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Coming-of-age drama “Penelope,” produced by Duplass Brothers Productions, is set to launch on pay TV platform Sky and streaming service Now in the U.K. and Ireland, following a deal with Fremantle.

The eight-part series, created by Mark Duplass (“The Morning Show”) and Mel Eslyn, follows Penelope, played by Megan Stott, a 16-year-old who feels out of place in modern society and is drawn into the unknown wilderness, where she begins to form a new life for herself.

Penelope is caught up in the modern world’s technology, pacing and pressure, but something is missing, and things feel off, she can’t quite put it into words. On the surface, her life seems pretty great, while inside, there’s a fierceness that’s been brewing, a calling towards a new way of being.

After a chance encounter with a wolf and a rabbit on a school camping trip, the call...

Equipped with a painfully dull story and a hopelessly meandering message, “Aftermath” is a generic action-thriller, salvaged only by its well-choreographed action set pieces. Written by Nathan Graham Davis and directed by Patrick Lussier, the film loses momentum whenever it tries to be more than a “Die Hard” rip-off. The evasive non-commitment in its unserious commentary over a serious issue like armed human resources being manipulated by decisions taken from an armchair makes the film’s attempts to take it as something else than your usual run-of-the-mill hostage action thriller futile. It does work when you accept it for what it is: your usual run-of-the-mill hostage action thriller. There is some B-Movie schlock to be enjoyed, in that way.

Aftermath (2024) Movie Synopsis and Plot Summary: A Veteran’s Battle on the Homefront

Eric Daniels (Dylan Sprouse), a young war veteran, tries to get his life on track in the ‘normal’ world.

The best in independent film and new television shows were honored at the 2025 Independent Spirit Awards and we have the full winners list here.

Anora and I Saw the TV Glow led the film nominations with five nods each while Shogun led the television nominations with five nods as well.

In the end, Anora and Baby Reindeer led their respective categories with three wins each!

Make sure to check out the recap of every celeb who attended the event and take a look at our Best Dressed list as well.

Keep reading to find out more…

Scroll down for the full list of winners…

Best Feature

Anora – Winner

Producers: Sean Baker, Alex Coco, Samantha Quan

I Saw the TV Glow

Producers: Ali Herting, Sam Intili, Dave McCary, Emma Stone, Sarah Winshall

Nickel Boys

Producers: Joslyn Barnes, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, David Levine

Sing Sing

Producers: Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar, Monique Walton...

The 2025 Film Independent Spirit Awards — the top awards event for the independent film and television community — were handed out on Saturday from the beach in Santa Monica, Calif.

The ceremony, hosted by Saturday Night Live vet Aidy Bryant for the second year in the row, was streamed live on the IMDb and Film Independent YouTube channels at 5 pm Et, and across other social platforms.

More from TVLineSAG Awards 2025: The Penguin, Shōgun and Only Murders in the Building Among TV WinnersNAACP Image Awards: Quinta Brunson, Jennifer Hudson and Fight Night Win BigWriters Guild Awards 2025: Shōgun, The Penguin and Hacks...

The action genre is widely popular, whether in theaters, streaming, or on TV. This is often proven in the Netflix charts, and Dylan Sprouse and Mason Gooding's latest action film doesn't disappoint.

Netflix has had a series of hit action original movies, including 2020's Extraction, 2021's Red Notice, which is Netflix's most popular film in the English language, and 2022's The Gray Man. However, not all films are Netflix originals, and Netflix has a lot of success with licensed action films, including Mission: Impossible, currently in the charts. Now a new hybrid released film, 2024's Aftermath, has become a hit globally, per Tudum.

RelatedScott Foley's New Rom-Com From Mean Girls Director Tops Netflix's Valentine's Day Chart

Before announcing that he would be returning for Scream 7, Scott Foley was cast in a rom-com.

Aftermath just hit Netflix after a late 2024 limited release in theaters and digital. The movie...

A war veteran spending some quality time with his little sister is forced to reckon with his past when armed militants take an entire bridge full of civilians hostage during a crowded Boston commute. As he relies on his elite military training, the former army ranger battles not only the hostage keepers but his traumatic wartime memories. Directed by Patrick Lussier (Play Dead) and written by Nathan Graham Davis (Cactus Jack), the 2024 movie Aftermath stars Dylan Sprouse, Megan Stott, and Dichen Lachman.

Stream it now.

When a heavily armed group of aggressors takes over Boston’s Tobin Bridge, former army ranger Eric (Sprouse) and his teen sister, Maddie (Stott), are caught in the cross fire. As the so-called vigilantes take everyone on the bridge hostage, Eric uses his military training to thwart them at every turn. As Eric attempts to save the lives of countless Boston commuters and uncover the...

