatest detective -- and how he became it. The series, due to commence filming soon, primarily in Liverpool, is an intimate study of Hercule Poirot, the man and an epic portrait of Britain between the wars," a press release from the streaming service said Tuesday. |
| Viola Davis to star in new Paramount+ thriller, 'Ascent' | Oscar-winning actress Viola Davis has signed on to star in and executive produce the new Paramount+ thriller series, Ascent. John Logan -- whose credits include Skyfall, Gladiator, Michael and Penny Dreadful -- will serve as showrunner and executive producer. Production is slated to begin in Los Angeles in 2027. "Viola Davis doesn't just take on roles; she transforms them. Catriona Vail is an incredibly complex character and Viola is exactly the generational talent to bring her to life, Jane Wiseman, head of originals for Paramount+, said in a press release Tuesday. "With John Logan and Michael Aguilar behind the camera, Ascent is high-stakes television at its best. |
| Zac Brown Band gives 37,000 concertgoers a free cruise for two | The Zac Brown Band gifted 37,000 concertgoers with free cruises on the Margaritaville at Sea ship at a show in Boston. USA Today said the Sunday surprise was announced at the country music group's 15th consecutive, sold-out concert at Fenway Park, just before they sang the song, "Same Boat," their 2022 collaboration with the late Jimmy Buffett. CBS said the vacations for each attendee and the guest of their choice cost a total of about $40 million. "We were honored to work alongside Zac to help bring this incredible surprise to life for his fans," Christopher Ivy, the Margaritaville at Sea CEO, said in a statement to the New York Post. |
| Bowen Yang to make Broadway debut as 'Oh, Mary!' lead | Actor and comedian Bowen Yang is gearing up to make his Broadway debut. The former Saturday Night Live star, 35, will replace Meg Stalter in the lead role of Mary Todd Lincoln in the play Oh, Mary! in September. Yang will take over the role Sept. 15 and perform a limited 12-week engagement. Oh, Mary! is a dark comedy written by Cole Escola and directed by Sam Pinkleton. The play imagines "a miserable, suffocated" Mary Todd Lincoln in the weeks leading up to Abraham Lincoln's assassination. "Unrequited yearning, alcoholism, and suppressed desires abound in this 80-minute one-act play that finally examines the forgotten life and dreams of Mrs. Lincoln, through the lens of an idiot (playwright Cole Escola)," an official description reads. |