The SLMan Culture List: March

THE HARD-HITTING SERIES: Adolescence

This forthcoming four-part series, directed by Philip Barantini, is filmed in one unflinching continuous shot, with each episode holding focus in real time on the main characters and the drama that unfolds around them. Starring newcomer Owen Cooper, Faye Marsay (Game of Thrones), Christine Tremarco (The Responder), Mark Stanley (Happy Valley) and Jo Hartley (After Life), Adolescence shows how a family’s world is turned upside down when 13-year-old Jamie Miller is arrested for the murder of a teenage girl who goes to his school. Stephen Graham takes on the role of Jamie’s father and ‘appropriate adult’, while Topboy’s Ashley Walters stars as Detective Inspector Luke Bascombe. Erin Doherty joins the cast as Briony Ariston, a clinical psychologist assigned to Jamie’s case. Adolescence reunites Graham and Barantini, who previously collaborated on chef drama Boiling Point, which was widely acclaimed for its one continuous shot.

13th March

Visit Netflix.com

THE THRILLER: Dope Thief

Dope Thief is an eight-part crime drama executive-produced by Ridley Scott, who also directs the first episode. Starring Atlanta and Bullet Train’s ever excellent Brian Tyree Henry, the show is based on Dennis Tafoya’s book of the same name. It follows long-time Philly friends and delinquents who pose as DEA agents to rob an unknown house in the countryside – only to have their small-time grift become a life-and-death enterprise, as they unwittingly reveal and unravel the biggest hidden narcotics corridor on the Eastern seaboard.

14th March

Visit TV.Apple.com

THE BBC DRAMA: King & Conqueror

King & Conqueror is a historical drama series starring James Norton as Harold Godwinson and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as William the Conqueror. Harold of Wessex and William of Normandy were two men destined to meet at the Battle of Hastings in 1066, allies with no design on the British throne, who found themselves forced by circumstance and personal obsession into a war for possession of its crown. This eight-parter tells the story of a clash that defined the future of a country – and a continent – for a thousand years, the roots of which stretch back decades and extend out through a pair of interconnected family dynasties, struggling for power across two countries and the sea.

Date TBC

Visit BBC.co.uk

THE BIG RELEASE: Mickey 17

Following his Oscar-winning masterpiece Parasite, Bong Joon Ho’s next project finally sees the light of day this month. Another dystopian release, Mickey 17 focuses on an unlikely hero, Mickey Barnes (Robert Pattinson), who has found himself in the extraordinary circumstance of working for an employer who demands the ultimate commitment to the job… to die, for a living. As a disposable employee, he is sent on a human expedition to colonise the ice world Niflheim. After one iteration of him dies, a new body is regenerated with most of his memories intact. The film also stars Naomi Ackie (Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker), Steven Yeun (Nope), Toni Collette (Hereditary) and Mark Ruffalo (Poor Things).

7th March

Visit Picturehouses.com

THE A-LIST CAST: Black Bag

From director Steven Soderbergh (Ocean’s Eleven), Black Bag is a gripping new spy drama about legendary intelligence agents George Woodhouse and his wife Kathryn. When Kathryn is suspected of betraying the nation, George faces the ultimate test – loyalty to his marriage or his country. Stars Cate Blanchett, Pierce Brosnan, Michael Fassbender, Tom Burke, Regé-Jean Page, Marisa Abela and Naomie Harris.

14th March

Visit Picturehouses.com

THE INDIE FILM: The End

Musicals are back! And Joshua Oppenheimer’s anticipated post-apocalyptic new film The End – which stars Tilda Swinton, George MacKay, Moses Ingram and Michael Shannon – might actually interest you. Twenty-five years after environmental collapse left the Earth uninhabitable, Mother, Father and Son are confined to their palatial bunker, where they struggle to maintain hope and a sense of normality by clinging to the rituals of daily life – until the arrival of a stranger, Girl, upends their happy routine. Son, a naïve 20-something who has never seen the outside world, is fascinated by the newcomer, and suddenly the delicate bonds of blind optimism that have held this wealthy clan together begin to fray. As tensions rise, their seemingly idyllic existence starts to crumble, with long-repressed feelings of remorse and resentment threatening to destroy the family’s delicate balance.

