The New Season: The most anticipated new movies, music, TV and more

The New Season: Movies, TV, art and more

The New Season: Movies, TV, art and more 05:05

Be on the lookout for these new entertainment offerings in the coming months, from screens to stage, from music to page.

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Movies

"The Apprentice" (October 11) – In this cautionary tale set in 1970s and '80s New York City, Jeremy Strong stars as attorney Roy Cohn who helps shape his protégé, a wet-behind-the-ears real estate figure named Donald Trump (Sebastian Stan), into a media star. Director Ali Abbasi's examination of the young Trump, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, sparked legal threats from the Trump campaign, but that didn't prevent a distributor from picking up the film for a pre-Election Day release.

Watch a trailer from "The Apprentice": 

The Apprentice | Official Trailer | Exclusively in Theaters October 11 by Briarcliff Entertainment on YouTube

"We Live in Time" (October 11) - In this romantic comedy-drama, Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield don't exactly "meet cute" – she runs into him with her car. But the relationship that develops is truly tested when they are confronted with a medical crisis. Directed by John Crowley (the 2015 Saoirse Ronan period romance "Brooklyn"). 

We Live In Time | Official Trailer HD | A24 by A24 on YouTube

"The Piano Lesson" (November 8) – Denzel Washington, who starred in and directed a film adaptation of August Wilson's "Fences," is producing films based on the entire oeuvre of the acclaimed playwright. Following 2020's "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom," Washington has now produced his third Wilson story, the Pulitzer Prize-winning saga of a family's fight over a cherished heirloom. Starring Samuel L. Jackson, John David Washington, Ray Fisher and Michael Potts (who appeared in the recent Broadway revival), along with Danielle Deadwyler, Skuylar Aleece Smith and Erykah Badu.

The Piano Lesson | Official Trailer | Netflix by Netflix on YouTube

"Wicked" (November 22) – Most films being released this fall would be green with envy over the amount of audience anticipation for the big-screen adaptation of the hit Broadway musical, even though it's only Part One. (Part Two will be released in Fall 2025.) Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo star as Galinda and Elphaba, whose youthful friendship serves as the origin story for Oz's Wicked Witch of the West. With Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum and Jonathan Bailey.

Wicked - Official Trailer 2 by Universal Pictures on YouTube

"Gladiator II" (November 22) – "Are you not entertained?" Evidently not enough, as director Ridley Scott has returned to his Oscar-winning 2000 epic for a follow-up, set more than 20 years after the first film, in which gladiator Paul Mescal, general Pedro Pascal, power broker Denzel Washington, and Joseph Quinn and Fred Hechinger as co-emperors Geta and Caracalla fight over a 3rd century Roman Empire under siege from without and within.

Gladiator II | Official Trailer (2024 Movie) - Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Denzel Washington by Paramount Pictures on YouTube

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Documentaries

"Will & Harper" (in theaters; streaming on Netflix September 27) – Comedian Will Ferrell and former "Saturday Night Live" head writer Harper Steele, longtime buddies, take a cross-country road trip after Steele announces she has transitioned to a woman.

Will & Harper | Official Trailer | Netflix by Netflix on YouTube

"We Will Dance Again" (Streaming on Paramount+ September 24) – Survivors of the October 7 Hamas terror attack on the Nova Music Festival in Israel recount the horrors and heroism of that day.

We Will Dance Again | Official Trailer | Paramount+ by Paramount Plus on YouTube

"Blink" (October 4) – A French-Canadian couple embarks on a round-the-world trip with their family, after three of their four children are diagnosed with a rare and incurable disease that leads to loss of eyesight. From directors Daniel Roher (the Oscar-winning "Navalny") and Edmund Stenson.

BLINK | Official Trailer | National Geographic Documentary Films by National Geographic on YouTube

"Piece by Piece" (October 11) – The music producer and singer Pharrell tells his life story not with archive footage or talking-head interviews, but with Lego! Directed by Morgan Neville (an Oscar-winner for "20 Feet From Stardom"), it captures Pharrell's creative process in brickfilm form.  

PIECE BY PIECE - Official Trailer [HD] - Only In Theaters October 11 by Focus Features on YouTube

"Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story" (Fathom Events theater screening September 25; streaming on Max November 1) – This profile of the superhero actor and activist, which debuted at Sundance earlier this year, features never-before-seen home movies of his life before and after the accident that paralyzed him.

Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story | Official Trailer by Warner Bros. Pictures on YouTube

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Music

Luke Bryan: "Mind of a Country Boy" (September 27) – The country singer-songwriter, one of the world's bestselling artists, is out with album #11.

