Back in May, the first season of the comedy series Platonic, which stars Neighbors and Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising co-stars Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne, aired on Apple TV+… and it clearly went over quite well, as Deadline reports that Apple TV+ has ordered more episodes of the show. Platonic season 2 is a go!

JoBlo’s own Alex Maidy gave the first season of the show an 8/10 review you can read at THIS LINK. He described the show as “light and enjoyable” and said “hanging out with Rose Byrne and Seth Rogen for half-hour segments is full of laughs”. In fact, there were enough hilarious moments in each episode, he felt it made up for the narrative shortcomings in the series. I haven’t seen Platonic yet myself, but Alex’s review has definitely made me want to check it out.

The ten episodes that made up Platonic season 2 followed a platonic pair of former best friends approaching midlife (Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne) who reconnect after a long rift. The duo’s friendship becomes all consuming—and destabilizes their lives in a hilarious way.

Rogen and Byrne were joined in the cast by Luke Macfarlane, Tre Hale, Carla Gallo, and Andrew Lopez.

Platonic is produced by Sony Pictures Television in association with Nick Stoller’s Global Solutions. Rogen and Byrne serve as executive producers alongside writer/creators Stoller, Francesca Delbanco, and Conor Welch.

Stoller and Delbanco had this to say about Platonic getting a season 2: “We’re so thrilled to have the opportunity to tell more stories with Seth, Rose and everyone at Apple TV+ and Sony. Season Two spoiler alert: Will and Sylvia won’t get together this time either.“

Matt Cherniss, head of programming for Apple TV+, added: “Since the first episodes of Platonic debuted on Apple TV+, global audiences have been charmed by the hilarious, wildly fun and relatable friendship that Rose and Seth have brought to life through their charismatic performances. We can’t wait for viewers to see these characters encounter even more comedic mayhem in season two thanks to our partners at Sony and to the brilliant minds of Francesca and Nick.“

Did you watch the first season of Platonic, and are you glad to hear there’s going to be a season 2? Share your thoughts on this one by leaving a comment below.

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PLOT: Inspired by R.L. Stine’s worldwide bestselling book series, “Goosebumps” follows a group of five high schoolers as they embark on a shadowy and twisted journey to investigate the tragic passing three decades earlier of a teen named Harold Biddle – while also unearthing dark secrets from their parents’ past.

REVIEW: For decades, R.L. Stine has been a mainstay of tween and teen horror. In the 1980s and 1990s, Stine was the Stephen King for younger audiences, and the 1995 television anthology series of his books frightened a generation. The 2015 and 2018 feature films brought most of Stine’s iconic stories and characters together for movies that were more adventure than horror. Now, Disney+ and Hulu bring a new take on Goosebumps that is decidedly darker and scarier than the previous takes on the source material. The new Goosebumps combines ten of R.L. Stine’s books into a larger overall series that pits a group of teens against a supernatural foe straight from the pages of the novels. The result is a series that maintains a sense of humor and whimsy but in a much darker and more mature style than ever before. This Goosebumps is the take on the books that fans have been waiting for.

Set in Port Lawrence, Washington, Goosebumps centers on five high school upperclassmen whose families share a connection to the mysterious death of Harold Biddle in 1993. Isaiah (Zack Morris) is the popular high school quarterback who shares an unrequited crush with his neighbor, Margot (Isa Briones). Isaiah’s best friend is James (Miles McKenna), and they befriend local daredevil Lucas (Will Price) and AV whiz Isabella (Ana Yi Puig). The teens break into the supposedly haunted Biddle home, now owned by new English teacher Nathan Bratt (Justin Long). Throwing a party at the house on Halloween, each of the teens becomes connected to the death of Harold Biddle in different ways, each harkening back to a Goosebumps story. With Mr. Bratt possessed by Harold and each of the teens becoming aware of the curse upon them, they must team up to stop Harold from his revenge mission. As the episodes progress, the stakes increase as flashbacks illuminate the backstory of how and why Harold died and the true cause.

