TV Trailers of the Week: Peacemaker: S2, Task, The Girlfriend, Only Murders in the Building: S5, Upload: Final Season, and More
Take a peek at some of the latest trailers for upcoming TV shows.
✪ “Peacemaker: Season 2” New Red Band Trailer: John Cena Returns as DC’s Unhinged Antihero in New Season of James Gunn’s Ultra-Violent Superhero Satire — Premiering August 21st on HBO MAX
With the recent launch of James Gunn’s new DC cinematic universe, it’s now time to pin more superheroes on the map, connecting their stories into one expansive world. The next big addition to this greater DC universe is a series Gunn developed even before the release of his brand-new Superman film.
But we imagine that with Season 2 of Peacemaker, the show will have the freedom to set up and weave even more threads into this new DC world. It also brings Gunn back into more familiar territory, as Peacemaker is brimming with the darkly satirical, ultra-violent, goofy humor on which he has mostly built his career. Fans of Gunn’s work would agree he seems especially suited to capture the juvenile innocence of a misfit like Peacemaker, the kind of character who thrives under his sharp yet playful lens.
And perhaps John Cena just might be the perfect embodiment of that James Gunn blend—equal parts muscle-bound bravado and childlike vulnerability—which makes the series a must-see for anyone who likes their superhero fare twisted, hilarious, and just a little unhinged.
Season 2, set to debut this Thursday, August 21st on HBO Max, will find Cena’s patriotic mercenary Chris Smith, aka the Peacemaker, going through a kind of identity crisis as he stumbles upon a portal machine leading to multiple “pocket” universes—an interdimensional riff first introduced in Gunn’s Superman movie, where it was opened by Lex Luthor and his goons. Now that Peacemaker has such a powerful device in his hands (and possibly exploiting a parallel pocket world where he can enjoy everything he’s always wanted), he becomes the prime target of A.R.G.U.S. director Rick Flag Sr. (once again played by Frank Grillo), who has a personal score he’s eager to settle.
Meanwhile, Peacemaker’s fellow teammates—agent Leota Adebayo (Danielle Brooks), agent Emilia Harcourt (Jennifer Holland), agent John Economos (Steve Agee), the homicidal crimefighting doofus Vigilante (Freddie Stroma), and of course, Eagly—find themselves tangled in government bureaucracy as new management steps in to reshape the team’s mission and oversight.
Peacemaker: Season 2 aims to push the boundaries even further, blending interdimensional chaos, workplace satire, and Gunn’s trademark mix of heart and raunch, proving once again that peace... still comes at a very bloody price. But we wouldn’t want it any other way.
✪ “Task” Trailer: Mark Ruffalo Hunts Tom Pelphrey’s Outlaw Biker Gang in Brad Ingelsby’s Gritty New FBI Procedural Miniseries — Premieres September 7th on HBO MAX
They say there’s a thin line between being a cop and being a criminal, as both live by certain codes and often cross boundaries. And it seems this new HBO series will explore just how blurred that line can get, as Mark Ruffalo stars as an FBI agent determined to bring an outlaw biker gang to justice—only to have his personal life completely upended in the process.
Task is a new procedural series from Brad Ingelsby, the Emmy-nominated creator of HBO’s acclaimed detective miniseries Mare of Easttown. This new show once again finds the showrunner exploring the lives of a small working-class town just outside of Philadelphia, with the same level of gritty realism and emotional depth that made his previous series such a standout.
This time around, the focus is largely on two characters from opposite sides of the law: Mark Ruffalo’s Tom and Tom Pelphrey’s Robbie. Tom is a Philadelphia-based FBI agent reluctantly charged with leading a special task unit investigating a recent wave of home invasions. Robbie, played by Pelphrey—best known for his work on Ozark and Outer Range—is the head of a criminal biker gang notorious for carrying out meticulously executed break-ins.
Both men have families they are desperately trying to provide for and protect. And both have chosen career paths that deeply affect not only their own personal lives but also the safety and stability of the people they love most. Their choices pull them deeper into a collision course that threatens to destroy everything they’ve built—and everyone they care about.