Listen to "Mind of a Country Boy" from Luke Bryan's new album:

Luke Bryan - Mind Of A Country Boy (Official Audio) by LukeBryanVEVO on YouTube

Samara Joy: "Portrait" (October 11) – The Grammy-winning jazz singer's latest. 

Listen to "Autumn Nocturne," from Samara Joy's new album, "Portrait":

Samara Joy - Autumn Nocturne (Visualizer) by SamaraJoyVEVO on YouTube

Jelly Roll: "Beautifully Broken" (October 11) – The rapper and country artist's follow-up to "Whitsitt Chapel."

Listen to "Get By," from Jelly Roll's new album, "Beautifully Broken."

Jelly Roll - Get By (Official Lyric Video) by Jelly Roll on YouTube

Shawn Mendes: "Shawn" (October 18) – The Canadian singer-songwriter's first album, "Handwritten," debuted at #1 on the Billboard charts when Mendes was just 16 years old. "Shawn" is his fifth studio album.

Listen to "Nobody Knows," from Shawn Mendes' new album, "Shawn":

Shawn Mendes - Nobody Knows (Official Music Video) by ShawnMendesVEVO on YouTube

Michael Kiwanuka: "Small Changes" (November 15) – The English songwriter and guitarist won Britain's Mercury Prize for his 2019 album, "Kiwanuka."

Listen to "Floating Parade" from Michael Kiwanuka's new album "Small Changes":

Michael Kiwanuka - Floating Parade (Official Video) by MichaelKiwanukaVEVO on YouTube

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TV/Streaming

"Matlock" (Previews on CBS September 22) – In this reboot of the 1980s legal drama starring Andy Griffith, Kathy Bates plays Madeline Matlock, a folksy defense attorney out for justice.

Matlock S1 | Trailer by CBS on YouTube

"The Franchise" (premieres on HBO/Max October 6) – This comedy series (executive produced by "Veep" creator Armando Iannucci) depicts the trials of a crew trying to film a superhero movie.

"Disclaimer" (Streaming on Apple TV+ October 11) – Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline, Sasha Baron Cohen and Kodi Smit-McPhee star in this psychological thriller based on Renée Knight's novel, and directed by Alfonso Cuarón, in which a woman finds a book that – surprise! – reveals the secrets of her own life.

DISCLAIMER* — Official Teaser | Apple TV+ by Apple TV on YouTube

"Dune: Prophecy" (premieres on HBO/Max in November) – Set in the universe of Frank Herbert's sci-fi series, which has spawned two recent blockbuster films, this story of the Bene Gesserit sisterhood stars Emily Watson, Olivia Williams, Joshi May and Travis Fimmel.

Dune: Prophecy | Official Teaser 2 - Control | Max by Max on YouTube

"Star Wars: Skeleton Crew" (Streaming on Disney+ December 3) – What kids wouldn't want to join an intergalactic adventure? This latest series follows a quartet of lost youngsters who must navigate their way back home with the aid of a Force user (Jude Law).

Skeleton Crew | Official Trailer | Streaming December 3 on Disney+ by Star Wars on YouTube

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Theater

New York City: 

"Our Town" (revival) (now at the Barrymore Theatre) – Thornton Wilder's classic is staged with stars Jim Parsons, Katie Holmes, Zoey Deutch, Richard Thomas, Ephraim Sykes and Michelle Wilson. 

"Yellow Face" (now at the Todd Haimes Theatre) – Tony-winning playwright David Henry Hwang ("M. Butterfly") writes a farce about theater and racial miscasting.

"Romeo + Juliet" (previews begin September 26 at the Circle in the Square Theatre) – Kit Connor and Rachel Zegler star in the immortal romantic tragedy, this time with music by Jack Antonoff.

"Sunset Boulevard" (revival) (previews begin September 28 at the St. James Theatre) – Andrew Lloyd Webber's musicalization of the Billy Wilder noir classic is reimagined by director Jamie Lloyd. Nicole Scherzinger, as faded film star Norma Desmond, received smashing reviews from her performance on London's West End. 

Watch a trailer featuring Nicole Scherzinger in "Sunset Boulevard":

First Look: Nicole Scherzinger and Tom Francis in Sunset Boulevard, Coming to Broadway in September by theatermania on YouTube

"Gypsy" (revival) (previews begin November 21 at the Majestic Theatre) – Audra McDonald, who has six Tony Awards on her shelf, grabs ahold of Mama Rose, one of the most celebrated roles in musical theater, created by Jule Styne, Stephen Sondheim, and Arthur Laurents. Directed by George C. Wolfe and choreographed by Camille A. Brown, will everything come up roses?