Having seen eight of the ten episodes of Goosebumps, I was pleasantly surprised at how good it is. While still centered around teenagers and the drama of raging hormones and social media, this cast never succumbs to boring melodrama but instead dives right into the macabre mythology surrounding them. While the 2015 film and its sequel reveled in the spoopy fun of Night at the Museum antics with CGI monsters and safe scares, this Goosebumps is not afraid to push the envelope closer to a PG-13 take on It. Like Netflix’s R.L. Stine films based on Fear Street, the Goosebumps series pushes the boundaries of subject matter you would expect to see on Disney+. With mild profanity and sexual references, the show was much more mature than I expected and managed to drop in some fairly bold commentary for a younger-skewing project. It also helps that the young cast is strong, but the adult cast is equally so, with actors like Rachael Harris and Rob Huebel joining in roles that are much more dramatic than the comedic parts they typically take.

Having appeared in Barbarian and Drag Me To Hell, Justin Long, no stranger to horror, is the go-between separating the young and older cast. While he is a teacher, Long’s Nathan Bratt interacts with both the adults and teens and gets to play his possessed character as the most bizarre of anyone in the cast. Channeling Jack Nicholson in The Shining crossed with Rick Moranis in Ghostbusters. Long chews each of his scenes masterfully and brings a menace and sense of humor to all of his scenes. Goosebumps owes a debt to many horror films, including A Nightmare on Elm Street, It, The Shining, It Follows, and many more. This series has a safety net as the blood is at a minimum, and the body count is low, but the visual diversity of the scares is more than enough to keep you up at night. Whether it be the appearance of a more sinister Slappy the Dummy, fiery demons, humans with ventriloquist dummy faces, or a menacing atmosphere of dread, the series is full of well-placed jump scares that work but do not overtake the natural fear imbued in the script and the visuals of the film.

Developed by Goosebumps movie director Rob Letterman and Nicholas Stoller (Neighbors), the series feels closer to the Guillermo Del Toro-produced Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark. With mature themes including adultery, alcoholism, and murder, and high school-focused themes like cyberbullying, gender identity, peer pressure, and more, Goosebumps grounds the cast of characters in a more realistic world than you would expect from a horror story. This helps make what happens over the ten-episode series feel more sinister and believable. Letterman and Stoller wrote the first and final episode of the series, with Letterman directing the premiere chapter. The other seven episodes I saw were helmed by Erin O’Malley, Steve Boyum, and Felix Enrique Alcala, who each directed two episodes, and one by David Grossman. Without revealing any plot twists or spoilers, the overall narrative of the story stretches across multiple episodes before reaching a natural conclusion, which happens with several episodes left to go. Hopefully, the final chapters do not feel anticlimactic, as the momentum the series builds over the first episodes is very solid.

Goosebumps is a far more effective series with a soundtrack of 90s hits and contemporary tracks than either feature film. It is scary in a fun way, never crossing into any truly disturbing territory but managing to evoke the feeling of R.L. Stine’s stories. The teen cast is all quite good, and the story never panders or mocks the generational differences between the parents and their kids. This effective scary story is a step above family-friendly horror but not quite into the territory of films like Insidious. I enjoyed the episodes of Goosebumps that I have seen so far and am looking forward to seeing how the last two episodes bring the story together. It was sometimes distracting to see the almost hour-long episodes split with spots for commercial breaks, but as we venture back into ad-based programming, it is a necessary evil. Goosebumps will get a definite boost with a multi-episode premiere on two different streaming platforms, allowing a larger audience to get scared this Halloween season.

Goosebumps premieres with five episodes on October 13th on Disney+ and Hulu.

Goosebumps

GOOD

7

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Plot: A platonic pair of former best friends approaching midlife who reconnect after a long rift. The duo’s friendship becomes all consuming—and destabilizes their lives in a hilarious way.

