Love is in the air! As summer begins to heat up, so does the drama. From romantic feelings to platonic and profound friendships, there’s enough love to go around. EnVi shares a list of new releases to spread the love and loss in everyday connections.
The Four Seasons
The upcoming comedy miniseries, The Four Seasons, is packed with seasoned talent, including Steve Carell, Will Forte, Colman Domingo, Tina Fey, Kerri Kenney, and Marco Calvani. While the show is written by Tina Fey, Lang Fisher, and Tracy Wingfield, the project is adapted from the film by the same name: The Four Seasons (1981), directed by Alan Alda (M*A*S*H). Fey describes the show as “being a love letter to long-term relationships, both platonic and romantic.” Three sets of couples regularly vacation together each season, but the separation of one couple brings about tension and complications to their decades-long tradition. The eight-episode debut season premiered on May 1 on Netflix.
The Next Prince
Director Kittipat Champa brings to life The Next Prince, a love story with one of the highest production budgets in the Thai entertainment industry. After initially working together on Cutie Pie, Chawarin Perdpiriawong and Zee Pruk Panich reunite for this film. In the show’s documentary, director Champa stated, “I wanted to make a series just for [Perdpiriawong and Panich].” Per Panich’s desire to portray a royal guard, Champa built a world around the fictional nation of Emmaly. Royal bodyguard Charan Phithakdheva (Zee Pruk Panich) serves to protect Khanin (Chawarin Perdpiriawong), the Atsawathewathin royal-family heir, during the Royal Competition that determines the ruling monarch of the nation. Filmed in Thailand, the show highlights famous Thai locations, class differences, and current societal issues. The highly anticipated Thai BL drama premiered on May 3 on iQIYI.
FOREVER
Reimagined from Judy Blume’s classic novel, FOREVER, the Netflix series tells the first-love story between two Black teenagers living in Los Angeles. Showrunner Mara Brock Akil complimented Judy Blume’s ability to outline genuine emotions and was honored to adapt one of her favorite books for the small screen. Akil transforms the original 1975 story into a modern romance, following Keisha Clark (Lovie Simone) and Justin Edwards (Michael Cooper Jr.) as they navigate their identities and futures while falling in love for the first time. Karen Pittman (The Morning Show), Wood Harris (Remember the Titans), and Xosha Roquemore (Precious and The Mindy Project) round out the cast. The eight-episode series premiered on May 8 on Netflix.
The Royals
Opposites attract between an aristocrat and CEO in a modern-day romantic comedy. When royal heir Aviraaj Signh (Ishaan Khatter) must team up with CEO Aam Kumari (Bhumi Pednekar), the clash of personalities transforms into teasing flirtation. The ensemble cast includes Sakshi Tanwar, Zeenat Aman, Nora Fatehi, Vihaan Samat, Kavya Trehan, Milind Soman, and Dino Morea. Incorporated in the show’s soundtrack album, the electro-pop song “Who Rules the World,” performed by Sukriti Bhardwaj and Anish Mathew, accompanies that series’ message of women empowerment and fierce ambition. The Pritish Nandy Communications production began airing on May 9 on Netflix.
Worth the Wait
From To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, Lara Jean Covey shares the screen with someone other than Peter Kavinsky in this upcoming rom-com. Originally paired as Lara Jean and Trevor, Lana Condor and Ross Butler return to the big screen as the main love interests in a multigenerational story that touches on love, loss, and past connections. Worth the Wait also stars Andrew Koji (Warrior), Sung Kang (the Fast & Furious franchise), and Elodie Yung (The Cleaning Lady). The film is available on Tubi for exclusive streaming on May 23.
Want to dive more into the romantic side? Check out “Romance Is in the Air: 14 Asian Films & Series to Watch” here!
