The Dandelion Chandelier Entertainment Events Calendar showcases our top picks in the world of pop culture this May. These are the new films, TV shows, plays, pop music, festivals and podcasts we’re most excited about in May 2019. For the rest of the Luxury Calendar, click here. And for a list of fantastic new books being published this month, click here.
what’s happening in pop culture this may?
The month of May is the kickoff for the summer season of entertainment. Getting things started is the annual Cannes Film Festival and the release of the much buzzed about film, The Souvenir. Why the buzz? Tilde Swinton’s work on the film may earn her an Oscar come next year.
On the small screen and stage you will find numerous works that look back on past wrongdoings, including HBO’s Chernobyl which explores the man made disaster of 1986 and The Lehman Trilogy about the rise and fall of the financial giant and the crisis which ensued after. Finally, with music festival season in full swing, Governors Ball returns to Randall’s Island.
Our top picks in the world of pop culture this May
1. film
Take the kids to see Detective Pikachu. It’s the first live action film based on the massively popular Pokémon game. Starring Ryan Reynolds as the voice of Pikachu, an unusually intelligent and perceptive Pokémon creature – May 10
Hollywood heads to the South of France for the annual Cannes Film Festival – May 14 – 25
Starring Tilde Swinton and her daughter, Honor Swinton Byrne, The Souvenir tells the story of a young film student who becomes involved with an enigmatic man – May 17
The Souvenir
After starring alongside Sir Elton John in Kingsman: The Golden Circle, Taron Egerton is playing the Crocodile Rock singer in the musical biopic fantasy Rocketman. Bryce Dallas Howard, Richard Madden and Jamie Bell also star – May 17
The latest remake of Disney’s Aladdin hits theaters, starring Will Smith as the Genie – May 24
Starring Elizabeth Banks, Brightburn is a superhero horror film from producer James Dunn – May 31
Rocketman star Taron Egerton
2. television
The 2019 Billboard Music Awards will be held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, airing live on NBC. Kelly Clarkson hosts – May 1
On April 26, 1986, the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine, Soviet Union suffered a massive explosion. HBO’s Chernobyl dramatizes the story of this terrible man-made catastrophe and the sacrifices made to save Europe from disaster – May 6
LA’s Finest on Spectrum is a spin-off of the Bad Boys series and stars Gabrielle Union and Jessica Alba as two of, well, LA’s finest – May 13
Returning for Season Two on Amazon Prime, Fleabag is the story of a dry-witted young woman navigating modern life in London while trying to come to terms with a recent tragedy – May 17
New on Netflix, When They See Us is a limited series exposing the breakdown of the U.S. criminal justice system during the Central Park Five case – May 31
HBO’s When They See Us
3. theater
The award-winning musical Man of La Mancha returns to London at the Coliseum. The limited run stars Kelsey Grammer and Danielle de Niese – through Jun 8
Audra McDonald and Michael Shannon star in the revival of the Terence McNally classic Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune at the Broadhurst – Previews May 4, Opens May 30
Following a sold-out run at the National Theatre, the critically-acclaimed The Lehman Trilogy will transfer to the Piccadilly Theatre in the West End. The drama charts the family behind the formation of the famous bank from 1844 through its doomed fate in 2008 – Previews May 11, Opens May 22
Based on the book of the same name, The Secret Life of Bees is at the Linda Gross Theater. The plot follows teenager Lily Owens as she makes her way in South Carolina in 1964 – Previews May 12, Opens Jun 13
The Starry Messenger at Wyndham’s Theatre is a bittersweet story of love, hope and finding our place in the universe. It centers on Mark Williams, an astronomer at New York City’s Planetarium, whose life is spiraling downward. Then, a young single mother unexpectedly enters his life and sets him on an uplifting new path. Matthew Broderick stars – Previews May 16, Opens May 29
Audra McDonald and Michael Shannon. Photo Courtesy Getty Images.
4. pop music
I Am Easy to Find is the eighth studio album by American indie rock band The National – May 17
P!nk’s Beautiful Trauma World Tour stops at MSG for two nights – May 21 – 22
Named by CNN as one of the “7 African music festivals you really have to see,” MTN Bushfire returns to Swaziland for three days – May 24 – 26
Barcelona hosts Primavera Sound. Janelle Monáe, Nas and Rosalía are among the headliners for the event, which is boasting a 50/50 gender lineup of both male and female musicians – May 30 – Jun 1
Governors Ball returns to Randall’s Island in New York. Nas, Florence + the Machine, Lil Wayne and many others perform during this 3-day festival – May 31 – Jun 2
Pink sings during the P!nk: Beautiful Trauma World Tour at the Chesapeake Arena, Saturday, March 23, 2019. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman
5. podcasts
Topher Grace hosts the new podcast series Minor Adventures. It’s a weekly exploration of all the things that you never knew you wanted to learn about, from dating preferences to niche careers to alternative medicine and more.
Nashville’s PodX brings together networks, podcasters and podcasts, from true crime and politics to pop culture and storytelling, all in one incredible weekend – May 31 – Jun 2
The star of Bohemian Rhapsody and Mr. Robot, Rami Malek, is stretching into a new medium with the podcast thriller, Blackout. It’s about a small-town radio DJ who fights to protect his family and community when the power grid goes down nationwide.
Voices At The Table is a fortnightly food podcast that brings together a mix of voices across the literary, performance and food worlds. An evolution of the popular Voices At The Table event series, it aims to look at food from a fresh perspective.
Topher Grace hosts “Minor Adventures”
That’s it. Our top picks in the world of pop culture this May 2019. Have a brilliant month.
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