Now You Know HT Smartcast

The Shōgun series finale premiered this week. The FX original series garnered universal acclaim for its compelling story, gripping performances, and captivating exploration of Feudal Japan. Fans of the series have called it Game of Thrones meets Ghost of Tsushima and some even feel that it could go on to be the best TV show of 2024! All 10 episodes of the miniseries are available to stream on Disney+ Hotstar in India. If you loved Shōgun or if it’s part of your binge list, we recommend you check out these lesser-known facts about this epic historical fiction in today’s Now You Know podcast.

The hit Netflix series Baby Reindeer is an intimate exploration of Scottish comedian, writer, and actor Richard Gadd's real-life experience with a stalker. The revealing show delves into the complexities of obsession, power dynamics, and personal boundaries as Gadd turns to the most unsettling period of his life. The series has garnered praise for its eerie atmosphere and Gadd’s intimate portrayal of various events from his life. Playwright and filmmaker Jon Brittain has helmed the series, who is a recipient of an Olivier Award and is best known for serving as a writer in Netflix’s hit series The Crown. For today’s Now You Know podcast we take a look at some lesser-known facts about Baby Reindeer.

British-Indian actor Dev Patel makes his directorial debut in the action thriller Monkey Man. Patel, who is best known for films such as Hotel Mumbai, The Green Knight, Lion, and the multiple-Oscar winner Slumdog Millionaire, plays the lead in this film, which is being described by some as “John Wick in Mumbai”. The film garnered praise from critics when it premiered at the South by Southwest Film Festival, and some even went on to say that it is an ambitious action film with the perfect blend of socio-political commentary. Sharlto Copley, Pitobash Tripathy, Vipin Sharma, Sikandar Kher, Adithi Kalkunte, Sobhita Dhulipala, and Zakir Hussain among others play important supporting roles in Monkey Man. We have curated six lesser-known facts about Monkey Man for today's Now You Know podcast.

Acclaimed British filmmaker and novelist Alex Garland, who is best known for Ex Machina and Annihilation, has returned with his latest passion project – the dystopian thriller Civil War. The film is set in the near future when the United States is grappling with a new civil war. The film has garnered critical acclaim after it premiered in the US on April 12, and is A24’s biggest box office debut in history. The film features a star-studded ensemble that includes Kirsten Dunst, Wagner Moura, Cailee Spaeny, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Jesse Plemons, Sonoya Mizuno, and Nick Offerman among others.

Amazon Prime Video’s attempts to release a compelling video game adaptation like Netflix’s Arcane and HBO’s The Last of Us, have been successful with the release of Fallout. The post-apocalyptic series set in a retro-futuristic alternate history Earth has garnered immense praise from critics. It offers a gripping narrative, wrapped in humour, violence, gore, and thought-provoking socio-political themes.

Dune: Part Two, the sequel to Denis Villeneuve’s sci-fi space epic is releasing in theatres this week amidst much hype and excitement. Featuring a star-studded ensemble, led by Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya, the film has garnered significant praise after its World Premiere in London a fortnight ago. Some critics have likened the adaptation of Frank Herbert’s acclaimed novel to a masterpiece – one that could rival iconic sequels such as Lord of the Rings: The Towers and The Empire Strikes Back. Today’s Now You Know podcast brings you six lesser-known facts about Dune: Part Two.