In addition to Ruffalo and Pelphrey, the cast also includes Emilia Jones, Jamie McShane, Sam Keeley, Thuso Mbedu, Fabien Frankel, Alison Oliver, Raúl Castillo, Silvia Dionicio, Phoebe Fox, and Martha Plimpton.
Acclaimed filmmaker Jeremiah Zagar (Hustle, We the Animals) and veteran TV helmer/actress Salli Richardson-Whitfield (Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty, The Gilded Age) share directing duties for this seven-episode crime drama, which is set to premiere Sunday, September 7th on HBO and HBO MAX, with new episodes dropping weekly.
✪ “The Girlfriend” Trailer: Robin Wright and Olivia Cooke Face Off in a Twisted Battle of Wits and Obsession — Premieres September 10th on Prime Video
If you saw Robin Wright in House of Cards, you’d know she’s not a woman you’d want to cross. In that same vein, if you saw what Olivia Cooke pulled off in House of the Dragon, you’d know she too is not a woman to mess with. Now, what happens if you put these two women in a new series where they go at each other’s throats? Well, you can expect plenty of fire, fury, and razor-sharp power plays. Sure, the show may not have any dragons or political scandals, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be packed with characters who know exactly how to cut deep without ever lifting a sword.
Based on the best-selling novel by Michelle Frances, The Girlfriend stars eight-time Emmy nominee Robin Wright as Laura, a high-powered career woman who seemingly has the perfect life: a doting husband (Waleed Zuaiter, Gangs of London), a trusted confidant (Tanya Moodie, Silo) with whom she can share all her secrets, and an extremely close bond with her only son, Daniel (Laurie Davidson, Masters of the Air, Will).
But when Daniel introduces his new spitfire girlfriend, Cherry (Olivia Cooke), Laura’s world begins to implode. Cherry is beautiful, charming, and just a little too sophisticated and sultry for Laura’s liking. After all, Laura believes her son deserves only the best—and Cherry sets off every alarm bell in her mind. She doesn’t come from money, nor does she have the etiquette or polish that Laura believes is essential for someone entering her family’s inner circle. In fact, Cherry might be a little too ambitious for her own good.
And so, Laura sets out to uncover the truth about her son’s new girlfriend—no matter how manipulative or dangerous the path may become. In turn, Cherry turns up the heat, matching Laura move for move in a twisted battle of wits, charm, and control. Game on! But these two players are such perfect matches that their increasingly heated rivalry turns every encounter into something more explosive and destructive. And everyone caught in the middle—especially Daniel—will be struck by the shrapnel. Because in this family, there’s only enough room for one queen at the table... and the crown is for whoever’s willing to fight the dirtiest to claim it.
Executive produced by Naomi Sheldon and Gabbie Asher, with Robin Wright herself also serving as EP and directing the first three episodes, The Girlfriend premieres Wednesday, September 10th on Prime Video.
✪ “Only Murders in the Building: Season 5” Trailer: Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez Hunt a Killer After the Arconia’s Doorman Turns Up Dead — Premieres September 9th on Hulu/Disney+
New season… new murder to solve. And a new dead body with so many secrets waiting to be uncovered!
Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez have returned for Season 5 of their hit Hulu murder-mystery comedy series Only Murders in the Building... and if you think there’s no more murder to solve, think again!
This bumbling trio is back at it, digging for clues and stumbling into chaos with every step as they find themselves wrapped up in yet another twisted murder case. This time, it’s the Arconia’s beloved doorman, Lester (Teddy Coluca), who tragically turns up dead—found floating in the building’s fountain under extremely suspicious circumstances.
Who would want him killed? Who would murder sweet old Lester? And why the hell does this keep happening?
With a newly discovered severed finger as evidence, Charles (Steve Martin), Oliver (Martin Short), and Mabel (Selena Gomez) jump headfirst into another bizarre investigation, determined to crack the case before the killer strikes again. But as these amateur sleuths sniff around looking for more clues, they smell something fishy—and it’s not just the building’s trash chute! It’s a trail that leads straight to a few suspicious suspects: a ruthless mobster (Bobby Cannavale) and some of New York’s most powerful billionaires (Renée Zellweger, Christoph Waltz, and Logan Lerman).
