Jakob Eiseman, Editor

Header Image: NBC, Walt Disney Studios, Searchlight Pictures, edit courtesy of Jakob Eiseman

“Young Rock” — Peacock

A story about the life of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is going to be told as an NBC original semi-fictionalized comedy called “Young Rock.” Probably a play on the popular but critically detested CBS series “Young Sheldon,” the series will feature vignettes from several parts of The Rock’s life at age from age 10 to the present. Johnson will play himself in present day segments with Adrian Groulx playing him at age 10, Bradley Constant playing him at age 15 and Uli Latukefu (“Alien Covenant,” “Marco Polo”) playing him at age 18 to 20. The series is directed by Jeffrey Walker who was a director on “Modern Family” as well as “Riot.” “Young Rock” premiered on Tuesday, February 16 at 8 p.m. and will be available for streaming on Peacock later this week.

“Flora & Ulysses” — Disney+

While Disney+ is in the middle of releasing its superhero show “WandaVision,” with several other coming in several weeks, and HBO Max is promoting its next superhero movies, Disney has decided to release a more lighthearted, family movie that plays on the tropes of the oversaturated superhero media market, making fun of and leaning into parts of those movies that critics love to hate on. “Flora & Ulysses” is a story about a 10-year-old, Flora, who is already upset with the way the world is. One day, her pet squirrel gains the powers of a small, fluffy superhero, and Flora and her pet go around town saving people. The movie is a feel-good story that will no doubt be cheesy and fun. The movie was released on Disney+ on Monday, February 15.

“Nomadland” — Hulu

“Nomadland” is a drama and slice-of-life story about a woman who lost her home as a result of the American housing bubble and the Great Recession. Fern, played by Frances McDormand (“Fargo,” “Almost Famous”), is a sassy, adventurous woman who, having lost her job in Empire, Nevada, sells all of her belongings and takes a van down the highway into the country to live as a nomad. Along the way she picks up seasonal jobs and learns to live in her van until she meets a group of fellow nomads who have been gathered for years, learning to live off the land and continuously travel to observe the American countryside. Along her journey Fern meets several colorful characters who live a unique way of life and who each have their own flaws and drama that drive the story forward. “Nomadland” makes its streaming premiere on Hulu on Friday, February 19.

eisemanj1@lasalle.edu