Review: A question that has been used as fodder for countless romantic comedies over the years is whether a man and a woman can be friends without becoming sexual. Rob Reiner’s classic When Harry Met Sally asked that question, and the answer was a resounding no. But the new series Platonic starring Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne, may prove otherwise. Reuniting the stars of the two Neighbors films, Platonic is a relationship comedy about two people in very different places who rediscover a friendship that helps them reassess parts of their lives that they otherwise could not contend with. It is a sweet and funny series that benefits from the charm and effortless chemistry between Rogen and Byrne and may end up being one of the funniest new series of the year.

Platonic opens with Sylvia (Rose Byrne), a stay-at-home mom and former lawyer, as she contends with the monotony of her early forties. She loves her husband Charlie (Luke Macfarlane) and her three kids, but living in a small house with one bathroom. Out of the blue, she learns that her former best friend Will (Seth Rogen) has recently gotten divorced. Sylvia and Will had a falling out several years earlier and have not spoken, but she reaches out to meet him for coffee. While things start stiffly, Sylvia and Will soon remember how much fun they had together, and while Will still lives life like a twenty-something, Sylvia needs energy and spontaneity. Over the ten episodes of Platonic, the duo get into a lot of trouble as they egg each other on to make changes in their lives while still getting on each other’s nerves as only the best of friends can.

From the moment she appears on screen, Rose Byrne is immediately relatable as Sylvia. Stuck in the rut of your early 40s is no picnic, and Byrne exudes charm as the still fun person she used to be before kids and carpools overran her life. Byrne also transforms when she is on screen with Seth Rogen, who has perfected playing variations of the same character without making them feel redundant. Here, both play off of each other as believable friends with a similar dynamic to the one they shared in their big-screen outings. Watching the two actors have conversations together, which they frequently do in this series, is consistently funny and feels like they were captured having real conversations. The series progresses through multiple sequences and plotlines that follow the thread of Sylvia and Will being hesitant to hang out, having a blast hanging out, making bad decisions, regretting those decisions, fighting with each other, then reconciling. This pattern should get old, but I enjoyed the Platonic rhythm more after each episode.

It would be easy to dismiss Platonic as just another padded program for AppleTV+ to tout the big names they have on board. Rose Byrne has already headlined a series for the streamer (the retro dramedy Physical), while Rogen has stuck to producing and writing along with some guest roles here and there. Platonic also gathers a solid ensemble of experienced comedic performers, including Carla Gallo, Guy Branum, and Vinny Thomas. Most of the series focuses on Byrne and Rogen, who carry this series so well that I constantly waited for the other shoe to drop and the two to end up in bed together. But, true to the series title, the two remain the best of friends and defy gender tropes while digging each other constantly about it. The series never feels forced and caters to the actor’s strengths. Rogen is good, but this series gives Rose Byrne her biggest stretch into comedy to date, and she is hilarious.

Created by married couple Francesca Delbanco and Nicholas Stoller, Platonic is weakest when focused on the individual lives of the characters, especially that of Will. Seth Rogen can often make anything fun to watch, but for most of this series, Will’s life is sad and a little bleak. Stoller and Delbanco, who live in Los Angeles with their three kids, likely built Sylvia’s life from their own experiences. It feels more rooted in reality and funnier than Will’s divorce storyline. The drastic differences in where the characters are in their lives sometimes make the story feel incredulous that these two people would keep their friendship going. However, I still laughed at the over-the-top misadventures the two get into involving everything from bearded dragons to UFOs and more.

There are shows that are light and enjoyable while still being substantial enough to garner a second look. Platonic is a romantic comedy that does not result in sex, and it works far better than I expected. Hanging out with Rose Byrne and Seth Rogen for half-hour segments is full of laughs. The series would have been better served had it taken any conversation about the romantic side of any girl/guy relationship out of the mix and treated these characters as friends. The dramatic arcs are not as engaging as they could have been, but multiple hilarious moments in each episode make up for the narrative shortcomings in this series. AppleTV+ is cornering the market on series that evoke smiles and feel-good moments, and Platonic is a solid addition to that roster.

