What’s coming soon to Sky and NOW TV in April 2016?
David Farnor | On 30, Mar 2016
Game of Game of Thrones, Game of Thrones, Game of Thrones. After 12 months of singing the title of HBO’s fantasy epic to its theme tune, the time has finally come for George RR Martins’ tale to return to our screens – and Sky customers and NOW subscribers will be overjoyed.
The launch of HBO NOW in the US and other countries highlights just how popular the NOW model has become for Game of Thrones fans, allowing them to stream the show legally both live and on-demand every week, not to mention binge-view the box set of all previous episodes in the run-up to the sixth season.
But believe it or not, April is about more than Game of Thrones, with TV customers (£6.99 a month on NOW) getting new seasons of wacky game show Wild Things, the return of Supergirl, the premiere of Harlan Coben’s new drama, The Five, and the James Franco-starring 11.22.63, based on Stephen King’s novel.
Movie customers, meanwhile (£9.99 a month on NOW), have got Chris Pratt, Jake Gyllenhaal, Arnie and a whole lot of Channing Tatum to keep them busy.
Here’s what’s new and coming soon to Sky and NOW in April 2016:
TV
Supergirl – 1st April (Sky 1, 8pm)
Melissa Benoist is on winning form as Superman’s cousin in this TV adaptation of the comic books – returning finally (hot on the heels of Arrow, The Flash and Legends of Tomorrow) for the second half of its first season. The first nine episodes are still available on Sky Box Sets and NOW.
Colony: Season 1 – 7th April (Sky 1, 9pm)
Josh Holloway and Carlton Cuse reunite after Lost for this sci-fi series set in a dystopian future Los Angeles where the world has come under alien occupation. What’s that, you say? Why yes, there is a conspiracy to uncover.
How I Met Your Mother: Season 1 to 9 – 7th April (Box Set)
CBS’ comedy arrives on Sky Box Sets, giving everyone a chance to relive how Ted (Josh Radnor) eventually met the mother of his kids. From Jason Segel and Cobie Smulders to Alyson Hannigan, the amusing cast are only topped by Neil Patrick Harris as Barney, a suit-wearing, womanising playboy, whose pick-up skills are even more legendary than Lorenzo von Matterhorn.
11.22.63: Season 1 – 10th April (FOX UK, 9pm)
Hulu’s original series, which spans nine hours, is based on the Stephen King novel and stars James Franco as Jake Epping, a teacher who wants to make a difference with his life – an urge that, thanks to persuasion of his friend Al Templeton (played by Chris Cooper), leads him to travel back in time to stop the assassination of JFK. Read our review here.
Wild Things: Season 2 – 10th April (Sky 1, 7pm)
Obstacle courses are a familiar sight for TV game shows. Obstacle courses in which the contestants have to wear giant animal suits? That’s the key to Wild Things’ entertainingly daft appeal. Worryingly funny viewing.
The Tunnel: Sabotage (Season 2) – 12th April (Sky Atlantic, 9pm)
Sky’s popular crime thriller, inspired by Scandinavia’s The Bridge, sees Stephen Dillane and Celemence Poesy reunited as Detective Karl Roebuck and Elise Wasserman to investigate the abduction of a couple from the Eurotunnel.
Camping: Season 1 – 12th April (Sky 1, 9pm)
Julia Davis’ comedy follows the events of a week’s holiday where a group of old friends meet to celebrate one of their landmark birthdays. But as the days unfold, tensions and emotions start to rise. All episodes of the series are now available on-demand for binge-viewing through Sky Box Sets and NOW.
Todd Margaret: Season 3 – 14th April (FOX UK, 10.30pm)
David Cross returns to play a new version of his character in this dream-within-a-dream extension of the comedy series.
The Five: Season 1 – 15th April (Sky 1, 9pm)
Sky 1’s latest original drama comes from the pen of bestselling thriller writer Harlan Coben. Co-written with Shameless’ Danny Brocklehurst, the drama follows a taut mystery about the consequences of a terrible childhood incident for a group of friends. The show boasts a brilliant cast of British talent starring Tom Cullen, O-T Fagbenle, Lee Ingleby and Sarah Solemani.
Episodes will be released in double-bills of two episodes every Friday for five weeks, starting on 15th April. Watch a 13-minute preview of the series above.
Jack Irish – 15th April (FOX UK, 10pm)
Guy Pearce is back as Jack Irish. After the success of the previous three Jack Irish TV movies, the former Aussie criminal lawyer, debt collector and apprentice cabinet maker finds himself staring down the barrel of a brand new case in this six-part thriller.
After a random summons by one Travis Dilthey, Jack is charged with tracking down Travis’ troubled missing brother Wayne. But when he finds his catch, everything isn’t quite as it seems and Jack begins to suspect the whole operation might be an elaborate set-up, framing him for murder.
Photo: Essential Media and Entertainment
Game of Thrones – 25th April (Sky Atlantic, 9pm)
“We are all sinful creatures. We deserve death. We all do.”
Veep: Season 5 – TBC
Armando Iannucci’s political comedy returns for a fifth season, but with Curb Your Enthusiasm’s David Mandel replacing the Brit in the role of showrunner. No UK air date is currently confirmed, but it is understood to be airing on Sky Atlantic in April.
Movies
Jurassic World – 1st April
Chris Pratt stars in this post-modern reboot of everyone’s favourite dinosaur franchise, which actually builds and opens the theme park envisioned by John Hammond to the general public – only for things to go horribly wrong all over again. A thrilling ride back to your youth that proves dinosaurs can still seem as amazing as they did 22 years ago.
Magic Mike XXL – 8th April
Come again? Steven Soderbergh’s Magic Mike was a heartfelt character study of men who happened to be strippers. Magic Mike XXL, on the other hand, is a film about male stripping. And that’s absolutely a good thing. Especially when it involves Joe Manganiello and a petrol station.
Southpaw – 22nd April
Jake Gyllenhaal steps into cinema’s proverbial ring for a drama about a retired, undefeated professional boxer in New York.
Partisan – 22nd April
Vincent Cassell is mesmerising in this provocative drama about a disturbing commune leader raising kids to be trained killers.
Maggie – 29th April
Arnie ditches his Terminator garb in favour of a small, indie horror about an anguished father in a post-apocalyptic word who is trying to save his daughter (Abigail Breslin) who is infected with a zombie virus.
Ted 2 – 29th April
More foul-mouthed antics from Seth MacFarlane’s furry bear.
Tracers – 1st April
Taylor Lautner plays a New York bike messenger who gets caught up in the city’s parkour scene in this undemanding but underrated thriller.
Other new movies coming soon to Sky Movies and NOW in April:
1st April
Entourage
Knock Knock
8th April
The Possession of Michael King
Kelly & Cal
Kidnapping Freddy Heineken
15th April
Pixels
Standoff
Elsa & Fred
Bad Words
22nd
The Forger
Dying of the Light
29th
The Longest Ride
The Overnight
Photo: HBO