Ridley Scott’s 10/10 Sci-Fi Series Officially Returns for Season 2

Photo via Ksenia Chernaya

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Ridley Scott’s “The Dog Stars” – A Box‑Office Misfire That Might Find a Home on Prime

Ridley Scott’s latest sci‑fi outing, The Dog Stars, has been the talk of the town for all the wrong reasons. The $70 million‑budget film, which landed Josh Brolin, Jacob Elordi, Guy Pearce and Margaret Qualley in the lead‑up, has scraped together just $21 million worldwide. That puts it well over $100 million shy of the break‑even point analysts were already warning about.

What makes this especially painful is the timing. Scott’s recent historical epics—Gladiator II and Napoleon—each carried $200 million‑plus budgets, meaning they needed near‑half‑a‑billion dollars in receipts to turn a profit. The Dog Stars was supposed to be a modest, theatrical‑only experiment, but the numbers suggest the market simply isn’t hungry for another Ridley‑Scott space drama right now.

Fortunately, the film isn’t destined to disappear into the abyss. As of September 4, the only way to see it is in a cinema, exactly as Scott intended. However, the source notes that “fans can expect The Dog Stars to hit VOD platforms like Prime Video sometime in the next few weeks as its box‑office numbers continue to dwindle.” In other words, the theatrical window is closing fast, and Prime Video will likely be the salvation for anyone who missed the limited run.

From a fan‑perspective, the impending Prime release is a mixed bag. On one hand, the film finally becomes accessible; on the other, the low box‑office haul may color viewers’ expectations. Still, if you’re a Ridley‑Scott completist, the chance to stream a film that includes both Brolin’s gruff gravitas and Qualley’s ethereal presence is worth a click.

James Corden’s First Serious Turn: Dept. Q Season 2 Gets a New Forensic Psych

Netflix just dropped a bombshell that could make the already‑buzzed British crime series Dept. Q even more of a conversation starter: James Corden is joining the cast for Season 2. The news, confirmed by the streaming giant, reveals that the former Late Late Show host will play Dr. Ben Smith, an “eccentric but brilliant forensic psychologist.”

Season 2 is already in full swing, with production running from June through October. It will adapt Jussi Adler‑Olsen’s second novel, Disgrace, and will see Matthew Goode return as the maverick DCI Carl Morck. The series, created by Scott Frank (the mind behind The Queen’s Gambit and Godless), debuted in May 2025 to strong numbers and earned a swift renewal in August 2025.

Corden’s involvement is a calculated gamble. He’s best known for comedy—Gavin & Stacey, his stint on American late‑night TV, and a forthcoming festive special that Netflix is eyeing. His recent scripted work includes the Prime Video drama Mammals (2022) and the Apple TV+ comedy The Choir. Stepping into a gritty Edinburgh murder‑mystery is a bold pivot, and the source quotes a British tabloid insider: “Everyone tends to associate James with comedy… but this will show a different side to James by placing him in a drama… that, although it has a streak of sardonic humour, is ultimately about grisly murders and kidnappings.”

From my standpoint, Corden’s casting feels like Netflix’s version of “the new kid on the block”—a way to draw in his massive fanbase while signaling that the platform isn’t afraid to stretch talent into unfamiliar territory. If the chemistry between Goode’s brooding detective and Corden’s off‑beat psychologist clicks, we could see a fresh dynamic that elevates the series beyond its novel‑adaptation roots. The season will, of course, land on Netflix, though no exact release date has been announced yet. Keep an eye on the platform’s “New Releases” section in early 2026.

Silo’s Grand Finale: Season 4 Set for July 9 2027 on Apple TV+

Apple TV+ has finally put the nail in the coffin of Hugh Howey’s dystopian saga: Season 4, the series’ concluding chapter, is slated for July 9 2027. The streaming service gave the show an early Season 3 and Season 4 renewal back in the middle of Season 2, a move that now feels like a masterstroke. According to a press release, “The fourth season of Silo will bring the series to its final, thrilling chapter, telling the complete story of Hugh Howey’s New York Times bestselling trilogy of dystopian novels.”

The production schedule is the kind of behind‑the‑scenes tidbit fans love: Seasons 3 and 4 were filmed back‑to‑back, and the fourth season’s production has already wrapped. That explains why the release is set two years out—Apple is giving itself a comfortable window to polish the final episodes and market the “end of an era.” Rebecca Ferguson, who plays Juliette, summed up the sentiment in a recent statement: “I’ve loved every minute of bringing Juliette to the screen… I cannot wait to dive into these final two thought‑provoking seasons that will beautifully conclude this dystopian tale.”

What does this mean for the global streaming audience? First, the series will remain exclusive to Apple TV+, so you’ll need a subscription (or a trial) to catch the July 2027 debut. Second, the long gap between Seasons 3 and 4 may test viewers’ patience, but the back‑to‑back filming suggests the narrative will flow smoothly, without the jarring tonal shifts that sometimes plague shows with split productions.

From a strategic perspective, Apple’s commitment to finish the trilogy signals confidence in the show’s brand equity. In a crowded sci‑fi market where many series fizzle out after a season or two, delivering a complete story is a rare, commendable move. If you’ve been following the series since the first episode, the promise of a definitive ending should feel like a reward rather than a cliffhanger.

Netflix Expands “The Secret of Secrets” with a Star‑Studded Ensemble

The Dan Brown universe is getting a fresh infusion of talent. Netflix’s adaptation of The Secret of Secrets—the sixth entry in the Robert Langdon series—has announced five new recurring characters as production rolls in Prague. Mamoudou Athie (known for Archive 81) will play Michael Harris, while Ben Levi Ross (from Elsbeth) steps in as Alex Conan. Anamaria Marinca (of The Chelsea Detective) joins as Dr. Gessner, Richard Sammel (Andor) as Karl Muller, and Elena Saurel (The Agency) as Susan Housemore.

The core cast remains anchored by Morgan Spector as the titular professor, with Rebecca Hall as Katherine Solomon, Cherry Jones as Heide Nagel, Corey Stoll as Everett Finch, Rob Delaney as Jonas Faukman, and Abbey Lee as Sasha Vesna. The series, based on Brown’s novel of the same name, promises to blend the author’s trademark puzzles with a modern, globe‑spanning chase.

What’s striking about this casting wave is the diversity of experience among the newcomers. Athie brings a gritty, indie‑film sensibility; Ross adds a stage‑trained

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