Netflix’s slate of under-the-radar action movies has delivered another brutal success with Aftermath, an action thriller that has been previously compared to Die Hard by some. The film arrived on Netflix earlier this week following its blink-and-you-miss-it limited theatrical release in November 2024, and immediately jumped up to #2 in the movie chart, seemingly bringing another blistering thrill ride to the streamer to follow in the footsteps of 2024’s Rebel Ridge and Carry-On.

Aftermath stars Dylan Sprouse and Mason Gooding, with Patrick Lussier in the director’s chair. The synopsis of the movie reads: “Trapped on Boston's Tobin Bridge after a bomb explodes, a former Army Ranger must use his elite training to save his sister and fellow hostages from a group of vengeful ex-military contractors led by an unhinged war criminal.”

This all sounds to be a very thrilling and tense scenario, and one that will instantly prick up the...

Cooper Raiff’s film “Cha Cha Real Smooth” sold to Apple for $15 million in 2022, but his wasn’t the first, nor the last to notch such a deal at a festival. That’s not to say it was easy, but with Raiff’s new project, he doesn’t even have that track record to fall back on.

Raiff’s latest project is “Hal & Harper,” an 8-part dramedy series being presented in Sundance’s Episodic section. The series stars Lili Reinhart, Mark Ruffalo, Betty Gilpin, and Raiff, and is one of the higher profile series to ever play in Park City. The rub is, there’s very little precedent for an Episodic project to find a distributor on the sales market at Sundance. People aren’t coming to Sundance with a pot of money set aside to buy shows the way they are with movies. And for all the idiosyncratic series out there,...

Netflix has very much been in the action business lately, with hits like Rebel Ridge and Carry-On cementing the streamer as one to watch when it comes to the popular genre. Now, the platform has gotten its hands on another explosive action flick...though it may not be quite the same critical slam-dunk as Aaron Pierre’s revenge thriller or Taron Egerton’s gripping Christmas adventure. Starring former Disney actor and Big Daddy star Dylan Sprouse, Aftermath finds the actor leading the charge as a war veteran suffering from Ptsd who finds himself being held hostage on Boston's Tobin Memorial Bridge by a group of ex-military revolutionists. It sounds like they made a classic action movie mistake.

Aftermath is all set to land on Netflix on February 10, 2025 (via What's on Netflix), this B-movie action delight comes courtesy of director Patrick Lussier, who is best known for helming the likes of...

Exclusive: Ora Duplass and Chosen Jacobs (It) will lead Their Town, a YA romantic two-hander from director Katie Aselton (Mack & Rita) and Duplass Brothers Productions.

The project is a family affair, as Aselton is Duplass’ mother and is working from a script by husband Mark Duplass. Shot in Bangor, Maine, the film centers on teenagers Abby (Duplass) and Matt (Jacobs). When Abby’s boyfriend unexpectedly drops out of the high school play, she is forced to help outlier Matt step into the role opposite her. Over the course of a long night wandering their small town, the two examine their futures and unearth surprises from their past.

Supporting cast includes Daveed Diggs (Hamilton), Jeffrey Self (Search Party), Kim Shaw (You!), Leonardo Nam (Westworld), and William Atticus Parker (Atrabilious). Producers included Mark Duplass, Jay Duplass, Mel Eslyn, and Shuli Harel for Duplass Brothers Productions, as well as Aselton and Mary Budd.

Nominations for the 2025 Independent Spirit Awards are in!

The awards show celebrates films budgeted at less than $30 million to produce and must be considered “independent.” There are also TV categories!

For the films, Anora and I Saw the TV Glow got six nominations each. Shogun got the most TV nominations with five total.

The show will take place on Saturday, February 22, 2025, with Aidy Bryant hosting.

Keep reading to find out more…

Scroll down for the full list of nominees…

Best Feature

Anora

Producers: Sean Baker, Alex Coco, Samantha Quan

I Saw the TV Glow

Producers: Ali Herting, Sam Intili, Dave McCary, Emma Stone, Sarah Winshall

Nickel Boys

Producers: Joslyn Barnes, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, David Levine

Sing Sing

Producers: Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar, Monique Walton

The Substance

Producers: Tim Bevan, Coralie Fargeat, Eric Fellner

Best First Feature

Dìdi

Director/Producer: Sean Wang

Producers: Valerie Bush, Carlos López Estrada, Josh Peters...

Nominees for the 2025 Film Independent Spirit Awards — the premiere awards event for the independent film and television community — were announced on Wednesday morning, and FX’s Shōgun led the TV pack with five total contenders.

It was followed closely by Netflix’s Baby Reindeer and FX’s English Teacher, each of which netted four nods.

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Disclaimer* is a psychological thriller drama series created by Alfonso Cuarón. Based on the 2015 novel of the same name by author Renée Knight, the Apple TV+ series follows Catherine Ravenscroft, a famed documentary journalist with a picture-perfect family who discovers that she is a main character in a novel that threatens to reveal her darkest secret that she has tried to keep hidden all her life. Disclaimer* stars Cate Blanchett, Leila George, Kevin Kline, Sacha Baron Cohen, Adam El Hagar, Lesley Manville, Louis Partridge, Indira Varma, and Kodi Smit-McPhee. So, if you loved the thrilling mystery, intense narrative, and compelling characters in Disclaimer* here are some similar shows you should check out next.

