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Netflix Comedy “Roommates” and Zayn Malik’s New Album Highlight Week’s Entertainment Releases
Sadie Sandler, eldest daughter of Adam Sandler, takes center stage in the Netflix comedy “Roommates,” while former One Direction member Zayn Malik celebrates a decade of solo work with a new album. These are among the diverse entertainment offerings heading to screens and streaming platforms this week.
In “Roommates,” debuting Friday, April 17, Sandler stars as a college freshman navigating life with a boundary-challenged dormmate played by Chloe East. The comedy features an impressive supporting cast including Nick Kroll and Natasha Lyonne as Sandler’s parents, with appearances by Francesca Scorsese, Carol Kane, and Storm Reid.
Another notable streaming release is Elle Fanning’s dramatic turn in “Margo’s Got Money Troubles,” premiering Wednesday on Apple TV+. Fanning portrays a young single mother who creates an OnlyFans account to make ends meet after an affair with her college professor leaves her raising a child alone. The series, based on a bestselling novel, features Michelle Pfeiffer and Nick Offerman as her parents.
Edgar Wright’s adaptation of Stephen King’s 1982 novel “The Running Man,” starring Glen Powell, arrives on Prime Video Friday despite underwhelming at the box office. While critics were mixed on the remake, The Associated Press’ Jake Coyle noted that despite lacking the “brutalist 1980s nihilism” of the Arnold Schwarzenegger version, the film’s media metaphor feels relevant to today’s landscape.
Horror fans can look forward to “Dust Bunny” on HBO Max, the directorial debut from “Hannibal” creator Bryan Fuller. The R-rated film stars Sophie Sloan as a young girl who enlists her hitman neighbor (Mads Mikkelsen) to eliminate monsters she believes devoured her family. The New York Times praised it as “a blast of delightful, visually sumptuous nonsense.”
In music news, Friday marks exactly a decade since Zayn Malik became the first One Direction member to launch a solo career. His fifth album “Konnakol” continues to showcase the breathy falsetto and R&B influences that have defined his solo work since 2016’s “Mind of Mine.”
Other notable music releases include Brooklyn-based R&B artist Yaya Bey’s “Fidelity,” a cathartic collection expressing grief following the death of her father, legendary rapper Grand Daddy I.U. Electronic dance fans can anticipate house superstar John Summit’s “Ctrl Escape,” while English disco-pop sensation Jessie Ware delivers “Superbloom,” featuring the Western-themed dance floor anthem “Ride.”
Television offerings include the return of Netflix’s critically acclaimed series “Beef” for a second season on Thursday. Originally intended as a limited series, the show has transformed into an anthology featuring a new cast including Oscar Isaac, Carey Mulligan, Charles Melton, and Cailee Spaeny. Peacock’s “Love Island: Beyond the Villa” also returns Wednesday, following contestants from last summer’s “Love Island USA” as they navigate relationships off-camera.
For gamers, Capcom’s “Pragmata” offers a lunar adventure beginning Friday on PlayStation 5, Xbox X/S, Switch 2, and PC. Players must navigate a moon base altered by a mysterious substance called Lunafilament while battling rogue robots. Nintendo fans can look forward to “Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream” on Thursday, which allows players to populate an island with Mii avatars of friends and family, building relationships and communities in a cozy simulation experience.
With such a diverse lineup of entertainment options arriving this week, there’s something to satisfy virtually every taste across film, television, music, and gaming platforms.
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9 Comments
Streaming seems to have really expanded the range of stories and perspectives we can access these days. The Elle Fanning and Michelle Pfeiffer project sounds like it could tackle some weighty themes in an engaging way.
The Elle Fanning and Michelle Pfeiffer project on the challenges of single motherhood sounds like it could be a poignant and timely watch. Glad to see more stories exploring that experience on streaming platforms.
Absolutely, it’s an important topic that deserves more nuanced exploration on screen. Glad to see it getting the attention it deserves.
Always exciting to see a new Stephen King adaptation, even if I’m not familiar with the original novel. Curious to see how Edgar Wright puts his own spin on the material.
Glad to see Zayn Malik still putting out new music a decade after his One Direction days. Curious to hear how his solo sound has evolved. The Netflix comedy also sounds like a fun, lighthearted watch.
Agreed, it’s great to see artists continuing to grow and evolve their sound over time. I’ll have to check out Zayn’s new album when I get a chance.
Can’t say I’m too familiar with the Stephen King novel being adapted, but Edgar Wright is a talented director so I’ll keep an eye out for that one. Looks like there’s plenty to keep audiences entertained this week.
Interesting selection of content coming up – a mix of comedy, drama, and music. Always nice to see fresh talent like Sadie Sandler getting a chance to shine. Curious to see how the Zayn Malik album compares to his One Direction days.
The Netflix comedy with Sadie Sandler sounds like a fun, lighthearted watch. Nice to see young talents like her getting opportunities to showcase their skills.