Studio Coffee Run 1/7/20: 2020 brings 29 Netflix movies and news on the ARROW spin-off

Welcome back , folks! It’s 2020 and the entertainment world swinging out of hibernation. For the CW fans, we’ll look at a recent Arrow synopsis to get an idea of what a spin-off might look like. Then, it’s over to Netflix for a 2020 forecast of its slate of original movies, a series renewal and a teaser. Before we check out Amazon’s Hunter’s trailer, Times’ Up has a new set of resources for anyone in the film and TV industry.

And yes, the Golden Globes did happen this weekend, too, but Kyle Pinion has you covered there! Follow this link for the night’s highlights and a complete list of winners (including Ed Douglas!). While we’re on the topic of the Globes, let’s check out a quick headline from the event:

Rian Johnson confirms the knives are coming back out

• Director Rian Johnson confirmed this weekend that he’s currently working on more Knives Out, his quirky whodunnit comedy that released last Thanksgiving. For this sequel, we’ll follow Daniel Craig’s Benoit Blanc, the Southern detective, as he begins a new case. Johnson is still waiting for the official go-ahead from Lionsgate, though he’s hoping production can begin as early as next year for what may become a fully-fledged franchise.

The latest Arrow synopsis hints at an upcoming spin-off

As we reported in September, an episode of Arrow’s final season is meant to be a backdoor pilot for the new series following Mia Smoak (Katherine McNamara), Laurel Lance (Katie Cassidy Rodgers), and Dinah Drake (Juliana Harkavy). Thanks to a recent episode synopsis, we Arrowverse fans now have an idea of when the Arrow backdoor pilot will air, as well as what to expect.

Here’s your spoiler warning. If you don’t want to know when to expect that, or what it entails, you may want to skip ahead.

The synopsis is as follows “It’s the year 2040 in Star City and Mia Queen has everything she could have ever wanted. However, when Laurel and Dinah suddenly show up in her life again, things take a shocking turn and her perfect world is upended. Laurel and Dinah are tracking a kidnapping victim with direct ties to Mia and they need her help. Knowing it will change everything, Mia can’t help but be a hero and she, Laurel and Dinah suit up once again to save the city.” Appropriately, the January 21 episode is titled “Green Arrow and the Canaries.”

Based on this, it seems that the CW isn’t wasting any time getting back to super-business once “Crisis” is over. In just a few weeks, we’ll have our first look at Star City’s newest team. ‘Till then, make sure you keep an eye on all our CW recaps!

Killing Eve extends its stay with a renewal just ahead of its third season premiere

• The BBC is giving its viewers more badass Sandra Oh and Jodie Comer with the announcement that more Killing Eve is on the way. This season four renewal is just that for now, with no showrunner yet announced. For now sit tight and gear up for the show’s spring 2020 return with season three, from showrunner and writer Suzanne Heathcote.

Netflix starts 2020 with a (mostly) full slate of original movies set to release this year

On Friday, Netflix dropped a list of 29 original films set to arrive in 2020. Of course, the streamer is known for its hit or miss originals, but there’s at least a handful of projects here that might pique your interest.

• Mank from director David Fincher with Gary Oldman, Amanda Seyfried, Charles Dance and Lily Collins promises a story that “centers around the writing of Citizen Kane.”
• Hillbilly Elegy, based on the eponymous memoir by J.D. Vance, stars Amy Adams, Glenn Close and Gabriel Basso from director Ron Howard.
• Da 5 Bloods from Spike Lee stars Chadwick Boseman, Paul Walter Hauser, Norm Lewis, Delroy Lindo and Jonathan Majors. The director’s latest project follows this crew of African American vets on their return trip to Vietnam as they hunt down their fallen leader – and buried treasure.
• To All the Boys: P.S. I Love You has already been announced – but it can’t hurt to mention again. Lana Condor and Noah Centineo star in the sequel to Netflix’s teenage rom/com.

There’s loads more, including Glen Keane (Tarzan, Tangled, Beauty and the Beast) in his directorial debut, an immigrant story from writer/director Alan Yang and much more. For a complete list of what to expect from Netflix in 2020, check out the thread yourself over on Twitter.

Netflix is also renewing Raising Dion for a second season 

• The superhero drama, Raising Dion, is heading back to Netflix for another season. Where its inaugural run lasted 9 episodes, this time around will be a bit tighter, with 8 one-hour episodes. Michael B. Jordan, Kenny Goodman and Kim Roth continue to executive produce, with Carol Barbee back to showrun.

On the other side of the streaming aisle, former HBO head takes his production company to Apple  

• Richard Plepler, former HBO head, moves to Apple TV Plus, along with his recently launched production company, Eden Productions. Plepler spent 28 years at the network prior to his February 2019 departure; for his next step, he and a small team will be working on a handful of programs for the streamer.

Time’s Up rolls out the Guide to Working in Entertainment

Over the weekend, Time’s Up released three guides for anyone working in the entertainment industry, specifically aimed at preventing and reporting sexual discrimination and misconduct. They cover “Your Rights in Auditions,” “Your Rights in Nude and Intimate Scenes” and “Your Right to Report.”

Actress, activist and consultant on the guides Alyssa Milano says “The entertainment industry is not a typical workplace, so figuring out your rights and options around workplace harassment, discrimination, and misconduct can be confusing. As a community, we came together to develop these resources to help people in entertainment understand that no matter your situation, you do have the right to be safe and respected on the job.”

Each guide is concise, never extending passed 20 pages or so, but comprehensive. They cover specific legalities in New York and California, definitions of harassment and case specific scenarios for working with independent studios as well as those that are well established. All three are available for free download on TimesUpFoundation.org.

Fighting Nazis is back in style with Amazon’s Hunters

Hunters positions itself in New York City in 1977. High-ranking Nazi officials are, apparently, abundant, which is why Al Pacino and co. have formed the show’s titular band of Nazi killers. He plays the leader, while Logan Lerman is the new guy on the block, having just discovered the group following his grandmother’s murder. This Jordan Peele produced show hits Amazon beginning on February 21.

Netflix began 2020 with a sucky release. AKA, Dracula is available for viewing as of last Saturday, but a teaser dropped just a day before. If you’re into Bram Stoker’s iconic vamp, get ready for this new take from the folks behind Sherlock.

That’s a wrap for your weekend entertainment fix. Tune in on Friday for Studio Coffee Run’s headliner, Ed Douglas – and good luck to us all as we head back into work and try to remember how to do our jobs.