Sharp Objects (Max & Rent on Prime Video) Credit – HBO

Sharp Objects is a psychological mystery thriller drama miniseries created by Marti Noxon. Based on the...

Dylan Sprouse’s Gritty Return in Aftermath Former child star Dylan Sprouse, widely recognized for his roles in Big Daddy and the Disney Channel hit The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, is poised for a comeback in the upcoming action thriller Aftermath. This film marks a significant shift from the lighthearted roles Sprouse became famous for in his youth, as he now embraces a more mature, gritty persona in his early 30s. In Aftermath, Sprouse portrays Eric, a war veteran suffering from Ptsd, a challenging and emotional role that pushes him into new territory as an actor. The plot centers around Eric and his younger sister Madeleine, played by Megan Stott, who is best known for her work in Penelope. The siblings are driving home from Boston’s Tobin Bridge when they find themselves caught in an unforeseen and dangerous situation—a nightmarish traffic jam. A group of armed men,...

"You really think you can stop 'em?" "I know I can." Voltage Pictures has unveiled an official trailer for an action thriller survival film called Aftermath, also known as simply The Bridge for release in a few other countries. From director Patrick Lussier, this is set for release in November including arriving on digital VOD right away. Trapped on Boston's Tobin Bridge after a bomb explodes, a former Army Ranger must use his elite training to save his sister and all the other hostages from a group of vengeful ex-military contractors that are led by an unhinged war criminal. Aftermath stars Dylan Sprouse, Mason Gooding, Dichen Lachman, Mark Irvingsen, Shahjehan Khan, Will Lyman, & Megan Stott. It reminds me of the other trapped-on-a-bridge action thriller from this week called Armor starring Stallone. Though I gotta say - this film looks way better. A real big bridge with tons of people, lots of trickery,...

If you expected Penelope to be a soothing, meditative, thoughtful jaunt into the wilderness, the independently financed series, created by Mark Duplass and showrunner Mel Eslyn, definitely delivered. Our titular hero (Megan Stott) hugs moss-covered trees, befriends a cute baby bear cub, and falls for a friendly fellow camper. But in addition to gorgeous vistas and an ode to the freedom of leaving the modern world behind, Penelope also serves up an unexpected cliff-hanger in the eighth and final episode that leaves us with more questions than answers.

If you’ve finished the season but aren’t quite ready to head out of the woods, read on to delve into that surprising conclusion.

Yes. Mother Nature has been good to Penelope throughout her journey, but in the finale, she shows Penelope her ruthless side. Delirious from cold, exhaustion, and injuries from a brutal cougar attack, Penelope is running through the...

Penelope is Netflix's newest coming-of-age series and represents the first leading role for its young actress. Created by award-winning producer Mel Eslyn and The Morning Show's star Mark Duplass, the show stars a small but talented cast. The narrative follows Penelope, a contemporary teen who feels out of place within her community of peers and decides to escape into the wilderness. Cutting off her family and friends, the teenager enjoys her own and nature's company before meeting fellow travelers who show her what true belonging is.

Although Penelope feels a pull to nature, it is in her found connections that she finds peace and purpose. The Netflix 2024 TV show highlights that nature can teach humans a way back to each other, even in a modern world. Penelope's character represents a severed link that promises to be healed in the trees and through interactions with peculiar characters, like an elder nomad,...

For decades, Mark Duplass has dipped his toe time and again into the water of roughly every form of media, whether onscreen, as a director, or as a producer on the vast number of titles inhabiting the library that is Duplass Brothers Productions.

Continue reading ‘Penelope’: Mark Duplass, Mel Eslyn & Megan Stott Talk The Journey To Bring The Drama To Life, Behind-The-Scenes & The Future [Interview] at The Playlist.

Penelope creator Mark Duplass went about getting the eight-episode drama made in a way that’s nearly unheard of.

One of Netflix’s latest is a show called Penelope, which centers around a teenage girl, played by Megan Stott. The title character, who doesn’t feel at all at home in modern-day culture, escapes to a simpler life in the wilderness.

Mark Duplass on Penelope’s Uncommon Development and Season 2 Prospects Read full article on The Direct.

Netflix's Penelope ends with a shocking discovery for the titular character, making viewers reflect on her journey into the wilderness. 

The eight-episode coming-of-age drama series revolves around the story of Penelope (Megan Stott), who decides to leave home and live in the wilderness of Cascade National Park for reasons unknown. 

Penelope's Plot Explained: What Happened to Her? Read full article on The Direct.

Megan Stott leads Penelope as its titular character, marking a major milestone in the young actress' career. 

