December entertainment preview planner: 'Vice,' 'Mrs. Maisel' and 'Mary Poppins' end 2018 on a high

"The Mule" (Dec. 14)

Eighty-eight-year-old Clint Eastwood steps in front of the camera for the first time since 2012’s "Trouble with the Curve" in this crime thriller based on a New York Times article. Eastwood stars as Leo Sharp, an elderly drug dealer and courier for one of the deadliest cartels in Mexico who ends up on the run from the law and his murderous bosses.

"Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" (Dec. 14)

Sony follows up on its runaway success of "Venom" with "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse," an animated project once helmed by flavor-of-the-month directors Christopher Miller and Phil Lord. Instead of following the exploits of Peter Parker, audiences are introduced to Miles Morales (Shameik Moore), another Spider-Man, early in his career, who finds out that he’s not the only webslinger as he encounters a number of Spider-Men, including an older version of Parker, Spider-Gwen and Peter Porker aka The Spectacular Spider-Ham.

"Mary Poppins Returns" (Dec. 19)

Disney continues its current reboot and remake trend with "Mary Poppins Returns," an update of the 1964 original, with Emily Blunt taking over for Julie Andrews as the ethereal nanny who returns 25 years after her first appearance to aid the family she once cared for. Lin-Manuel Miranda co-stars alongside Dick Van Dyke, the only returning cast member from the original film.

"Aquaman" (Dec. 21)

Director James Wan looks to restore credibility to the DC Extended Universe with "Aquaman," starring Jason Momoa as the seafaring Justice Leaguer faced with saving his kingdom from his maniacal half-brother, Orm/Ocean Master (Patrick Wilson). Amber Heard co-stars as Mera, the future queen of Atlantis and Aquaman’s love interest. It’s relatively safe to say the future of the DCEU is largely dependent on how this film fares, meaning it’s sink or swim in the most literal of terms.

"Vice" (Dec. 25)

Christian Bale turns in an unrecognizable performance as Vice President Dick Cheney in director Adam McKay’s biopic. "Vice" promises to be every bit as biting as McKay’s recent forays into more dramatic fare such as "The Big Short" and HBO’s super-compelling "Succession." Joining Bale is Amy Adams as Lynne Cheney, Steve Carell (who seems to be bringing his Brick Tamland character full circle) as Donald Rumsfeld and Sam Rockwell turning in an affable impression with his take on George W. Bush.

TV

"The Flash" 100^th Episode (Dec. 4 - CW)

Maybe it’s a sign of the times, but here we are, 100 episodes into Greg Berlanti’s take on the DC character, one who in 1992, couldn’t last a single season on CBS. Episode 8 of the current season pulls no stops, as Barry (Grant Gustin) and Team Flash come up with a plan to stop current season baddie Cicada (Chris Klein). Of course because this is "The Flash" mistakes will be made, but the power of family will likely win out in the end.

"Deal or No Deal" returns (Dec. 5 - CNBC)

After a 10-year hiatus, Howie Mandel returns to hand out some briefcases in the revival of "Deal or No Deal." Coming along for the ride: the return of the 26 models, minus originals Chrissy Tiegen and Meghan Markle, the latter of whom is busy these days marrying into the British royal family. The show is practically the same as the original, but the venue changes from NBC to cable’s CNBC.

"Elseworlds" crossover with "The Flash," "Arrow" and "Supergirl" begins (Dec. 9 - CW)

The fifth-annual crossover event of DC’s CW-based shows, "Elseworlds" looks to be the wildest yet, featuring some of your favorite heroes in an alternate timeline where even their roles are changed. For example, look for Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell) donning the Flash’s red tights and Barry Allen (Grant Gustin) seeking justice at the end of an Arrow. Added surprises include an appearance by Superman (Tyler Hoechlin) and John Wesley Shipp donning a near-exact replica of his Flash costume from the '90s CBS Series.

"Timeless" series finale (Dec. 20 – NBC)

Low-rated, but beloved NBC series "Timeless" gets its final reprieve after two resurrections with a two-hour movie finale. Fan support for the series was palpable, with efforts to save the show including fans flying a helicopter over San Diego Comic-Con in July as part of a #SaveTimeless campaign. While their efforts did not yield a new season, the show’s rabid fan base is being met halfway with the one-night finale designed to wrap up all loose ends, giving the show a fitting conclusion.

