Seasons Streamings!
As we ring in the new year, we welcome hundreds of new movies and television shows that seemed a long time away when slapped with the label “Coming 2024”. Now that it really is 2024, The Messenger is excited to share our most anticipated releases.
Coming in at number one is the fourth season of True Detective, which will be released piecemeal starting with episodes one and two on January 14 on HBO. The show follows two detectives of wildly different personalities as they work together to solve cases while putting together their own personal lives. While it may seem like just another crime-fighting TV show, it truly is the characters and their development throughout the seasons that make it interesting.
Wicked: Part One holds the spot of number two as we wait for the movie release of one of the most successful Broadway musicals of all time. After a decade of rumors, the movie finally began filming at the end of 2022 and will be released in theaters on November 27. Starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande there is no doubt the music will be fantastic, and the production will not disappoint. Part two is scheduled to follow sooner than expected in 2025.
It seems illegal to put Mean Girls at number 3, yet here we are. Coming out in a matter of days on January 12, this new release is a screen adaptation of the Broadway musical, which was based on the original film airing in 2004. While the original film starred Lindsey Lohan and Tina Fey, amongst others, the new film will be similar to the musical in that the lead will remain Reneé Rapp. The plot of the original movie stayed intact throughout the Broadway adaptation, and will no doubt remain in this screen adaptation, however it will include many more musical numbers and, dare I say, an even better Jingle Bell Rock performance.
Also coming in January, Amazon Prime Video’s newest series Expats, starring Nicole Kidman will no doubt secure the Number 4 spot. Its intense and riveting trailer suggests the show will provide drama, romance, action, and thrill as it follows a tight knit group of people as they unravel their lives after a tragedy while living in Hong Kong.
Just making our top five is Masters of the Air coming to Apple TV on January 26. This Tom Hanks-produced war drama stars Austin Butler, Sawyer Spielberg, and Callum Turner as they band together forming the 100th Bomb Group of the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. The limited series is based off of the 2007 book Masters of the Air: America’s Bomber Boys Who Fought the Air War Against Nazi Germany by Donald L Miller.
For the kids, we are most excited for Inside Out 2 coming out in theaters on June 14, and Despicable Me 4 coming out in theaters on July 3. Inside Out was by far one of the best Pixar movies we’ve seen in years. The second movie is said to follow Riley into adolescence with new emotions making themselves visible, including some big ones like Anxiety. Despicable Me 4 will actually be movie number 6 in the franchise, however no amount of Gru and his minions can ever be too much.
2024 is an action-comedy-romance packed year of new arrivals, but unfortunately, we will have to wait till 2025 for many of the all-time favorites like new seasons of Euphoria, The White Lotus, and The Last of Us, and more Live-Action adaptations of classics like Snow White.
Cold-Day Recipes
Creamy Tuscan Orzo Serves 4-6
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 medium onion chopped
4 cloves garlic minced
1/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes see note
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 cup uncooked orzo pasta
2 cups chicken or vegetable broth
1 cup heavy/whipping cream
1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
2 cups (packed) fresh baby spinach
1/4 cup (loosely packed) fresh basil torn
Salt & pepper to taste
Directions:
Add the oil, butter, and onion to a pot over medium-high heat. Sauté the onion for 3-4 minutes.
Add the garlic, Italian seasoning, sun-dried tomatoes, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, and orzo. Cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring often to infuse the orzo with the flavors.
Add the chicken broth and cream. Once it starts to bubble, continue cooking for 10 minutes (uncovered), stirring fairly often. You will likely need to turn the heat down a bit (to medium or even medium-low). It should steadily bubble (not furiously boil), and you don’t want the liquid to cook off too much before the pasta is done.
Take the pot off the heat, and stir in the parmesan, spinach, and basil. Cover the pot for a few minutes until it has thickened up to your liking. The orzo will absorb the liquid quickly, so if it still seems like there’s too much liquid, just wait a little bit longer. Season with salt & pepper as needed.
Notes:
Serves 6 as a side or 4 as a main course (you may want to serve it with garlic bread and/or a salad). It is especially good served on the side of a light chicken or sausage dish.
Use sun-dried tomatoes that are packed in oil and drained prior to adding them to the pot. You can always add more if you really love them!
Troubleshooting tips: Since every stove and pot can vary, use your best judgment when making one pot pastas. If it looks like the liquid is running out before the pasta is cooked, add a little more broth in (a half cup or so at a time). Conversely, if the cooking time has elapsed and there’s still too much liquid, just let it sit for a little longer and the orzo will absorb it.
Recipe provided by Natasha Bull on Salt and Lavender
