“Kleo” and more
The series highlights in July
© Robert Palka/Netflix
July has exciting new releases in store for subscribers to major streaming services. An overview of the series tips.
The return of the successful German series “Kleo”, bloody gladiator fights in ancient Rome and wild parties in the Italian Middle Ages – the month of July has a large number of highlights in store for series fans. An overview of the most high-profile series reboots and new series seasons in July.
“Sunny”: From July 10th on Apple TV+
The American Suzie (Rashida Jones, 48) lives in Japan, but feels a little alien in her new home. When her Japanese husband Masa (Hidetoshi Nishijima, 53) disappears with their son in a plane crash, Suzie’s world falls apart. To help her cope with her grief, Masa’s company gives her the domestic robot Sunny, which her husband developed. After initial skepticism, an unexpected bond develops between Suzie and the robot, and the two begin to investigate Masa’s mysterious disappearance.
The new, darkly humorous mystery series “Sunny” is set in a near future in which self-driving cars and household robots are the order of the day. With as much humor as insight, it tells of both the relief and the unease that technological development triggers.
The new, ten-part show on the streaming service Apple TV+ is the work of the legendary production company A24, which in the past was responsible for smart hits such as “Everything Everywhere All at Once” and the teen series “Euphoria”. “Sunny” has an excellent cast in the leading roles with former “Parks and Recreation” star Jones and Japanese actor Hidetoshi Nishijima, known from the Oscar-winning indie drama “Drive My Car”.
“Those About to Die”: From July 19th on Prime Video
The historical series “Those About to Die” will be launched on Amazon’s streaming service Prime Video on July 19. The show, directed by “Independence Day” creator Roland Emmerich, 68, takes viewers to ancient Rome and the bloody world of gladiator fights.
In 79 AD, Rome is the center of the known world. While slaves are doing menial jobs in the capital of the Roman Empire, the Romans themselves are bored and restless. They are distracted by spectacular gladiator fights controlled by four patrician companies. Shares in these are the most valuable thing in Rome at this time. Meanwhile, the increasingly desensitized population has to be kept happy with ever more spectacular and violent chariot races, gladiator and animal fights.
According to media reports, the mammoth project “Those About to Die” is said to have cost a budget of 140 million US dollars. The top-class cast includes Oscar winner Sir Anthony Hopkins, 86, and former “Game of Thrones” villain Iwan Rheon, 39. All ten episodes of the new series will be released at once on Prime Video.
“Kleo”: From July 25th on Netflix
The fast-paced German spy series “Kleo” is returning to Netflix screens with season two. Jella Haase, 31, who recently celebrated success with the “Fack ju Göhte” sequel “Chantal im Märchenland”, once again embodies the eponymous GDR contract killer.
In the new, second season, Kleo continues to search for the coveted red suitcase and the secret documents it contains. Because they play a crucial role in the reorganization of Germany and Europe after the Cold War. In addition to Kleo, the powerful secret services CIA and KGB are also after the coveted object. Police officer Sven (Dimitrij Schaad, 38) offers the main character his help, as can be seen in the trailer for the six new episodes.
“The Decameron”: From July 25th on Netflix
When the city of Florence is hit by the plague in 1348, a group of nobles and their servants barricade themselves in a luxurious villa. In the supposed safety of their secluded bubble, they want to wait for the Black Death to pass and throw a wild, boisterous party. This goes well until the mood changes and a murderous fight for survival develops.
“The Decameron” is described by the streaming service Netflix as a darkly humorous medieval sitcom. The executive producer behind the show is Jenji Kohan, 54, creator of “Weeds” and “Orange Is the New Black”. The cast includes Zosia Mamet, 36, known from the HBO series “Girls”, “Veep” star Tony Hale, 53, and Saoirse-Monica Jackson (“Derry Girls”, 30).