Apple TV+ highlights for the month of November include new drama, Swagger, Tom Hanks in Finch, the third season premiere of Dickinson and season two of Snoopy in Space.
Swagger
New drama series from Reggie Rock Bythewood, NBA superstar Kevin Durant and Brian Grazer
Inspired by Durant’s experiences, “Swagger” explores the world of youth basketball, and the players, their families and coaches who walk the fine line between dreams and ambition, and opportunism and corruption. Off the court, the show reveals what it’s like to grow up in America.
From creator and showrunner Reggie Rock Bythewood, NBA superstar Kevin Durant and Imagine’s Brian Grazer, the new series is led by an ensemble cast of stars including O’Shea Jackson, Jr., Isaiah Hill, Academy Award-nominee Quvenzhané Wallis, Shinelle Azoroh, Tessa Ferrer, Caleel Harris, James Bingham, Solomon Irama, Ozie Nzeribe and Tristan Mack Wilds.
The first three episodes of “Swagger” make their global debut on Apple TV+ on Friday, 29 October.
Finch
New Apple Original Film
Starring Tom Hanks and Screen Actors Guild Award-winner Caleb Landry Jones, in “Finch,” a man, a robot and a dog form an unlikely family in a powerful and moving adventure of one man’s quest to ensure that his beloved canine companion will be cared for after he’s gone. Hanks stars as Finch, a robotics engineer and one of the few survivors of a cataclysmic solar event that has left the world a wasteland. But Finch, who has been living in an underground bunker for a decade, has built a world of his own that he shares with his dog, Goodyear. He creates a robot, played by Jones, to watch over Goodyear when he no longer can. As the trio embarks on a perilous journey into a desolate American West, Finch strives to show his creation, who names himself Jeff, the joy and wonder of what it means to be alive. Their road trip is paved with both challenges and humour, as it’s as difficult for Finch to goad Jeff and Goodyear to get along as it is for him to manage the dangers of the new world.
“Finch” marks Hanks’ follow up to the blockbuster Apple Original Film “Greyhound.” The film hails from cutting-edge filmmaker Miguel Sapochnik (“Game of Thrones,” “True Detective”), with an original screenplay by Craig Luck, making his feature-film writing debut, and Ivor Powell (associate producer of “Blade Runner” and “Alien”). “Finch” is produced by Kevin Misher, Jack Rapke, Jacqueline Levine, and Ivor Powell. The executive producers are Academy Award winner Robert Zemeckis, Luck, Sapochnik, Andy Berman, Adam Merims and Jeb Brody. Apple Original Films’ “Finch” is an Amblin Entertainment and Reliance Entertainment presentation, in association with Walden Media. “Finch” is an Imagemovers and Misher Films production.
Global premiere Friday, 5 November, 2021 on Apple TV+.
Dickinson
Season Three
In the third season of Apple’s Peabody Award-winning and GLAAD Media Award-nominated “Dickinson,” Emily Dickinson’s most productive time as an artist falls amid the raging American Civil War and an equally fierce battle that divides her own family. As Emily tries to heal the divides around her, she wonders if art can help keep hope alive, and whether the future can be better than the past.
Starring alongside Steinfeld in the third season of “Dickinson” are returning ensemble cast members Toby Huss, Adrian Blake Enscoe, Anna Baryshnikov, Ella Hunt, Amanda Warren, Chinaza Uche, and Jane Krakowski, as well as world renowned rapper, singer, and songwriter, Wiz Khalifa, who will join the show once again as the character of ‘Death.’ The third season will also feature brand new guest stars including Ziwe as ‘Sojourner Truth,’ who also joined as a writer, Billy Eichner as ‘Walt Whitman,’ and Chloe Fineman as ’Sylvia Plath;’ as well as returning favorites Zosia Mamet as ‘Louisa May Alcott’ and Will Pullen as ‘Nobody.’
“Dickinson” is executive produced by Alena Smith; Michael Sugar and Ashley Zalta for Sugar23 Productions; Paul Lee and Josh Stern for wiip; Alex Goldstone for Anonymous Content; Hailee Steinfeld; Robbie MacDonald, who also writes; Silas Howard, who also directs and Diana Schmidt. Alena Smith also serves as writer and showrunner. The series is produced by wiip, Anonymous Content and Sugar23.