Now the question is, why would any of them want Lester dead—and why did they cut off his finger... oh wait! Charles, Oliver, and Mabel never actually checked if the severed finger even belonged to Lester in the first place. Well, no one said solving murders was ever easy—especially when bodies keep showing up at all the wrong times and in all the wrong places.
With Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Michael Cyril Creighton, Richard Kind, Nathan Lane, Téa Leoni, and Meryl Streep returning for this new season—as well as Keegan-Michael Key, Jermaine Fowler, Beanie Feldstein, and Dianne Wiest joining in on the fun—Only Murders in the Building: Season 5 aims to deliver its most outrageous and star-studded mystery yet. It premieres Tuesday, September 9th on Hulu/Disney+.
✪ “Upload: Season 4” Trailer: Robbie Amell Faces His Final Digital Afterlife in Final Season of Greg Daniels’ Clever Sci-Fi Comedy — Premieres August 25th on Prime Video
Amazon's comedy series Upload might not have the same level of fandom as Greg Daniels’ previous work (Parks and Recreation, The Office, King of the Hill), but the Emmy-winning creator has nevertheless built a show that many viewers consider one of streaming’s most underrated gems.
As something of a passion project, Daniels has said he always wanted to create a show about the afterlife. Upload takes place in the not-too-distant future, where people can “upload” their consciousness into a digital heaven after they’ve passed on. The problem is, only a select few can afford to live in a luxurious afterlife, while less fortunate souls are left stuck in a bargain-basement version of eternity.
Robbie Amell stars as Nathan Brown, a computer engineer who, after an unfortunate accident, finds himself digitally uploaded into the ultra-expensive Lakeview paradise. There, he soon finds himself caught in a love triangle between his wealthy girlfriend (Allegra Edwards) and his Lakeview digital handler (Andy Allo)—both of whom are still very much alive in the real world.
Over the course of three seasons, Nathan finds himself enjoying the perks of a digitalized afterlife, falling in love with a woman far less materialistic than his former girlfriend, becoming entangled in a tech conspiracy surrounding his own surprise murder, being re-uploaded into a new human body to lead a digital revolution, and finally facing the real threat of being wiped from existence for good.
Season 4 serves as the final cap to the series, consisting of just four episodes—a resolution for fans who have been eagerly waiting to see how Nathan’s story ultimately ends, as he has now formed true friendships with people willing to fight to see him survive a new A.I. movement, both in the digital world and beyond.
Also starring Zainab Johnson, Owen Daniels, Kevin Bigley, and Josh Banday, Upload: Season 4 (the final season) is slated to premiere next week, starting Monday, August 25th, only on Prime Video.
⇩ Additional Trailers:
✪ “Atomic” U.K. Trailer: Alfie Allen and Shazad Latif Team Up for a High-Stakes Uranium Smuggling Chase in Explosive New British Thriller Series — Premieres August 28th on Sky in the U.K.
When a carefree smuggler (Alfie Allen) collides with a mysterious fugitive (Shazad Latif), the two are thrust into a perilous mission hauling stolen uranium across North Africa—sparking a globe-trotting chase with the CIA, MI6, and ruthless cartels in hot pursuit. Co-starring Samira Wiley and Brian Gleeson, this explosive new British thriller series proves the most unstable element isn’t uranium, it’s two unlikely partners on the run. Premiering Thursday, August 28th on Sky in the U.K.
✪ “The Iris Affair” U.K. Trailer: Niamh Algar and Tom Hollander Clash in Neil Cross’ Deadly Cat-and-Mouse Thriller Series — Premieres This Fall on Sky and NOW in the U.K.
From Luther creator Neil Cross comes this taut British thriller series starring Niamh Algar and Tom Hollander. What begins as a deadly game of hide-and-seek unfolds into a high-stakes battle of wits, as two brilliant adversaries clash across Italy in a pursuit where every move could be the last. The Iris Affair premieres this fall on Sky and NOW in the U.K.
