Your May 2019 entertainment planner

Shadow — 5/3

If Zhang Yimou knows anything, it's how to craft an epic. While he can sometimes veer from his trademark style and deliver a harrowing melodrama in the form of the 2015 Gong Li feature "Coming Home," he is still best known for his wirework martial arts epics like "Hero" and "The House of Flying Daggers". (The less said about his Matt Damon romp, "The Great Wall," the better.) In this, a military commander has been training a lookalike (or, more aptly, his "Shadow") to fool a rampant king — but to what end? Several epic set pieces with metal-blade umbrellas have us curious about Yimou's return to his untouchable wheelhouse.

John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum — 5/17

Remember when the first "John Wick" rebranded Keanu Reeves as a believable action hero and was better than it had any right to be? And then "John Wick 2" was somehow even better than that? Wick's world of secret assassins and hotel safehouses was even copied in 2018's commercial misfire "Hotel Artemis," 'cos let's be real: No one can do it like Wick can. Expelled from the guild he used to call home, a contract is out on John Wick's head, and every killer in the world is gunning for him. But hey: If anyone can beat impossible odds — it's John Wick. Joined by returning favorites (Laurence Fishburne, Ian McShane, Lance Reddick) and with a couple of new faces to the cast (Halle Berry, Anjelica Huston, Jason Mantzoukas), John Wick looks to close out his legacy with nothing short of several well-aimed bangs.

Booksmart — 5/24

Directed by Olivia Wilde and co-written by "Trophy Wife" creator Sarah Haskins, "Booksmart" is getting some of the best reviews of the year, as it tells of two high school friends (Kaitlyn Dever and Beanie Feldstein) trying to fit in as many experiences as they can prior to graduation, which cover enough of a range to warrant an R rating. But if that's enough to get it in the echelon of "greatest coming-of-age stories ever" — which some critics are saying — then it was well worth the ride.

Aladdin — 5/24

With Disney now seemingly creating nothing but live-action remakes of its beloved animated features of yore, one can be forgiven for not feeling the same level of excitement for Guy Ritchie's new "Aladdin" as maybe would be felt for this whole "Lion King" remake that's coming out. Either way, as appropriately mocked as Will Smith's CGI genie was when the first footage of the film debuted, many are wondering if Ritchie and screenwriter John August can deliver on the promise of one of the most beloved films from Disney's renaissance age. A lot of marketing remains focused on the genie, and the truth is what we've always known: Trying to "imitate" Robin Williams' performance will ruin the movie. Taking the character in a new and different direction is the only way to win a favorable comparison, and as of this writing — well, the jury's still out, folks, but we're all gonna see it at some point, right?

Rocketman — 5/31

Shockingly not a remake of Disney's 1992 live-action flop starring Harland Williams, this latest in a line of prestige musical biopics arrives right during the start of summer box office season and fresh off the pumped-up sequined heels of the Academy Award-winning "Bohemian Rhapsody." The two films actually share a connection in the form of director Dexter Fletcher, who was brought in to "finish" the Queen biopic after original director Bryan Singer was canned, which means "Rocketman" — a telling of Elton John's life story — will hopefully be the result of a singular and more consistent vision. Fletcher worked with leading man Taron Egerton on the lovely 2016 inspirational flick "Eddie the Eagle," so the two have definite chemistry. All that remains to be seen is if this "Rocket" will be viewed as a "Rhapsody" also-ran or if it can stand on its own musical merits.

Television

Chernobyl (HBO) — 5/6

A co-production between HBO and the British network Sky, this five-episode miniseries already has audiences excited for what will be a harrowing retelling of one of the worst accidents ever committed by the human race. Starring Jared Harris and Stellan Skarsgård and directed by Johan Renck ("Breaking Bad"), the fallout from this nuclear disaster aims to be appointment television and something we as a species need to be reminded of — to say nothing of the fact that cover-up aside, it could've been so, so much worse.

Wu-Tang Clan: Of Mics and Men (Showtime) — 5/11

We're starting to get worried about Showtime: It's a good network with some great shows but even more than that, it has some stellar documentaries that just feel underpromoted. The 2017 Whitney Houston feature length, "Can I Be Me," was revelatory and well-made, which is perhaps why the network is going all in its telling of the story of one of rap music's most acclaimed collectives: the Wu-Tang Clan. Done as a miniseries instead of a straight-up doc (wisely broken up into four parts, each covering a different part of the group's career), the surviving members of the Clan are happy to recount and relive their highs and lows in candid (and visually resplendent) detail.

