01/05/2025

LYFE THURSDAY | MAY 1, 2025

FOLLOW

ON FACEBOOK

26

Malaysian Paper

/thesundaily /

BINGE-WORTHY FLICKS

Marathon night in

Ű BY THASHINE SELVAKUMARAN

o Five new series, films you can stream right now

T HERE is nothing better than discovering that a new season of your favourite show or a film is not only on its way but it is already here. No teaser countdowns or frustrating delays. Just press play. Here are five titles that have officially dropped and are ready to binge. Let us look into what is new and streaming now.

Available on most streaming platforms, grab your popcorns, kick your feet up and get ready for a viewing marathon fest right at the comfort of your home.

Gannibal , Season 2 (Disney+ Hotstar) Creators: Shinzo Katayama, Hayato Kawai, Masaaki Ninomiya Cast: Sho Kasamatsu, Takato Yonemoto, Yuya Yagira The chilling Japanese thriller is back and it is darker than ever. In Gannibal Season 2, officer Daigo Agawa finds himself battling his trauma and the grotesque legacy of the Goto family. The second season digs deeper into the family’s history, including the rise of Gin Goto, a figure as magnetic as she is menacing. With eerie village rituals and twisted power plays, the series remains one of the most unsettling and addictive psychological thrillers out there. All eight episodes are now available, having rolled out across March.

Mufasa: The Lion King (Disney+ Hotstar) Creator: Barry Jenkins Cast: Aaron Pierre, Kelvin Harrison Jr, Tiffany Boone Jenkins takes us back to the Pride Lands with Mufasa: The Lion King , now streaming after a massive run at the global box office. Told in flashbacks by Rafiki to Simba’s daughter Kiara, the film recounts the origin of Mufasa and his unlikely bond with Taka. With new music from Lin-Manuel Miranda and stunning visuals, it is a heartfelt exploration of legacy, family and finding your path. Whether you are a longtime fan or diving into the franchise for the first time, Mufasa stands tall among its predecessors.

Hyper Knife (Disney+ Hotstar) Creators: Kim Jung-hyun, Kim Sun-hee Cast: Park Eun-bin, Sul Kyung-gu, Yoon Chan-young

One of the most intriguing K-dramas of the year, Hyper Knife blends medical drama with noir thriller. Seok, a brilliant but disgraced neurosurgeon, performs underground surgeries while wrestling with her fall from grace. When her former mentor reappears with an impossible operation and a plea for help she must choose between revenge or redemption. Led by Eun-bin and Kyung-gu and written by Sun-hee, Hyper Knife delivers tension sharp enough to cut bone.

Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX (J ǟ kuakusu) (Prime Video) Creators: Yoshiyuki Tomino, Hajime Yatate Cast: Ryan Colt Levy, Casey Mongillo, A.J. Beckles April brought us a groundbreaking entry in the Gundam universe with Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX . A collaboration between Studio Khara and Sunrise, the series introduces Amate Yuzuriha, a teenager drawn into an underground Mobile Suit battle circuit known as “Clan Battle”. As she pilots the powerful GQuuuuuuX unit under the alias “Machu”, a fugitive Gundam and its mysterious pilot change her path forever. With direction from Evangelion’s Kazuya Tsurumaki and writing from Hideaki Anno, this is a new era for the franchise. A billion-dollar box office hit Moana 2 brings the ocean’s heroine back for a brand-new adventure. Three years after her first voyage, Moana teams up with Maui and an unlikely crew after receiving a call from her wayfinding ancestors. Together they sail into the far seas of Oceania facing unknown dangers and unlocking ancient truths. Directed by Derrick Jr, Hand and Miller, the film features a standout soundtrack from Abigail Barlow, Emily Bear, Opetaia Foa’i and Mark Mancina. Now streaming after becoming one of the highest-grossing films of the year. Moana 2 (Disney+ Hotstar) Creators: David G. Derrick Jr., Jason Hand, Dana Ledoux Miller Cast: Auli’i Cravalho, Dwayne Johnson, Hualalai Chung

Andor, Season 2 (Disney+ Hotstar) Creator: Tony Gilroy Cast: Diego Luna, Stellan Skarsgard, Denise Gough

The wait is over, Andor has returned for its second and final season. Picking up as Cassian Andor edges closer to becoming the rebel hero we meet in Rogue One , the new season unfolds against the growing threat of full-blown war. Split into four arcs of three episodes each, the series continues its exploration of resistance and the cost of rebellion. The first chapter premiered last week and new episodes roll out weekly. With standout performances from Luna and a stacked cast, including Skarsgard and Genevieve O’Reilly, this is prestige sci-fi that pulls no punches.