Netflix has had a busy few days announcing new casting for shows, picking up some new international series and dishing out season renewals, so we’ve gathered together all of the news you need to know.
There’s been two new casting announcements for season 3 of STRANGER THINGS. First, Cary Elwes (THE PRINCESS BRIDE) will guest star as Mayor Kline. “Handsome, slick, and sleazy, Mayor Kline is your classic 80s politician — more concerned with his own image than with the people of the small town he governs.” In addition, Jake Busey (STARSHIP TROOPERS) will make guest appearances as Bruce, “a journalist for the The Hawkins Post with questionable morals and a sick sense of humor.”
Netflix has picked up a new comedy series TURN UP CHARLIE. Eight 30 minute episodes of the show will debut in 2019 and the show stars Idris Elba (who also serves as Executive Producer). “Elba is Charlie, a struggling DJ and eternal bachelor, who’s given a final chance at success when he reluctantly becomes a manny to his famous best friend’s problem-child daughter.”
Netflix has also ordered three brand new episodes for the original 2004 THE STAIRCASE, which follows “the compelling story of Michael Peterson, a crime novelist accused of killing wife Kathleen after she is found dead at the bottom of a staircase in their home, and the 16 year judicial battle that followed.” Documentary filmmaker Jean-Xavier de Lestrade was granted access to the case immediately following Kathleen’s death in 2001 in Durham, North Carolina and the docu-series is a rare inside-look at the high-profile murder trial. The new episodes will premiere from the Tribeca Film Festival on April 28 and launch on Netflix this summer.
Netflix has also ordered a second true-crime docu-series called “EVIL GENIUS”. The four-part series tells the tale of a 2003 bank roberry gone wrong in Erie, Pennsylvania. Watch a sizzle reel below about the streaming service’s two new true-crime shows.
Netflix has ordered a new German series, THE WAVE, based on the award-winning 2008 film of the same name. “Inspired by a real experiment that shocked the world and the highly acclaimed hit movie, The Wave follows a group of rebellious teenagers. In pursuing their dream of a better tomorrow they build a community that spreads into a mass phenomenon. What begins as an idealistic and playful uprising against the establishment, soon starts to take a terrifying turn – but the power of The Wave has already grown out of control…”
Netflix has also ordered a new horror series called THE ORDER. The series (consisting of 10, hour-long episodes), is about college freshman Jack Morton who “joins a fabled secret society, The Order, where he is thrust into a world of magic, monsters and intrigue. As Jack goes deeper, he uncovers dark family secrets and an underground battle between werewolves and the magical dark arts.” The show stars Jake Manley (HEROES: REBORN), Sarah Grey (LEGENDS OF TOMORROW), Matt Frewer (ALTERED CARBON), Sam Trammell (TRUE BLOOD), and Max Martini (TRAINING DAY).
Finally, Netflix has ordered a third season of its Spanish-language drama series, MONEY HEIST (a.k.a. LA CASA DE PAPEL), which will premiere in 2019. The second season of the show was recently made available on the streaming service (watch a trailer below).