Around the country: 

"Prelude to a Kiss: A Musical" (at the Milwaukee Repertory Theater, Milwaukee, Wis.) – Craig Lucas has adapted his own Tony-nominated 1988 play into a musical, a romantic comedy about souls exchanged.

"Oh Happy Day!" (at the Baltimore Center Stage, Baltimore, Md.) – Jordan E. Cooper's "play with music" reimagines the fable of Noah's Ark.

Latrice Pace, Courtney Monét and Tiya Askia perform an excerpt from "I See God," from "Oh, Happy Day!": 

"Good Day to Be Happy" by Donald Lawrence - BCS Unplugged by Baltimore Center Stage on YouTube

"My Best Friend's Wedding" (begins September 26 at the Ogunquit Playhouse, Ogunquit, Maine) – The Julia Roberts romantic comedy is the basis of a musical with classic songs by Burt Bacharach & Hal David.

"Babbitt" (October 1, at Shakespeare Theatre Company, Washington, D.C.) – Matthew Broderick stars in this adaptation of Sinclair Lewis' political satire.

"Primary Trust" (Multiple cities) – The Pulitzer Prize-winning drama by Eboni Booth, about a young man with an imaginary friend trying to reinvent his own life, is featured in several productions this fall, including in Pittsfield, Mass., Arlington, Va., and Chicago.

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Books

Washington Post and "Sunday Morning" book critic Ron Charles offers his picks from among the season's new titles.

"The Mighty Red" by Louise Erdrich (October 1) – The latest by the Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award-winning author of "The Night Watchman" and "The Round House."

"The Message" by Ta-Nehisi Coates (October 1) – A collection of essays by the New York Times bestselling author, in which he journeys to Senegal, South Carolina and the Palestinian Territory.

"Carson the Magnificent" by Bill Zehme and Mike Thomas (November 5) – A biography of the king of late-night television, who helped shape American entertainment and culture. Written over the course of a decade by Bill Zehme, who died of cancer in 2023, it has been completed by journalist Bill Thomas.

"Lincoln vs. Davis: The War of the Presidents" by Nigel Hamilton (November 5) – From the author of the "FDR at War" trilogy, this history tells of the fight between two presidents on opposite sides of the Civil War.

"Darkly" by Marisha Pessl (November 26) – A young-adult thriller from the author of the bestselling "Night Film."

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Arts

"Lee Krasner: Geometries of Expression," at the Ogunquit Museum of American Art, Ogunquit, Maine (through November 17), celebrates the early work of the abstract artist, from the 1930s and '40s.

"Paris 1874: The Impressionist Moment," at the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C. (through January 19, 2025), captures the moment 100 years ago when the artistic movement that came to known as Impression made its first impression on Parisians. The exhibit presents 130 works, from paintings by Cézanne, Monet, Morisot and Pissarro, to works by lesser-known contemporaries.

• "Sunday Morning" archives: Impressionism at 150

"Simone Leigh," at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (through January 20, 2025), features the artist's ceramic and bronze works and video, as well as pieces from her 2022 Venice Biennale presentation.

"Knowing the West: Visual Legacies of the American West," at the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, Ark. (through January 27, 2025), tells the diverse stories of those who shaped the West, through their lives and their art.

"Preoccupied: Indigenizing the Museum," at the Baltimore Museum of Art (through February 16, 2025), re-evaluates the collection and presentation of works by Native artists.

"Edges of Ailey," at the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York City (September 25, 2024-February 9, 2025), featuring live performance, visual art, music and archival materials, is the first large-scale museum exhibition dedicated to the legacy of the dancer-choreographer Alvin Ailey.

A detail from Mickalene Thomas' "Afro Goddess Looking Forward" (2015). Rhinestones, acrylic, and oil on wood panel. Mickalene Thomas

"Mickalene Thomas: All About Love," at the Barnes Foundation, Philadelphia (October 20, 2024-January 12, 2025), features the artist's mixed-media pieces – paintings, photography, collage, silk-screen, video, and a site-specific installation – that celebrate women.

• Artist Mickalene Thomas and her dream of making a difference ("Sunday Morning")

"The Living End: Painting and Other Technologies, 1970-2020," at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago (November 9, 2024-March 23, 2025), explores how the medium of painting has transformed over the last half-century, through the introduction and influence of technologies, such as video, computers and social media.

"Stanley Whitney: How High the Moon," at the Walker Art Center, Minneapolis (November 14, 2024-March 16, 2025), is a 50-year career retrospective of the abstract artist whose travels transformed his work.

       
Produced by David Morgan, Robert Marston, Annie Iezzi, Sara Kugel and Julie Kracov. Editors: Chad Cardin and Carol Ross.