28th March

Visit Picturehouses.com

THE TRUE STORY: The Twister Caught In The Storm

Loved last year’s Twisters reboot as much as we did? This is the real deal. Set against a backdrop of end-of-the-world predictions on 22nd May 2011, this coming-of-age feature-length documentary is told from the perspective of a group of young people in Joplin, Missouri, as they encounter the extreme power of Mother Nature when a rare EF-5, mile-wide monster tornado hits their hometown on high-school graduation day. In the fierce 200mph winds of the twister, they discover the power of their resilience as they fight for survival. This catastrophic event ravaged Joplin, and yet its community overcame, rebuilt and became a symbol of hope. The film features adrenaline-inducing real-life footage, filmed by people in Joplin, taking viewers into the eye of the storm.

19th March

Visit Netflix.com

THE BOOK: EC Comics Library: Weird Science

When Bill Gaines inherited EC Comics from his father at just 25 years old, no one could predict the impact he would have – not only on comics, but on global pop culture at large. Inspired by the pulp sci-fi stories and weird fiction of their youth, Gaines and artist Al Feldstein drafted the initial issues of what would become the first true serialised sci-fi magazine: Weird Science. In Volume 1 of its new EC Comics Library series, Taschen has brought together the first 11 issues of Weird Science, meticulously recreating the comics in their original glory. Rather than re-colour the artwork, this edition works with super-high-resolution photographs of each page as it was printed more than half a century ago, using modern retouching techniques to correct problems with the era’s inexpensive, imperfect printing. The result is a pristine product, keeping the character and feel of the classic pulp comic magazines.

Out now

Visit Taschen.com

THE CONCERT FILM: Hans Zimmer & Friends: Diamond In The Desert

Hans Zimmer & Friends: Diamond in the Desert captures an extraordinary live performance of some of Zimmer's most revered compositions, including music from Dune, Gladiator, Interstellar and more. Decades of cinematic masterpieces are brought to life by his band and a world-class orchestra at Dubai's Coca-Cola Arena. Featuring conversations with Billie Eilish, Christopher Nolan, Denis Villeneuve, Jerry Bruckheimer, Johnny Marr, Pharrell Williams, Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya, the film offers viewers a rare glimpse into Zimmer's creative process, as it explores the drive to create and the stories behind his closest collaborations.

19th March

Visit HansZimmerFilm.com

THE WEST END TRANSFER: Retrograde

Oscar nominee Colman Domingo (Sing Sing, Rustin) has joined Nica Burns as producer for the West End transfer of this acclaimed production of Retrograde by Ryan Calais Cameron. Sidney Poitier – the trail blazer, activist and icon – was the first Black man to win the Oscar for Best Actor. Now at the Apollo theatre, Calais Cameron’s gripping thriller captures the moment when a young Sidney is about to sign a career-defining Hollywood contract that could make him a star. But there’s a catch. Will he put his career before his principles? In a time of betrayals, will he name names? Will he sign his life away? Retrograde follows the director’s smash West End hit For Black Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When the Hue Gets Too Heavy – which was so good it sold out twice, first at the Apollo in 2023, then at the Garrick last year.

8th March-14th June

Visit NimaxTheatres.com

Mark-Senior

THE DOCUMENTARY: Black Leading Men In Hollywood

Highly anticipated two-part documentary Number One on the Call Sheet arrives on Apple TV+ on 28th March. With unprecedented access and candid interviews, the double header takes viewers on an intimate journey with some of Hollywood’s most leading Black men and women as they shine a light on the joys and challenges of being a Black actor, share breakthrough moments, discuss blueprints for success and honour legends, while recognising the next generation’s enormous potential. Talking heads in part one – Black Leading Men In Hollywood – include John Boyega, Don Cheadle, Ice Cube, Idris Elba, Laurence Fishburne, Morgan Freeman, Dwayne Johnson, Michael B. Jordan, Daniel Kaluuya, Martin Lawrence, Eddie Murphy, Will Smith, Denzel Washington and Marlon Wayans.

28th March

Visit TV.Apple.com

THE PLAY: Punch

Based on a powerful true-life account, Punch is the latest masterpiece from Olivier award-winning playwright James Graham (Best of Enemies, Dear England, This House). Jacob Dunne, a teenager from Nottingham, spends his Saturday nights seeking thrills with his friends. One fateful evening, an impulsive punch leads to fatal consequences. After serving prison time, Jacob finds himself lost and directionless. Searching for answers, Joan and David – the parents of his victim James – ask to meet, sparking a profound transformation in Jacob’s life. Following a sold-out run in Nottingham, Julie Hesmondhalgh (Mr Bates vs The Post Office), Tony Hirst (Hollyoaks) and David Shields (Masters of the Air) reprise their roles at the Young Vic.

Until 26th April

Visit YoungVic.org