The Netflix coming-of-age drama is Stott's first lead role in a major TV series or movie, as she takes on the part of a 16-year-old who leaves behind the big city to disconnect from the modern world and live amongst the wilderness. 

All eight episodes of the Stott-led streaming series are available now on Netflix. 

Read full article on The Direct.

“Penelope,” a new TV series that premiered Tuesday on Netflix, follows the story of a 16-year-old girl who leaves her life behind to build a new one closer to nature.

The premise sounds like a parent’s worst nightmare. It likely would have been handled far more scandalously in other creative hands. But the new teen drama from Mark Duplass and Mel Eslyn, starring “Little Fires Everywhere” standout Megan Stott, makes a bolder statement about young life through its quieter approach.

“This show is about Penelope’s unraveling, and having that moment where she’s creating a new version of herself that she can look at and say, ‘This is totally me,’” Stott told TheWrap. “I want people to be able to watch and reflect on themselves and their lives, and find things that really help set that fire inside of them.”

Duplass wrote “Penelope” during the Covid pandemic lockdowns,...

There are people who go camping, and there are people who do not, under any circumstances, go camping. The desire to flee into the woods can stem from the curiosity or the challenge; the desire to see something new, find something peaceful, or experience something separated from modern society’s day-to-day standards. Meanwhile, staying away from the woods can sometimes be a bad thing. It can come from a lack of curiosity or an unwillingness to be challenged. But it can also be rooted in self-awareness and assurance. Maybe those who do not want to sleep in the cold have already slept in the cold — when their camp-eager friends promised they remembered the blankets. Maybe they’ve already hiked the hills, crossed the rivers, and started the fires, gleaning enough from doing it before to know they don’t need to do it again. Maybe they’re allergic to grass,...

The new series “Penelope,” premiering Tuesday on Netflix, opens with a 16-year-old girl dancing at an outdoor silent disco. Feeling out of place, she tries to push past the awkwardness of dancing in a room with her summer camp peers. But Penelope’s attentions always drift to the surrounding wilderness.

It’s a quieter start than the typical show premiering on the streaming home of the black comedy-thriller “Baby Reindeer,” but its impact lingers. And creators Mark Duplass and Mel Eslyn hope their thought-provoking teen drama can show the industry that middle-budget television still has a place in an IP-ridden ecosystem — even if creators have to first fund the projects on their own.

“This is the project that I felt most passionately needed to be made and that could be, maybe, my legacy,” Duplass told TheWrap. “So while it was way more expensive than anything I’ve self-financed, and [it was] f...

Mel Eslyn’s show Penelope tells the story of a teenage girl seeking escape in the woods. Created for Netflix, the series follows 16-year-old Penelope as she leaves her family camping trip behind and strikes out alone into the natural world.

Penelope lives an ordinary life until she has an experience during a silent disco that changes something inside her. As she wanders away from the other campers, she feels a strong pull into the surrounding forest. From there, Penelope embarks on a journey of self-discovery as she navigates life on her own terms, disconnected from technology and the expectations of others.

Through quietly expressive performances and breathtaking scenery, the show immerses viewers in Penelope’s experience. We feel her sense of wonder at new places and people while also understanding the anxieties of her situation. Eslyn’s direction transports us alongside Penelope to see what she discovers about herself along the way.

Hulu’s adaptation of Little Fires Everywhere premiered at the very beginning of the 2020 Covid lockdown, and although it was nominated for several big Emmys that fall, the miniseries has become very fuzzy in my memory. One thing I do remember, however, is that in selecting the daughters of Reese Witherspoon’s character, the casting team found a pair of young actresses — Jade Pettyjohn and Megan Stott — who absolutely bore an uncanny resemblance to Reese Witherspoon.

Actually, I’d forgotten even that detail before sitting down to watch the new Netflix drama Penelope and immediately recognizing Stott — in large part because, if you’re going to make what is essentially an eight-part YA version of Wild, selecting a certifiable Reese Witherspoon doppelgänger as your lead makes a lot of sense.

Presumably, it isn’t wholly a coincidence. Penelope was created by Mark Duplass, who co-stars with Witherspoon on The Morning Show,...

Fremantle has taken global distribution rights on Mark Duplass and Mel Eslyn’s Netflix series Penelope.

The high-end show, which premiered at Sundance, will launch tomorrow on Netflix U.S. but worldwide rights have been up for grabs.

Penelope follows the eponymous lead, played by Megan Stott, a 16-year-old who feels out of place in modern society and is drawn into the unknown wilderness, where she begins to form a new life for herself. Like most teenagers today, Penelope is caught up in the modern world’s technology, pacing and pressure. But something is missing, and things feel off, she can’t quite put it into words. On the surface, her life seems pretty great, while inside, there’s a fierceness that’s been brewing, a calling towards a new way of being.

Alongside Megan Stott, the cast also includes Austin Abrams; Krisha Fairchild and Rhenzy Feliz.