The Bachelorette (ABC) — 5/13

It's back...and you're watching regardless. Following Colton's rejection of her after she revealed she was starting to develop real feelings for him, Hannah B. — a former Miss Alabama — made history in Season 23 of "The Bachelor" by being the first woman cast as "The Bachelorette" who had not placed in the show's top four. (She placed seventh.) Given everyone's own feelings as to how Season 23 concluded, many are actually excited if a bit surprised by Hannah's upgrade to a leading role, but she seems more than ready to fend off some suitors when this spin-off airs its 15th season premiere.

The Hot Zone (Nat Geo) — 5/27

Speaking of great man-made disaster dramas, National Geographic — a network that's been finding decent success in the prestige scripted drama department — is getting back into the game with a miniseries adaptation of Richard Preston's benchmark 1994 book about deadly viruses, "The Hot Zone." Starring Julianna Margulies as the doctor who tried to head off an outbreak of the extremely deadly Ebola virus in 1989 at a military lab no less than 15 miles from Washington D.C., the action-packed thriller will also star Topher Grace, Robert Sean Leonard, Grace Gummer and James D'Arcy.

Deadwood: The Movie (HBO) — 5/31

A month before the premiere of the long-gestating, hotly anticipated cinematic conclusion to the HBO Western series that is spoken in some breaths as one of the greatest television shows over made, the show's creator and mastermind, David Milch, publicly revealed that he has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's. It was a genuine shock to many of the show's fans and gives that much more gravity to this final feature, set a decade after the show's Season 3 finale. Written by Milch and helmed by longtime "Deadwood" director, Daniel Minahan, it boasts several of the show's key actors returning, including Ian McShane, Timothy Olyphant, Molly Parker, John Hawkes and Anna Gunn.

Streaming

Knock Down the House (Netflix) — 5/1

Make no mistake: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has a star quality to her. It's the thing that has made her popular on social media, the absolute ire of Fox News conservatives and a stand-in savior to some of the more progressive branches of the Democratic party. Her ability to break down complex policy into relatable, nuanced soundbites have made her immensely popular, and it's that same popularity that drives a lot of interest in Rachel Lears' film that traces four women aiming to upset the status quo during the 2018 midterm elections. Amy Vilela of Nevada, Cori Bush of Missouri and Paula Jean Swearengin of West Virginia have equally compelling stories in what is sure to be one of the most talked about films right as the presidential primaries start heating up.

Suspiria (Amazon Prime) — 5/3

Fresh off his award-winning work on the iconic queer romance "Call Me By Your Name," director Luca Guadagnino's decided to tackle an even loftier project: a remake of the Dario Argento horror classic, "Suspiria." There is some visibility with it given that Darren Aronofsky's "Black Swan" borrowed numerous elements from the 1977 original, but Guadagnino's remake was grounded by headline performances for Dakota Johnson and Tilda Swinton. The film got wildly mixed reviews (although the score, by Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke, was universally praised), but chances are you didn't get to see it in theaters. Now that it's headed to Prime, you finally have your chance to attend this twisted dance.

Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile (Netflix) — 5/3

The controversy was palpable. After all, a biopic about Ted Bundy starring Zac Efron was bound to get some interest, but who thought that people would come away from the first trailer (and its preceding docu-series, "Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes") thinking that this merciless serial killer was so...hot. Yes, Netflix had to issue a statement insisting people stop fantasizing over the chiseled psychopath, but the two Bundy projects (both helmed by Joe Berlinger) reflected real life, where women showed up at the trial wooed by Bundy's charm and charisma. Controversy aside, it'll no doubt make for compelling cinema, even if early reviews show critics evenly divided about the final cut.

Wine Country (Netflix) — 5/8

During her run on the iconic series "Parks and Recreation," Amy Poehler became more and more integral to the show's creative vision, even directing three episodes over its many great seasons. Now with the help of Netflix, she makes her true and proper full-length directorial debut with a lighthearted romp featuring old friends planning an elaborate 50th birthday party in (you guessed it) wine country. With an all-star cast that features many "SNL" alum, including Maya Rudolph, Tina Fey, Rachel Dratch, Ana Gasteyer and Paula Pell (as well as the talents of Jason Schwartzman), this is sure to be a fun diversion in the middle of May and one that's best enjoyed while you swirl your glass of Bordeaux.