Global premiere Friday, 5 November, 2021 on Apple TV+.
The Shrink Next Door
New limited series
Inspired by true events, “The Shrink Next Door” details the bizarre relationship between psychiatrist to the stars Dr. Isaac “Ike” Herschkopf (played by Rudd) and his longtime patient Martin “Marty” Markowitz (played by Ferrell). Over the course of their relationship, the all-too-charming Ike slowly inserts himself into Marty’s life, even moving into Marty’s Hamptons home and persuading Marty to name him president of the family business. The series explores how a seemingly normal doctor-patient dynamic morphs into an exploitative relationship filled with manipulation, power grabs, and dysfunction at its finest. The series also stars Kathryn Hahn as ‘Phyllis,’ Marty’s younger sister, and Casey Wilson as ‘Bonnie’ the wife of Dr. Herschkopf.
Global premiere Friday, 12 November, 2021 on Apple TV+.
Snoopy in Space
Season two
After exploring the moon and visiting the International Space Station in season one, Snoopy and the Gang are ready for their next big adventure, an epic journey across the universe to discover if there really is life outside of Earth. Join Snoopy on an epic interstellar road trip as our intrepid beagle tackles one of the most compelling mysteries of humankind: is there life out there in the universe? Snoopy and his friends bring NASA’s most exciting current research to life, from searching for traces of ice and ancient fossils on Mars, to drilling into oceans hidden inside of distant moons, and even seeking out exoplanets far beyond our own solar system. Of course, like any good road trip, Snoopy and Woodstock’s journey includes lots of extra adventures along the way, plus plenty of support from Charlie Brown, Franklin, Marcie, Linus and the rest of the Peanuts gang back at Johnson Space Center. Let the adventure begin!
“Snoopy in Space” is a Daytime Emmy Award nominee and Parents’ Choice Gold Award-winning Apple Original for kids. In partnership with WildBrain, along with Peanuts Worldwide, the series is designed to inspire a passion for space exploration and STEM among the next generation of students. This season’s focus on space is through the lens of “The Search for Life,” highlighting the scientific processes and technology behind space exploration, the need for resilience when facing setbacks, and the importance of imagination when trying to find creative solutions.
Season two (all 12 episodes) premieres Friday, 12 November, 2021 on Apple TV+.
Harriet The Spy
Marking the first animated adaptation of the iconic children’s novel chronicling the coming-of-age adventures of the irrepressible Harriet M. Welsch, “Harriet The Spy” stars acclaimed actor Beanie Feldstein as Harriet, a fiercely independent and adventurous 11-year-old girl, alongside Emmy Award winner Jane Lynch as Ole Golly, Harriet’s larger-than-life, no-nonsense nanny. Set in 1960s New York when the original book was published, “Harriet the Spy” follows the outspoken and perpetually curious 11-year-old Harriet M. Welsch. More than anything, Harriet wants to be a writer, and in order to be a good writer, she’ll need to know everything. And to know everything means she’ll need to spy… on everyone! Joining Feldstein and Lynch, the series features Lacey Chabert as Marion Hawthorne, the ringleader of a group of popular girls at Harriet’s school, and additional voice cast Kimberly Brooks, Crispin Freeman, Grey Griffin, Bumper Robinson, and Charlie Schlatter.
The first half of season one (five episodes) premieres Friday, 19 November, 2021 on Apple TV+.
’Twas the Fight Before Christmas
“’Twas the Fight Before Christmas” follows the story of a North Idaho neighbourhood turned upside down by one man’s obsession with bringing Christmas cheer to all, through the biggest community Christmas event America has ever seen. Christmas-loving lawyer Jeremy Morris’ plan hits a snag when the home owners’ association informs him that the event violates the rules of the neighbourhood. A contentious fight over the festivities erupts and things snowball out of control. As the situation escalates, the film asks the question, who wins when different rights and interests collide? Director Becky Read pieces together the polarised perspectives in this quirky Christmas tale about freedoms, with a message about differences and tolerance at its heart.