Platonic is now streaming on AppleTV+.

Platonic

GREAT

8

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Less than a week after Billy Eichner went on a Twitter tear following the revelation that Bros would be a box office flop, director/co-writer Nicholas Stoller and producer Guy Branum are trying to do some damage control on both Eichner and the movie.

After its lackluster opening weekend, Bros co-writer and star Billy Eichner took to Twitter to blast those who didn’t see the movie–particularly straight white males. “That’s just the world we live in, unfortunately…Even with glowing reviews, great Rotten Tomatoes scores, an A CinemaScore, etc., straight people, especially in certain parts of the country, just didn’t show up for Bros. And that’s disappointing but it is what it is.” He got even more harsh by labeling many “homophobic weirdo[s].”

Billy Eichner was also proud Bros was going to theaters, unlike other LGBT-based movies that go to streaming and feel, as he put it, “disposable.” 

While Stoller thinks that Eichner “just literally misspoke”, he also agrees that “gay men are the only people who saw the movie.” He, too, expressed confusion as to why it opened with less than $5 million since buzz had been building around strong reviews. With an 89% on Rotten Tomatoes, it’s one of the best-reviewed comedies of the year.

Branum thinks the marketing was a significant factor in the poor box office reception. “I pitched ideas for posters that were not used. I pitched ideas for taglines that were not used. I was very vocal about what I thought they needed to be doing for community outreach.” As of publication, Bros has grossed under $7 million on a $22 million budget.

As far as Billy Eichner’s Twitter outburst goes, Stoller summed it up with a point that perhaps should be considered. “It’s also part of our clickbait culture that he just said something that was true, and then everyone got mad at him.”

Why do you think Bros flopped at the box office? Was it poor marketing? Did a certain demographic just refuse to show up? Did the movie just not seem interesting to most? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

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Charlie Hunnam gained notoriety playing Jax Teller on Sons of Anarchy from 2008-2014 but it turns out Hunnam had a chance to play a role in the 2008 comedy, FORGETTING SARAH MARSHALL. The film starred Jason Segel, Kristen Bell, Mila Kunis, and Russell Brand and as it turns out, Segel wrote a role for Hunnam in the film and he revealed to Collider why he had to turn it down.

“Maybe. It’s funny, I’ll tell you a little story. Jason Segel wrote Forgetting Sarah Marshall for he and I to do together, and he wrote that [Russell Brand] role [of Aldous Snow] for me. I went and I did the table read and it was very successful. Judd was producing. I was in a dark night of the soul in my career, at that point, and felt as though I needed to seize the trajectory and that just wasn’t really aligning with, at that period of my life and career, what I wanted to be doing. Jason was one of my best friends [the pair had worked together on ‘Undeclared’], which is why he wrote the film for me, but I had to tell him, ‘I’m so sorry, I’m not gonna do this.’ It was one of those things where that wasn’t very well received by the inner circle of that production. I had to stand my ground and say, ‘Listen, it’s nothing personal. I’m just following my North star. I’m just in a weird spot and I’m trying to define for myself what the path forward is.'”

The Judd that Hunnam is referring to is Judd Apatow. The duo had previously worked together on the short-lived series, Undeclared, which ran for the 2001-2002 season and was created by Apatow. The actor actually met Jason Segel on the show and the two became best friends which led to Segel writing the Aldous Snow character for Hunnam. Even though turning down the role so he could follow the path he wanted to travel may have not gone over well with certain people involved in the production, Hunnam realized he ultimately made the right decision. He believes it was a great personal decision for himself but it became obvious to him that Russel Brand was the best choice for the role. However, Hunnam explains that he didn't gain clarity about turning the film down until months later:

