Next Big Thing: Remaking the O.J. Simpson trial, Elton John gets behind Gallant

The weekly Next Big Thing column highlights what’s bubbling under the surface in entertainment with a look at rising stars in the world of music, as well as standout TV shows, movies and web series that would be a shame to overlook.

TRIAL, TRIAL AGAIN

It was called the “trial of the century” — and now the O.J. Simpson case could be at the centre of one of the biggest TV series of the year.

“The People v. O.J. Simpson” revisits the 1994 criminal trial against the former football star, who was accused of murdering his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her companion Ron Goldman.

Instead of recounting the story as we know it, the series goes behind the scenes to explore the characters in depth.

The 10-episode show is the first in a planned anthology series that would tackle a different true-crime story each season.

“The People v. O.J. Simpson” is already gaining widespread acclaim from TV critics and features an all-star cast, including standout performance by Courtney B. Vance as Johnnie Cochran and Sarah Paulson as Marcia Clark. Other key players include John Travolta portraying Robert Shapiro, David Schwimmer as Robert Kardashian and Cuba Gooding Jr. as Simpson.

The show begins airing on FX Canada on Tuesday, watch the trailer here: http://bit.ly/1JLTib6

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‘CRAZY’ FOR GALLANT

Winning approval from Elton John means you’re probably doing something right, and for R&B newcomer Gallant getting support from big-time musicians has been one of the keys to his success.

John told listeners on his Beats 1 Radio show that he “went crazy” the first time he heard the singer.

Gallant’s sound has attracted other major performers too — including indie artist Sufjan Stevens who performed a duet of Drake’s “Hotline Bling” with the singer on his tour, and club music producer Zhu, who used Gallant’s vocals on his song “Testarossa Music.”

Check out the music video for “Weight in Gold,” one of the tracks that’s likely to catapult Gallant to the next level.

http://bit.ly/1JLTrLU

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CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS

If you’ve got a taste for a visual treat on your coffee break, there’s a new music video that could blow your mind.

“Wide Open” is a fresh collaboration from producers the Chemical Brothers and singer Beck, two acts who broke into the mainstream in the 1990s but never really worked together.

But it’s the music video for the song that truly stands out, featuring ballerina and actress Sonoya Mizuno, who recently starred in the film “Ex Machina.”

“Wide Open” is directed by Dom and Nic, the duo behind a number of unforgettable videos, including David Bowie and Trent Reznor’s “I’m Afraid of Americans” and Smashing Pumpkins’ “Ava Adore.”

Check out the “Wide Open” music video here: http://bit.ly/1UvdMFA

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