What to Stream: Alabama Shakes, 'The Whisper Man,' 'Leanne' and 'Star
Wars Zero Company'
[August 24, 2026]
“The Whisper Man” film adaptation and a new album from the Alabama
Shakes are some of the new television, films, music and games headed to
a device near you.
Also among the streaming offerings worth your time this week, as
selected by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists: a new
tactical “Star Wars” game, the Netflix adaptation of “The Whisper Man”
and Season 2 of the comedy series “Leanne.”
New movies to stream from Aug. 24-30
— Based on Alex North’s bestselling novel, “The Whisper Man” (Netflix,
Friday) stars Adam Scott as a widowed crime writer whose 8-year-old son
is abducted. He looks to his estranged father, a retired detective
(Robert De Niro) for help, leading to a new connection to a decades-old
serial killer case. With Michelle Monaghan.
— “Mary Oliver: Saved by the Beauty of the World” pays tender tribute to
the Pulitzer Prize-winning poet. Sasha Waters’ documentary premieres
Tuesday as part of “American Masters” on PBS and the PBS App. Along with
profiling the life of Oliver, who died in 2019, the film features poetry
recitations by Oprah Winfrey, Stephen Colbert, Steve Buscemi and others.
— AP Film Writer Jake Coyle
New music to stream from Aug. 24-30
— A lot can happen in a decade. And here’s a great example: Alabama
Shakes, the beloved Southern rock band that introduced the world to its
electrifying frontwoman Brittany Howard (in addition to many other
accomplishments) will release its third album on Friday. “I Must Be
Dreaming” is the now-trio’s first in 11 years and their first since they
parted ways with their drummer Steve Johnson, who had a child abuse
charge that was dismissed against him in 2021). The new record is 10
tracks of psychedelic soul — ambitious instrumentation from the best in
the biz — and just what the doctor ordered.
— Mike D 5D, the project by Beastie Boy Mike D joined by his sons Skyler
and Davis Diamond, as well as Eddie Ruscha, Will Graefe and Milo Ruscha,
will release “Thank You” on Friday. The 13-track album rejects easy
genre categorization. There are elements of Mike D’s old school hip-hop,
but also The Beastie Boys’ punk rock spirit and even elements of acid
rock (“True Colors.”) Expect the unexpected.
— Fans of jangly indie rock are likely already familiar with Velocity
Girl, prescient performers born from the late-80s and early-90s new pop
underground music scene largely headquartered in Washington, D.C. A new
collection, courtesy of the indie label Slumberland Records, dives deep
into the band’s earliest years (before they signed to Sub Pop Records,
previously home to Nirvana.) “1989 – 1992” is the all-too appropriate
name of the album, out Friday — 12 tracks of fuzzy, hooky, addictively
ramshackle guitar pop.
— The hugely influential American indie rock band Dinosaur Jr. returns
with “There Near,” four decades on since the release of its debut album.
Those in the know will find J Mascis' guitar as unmistakable as ever.
Those who are not: It's never too late to dive in. Or to get the opening
verse of “Blowin' Up” lodged in your brain: “You′re about as dumb as
they come / And telling stupid stories every day / Someone who loves you
should speak up / And tell you to mind your own teacup before breaking
mine.”
— AP Music Writer Maria Sherman
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This combination of album cover images show “I Must Be Dreaming” by
Alabama Shakes, left, and "1989 – 1992" by Velocity Girl. (Capitol
Records via AP, left, and Slumberland Records via AP)
 New series to stream from Aug.
24-30
— Season 2 of “Leanne,” the comedy starring comedian Leanne Morgan,
premieres on Netflix on Thursday. Morgan plays a woman starting over
after splitting from her husband of three decades. She co-created
the series with Chuck Lorre, known for hits like “The Big Bang
Theory” and “Two and a Half Men.”
— AP Writer Alicia Rancilio
New video games to play from Aug. 24-30
— “Star Wars Zero Company” seems like an easy pitch: Take a
team-based tactical game and drop it into Lucasfilm’s popular
franchise. Ideally, you’d want to hire some of the people who worked
on tactical gems like “XCOM” and “Marvel’s Midnight Suns” — and
that’s exactly what Electronic Arts has done with the new studio Bit
Reactor. This chapter takes place during the Clone Wars, and your
mission is to stop “an emerging threat that will consume the
galaxy.” You can recruit all sorts of soldiers, scoundrels, droids
and maybe even a Jedi for your scrappy squad. The force is strong
Thursday on PlayStation 5, Xbox X/S and PC.
— The Plague Tale series from France’s Asobo Studio recreates one of
the bleakest periods in history, the Black Death that consumed much
of Europe in the 14th century. “Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy”
introduces a new protagonist: a “fierce young plunderer” named
Sophia who travels to Minotaur Island in search of an ancient myth.
While the previous games were stealth-focused, Sophia is more
aggressive and ready to fight her pursuers rather than just running
away. Who knows if the hordes of plague-carrying rats will return?
Find out Thursday on PlayStation 5, Xbox X/S and PC.
— “Grand Theft Auto VI” is still three months away, but the buzz is
so loud that even an announcement of a preview makes the news. So,
if you’re dying to know what publisher Rockstar Games has been up to
since “GTAV” came out 13 years ago, you’ll want to tune into Netflix
at 3 p.m. EDT Thursday for “Grand Theft Auto VI: An Extended Look.”
If you don’t get Netflix, you’ll have to wait six hours for the
footage to show up on YouTube and Rockstar’s website. The suspense
is almost criminal.
— Lou Kesten
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