Ghouls and gangsters, a royal musical, and more

Stars of David

By Nate Bloom, Stars of David Contributing Columnist

Editor’s Note: Persons in bold are deemed by Nate Bloom to be Jewish for the purpose of this column. Persons identifi ed as Jewish have at least one Jewish parent and were not raised in, or identify with, a faith other than Judaism. Converts to Judaism, of course, are also identified as Jewish.

The pandemic has long affected the production and/or release of films. Vaccines and safety protocols have eased the effect of the pandemic and this month sees the largest release of films in over a year. However, the number of new “scripted” series (broadcast or streaming) is still way down compared to prepandemic Octobers.

“The Addams Family 2,” an animated film, opens in theaters Oct. 1. Because of the Delta variant upsurge, it is also available via streaming rental on the 1st. Of course, there is a long line of Addams Family projects since the ’60s. This film is a sequel to a 2019 hit animated film. The returning (voice) cast includes Nick Kroll, 43, as Uncle Fester and Bette Midler, 75, as Grandmama.

“The Many Saints of Newark,” a film, is a prequel to “The Sopranos,” the hit HBO series. It will be released to theaters and begin streaming on HBO Max (for 30 days) Oct. 1. The film, set in the late 1960s, was co-written by “Sopranos” creator, David Chase (who is Italian- American), and Lawrence Konner, 70 (who wrote many “Sopranos” scripts).

The late James Gandolfini, of course, played the series star character, Mafi a family head Tony Soprano. Michael Gandolfini, 22, James’s son, plays Tony as a young man (about 18) in “Many Saints.” Jon Bernthal, 44, plays Tony’s gangster father, Johnny “Johnny Boy” Soprano and Corey Stoll, 45, plays “Junior” Soprano, Johnny’s gangster brother and ally. The role of Silvio Dante, Tony’s right-hand man in the HBO series, is played by John Magaro, 38. Magaro was raised in his mother’s Jewish faith.

“The Guilty” will have a limited theater opening Sept. 24 and will begin streaming on Netflix Oct. 1. It is a crime thriller. Jake Gyllenhaal, 40, stars as a troubled police detective demoted to 911 operator who scrambles to save a distressed caller.

“Diana: A Musical” will also begin streaming on Netflix Oct. 1. It’s based on the life of Princess Diana. This film began as a stage production that premiered in San Diego in 2019. It began previews on Broadway in March 2020, but closed because of the pandemic. It’s now set to open on Broadway this November. In the summer of 2020, a stage production of the show was filmed without an audience (that’s what Netflix will stream).

David Bryan, 59, co-wrote the show (lyrics and music). Born David Bryan Rashbaum, he’s keyboardist for the famous band, Bon Jovi. He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with the rest of the band. The cast includes Judy Kaye, 72, as Queen Elizabeth II, and as Barbara Cartland (a romance novelist critical of Diana). Kaye, a Tony winner, has an amazing voice and range and often sings opera, too.

Opening Oct. 8 is “Mass.” Basic plot: the parents of victims of a school mass shooting meet the parents of the shooter. This film won’t get a big theater opening. It co-stars busy British Jewish actor, Jason Isaacs, 58 (Lucius Malfoy in “Harry Potter”).

Opening on the 15th is “Halloween Kills.” You guessed it: it’s another Michael “the monster” Meyers’ movie and Jamie Lee Curtis, 62, again costars.

“Dune” and “French Dispatch” both open in theaters Oct. 22. “Dune” is the second film to try to make a good movie out of the famous 1965 sci-fi novel of the same name by Frank Herbert. Timothee Chalamet, 25, has a starring role as the overseer of a dry planet with a valuable product. (“Dune” will also be released on HBO Max Oct. 22 and stream for 30 days.)

“Dispatch” is a comedy with three different plotlines. These plotlines are all connected to the closing of a French newspaper’s Kansas office. Directed and written by the “quirky” Wes Anderson, the cast includes Timothee Chalamet (again); Adrien Brody, 48; and French actor, Matthieu Amalric, 55.

Finally, there is “Dopesick,” an 8-episode Hulu miniseries that begins streaming Oct. 13. It focuses on the victims of the Oxycontin opiate addiction “plague” and, oy, the role of the (Jewish) Sackler family. The Sacklers are now notorious as the former owners of Purdue Pharma, the company that developed, marketed and “pushed” OxyContin. Michael Stuhlbarg, 53, co-stars as Richard Sackler, 76, the former head of Purdue Pharma.

The series was created by Danny Strong, 48 (two Emmys for “Game Change”). Oscar winner Barry Levinson, 78, is the series principal director.