Apple TV+ highlights for the month of October include Shantaram, Raymond and Ray, Acapulco and Louis Armstrong’s Black and Blues.
Shantaram
Based on the internationally best-selling novel by Gregory David Roberts and starring Charlie Hunnam, “Shantaram” is a highly anticipated Apple Original series and hopeful cinematic love story coupled with a thrilling epic adventure that follows one man’s journey to redemption through a country that changes his life.
“Shantaram” follows a fugitive named Lin Ford (Hunnam) looking to get lost in vibrant and chaotic 1980s Bombay. Alone in an unfamiliar city, Lin struggles to avoid the trouble he’s running from in this new place. After falling for an enigmatic and intriguing woman named Karla, Lin must choose between freedom or love and the complications that come with it. In addition to Hunnam, the series stars Shubham Saraf, Elektra Kilbey, Fayssal Bazzi, Luke Pasqualino, Antonia Desplat, Alyy Khan, Sujaya Dasgupta, Vincent Perez, David Field, Alexander Siddig, Gabrielle Scharnitzky, Elham Ehsas, Rachel Kamath, Matthew Joseph, and Shiv Palekar. The series is co-created, written and executive produced by Steve Lightfoot, who also serves as showrunner. Bharat Nalluri directs and executive produces.
“Shantaram” will make its global debut with the first three episodes of its 12-episode first season on Friday, 14 October on Apple TV+.
Raymond and Ray
New Apple Original Film
A new feature film from Apple Studios starring Ewan McGregor and Ethan Hawke. “Raymond and Ray” follows half-brothers Raymond (played by McGregor) and Ray (played by Hawke) who have lived in the shadow of a terrible father. Somehow, they still each have a sense of humour, and his funeral is a chance for them to reinvent themselves. There’s anger, there’s pain, there’s folly, there might be love, and there’s definitely grave-digging. Eleven-time Goya Award nominee and two-time winner Maribel Verdú and Academy Award nominee and Tony Award-winner Sophie Okonedo also star. The film is produced by Academy Award winner Alfonso Cuarón as well as Bonnie Curtis (“Saving Private Ryan,” “Albert Nobbs”) and Julie Lynn (“Albert Nobbs,” “To The Bone”), who produce through their Mockingbird Pictures. Gabriela Rodriguez and Shea Kammer executive produce.
The Apple Original film recently debuted as a Toronto International Film Festival selection.
“Raymond and Ray” makes its global premiere on Friday, 21 October.
Acapulco
Season two
Starring Eugenio Derbez, “Acapulco” is a bilingual comedy series that tells the story of twenty-something Máximo Gallardo (Enrique Arrizon), whose dream comes true when he gets the job of a lifetime as a cabana boy at the hottest resort in Acapulco. Season two picks up right on the heels of season one, in 1985, Máximo must contend with upheaval at the resort, unexpected problems at home and a new love interest who just might rival the girl of his dreams. Under Don Pablo’s guidance, he sets his eyes on one day running the entire Las Colinas operation by becoming the right-hand man of Diane. Meanwhile, in present day, older Máximo (Derbez) returns to Acapulco to make peace with the recent passing of Don Pablo, where he is forced to confront some unfinished business young Máximo left behind.
Joining Derbez in the 10-episode second season are returning stars Arrizon, Fernando Carsa (as Memo), Damián Alcázar (Don Pablo), Camila Perez (Julia), Chord Overstreet (Chad), Vanessa Bauche (Nora), Regina Reynoso (Sara), Raphael Alejandro (Hugo), Jessica Collins (Diane), Rafael Cebrián (Hector) and Carlos Corona (Esteban).
“Acapulco” returns for its second season on Friday, 21 October on Apple TV+.
Louis Armstrong’s Black & Blues
new documentary
“Louis Armstrong’s Black & Blues” offers an intimate and revealing look at the world-changing musician, presented through a lens of archival footage and never-before-heard home recordings and personal conversations. This definitive documentary, directed by Sacha Jenkins, honours Armstrong’s legacy as a founding father of jazz, one of the first internationally known and beloved stars, and a cultural ambassador of the United States. A Sacha Jenkins Jammie produced by Imagine Documentaries, the film shows how Armstrong’s own life spans the shift from the Civil War to the Civil Rights movement, and how he became a lightning rod figure in that turbulent era.
The film recently debuted as a Toronto International Film Festival selection, opening TIFF’s Documentary Section.
“Louis Armstrong’s Black & Blues” will premiere globally on Apple TV+ on Friday, 28 October.
About Apple TV+
Apple TV+ is available on the Apple TV app in over 100 countries and regions, on over 1 billion screens, including iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Mac, popular smart TVs from Samsung, LG, Sony, TCL and others, Roku and Amazon Fire TV devices, Chromecast with Google TV, PlayStation and Xbox gaming consoles, and at tv.apple.com/au, for A$7.99 inc. GST per month with a seven-day free trial. Press assets and show info can be found here: apple.com/au/tv-pr.