Fremantle is selling outside of the U.S. and the move builds on its strategy to partner on streamer shows that can be sold to other territories. One of its key MIPCOM titles will be Costiera, the Jesse Williams-starring Prime Video Italy series that is currently without a UK or U.S. buyer.

“Penelope is very dear to our hearts and we wouldn’t trust her to just anyone,” said Duplass and Eslyn. “We are grateful to have found partners that understand, support and encourage the story we are trying to tell and the larger conversation we are hoping to inspire.”

Duplass and Eslyn executive produce alongside Jay Duplass and Shuli Harel of Duplass Brothers Productions. Eslyn also directs and serves as showrunner. Fremantle is handling global distribution.

TV giant Fremantle has acquired the worldwide rights to “Penelope,” the coming-of-age indie drama produced by Duplass Brothers Productions

Created by Mark Duplass and Mel Eslyn, the 8-part series premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival and is set to launch on Netflix in the U.S. on Sep. 24.

The series follows Penelope, played by Megan Stott, a 16-year-old who feels out of place in modern society and is drawn into the unknown wilderness, where she begins to form a new life for herself in a National Forest.

Alongside Stott, the cast also includes Austin Abrams, Krisha Fairchild and Rhenzy Feliz.

“It is an honour to be partnering with the esteemed Duplass Brothers to introduce ‘Penelope’ to the world. This premium, coming-of-age series has strong emotional heart and beautiful production values, all whilst addressing important, timely and relatable issues that consume our everyday lives” said Rebecca Dundon, senior vice president of scripted content for international Fremantle.

September is quickly coming to an end, and spooky season is about to kick it into high gear. That said, Netflix doesn't have too many spooky or scary additions just yet. This week, their new movies and shows include a new drama series, a comedy series, and a new documentary.

First up this week is Penelope! The new drama hits Netflix on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024 and follows a young girl who leaves her modern life when she is pulled into the wild and starts her new life. This coming-of-age wilderness story comes from Mark Duplass and stars Megan Stott, Austin Abrams, and Cynthia Geary.

Take a look at the trailer here:

Nobody Wants This is also headed to Netflix this week. The comedy series starring Kristen Bell and Adam Brody comes to Netflix on Thursday, Sept. 26. The show follows a less-than-traditional rabbi and an agnostic sex podcaster as they meet and start a relationship.

When you purchase through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

The Undoing is adapted from Jean Hanff Korelitz‘s 2014 novel titled You Should Have Known. Adapted into a miniseries by David E. Kelly, the HBO series stars Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant in the lead roles and it follows a seemingly perfect couple on the brink of unraveling, as a murder case threatens their lives and status in society. The Undoing also stars Matilda De Angelis, Donald Sutherland, Lily Rabe, Noah Jupe, Ismael Cruz Córdova, Édgar Ramírez. So, if you loved the dysfunctional family, a thrilling mystery, and compelling characters in The Undoing here are some similar shows you should check out next.

The Perfect Couple (Netflix) Credit – Netflix

The Perfect Couple is a mystery thriller crime drama series created by Jenna Lamia. Based on the 2018 novel of the same name by author Elin Hilderbrand, the Netflix series follows the story of Amelia,...

The Perfect Couple is a mystery crime drama series created by Jenna Lamia. Based on the 2018 novel of the same name by author Elin Hilderbrand, the Netflix series follows the story of Amelia, a young woman who is getting ready to marry into the wealthy Winbury family but after a dead body is found on their property all of them become suspects which causes some dark secrets to come out. The Perfect Couple stars Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Meghann Fahy, Eve Hewson, Dakota Fanning, Ishaan Khattar, Billy Howle, and Jack Reynor. So, if you loved the mystery, toxic relationships, and a thrilling story in The Perfect Couple here are some similar shows you should check out next.

Big Little Lies (Max & Rent on Prime Video) Credit – HBO

Big Little Lies is a mystery dark comedy-drama series created by David E. Kelley. Based on the 2014 novel of the same name by author Liane Moriarty,...

The Accident is a Mexican thriller drama series written by Leonardo Padrón. The Netflix series revolves around a tragic accident that changes the lives of several families leaving them with their soul crippling guilt and resentment which leads them down the path of violence. The Accident stars Ana Claudia Talancón, Sebastian Martínez, Alberto Guerra, Eréndira Ibarra, Shaní Lozano, Silverio Palacios, Erick Elías, Erik Hayser, and Valentina Acosta. So, if you loved the thrilling story, compelling characters, and satisfying mystery in The Accident here are some similar shows you should check out next.

Who Killed Sara? (Netflix) Credit – Netflix

Who Killed Sara? is a Mexican mystery crime thriller series created by José Ignacio Valenzuela. The Netflix series follows the story of Álex Guzmán, a man who spent 18 years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit and now that he is out, he is determined to find who killed his...

"It's like – I'm being called... Please don't go looking for me." Out into the forest we go.

