Here’s the latest from the crossroads of faith, media & culture: 06/26/25

While I’m away, I’ll keep passing along some of the production and programming news briefs I receive to you.

Wonder Project is launching a new subscription service to be exclusively available on Prime Video in the U.S. this fall. Wonder Project is independent studio established by entertainment industry veterans Kelly Merryman Hoogstraten and Jon Erwin to create films and series for the global faith and values audience. Subscribers will get early access to new original films and series produced by Wonder Project. At launch, the new streaming service will feature over 1000 hours of highly curated movies and TV series that reflect the company’s stated mission: to entertain the world with courageous stories, inspiring hope and restoring faith in things worth believing in.

Among the offerings will be the upcoming Season Two of the biblical drama series House of David which will exclusively debut via the service at the time of its launch, ahead of being available generally on Prime Video in the US and globally at a later date. Season One of House of David was a big hit, viewed by over 40 million viewers worldwide. 

Talking about the subscription service, Hoogstraten says “At Wonder Project, we seek to entertain our growing audience with courageous stories that restore faith in things worth believing in. Great films and TV shows bring families, friends and communities together and drive meaningful connection in a world that is craving connection right now…As a mother, I can’t wait to have this shared viewing experience in my own home — through a brand we can truly call our own.”

 Erwin adds “We are blown away by the success of House of David and can’t wait for audiences to be swept away into the epic action and drama of Season Two…Our audience is under-served and craves a destination they can trust with exceptional originals and curated movies and TV shows. With the new Wonder Project subscription on Prime Video, we will be delivering all of that and more.”

Ryan Pirozzi, Head of Prime Video Marketplace, says “We’re thrilled to announce the upcoming launch of the Wonder Project subscription on Prime Video. This exciting addition to our service reflects our commitment to providing diverse, meaningful content that resonates with our customers…This launch represents another step in our ongoing efforts to ensure Prime Video offers something for everyone, and we look forward to seeing how this new offering enriches the viewing experience for our customers.”

The Wonder Project subscription on Prime Video will be available in the U.S. for $8.99/month. Additional details to be announced soon.
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UPtv has licensed all seven seasons of the hit series The Rookie from Disney Entertainment. The launch happens on Sunday, July 6^th with a marathon beginning at 9:00 AM ET. After that the show will air regularly from 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM weeknights and 3:00 PM to 11:00 PM on weekends.

As fans know, the show follows John Nolan (Nathan Fillion), the LAPD‘s oldest rookie cop as he utilizes his life experience, determination and sense of humor to keep up with, and maybe give him an edge over, his younger colleagues and the criminals they face.

UP Entertainment  Senior VP of Content Strategy and Acquisition Hector Campos says The Rookie is a perfect fit for the network because “It’s about finding your purpose, leaning on your community and never giving up. These kinds of stories are what we love telling on UPtv.”

The Rookie was recently renewed for an eighth season on ABC.
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Fox News has signed conservative podcaster and influencer Brett Cooper as a contributor across all Fox New platforms. The cultural, social, and political commentator Cooper launched her podcast The Brett Cooper Show this past January and has already amassed over nine million followers across her social media platforms. From 2022-2024, she hosted The Comments Section video podcast on The Daily Wire. She is a graduate of UCLA and is based in Tennessee where she lives with her husband.

John W. Kennedy is a writer, producer and media development consultant specializing in television and movie projects that uphold positive timeless values, including trust in God.