✪ “The Diplomat: Season 3” New Teaser: Allison Janney Takes the Oval Office Opposite Keri Russell in Debora Cahn’s High-Stakes Political Thriller Series — Premieres October 16th on Netflix
It’s a West Wing reunion with Bradley Whitford joining Allison Janney in Netflix’s political powerhouse drama. After the shocking Season 2 finale, Vice President Grace Penn (Janney) seizes the Oval Office just as U.S. diplomat Kate Wyler (Keri Russell) uncovers her role in orchestrating a plot to ignite a war. With Penn now wielding presidential power and her husband Todd (Whitford) by her side, Wyler faces her most dangerous political battle yet. Created by West Wing alum Debora Cahn and co-starring Rufus Sewell, Rory Kinnear, Ato Essandoh, David Gyasi, and Ali Ahn, Season 3 of The Diplomat is now slated to premiere Thursday, October 16th on Netflix.
✪ “Mussolini: Son of the Century” U.S. Trailer: Luca Marinelli Stars in Joe Wright’s Bold Fascist Rise Saga — Premieres September 10th on MUBI
From BAFTA-winning director Joe Wright (Atonement, Darkest Hour) comes an audacious eight-part saga tracing Benito Mussolini’s ruthless ascent—from firebrand socialist journalist to Italy’s fascist dictator. Starring Luca Marinelli (The Eight Mountains), this small-screen adaptation of Antonio Scurati’s award-winning novel fuses bold visuals, a hypermodern style, and a pulse-pounding score by Tom Rowlands, of The Chemical Brothers. Mussolini: Son of the Century premieres Wednesday, September 10th on MUBI, with new episodes every Wednesday.
✪ “Wednesday: Season 2: Part 2” Trailer: Wednesday (Jenna Ortega) Uncovers Addams Family Secrets to Save Enid (Emma Myers) — Premieres September 3rd on Netflix
Determined to rewrite fate and prevent Enid’s death (Emma Myers), Wednesday (Jenna Ortega) digs into a buried chapter of the Addams family’s past... one that links her darkest fears straight back to Tyler (Hunter Doohan). Wednesday: Season 2: Part 2 premieres Wednesday, September 3rd, only on Netflix.
✪ “Haunted Hotel” Trailer: Will Forte and Eliza Coupe Lead This New Animated Comedy Series From ‘Rick and Morty’ Writer Matt Roller — Premieres September 19th on Netflix
From Rick and Morty writer Matt Roller comes a spirited new animated comedy about a single mom trying to keep her haunted hotel afloat—with “help” from her estranged brother, now one of the resident ghosts who insists the other phantoms actually have some pretty solid ideas. Featuring the voices of Will Forte, Eliza Coupe, Skyler Gisondo, Natalie Palamides, and Jimmi Simpson, Haunted Hotel checks in on Friday, September 19th, only on Netflix.
✪ “Mr. Scorsese” First Look Clip: New Docuseries Explores Martin Scorsese’s Life, Legacy, and Cinema-Shaping Career — Premieres October 17th on Apple TV+
The man, the movies, and the city that shaped them. From acclaimed director Rebecca Miller comes a five-part documentary event exploring the life and legacy of Martin Scorsese—told through his films, his family, and his New York roots. With unprecedented access to Scorsese’s personal archives, the docuseries features candid conversations with the filmmaker alongside never-before-seen interviews with his collaborators and friends, and his own family— charting his journey from NYU student films to modern masterpieces. Premieres Friday, October 17th on Apple TV+.
✪ Katrina: Come Hell and High Water Trailer: Netflix Revisits Hurricane Katrina 20 Years Later in Harrowing Three-Part Docuseries — Premieres August 27th on Netflix
A brutal storm became a man-made disaster. This three-part docuseries revisits Hurricane Katrina twenty years later, as the people of New Orleans share harrowing first-person accounts of survival, loss, and resilience. Through never-before-seen archival footage and deeply personal testimony, the series exposes the government failures that left the city defenseless, the catastrophic aftermath of the levees breaking, and the long road to recovery that forever reshaped New Orleans. Katrina: Come Hell and High Water premieres Wednesday, August 27th on Netflix.