Mark Duplass and Mel Eslyn are venturing into the wilderness with teen runaway tale “Penelope.”

The independently-financed series, which premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, has found a home at Netflix. Duplass Brothers’ production banner head Eslyn is the showrunner of the series, which she co-wrote with Mark Duplass. “Little Fires Everywhere” alum Megan Stott leads the show.

The official synopsis reads: “Feeling out of place in the modern world, 16-year-old Penelope (Stott) finds herself almost cosmically drawn to nature. With no plan in place, she leaves her family behind for the beguiling wilderness of Washington State, where she begins to establish a different kind of life for herself. As Penelope forges an alternative life for herself, survivalism and coming-of-age go hand-in-hand as she learns by trial and error.”

“Euphoria” actor Austin Abrams co-stars in the pilot.

The series was independently produced by Duplass Brothers Productions, and is is executive...

Well-known American filmmaker and actor Mark Duplass partnered with Netflix to create a teen drama series called Penelope. It's set to be released on the streaming platform on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024. More on this upcoming Netflix show below.

Penelope comes from Duplass's Duplass Brothers Productions. You might recognize Duplass from his acting work in the movies Creep, Creep 2, Safety Not Guaranteed, Tammy, The Lazarus Effect, Tully, Bombshell and Biosphere. He also starred in the TV sitcom The League, the romantic comedy series The Mindy Project, the comedy-drama series Togetherness and the legal drama Goliath. He currently stars in Apple TV+'s drama series The Morning Show.

Duplass and Mel Eslyn created the teen drama. They wrote the scripts together, and Eslyn also directed the episodes. In addition, Eslyn serves as the series showrunner. Executive producers include Duplass's brother, Jay Duplass, and Shuli Harel.

Little Fires Everywhere -- Courtesy of Hulu

Megan Stott,...

Netflix has set “Penelope,” a coming-of-age series from Duplass Brothers Productions, for a Sept. 24 premiere in the U.S.

The series is led by Megan Stott (“Little Fires Everywhere”), who plays the title role. Per the official logline, Penelope is “a 16-year-old girl who, feeling deeply out of place in her contemporary surroundings, leaves her life and family behind and treks into the wilds of Washington State. As she establishes an alternative life for herself, survivalism and coming-of-age coalesce in this poignant journey toward self-discovery.”

Alongside Stott, the cast includes Austin Abrams and Krisha Fairchild (“Krisha”).

Mark Duplass co-created the series with showrunner Mel Eslyn (“Biosphere”), president of Duplass Brothers Productions, which independently financed “Penelope” before taking it to Netflix. The project is the flagship of their new focus on indie television in response to the decline of Peak TV.

Speaking to Variety in March, before “Penelope” landed at Netflix,...

Exclusive: Manager and producer Doreen Wilcox Little has joined Echo Lake Entertainment after more than a decade at Anonymous Content.

A protégé of Steve Golin, Wilcox Little executive produced Killer Joe during her run at Anonymous, the thrilling drama directed by her late client Oscar winner William Friedkin, starring Matthew McConaughey. She was also an EP on Mapplethorpe, the biopic about the iconic photographer, directed by award-winning documentary filmmaker Ondi Timoner. Wilcox Little’s film credits include the adaptation of Mason Deaver’s YA novel, I Wish You All The Best, written and directed by her client Tommy Dorfman. Alongside the Oscar-winning producers at Macro, Wilcox Little is currently producing I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter for Orion Pictures. The film adaptation of the popular novel is being directed by Oscar-nominated actress America Ferrera this year.

Wilcox Little’s client roster includes notable actors such as Sophie Thatcher, known for her roles in Yellowjackets,...

Penelope, the pandemic-written, independently financed and produced young-adult series from co-creators Mark Duplass and Mel Eslyn, has landed a distributor.

Netflix acquired U.S. rights to the series’ eight-episode first season, the duo announced Sunday while appearing at SeriesFest. Duplass called the six-month process of finding a distributor for the show following its debut at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival “insane” and told the Denver crowd that “a lot of people were very, very interested” in the series and thus “had a lot of different kinds of offers.”

“We’ve done independent films before, where you have a few hundred thousand dollars, and we go out, make the film and sell it. There really isn’t a model yet of independently made television where you make the whole season and try to sell it,” he said of the process of independently funding and then distributing Penelope. “From taking out the show...

The intricacies of a green card marriage are uncovered in romantic dramedy “Paper Marriage,” executive produced by the Duplass Brothers.

The indie feature is written and directed by Jeff Man, a longtime mentee of Jay Duplass. Man also leads the film as an unemployed man who agrees to marry a Chinese immigrant (Effy Han) facing deportation so she can stay in the U.S. Per the official synopsis, during the couples’ year-long charade, they tiptoe around each other’s differences. As quiet moments turn into clashes, they navigate through their awkwardness and are forced to learn to work together. This is Man’s feature directorial debut.

