A Paul Simon concert special and Season 2 of the live-action “Avatar: The Last Airbender" are some of the new television, films, music and games headed to a device near you.
Also among the streaming offerings worth your time this week, as selected by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists: a new Larry David series celebrating American history, the horror film “Undertone” and the return of Star Fox.
— Filmmaker Ian Tuason uses soundscapes to
scare audiences in his debut feature “Undertone,” a minimalist auditory horror about a paranormal podcaster that is streaming on HBO Max on June 26. In his review for The Associated Press, film writer Jake Coyle wrote that “it’s a testament to Tuason’s evident filmmaking talent that, with these bare bones, ‘Undertone’ swells into a gripping and unsettling experience. This is a movie that summons many of its scares with a sudden boost in audio levels, the thunderous tick of a clock or the scream of … a tea kettle. It’s even rated ‘R’ not for bloodcurdling violence or satanic ghouls but, simply, ‘language.’”
— John Cena plays a buttoned-up real estate agent whose carefully curated life gets upended when his chaotic “little brother,” played by Eric André, reappears in his life in the new Netflix comedy “Little Brother," streaming on June 26. Michelle Monaghan, Christopher Meloni and Caleb Hearon are all part of the big ensemble cast. Also arriving on Netflix, on Wednesday, June 24, is Julian Schnabel’s “In the Hand of Dante,” a divisive “literary gangster” movie with Oscar Isaac, Gal Gadot and Al Pacino.
— Peacock also has a new Tyler Perry and Jason Blum-produced psychological thriller, “Strung,” that will be streaming on Friday, June 26. Chloe Bailey plays a talented violinist who takes a job as a music tutor for a prestigious family in the Malcolm D. Lee-directed pic.
— AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr
— It’s not as good as catching Paul Simon on the singer-songwriter’s “A Quiet Celebration Tour,” but it is the next best thing. On Friday, fans can enjoy Simon’s brand-new two-hour concert special, “Paul Simon: The Quiet Celebration Concert,” streaming on Disney+ and Hulu. Expect deep cuts, new arrangements and timeless hits record live at McCaw Hall in Seattle. It’s also a story of triumph — a legendary performer learning the stage again after beginning to experience hearing loss.
— The globally popular English rock band Muse returns with “The Wow! Signal,” a new full-length project named after “a powerful 72-second radio burst detected in 1977 originating from the constellation Sagittarius with a bandwidth and intensity that suggested a possible extraterrestrial source,” according to a statement. It’s a fitting source of inspiration for the space-y stadium rock band, and an appropriate title for an album full of retro-futuristic synth songs (“Nightshift Superstar”), scientific vernacular (“Cryogen”) and anthemic guitars (“Unraveling.”)
— AP Music Writer Maria Sherman
— The live-action “Avatar: The Last Airbender” debuts its second season Thursday, June 25 on Netflix. It's set in a world divided into four nations based on the four elements: earth, water, fire and air. A young Avatar named Aang is the only being who can manipulate each of those elements, giving him power that serves him in both everyday life and as protection. In Season 2, Aang is still learning to master his powers.
— For most kids, school is out for the summer, and that includes Charlie Brown and the gang. The animated series “Camp Snoopy” returns for Season 2 on Friday, June 26, on Apple TV. It follows the adventures of Snoopy, a beagle scout (get it?), Charlie and their friends enjoying the summer at Camp Spring Lake.
— Just in time to celebrate America’s upcoming 250th birthday, Larry David stars in a new historical sketch comedy series called “Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness. ” Debuting Friday, June 26, on HBO Max, David plays historical figures alongside guest stars including Jon Hamm, Kathryn Hahn, Vince Vaughn, Bill Hader, Jerry Seinfeld, J.B. Smoove and Isla Fisher. Like David's “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” this show is largely improvised and features David's trademark pessimistic, observational humor. Barack and Michelle Obama's Higher Ground company produces the show.
— AP Writer Alicia Rancilio
— Fox McCloud saved the day in “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie,” but it’s been a long time since the dashing fighter pilot headlined a game. Nintendo is taking advantage of his newfound celebrity with Star Fox, overhauling his 1997 Nintendo 64 adventure for the Switch 2. The high-flying aerial combat game bounces from planet to planet as players defend the Lylat System from an evil mastermind. You can team up with friends on missions, or engage in 4-vs.-4 battles online. Blast off Thursday, June 25.
— Lou Kesten