"It was one of those things where it was really difficult for me for the few months after that or a year after that, and then I saw this piece of stand-up. I didn’t know who Russell Brand was, but I saw this piece of stand-up that Russell Brand did on Christmas day with my mom. It was just this liberating moment where I said, ‘Obviously, that’s the dude who should have been playing that role. Clearly, I just needed to step out of the way of the universe manifesting itself, the way that it was supposed to.’ My relationship with Jason gave birth to that character, but there’s no way I could have done it justice the way Russell Brand did. I think there’s a rhythm to these things and you just have to really follow your instincts. It’s all you can really ever do. I suppose I brought that up because it’s a nice example of my instincts being proven to me that it was correct."

Hunnam is obviously right about his instincts. Those instincts led him to his role on Sons of Anarchy, which is arguably one of the best shows to premiere in the last 15 years. His instincts also kept him away from FIFTY SHADES OF GREY when he was a top choice to play Christian Grey in the film adaptation. Not to say it wouldn't have been good for him to be in those films from a financial standpoint but I'd say he dodged a bullet based on how critics chewed those films up and spit them out. He's gone on to appear in some solid efforts like PACIFIC RIM, CRIMSON PEAK, and THE GENTLEMEN so I'd say he's doing ok for himself.

FORGETTING SARAH MARSHALL followed a devastated Peter Bretter who decides to take a Hawaiian vacation in order to deal with the recent break-up with his TV star girlfriend, Sarah. Little does he know, Sarah's traveling to the same resort as her ex and she's bringing along her new boyfriend. Russell Brand played the new boyfriend, Aldous Snow, and while I think Hunnam could've pulled it off, Brand does steal the show in the role and it stands as my favorite thing that Russell Brand has done. 

Do YOU think Charlie Hunnam was right to turn down the film?

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Rose Byrne and Seth Rogen brought hilarity to domestic bliss in NEIGHBORS and NEIGHBORS 2: SORORITY RISING, and it would seem that the pair are slated to reunite for a half-hour comedy series in development for Apple TV+.

The streaming service has given a 10-episode order to Platonic, which will explore the inner workings of platonic friendship. "A pair of former best friends who met in their youth (played by Byrne and Rogen) reconnect as adults and try to mend the rift that led to their falling out," reads the logline. "As their friendship becomes more consuming, it destabilizes their lives and causes them to reevaluate their choices." In addition to Rose Byrne and Seth Rogen, Platonic will also be helmed by NEIGHBORS director Nicholas Stoller, who will also co-write the series alongside Francesca Delbanco. Byrne and Rogen will also executive produce the series, which is slated to go the anthology route with each season expected to focus on a different couple.

Seth Rogen was recently seen in AN AMERICAN PICKLE, a comedy/drama that found Rogen playing dual roles of an Eastern European Jewish immigrant who is preserved in a vat of pickles for 100, and his modern day great grandson. The film debuted on HBO Max this summer. As for Rose Byrne, she was last seen in Mrs. America, an FX mini-series that detailed the political movement to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment and the unexpected backlash led by conservative activist Phyllis Schlafly in the 1970s. Byrne will next be seen in PETER RABBIT 2: THE RUNAWAY, which is currently slated to hit theaters in the U.K. on December 11, 2020 and in the U.S. on January 15, 2021.

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Happy National #StreamingDay, everybody! Because that's totally a thing that we celebrate now, apparently.

To mark the occasion, Disney+ has announced that the new original series MUPPETS NOW will premiere July 31 on the mouse-earred streaming service. MUPPETS NOW is The Muppets Studio’s first original series for Disney+. In the six-episode season, Scooter rushes to make his delivery deadlines and upload the brand-new Muppet series for streaming. They are due now, and he’ll need to navigate whatever obstacles, distractions, and complications the rest of the Muppet gang throws at him.