“I’ve been working closely with Jeff Man for 13 years on everything I’ve created, and I’m so thrilled to now be a part of his feature film debut,” Jay Duplass said.

“Paper Marriage” will have its world premiere May 5 at the Vc...

What if finding out the truth got you killed?

Duplass Brothers Productions backs the looks-to-be-chilling Netflix docuseries “American Conspiracy: The Octopus Murders,” which reexamines the death of West Virginian journalist Danny Casolaro. From the producers of “Wild Wild Country,” the series uncovers the organization known as the “octopus,” comprised of former government officials whose “tentacles” reach every part of the U.S. That was thanks to the software program Promis, which was used by the CIA.

The official synopsis for the four-part docuseries reads: “When journalist Danny Casolaro was found dead in a hotel bathtub, police ruled it a suicide. But his family and colleagues believe he may have been murdered for investigating a conspiracy he called ‘The Octopus,’ a hidden organization connected to stolen government spy software, a string of unsolved murders, and some of the biggest political scandals of the 20th century. Years later, researcher Christian Hansen pushes...

Yaya (played by Camryn Jones) just wants to walk to school with her boyfriend. Living on the South Side of Chicago in a house overflowing with family members, the only thing that gets the exhausted teen out of bed every morning is knowing Dre (Travis Wolfe Jr.) will be waiting on her stoop. The only issue: her protective brother, Mouse (Victor Musoni), doesn’t approve. He thinks her friends aren’t a good influence — they show up late to school too often, eat too much junk food, and don’t pay enough attention to their surroundings. Mouse, clearly, just wants his little sister to be safe, get good grades, and live a better life, but by intimidating Dre, he’s unwittingly snuffing out her one spark of joy — joy that manifests itself via her favorite hobby: dance.

Yaya loves to dance, and “Me/We” — one of three entries in Sundance’s 2024 Pilot Showcase,...

At this year’s Sundance Film Festival, the IndieWire team is endeavoring to take you into the heart of the festival experience, thanks to a series of rolling roundups that aim to synthesize each day, all the action, most of the drama, and the stuff everyone is talking about, in Park City and beyond.

Day Five

We’ll admit it: Day 5 at Sundance started on a bit of a slower note, at least over at IndieWire Editorial Condo No. 2, whose inhabitants were still processing both our (In)Famous Chili Party and/or Aaron Schimberg’s wild “A Different Man.” The first day after the festival’s opening weekend tends to spell a slower vibe, with many leaving after the first flush of premieres and parties, and Park City easing, ever so slowly, back into a more normal pace.

Though I’d already seen Richard Linklater’s sexy action comedy “Hit Man...

Mark Duplass and producing partner Mel Eslyn are continuing their Sundance reign with the debut of series “Penelope.”

The entirely independently financed and produced series follows the titular Penelope (Megan Stott), a teen who feels more connected with nature than she does her own family. As Penelope escapes into the wilderness, she seeks to find herself in the coming-of-age indie drama.

Duplass and Eslyn co-created and co-wrote the series, which is seeking a distributor at the festival. CAA is handling sales. The Duplass Brothers formerly debuted adult animated series “Animals,” which premiered at 2016 Sundance in the early days of the festival expanding to include episodics.

The official synopsis reads: Feeling out of place in the modern world, 16-year-old Penelope (Stott) finds herself almost cosmically drawn to nature. With no plan in place, she leaves her family behind for the beguiling wilderness where she begins to establish a different kind of life for herself.

Jenna Ortega is a force to be reckoned with. The young starlet began her career with several bit parts in TV and movies in the early 2010s. By the middle of the decade, she enjoyed a stint on the "Richie Rich" series and appearances in "The Cookie Mobster" and "After Words." But it wasn't until her role as young Jane in "Jane the Virgin" that she began to turn a few heads. Then, in 2019, she starred as Ellie in Netflix's soapy crime drama "You," in which she dished up a star-turning performance. She went from promising talent to superstar overnight, so it's no wonder that she's become a household name. Everyone wants to work with her.

In the four years since her game-changing TV gig, she's landed roles in countless more projects, including Ti West's retro-slasher "X," the Dave Grohl-backed "Studio 666," and the award-nominated, Tim Burton-directed "Wednesday" series on Netflix.

Christine Ko (Dave), Malcolm Barrett (Genius: Aretha), Sally Pressman (Good Girls), Cedric Joe (Women of the Movement), Riki Lindhome (Another Period) and Tim Heidecker (Moonbase 8) are among 17 cast in Disney+’s Just Beyond, a supernatural anthology series from writer Seth Grahame-Smith and 20th Television, part of Disney TV Studios.

