Media Murder for Monday

It's the start of a new week and that means it's time for a brand-new roundup of crime drama news:

THE BIG SCREEN/MOVIES

Apple Films released a trailer for Matthew Vaughn's Argylle, based on the mysterious novel by Elly Conway (I say "mysterious" because the author's real ID is a bit of a secret). The trailer begins like a scene from any classic spy thriller: Undercover agent Argylle (Henry Cavill) dances with a beautiful woman (Dua Lipa), only to have his cover blown. A speedy car chase ensues... only none of it's real. Agent Argylle is actually the creation of novelist Elly (Bryce Dallas Howard), who loves nothing more than to write at home with her cat, Alfie. However, when she finds out that her novels are mirroring the actions of an actual spy organization, she's thrown into the kind of spy story she's only used to seeing on the page. Argylle also stars Sam Rockwell, John Cena, Ariana DeBose, Bryan Cranston, Catherine O'Hara, Sofia Boutella, Samuel L. Jackson, and of course cat actor, Alfie. Argylle hits theaters Feb. 2, 2024.

TELEVISION/SMALL SCREEN

ITV has commissioned the thriller, Protection, starring Siobhan Finneran, Nadine Marshall, and Katherine Kelly, which hails from multi award winning producers, New Pictures, and acclaimed screenwriter Kris Mrksa. Based on the first-hand experiences of a long serving witness protection officer, Protection is about what happens when the system breaks down. It follows a police officer, Detective Inspector Liz Nyles (Siobhan Finneran), who finds herself at the heart of such a breach after being personally compromised by an affair with a colleague, but is determined to fight back and uncover the true source of corruption within her unit.

Toby Jones has come aboard ITV's drama, Ruth, about the last woman to be hanged in Britain, taking on the role of the solicitor who tried to save her life. Also rounding out the cast are Laurie Davidson, Mark Stanley, Joe Armstrong, Arthur Darvill, Juliet Stevenson, and Toby Stephens. Based on Carol Ann Lee’s biography, A Fine Day For Hanging: The Real Ruth Ellis Story, the show sees Lucy Boynton in the title role as Ruth Ellis, a nightclub hostess who was hanged at the age of 28 after fatally shooting her abusive lover, David Blakely. Famous hangman Albert Pierrepoint carried out the death sentence at Holloway Prison in 1955.

ABC has moved the premier of the new crime drama, High Potential, to fall 2024. The series is based on the popular French series, Haut Potentiel Intellectuel (HPI), and follows Morgan (Kaitlin Olson), a single mom with three kids and an exceptional mind, who helps solve an unsolvable crime when she rearranges some evidence during her shift as a cleaner for the police department. When they discover she has a knack for putting things in order because of her high intellectual potential, she is brought on as a consultant to work with a by-the-book seasoned detective Karadec (Daniel Sunjata), and together they form an unusual and unstoppable team. The series also stars Javicia Leslie, Deniz Akdeniz, Amirah J, Matthew Lamb, and Judy Reyes.

True Detective: Night Country dropped a new trailer for the six-episode series and also announced January 14 as the date the show will premiere on streaming service Max. Issa López serves as showrunner, writer and director of all episodes. Casey Bloys, chairman and CEO of HBO and Max Content, confirmed that the delay was due to the strikes (the WGA one ended last week with the SAG-AFTRA one is ongoing and hopes it too would come to an end soon). As the official logline states: When the long winter night falls in Ennis, Alaska, the eight men who operate the Tsalal Arctic Research Station vanish without a trace. To solve the case, Detectives Liz Danvers (Foster) and Evangeline Navarro (Reis) will have to confront the darkness they carry in themselves, and dig into the haunted truths that lie buried under the eternal ice. The cast also includes Finn Bennett, Fiona Shaw, Christopher Eccleston, Isabella Star LaBlanc and John Hawkes. Guest stars are Anna Lambe, Aka Niviâna, June Thiele, Diane Benson and Joel D. Montgrand.

The settlement of the WGA strike has opened the door to the creation or recreation of writers' rooms for the various dramas (although the SAG-AFTRA actors' strike is ongoing). Among the series picking up where they left off are the crime dramas Criminal Minds: Evolution (a co-production with CBS Studios for Paramount+), NCIS and FBI (CBS), The Cleaning Lady (Fox), Law & Order and Law & Order: SVU (NBC).

PODCASTS/VIDEO/RADIO/AUDIO

James Patterson and Mike Lupica, appeared on Good Morning America to discuss their new co-authored novel, 12 Months to Live. It centers on tough-as-nails criminal defense attorney Jane Smith, who's hip-deep in the murder trial of the century. But Jane doesn’t have much time: She’s just received a terminal diagnosis giving her twelve months—unless she’s murdered before her expiration date.

Also on Good Morning America, Kayvion Lewis stopped by to chat about Thieves' Gambit, a heist thriller where a cutthroat competition brings together the world’s best thieves, and one thief is playing for the highest stakes of all: her mother's life.

On Read or Dead, Katie McLain Horner and Kendra Winchester discussed book picks for Hispanic Heritage Month.

A new Mysteryrat's Maze Podcast is up featuring the prologue and first chapter of Secret Identity by Alex Segura, as read by local actor Cady Mejias. This one has something not only for mystery fans, but also for comic book and superhero fans.

Crime Time FM featured authors from Orenda Books Publishing to discuss their latest novels, including Jenny Lund Madsen (Thirty Days of Darkness), Paul E Hardisty (The Forcing), and Eva Björg Ægisdöttir (You Can't See Me).

The Red Hot Chili Writers talked to historian Matthew Parker about his new book, One Fine Day; discussed EM Forster and George Orwell in India; dissected the Booker Prize shortlist; and reflected on the British PM's Seven Deadly Bins.