Month: June 2025

Season 5 of Stranger Things is set to premiere on Netflix on Nov. 26; with the final season broken up into three chapters.

Netflix Tudum 2025: The Live Event revealed that the eight final episodes of “Stranger Things 5” will stream this fall, surrounding major holidays: four episodes will premiere as “Volume 1” on November 26 (Thanksgiving Eve); with three more episodes titled “Volume 2” hitting Netflix on Christmas Day.  According to Netflix, each volume releases at 8 p.m. ET/5 PT.  The series finale will take place on New Year’s Eve, Dec. 31, 2025.

Season 4 of ‘Stranger Things’ wrapped up in 2022; Season 5 begins with a time jump to the fall of 1987 after Hawkins sees the effects of the opening of the Rifts. Will, Mike, Lucas and the rest of the gang are on a mission to find and kill Vecna, whose whereabouts and plans are unknown.

Netflix’s show’s synopsis reads: “complicating their mission, the government has placed the town under military quarantine and intensified its hunt for Eleven, forcing her back into hiding. As the anniversary of Will’s disappearance approaches, so does a heavy, familiar dread.  The final battle is looming — and with it, a darkness more powerful and more deadly than anything they’ve faced before. To end this nightmare, they’ll need everyone — the full party — standing together, one last time.”

The series stars Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Noah Schnapp, Sadie Sink, Jamie Campbell Bower, Maya Hawke and Joe Keery.

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Shortly after dropping a 20-second teaser, Warner Bros. released the full trailer for writer/director Paul Thomas Anderson’s next feature film, One Battle After Another, starring Leonardo DiCaprio as Bob Ferguson – a down-and-out former revolutionary who is in desperate search for his missing daughter.

The trailer sees DiCaprio, a former member of a revolutionary group called the French 75, seeking help from other revolutionaries to find his missing daughter. It also offers glimpses at co-stars Regina Hall, Teyana Taylor and Chase Infiniti.

The plot details of One Battle After Another remain shrouded in mystery, although Anderson’s script is reportedly inspired by Thomas Pynchon’s novel Vineland.  Anderson’s last project, 2021’s critically-acclaimed “Licorice Pizza,” lost tens of millions of dollars after failing to recoup its $40 million budget; however the film’s breakout star Alana Haim will reunite with Anderson again in “One Battle After Another.”

One Battle After Another debuts in theaters Sept. 26; see the trailer: HERE.

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Comedian and actor Kevin Hart has been set to host the 2025 BET Awards, which are set for June 9 airing live on BET at 8 p.m. EST from Los Angeles’ Peacock Theater. This year’s edition marks the 25th anniversary of the awards show, which honors the year’s the most influential voices in Black culture across music, film, TV and sports. Nominations and performers announcement for this year’s show are still to come.

Hart shared the news with a trailer, and wrote in a statement: “I love a celebration. It’s a chance to reflect, cherish and honor life’s unforgettable moments. I’m truly honored to host the 25th BET Awards and celebrate culture’s biggest night.”

Connie Orlando, EVP, Specials, Music Programming & Music Strategy at BET, said: “Kevin Hart is a powerhouse of an entertainer. His impact spans comedy, film, television, and beyond. As we celebrate 25 years of the BET Awards, we couldn’t think of a more dynamic host to lead this historic night. Kevin’s unmatched charisma, comedic brilliance, and deep-rooted connection to our culture make him the perfect choice to commemorate this milestone event.”

BET president and CEO Scott Mills adds: “For over a decade, Kevin Hart has been a beloved part of the BET family, and we couldn’t be more excited to have him return to host the 25th anniversary BET Awards. His unparalleled talent, infectious energy and deep connection to our audience make him the perfect host for this historic celebration. Kevin has continuously pushed boundaries in entertainment. On the heels of the successful launch of BET+ original series Lil Kev, we are eager to expand our partnership and continue to bring groundbreaking projects to life.”

Kendrick Lamar leads the nominees with 10 nominations, including Album of the Year for GNX and best Male Hip Hop Artist. Doechii, Drake, Future and GloRilla follow with six nods apiece, while Metro Boomin scored five and SZA and The Weeknd each earned four nods. A press release stated that: “nominations were selected by the BET Voting Academy, which is comprised of an esteemed group of entertainment professionals and influencers in the fields of music, media, digital marketing, sports journalism, public relations and creative arts.”

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Wicked is returning to theaters for ‘one-night-only’ on June 4th, coinciding with the release of the sequel’s trailer, Wicked: For Good, which premieres Nov. 21.

The film’s official X account featured stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande teasing the upcoming screening and preview: “We have an announcement! Wicked returns to theaters for one night only in the US & Canada on June 4 with a special first look at the Wicked: For Good trailer. Tickets on sale now.”

In addition, Erivo and Grande will perform hit songs from the films in a live musical special airing on NBC in the fall. Director Jon M. Chu announced the news during the NBCUniversal upfront presentation, in which he said: “I am absolutely delighted to let you in on a centerpiece of our campaign for the second film, and it’s something that’s never been done in the 22-year history of Wicked.” (per Variety).

The special, which starts streaming on Peacock the day after its NBC premiere, will also feature other “Wicked” cast members and “surprise guests” are also expected to take part in the “night of entertainment that we think will be, as they say in Oz, thrillifying,” Chu said.

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Netflix is previewing Tyler Perry’s upcoming film, Straw, starring Taraji P. Henson. Co-starring Sherri Shepherd, Teyana Taylor, Glynn Turman, Sinbad, Rockmond Dunbar, Mike Merrill, and Ashley Versher, the film will premiere June 6 on the streaming service.

The film follows Henson’s character, single mother Janiyah, who faces a series of unfortunate events that lead her down an unexpected path. Struggling against circumstances beyond her control, she becomes entangled in a situation she never imagined. Fueled by desperation, she finds herself at the center of suspicion in a world that seems indifferent to her existence.

When Janiyah’s  young daughter is sick and they are evicted from their home, Janiyah tries to cash her check but inadvertently holds up her bank instead, initiating a stand-off. Taylor portrays a sympathetic police officer, while Shepherd plays the “bank teller who meets Janiyah on the worst day of her life.”

Perry told Netflix’s Tudum: “She’s just trying to survive, just trying to be a great mother to her daughter, and then the circumstances in her life cause her to be in this situation. I think that a lot of people around, no matter if you’re a Black woman or not, will be able to relate to that feeling of, ‘I’m at my last straw.’” 

See the trailer for Straw – HERE.

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