"The Orville" Season 2 (Dec. 30 – Fox)

Hopes were less than high for "Family Guy" creator Seth MacFarlane’s take on "Star Trek" when viewers learned that they were being treated to more space drama than space comedy with "The Orville." Once expectations were reset, the show quickly gained enough viewers for Fox to grant another season, which promises to bring even more of MacFarlane’s vision front and center, including new cast members (and "Gossip Girl" alums) Jessica Szohr and Leighton Meester.

Streaming

"The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" Season 2 (Dec. 5 – Amazon Prime)

Midge Maisel (Rachel Brosnahan) returns, after a season that saw "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" win two Golden Globes and five Emmys, for an all-new season featuring Midge and Susie (Alex Borstein) take her act on the road. In Season 2 viewers will see Midge in a different light, as she segues from underdog comedian to an up-and-comer who faces new pressures as she deals with the realities of being a comic — with some of her choices threatening to affect everyone who means the most to her.

"Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle" (Dec. 7 - Netflix)

Once upon a time in 2016, there were two competing productions of Rudyard Kipling’s "The Jungle Book": one, from Disney, was a live action/CGI remake of the 1967 animated classic; the other, helmed by actor and motion capture innovator Andy Serkis, was meant to stick closer to Kipling’s book. So gone are the songs as well as characters created specifically by Disney. Releasing the film two years removed from Disney’s hit remake certainly helps in the comparison department, and stands to only bolster Netflix’s commitment to quality original content.

"Diablero" Series Premiere (Dec. 21 – Netflix)

Netflix expands its Spanish-language portfolio on the heels of successful original productions like "Narcos" with "Diablero," a fantasy-horror series focusing on a trio of demon hunters who find themselves on a course of events that threaten to change humanity as we know it. The new series is part of a larger plan by the streaming network to deliver original content to diverse audiences throughout the Americas.

"Avengers: Infinity War" (Dec. 25 – Netflix)

The culmination of 10 years of storytelling, "Avengers: Infinity War" finally comes to Netflix, where it is sure to be in heavy streaming. Everyone who got new TV and home theater equipment for Christmas can put their systems through their paces watching the exploits of Iron Man (Robert Downey, Jr.), Captain America (Chris Evans), Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman) and the rest of the Avengers as they fight to save their reality from the snappy Thanos (Josh Brolin).

Music

Gucci Mane – "Evil Genius" (Dec. 7)

Since his 2016 release from prison, Gucci Mane has been a busy, busy man. His latest effort, "Evil Genius," features cameos from a bevy of hip-hop luminaries and up-and-comers, including Lil Skies, Kevin Gates, Kodak Black and 21 Savage. Also look out for an appearance from Bruno Mars on "Wake Up in the Sky."

Van Morrison – "The Prophet Speaks" (Dec. 7)

Seminal performer Van Morrison returns with his 40^th album, "The Prophet Speaks," a collection of blues standards from names like Sam Cooke, John Lee Hooker and Solomon Burke. Alongside the covers, the 15-track album contains six new songs, including the title track.

Brett Young – "Ticket to L.A." (Dec. 7)

Country music phenom and California native Brett Young drops his sophomore album, "Ticket to L.A." in the wake of his 2017 debut which spawned four No. 1 hits. Featuring 14 new songs, the album is a callout to Young’s background in California, flavored by his more recent years in the Nashville music scene. Young is considered a breakout star in country music, taking the genre closer to a pop sensibility following in the footsteps of stars like Taylor Swift.

Bruce Springsteen – "Springsteen on Broadway" (Dec. 15)

Bruce Springsteen’s concert residency at the Walter Kerr Theater in New York City, which opened Oct. 3 and is scheduled to conclude on Dec. 15, has been hailed as a runaway success. To celebrate (and capitalize) on the show’s success, Netflix is streaming a private taping of it on the same day that the soundtrack album is released, both coinciding with the final performance. Critics have hailed the show as a fresh look at the Boss’ works, offering a new perspective on classic material.