Hold up. A Scooter-centric Muppets adventure? Well, well, well, look at which Muppet is moving up in the world, eh? Good for you, my curly-haired gofer. You've certainly paid your dues as a hapless stage manager for your fellow Muppets long enough, and now finally, it's your time to shine!

Overflowing with spontaneous lunacy, surprising guest stars and more frogs, pigs, bears (and whatevers) than legally allowed, the Muppets cut loose in MUPPETS NOW with the kind of startling silliness and heartfelt fun that first made them famous.

In addition to dating the series, Disney+ alos unveiled some key art for the Muppets' next plan to reinsert themselves into the pop culture zeitgeist:

Obviously, the Muppets launching their first original series for Disney+ is a very big deal. And so it totally makes sense that Gonzo, Fozzie Bear and several of their other felt-covered friends would want to celebrate the occasion in their own way online. In fact, if you click through the Twitter feed below, you'll find some characters offering their own spin on the series' original art. Have fun, and be sure to click responsibly.

MUPPETS NOW will make its Disney+ debut on July 31.

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Today is President's Day in the United States, and here to celebrate several of the nation's former leaders are Sam the Eagle and Scooter of The Muppets fame.

In the video posted below, Sam the Eagle proudly steps to the center of the stage for a spirited recognization of the patriotic holiday. With his feathery, black brow as bold as many of the leaders who've helped usher the United States of America toward greatness, one gets the impression that Sam takes President's Day rather seriously. As the video plays on, Sam readies a no-nonsense rendition of Abraham Lincoln's famous Gettysburg Address – that is before Scooter shuffles into frame, ready and willing to give Sam's presentation a sense of style by way of his sweet beatboxing skills.

It's a fun clip that showcases two Muppets who're likely to be on opposite sides of the political spectrum. That said, here they are, each working together toward a common goal – to celebrate the concept of pride in one's nation by remembering those who'd worked so hard to make a difference. Personally, my favorite part of the video is when you can tell that Sam is finally digging on Scooter's musical contribution to the address. After a few bars, he really leans into the groove, you know? It almost makes me wish that we could get a Sam the Eagle rap alum. Almost.

For a time, Josh Gad was poised to co-write a six-part live-action series titled THE MUPPETS LIVE AGAIN for Disney+. Unfortunately, the project that was planned to be an '80s-set sequel to THE MUPPETS TAKE MANHATTAN was cancelled by Disney after reports of creative differences ultimately took the stuffing out of the idea.

Now, before you go flipping any tables about that, you should know that a new Muppets-related project is currently in the works. The show is called MUPPETS NOW, and it's been described as a short-form, improvisational comedy series. MUPPETS NOW will of course be produced by Disney, who in November dedicated an entire section of their Disney+ streaming service to the Jim Henson's timeless felt-covered creations.

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Having left their mark on movies, television and so much more across the last few decades, The Muppets will unfortunately not get to bring as much of their charms as the world needs to the realm of streaming. Set to get back in action for a new series titled MUPPETS LIVE ANOTHER DAY on Disney+ from writer/executive producers Josh Gad (FROZEN), Adam Horowitz and Eddy Kitsis (ONCE UPON A TIME), it’s being reported (via Deadline) that the series will not move forward after creative differences between the House of Mouse and the development team.

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Gad himself took to Instagram to clear the air a bit after the news broke, saying that he, Horowitz and Katsis decided to walk away from the project over the creative differences. He also opened up about the story and the direction they wanted to take, saying it would’ve taken place after THE MUPPETS TAKE MANHATTAN and was intended to be a miniseries that would “feel like a movie spread over 6-8 episodes”

Here’s his full statement and post:

Misinformation is my least favorite kind of information so I thought I’d take a minute to clarify some news that broke today. After a little over a year and a half of working on a project called “Muppets Live Another Day,” @adamhorowitzla #eddykitsis and I have decided, with a heavy heart, to walk away. Some times creative differences are just that. The project, with original songs by Bobby Lopez and Kristen Lopez was to be directed by the great Jason Moore, (director of “Avenue Q” and “Pitch Perfect”). It was meant to be a limited event series that picked up a year after “Muppets Take Manhattan” and was essentially about what happens after you’ve reached the end of the rainbow. It was going to be Muppets by way of Stranger Things and feel like a movie spread over 6-8 episodes.