Catch-22 (Hulu) — 5/17

While Mike Nichols' 1970 adaptation of Joseph Heller's timeless wartime comedy, "Catch-22," was a modest success that boasted an all-star cast (think Alan Arkin, Bob Newhart, Anthony Perkins, Martin Sheen, Jon Voight and Orson Welles), George Clooney and his frequent directing and producing partner, Grant Helsov, were brought in to both act and help direct a long-form version of the tale, capturing the eccentricities and downright ridiculousness of war. With major acting assists from Kyle Chandler and Hugh Laurie, this modest Hulu limited series looks like it has all the comic tone down pat — but will it surpass Nichols' version in quality?

Music

Vampire Weekend's "Father of the Bride" — 5/3

It's been six long years since the last Vampire Weekend album, but frontman Ezra Koenig has been busy, playing guitar for Karen O at the Academy Awards and co-writing and producing "Hold Up" by Beyoncé. During this time Vampire Weekend themselves went under some transformations, and "Father of the Bride," the band's fourth album, will be the first since go-to indie producer Rostam Batmanglij left it. As the six songs leading the album's release have shown, the group's style has grown and evolved in unique ways, integrating everything from new age guitar tones to Rolling Stones-styled boogie-woogie piano. Before long, fans will themselves get to walk down the aisle to this bevy of new tunes, which sport among them collaborations with Chromeo and Danielle Haim.

Ciara's "Beauty Marks" — 5/10

It's been a bit since we've heard from Ciara, and her second Epic Record album, 2015's "Jackie," became her lowest-selling effort to date. Yet a superstar romance with Russell Wilson and birth of her second child has proved that Ciara remains as fierce as ever, and her stretch of recent singles — the dance-centric "Level Up," marching band stomper "Dose," contemporary R&B ballad "Greatest Love" and the feel-good pop hit "Thinkin Bout You" — have shown that not only is Ciara back, but she also is more confident than ever. Here's hoping that this "Beauty" really leaves a mark.

Carley Rae Jepsen's "Dedicated" — 5/17

While some may view Jepsen as that one girl who had that big hit with "Call Me Maybe" that one time, it was her 2015 set, "Emotion," that ended up defining her legacy. Filled to the brim with bops, Jepsen won over stony rock critics with her mesmerizing mastery of pop song craft, soon topping many end-of-year polls while growing a remarkably rabid fan base. Years in the making (and, amazingly, featuring only one Jack Antonoff collaboration), Jepsen's latest has only one feature (a band called Electric Guest), and she already spiked the preview single "Party for One" to mere "deluxe edition" status. She's getting more and more careful about what she's putting out in the world, and if her song "Now That I Found You" is any indication, she might just be sitting on another pop masterpiece.

Flying Lotus' "Flamagra" — 5/24

It's been a half decade since we last got an album from Steven Ellison (known as Flying Lotus to many) proper. Yet between his own acclaimed efforts, his raps under his alter ego, Captain Murphy, his Grammy-nominated assistance helping bring Kendrick Lamar's "To Pimp a Butterfly" to life and his disturbing feature-length horror film, "Kuso," this Lotus has been busy. So what a thrill it is that 2019 gives us his sixth studio album , this time littered with guest appearances by everyone from George Clinton to Anderson .Paak to Thundercat to David Lynch to Solange. Trust us: We've heard it, and it's an early Album of the Year contender for sure.

ionnalee's "Remember the Future" — 5/31

Do you remember iamamiwhoami? In late 2009, she started posting surreal videos littered with cryptic clues that soon took internet sleuth by storm: Was it Nine Inch Nails' new project? Lady Gaga's? Rounds of denials and careful investigation revealed that it was, in fact, Swedish singer-songwriter Jonna Lee, who was previously a Sheryl Crow-type artist in her homeland. Her new, mindbending electronic sounds resulted in her crafting three well-received albums, but in 2018, following a severe health scare, she put everything she had into a dramatic solo collection under the new name ionnalee. Now she's back with her second album in 15 months time, this one recalling her early iamami days with hard beats, sweet vocals and gutting lyrical insight. Don't sleep on ionna: She's up to something incredible.