Gwyneth Paltrow will star in The Apology, a new Netflix thriller series that has already received a two-season order. The Oscar-winning actress will play Evelyn Amspoker, whose son was murdered 18 years earlier. Produced by A24, the series will be written by Joe Murtagh and directed by Thomas Vinterberg. It marks Paltrow’s first leading role in a television series. (Deadline)
Apu Nahasapeemapetilon has finally spoken again on The Simpsons after nearly nine years of silence. The character returned in Sunday’s episode, “The Revengening,” with actor Sunil Malhotra taking over the role from longtime voice actor Hank Azaria. Apu had not spoken on the animated comedy since 2017, following criticism of the character’s stereotypical portrayal of Indian Americans. Azaria announced in 2020 that he would no longer voice Apu. Malhotra, whose credits include The Legend of Korra, is the first new actor to voice the character in nearly three decades. (Variety)
The NFL is heading to a galaxy far, far away for Super Bowl LXI. ESPN, Lucasfilm and Disney announced Star Wars Funday Football, a special animated alternate broadcast of the February 14th, 2027, championship game. The presentation will recreate every play in real time using animated versions of NFL players alongside Star Wars characters, including C-3PO, voiced by original actor Anthony Daniels. The broadcast will stream on Disney+ and the ESPN app and air on Disney Channel and Disney XD. It will mark the first animated alternate broadcast of a Super Bowl. (ESPN)