Part of the joy for us, by placing the Muppets in the middle of the 1980’s, was to subvert and comment on our current love for all things nostalgia while at the same time allowing the characters to tell a story that would ultimately lead to and end in present day, revealing some secrets along the way. It has been one of the great joys of all of our lives to write words for these iconic characters. We wish this franchise all the best and thank our partners at Disney+ and ABC Studios for the opportunity to develop something so fun and outside the box. They have been nothing but supportive and terrific and we can’t wait to play again in other sandboxes. While it is sad, I have no doubt this franchise, under its new leadership will find new and wonderful stories to tell.

My only hope is that one day you can all hear the BRILLIANT music by Bobby and @kristenlopez5681 wrote for Kermit and company. The music is next level good. In the meantime, Adam, Eddy and I are already cooking up new fun ideas that we cannot wait to share. Until then, long live “The Muppets.” They have given us joy for over 40 years and I have no doubt they will continue to bring us joy for the next 40 years.

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As Disney looks deep into their catalog of tested successes – whether it be massive, ongoing series like Marvel and Star Wars or 00s-era kid classics like LIZZIE MCGUIRE – The Muppets are a popular property of theirs that they were looking to integrate into Disney+. This new series was one show they had in development and are also working on a reimagining of the classic THE MUPPET SHOW, which is an “unscripted” variety series and will feature special guest stars. Per the report, the variety show is still set to debut in 2020.

The Muppets have made their way back onto the big and small screen in recent years, with the fluffy gang having a very successful re-entry into movies with the Oscar-winning 2011 critical darling, THE MUPPETS, and the 2014 sequel, MUPPETS MOST WANTED. They also had a series on ABC in 2015, which lasted one season and 16 episodes.

While it does seem The Muppets will get to bring their brand of humor and joy to Disney+ in the form of that variety show, it's bummer they won't get to shine in a bigger, long-form series like what Gad and the team had planned. It sounds like it was coming from a real place of love and a desire to take the characters to both fresh and familiar places, and it's a shame we might not get to see what they cooked up. If there was any time we all needed to hear as much of Fozzie's new material as possible, now is it.

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Flamin’ Hot Cheetos: You all know them, you all love them, and you all know and love the feeling when the hot, cheesy dust gets stuck on your fingers for a second snack, marking the only occasion when it’s okay to lick your fingers in public. But as much as you love this bingeable snack do many of you know how they came to be? If not, then actress-director-producer Eva Longoria is gearing up to bring the story to the cheese-loving masses with a new biopic about the creation of the one and only Flamin’ Hot Cheetos.

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According to Deadline, Longoria reportedly beat out several directors for the gig, with the people at Fox Searchlight liking her approach the most. The script from Lewis Colick (OCTOBER SKY) centers on Richard and Judy Montañez, the former being the son of a Mexican immigrant who worked as a janitor for Frito-Lay when he came up with the idea for the brand of Cheetos, being inspired by the flavors from his community. DeVon Franklin (MIRACLES FROM HEAVEN) is producing through his Franklin Entertainment label.

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This will mark Longoria’s film directorial debut, having directed episodes of shows like THE MICK, BLACK-ISH and more. As well, she’s also attached to direct the Universal project 24/7, which she will be co-starring in alongside Kerry Washington, and can now be seen in the family movie DORA AND THE LOST CITY OF GOLD.

The story of Montañez seems like a fascinating, rags-to-riches story behind one of the most popular snacks on the shelves, and could make for an entertaining and enlightening story about community and creativity. No word yet on when the project will start filming or who will be playing the main characters, but this is one to keep an eye out for if for the food craving alone. 

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