Gabriel Bateman (The Mosquito Coast), Cyrus Arnold (8-bit Christmas), Arjun Athalye (Are You Afraid of the Dark: Curse of the Shadows), Jack Gore (Things Heard and Seen), newcomer Logan Gray, Elisha Henig (Ramy), Rachel Marsh (NCIS: Los Angeles), Jy Prishkulnik (Escala), Megan Stott (Little Fires Everywhere), Henry Thomas (The Haunting of Bly Manor) and Izabela Vidovic (Wonder) round out the cast of the series based on the bestselling Boom! Studios graphic novel series from iconic children’s writer R.L. Stine (Goosebumps). They join previously announced series leads Mckenna Grace and Lexi Underwood.

2020-21 Disney+ Pilots & Series Orders

Written by Grahame-Smith,...

HBO Max’s “Generation” will return with new episodes starting June 17.

Rounding out Part 2 of Season 1, the series will launch three episodes on June 17, two on June 24 and two on July 1, with the finale premiering on July 8.

The half-hour dramedy series follows a diverse group of high school students exploring themselves and their sexuality in a conservative community.

The ensemble cast includes Nathanya Alexander, Chloe East, Nava Mau, Lukita Maxwell, Haley Sanchez, Uly Schlesinger, Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, Chase Sui Wonders, Justice Smith and Martha Plimpton, with recurring guest stars J. August Richards, Mary Birdsong, Alicia Coppola, Patricia De Leon, Diego Josef, Anthony Kevyan, Sydney Mae Diaz, John Ross Bowie, Marwan Salama, Marisela Zumbado and Sam Trammell.

“Generation” is created by Zelda Barnz and Daniel Barnz, who executive produce with Ben Barnz for We’re Not Brothers Productions, Lena Dunham for Good Thing Going Productions, Sharr White and John Melfi. Sono Patel co-executive produces,...

Imagine giving your kids free reign to make all the decisions, no matter how sugar-focused or adrenaline-propelled… That’s the premise of Miguel Arteta’s new film, Yes Day which puts the fate of a family in the hands of their kids. It’s a very fun Netflix film, with a fine cast and a very interesting premise.

We present this interview with Jennifer Garner & Edgar Ramírez for the new family Netflix film. Directed by Arteta, the film also stars Jenna Ortega, Megan Stott, Julian Lerner, June Diane Raphael, Fortune Feimster, Leonardo Lam, Nat Faxon, Ava Allan, Greg Cromer and Cass Buggé. Hayley Donaghy asks the questions.

Yes Day is out on Netflix right now.

Plot: Allison and Carlos decide to give their three kids a “yes day”, where for 24 hours the kids make the rules.

The post Jennifer Garner & Edgar Ramírez on giving the kids free reign in Netflix...

Variety's Awards Circuit is home to the official predictions for upcoming awards. Variety's Awards Circuit Prediction schedule consists of four phases, running all year long: Draft, Pre-Season, Regular Season and Post Season. Eligibility calendar and dates of awards will determine how long each phase lasts and will be displayed next to revision date.

To see all the latest predictions, of all the categories, in one place, visit The Collective

Draft>>>Pre Season>>>Regular Season>>>Post Season

2021 Golden Globe Predictions:

Best TV Movie/Limited Series

Updated: Jan. 11, 2021

Awards Commentary:

Last year, the HFPA somehow completely missed out on honoring HBO’s “Watchmen,” the critically acclaimed limited series that went on to dominate the Emmys. This year, the limited series race is stacked with contenders — too many worthy programs to all make the cut. But don’t keep your eye on any TV movies — in comparison to limited series, there aren’t...

Hulu’s “Little Fires Everywhere” adaptation opens with the upper-class Richardsons’ house ablaze. A fire truck pulls up to the curb as matriarch Elena (Reese Witherspoon) watches from the edge of her driveaway. But it is too late to save the stone structure, which is burning from almost every room within. It takes until the finale episode to reveal that unlike in the novel of the same name, Izzy (Megan Stott) runs away before setting the fires, leaving her siblings to finish the job. The production team collaborated closely with the late director Lynn Shelton not only on how to create the look of the exterior flames based on in which room the fire first started, but also on what interior elements to see burning, to represent that Elena’s carefully curated world has been destroyed in an act of defiance against her.

Shelton passed away on May 16. Weeks before her death,...

The Hulu limited series “Little Fires Everywhere” is the latest women-centered TV adaptation of an addictive novel, in this case written by Celeste Ng. Kerry Washington stars as Mia Warren, a single mom with a 16-year-old daughter who rents an apartment from Elena Richardson (Reese Witherspoon), an influential woman in the affluent, seemingly progressive town of Shaker Heights, Ohio. Taking place in the ’90s, the series tackles difficult conversations about race, privilege and motherhood, showing both how far we’ve come but also how little has changed in our societal politics over the years. Scroll down for our exclusive video interviews with some of the top Emmy contenders from the show.

“Little Fires Everywhere” also gives insight into Mia and Elena’s children and how they handle growing up. Mia’s daughter, Pearl (Lexi Underwood), is fiercely loyal but is also drawn to the comfort and security of the Richardson household.