South Shore stars: 2022 will be a big year for entertainers with local connections

From a half-dozen high-profile film shoots (“Don’t Look Up,” “Spirited,” “Tender Bar”) to an Emmy-winning television series (“Hacks”) to an 11th Grammy nomination for Stoughton’s Lori McKenna – and more – the South Shore boasted a big year in pop culture. The party keeps rolling into 2022, as our South Shore talents are poised to up the ante. Here are a few to keep on your radar:

Milton’s Jen Statsky brings back 'Hacks'

Milton’s Jen Statsky, co-creator and writer of the smash HBO Max comedy “Hacks,” delivers a second season (date to be announced) of the triple Emmy-winning comedy starring Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder. The show won a Golden Globe for best comedy/musical on Jan. 9. It is nominated for best series and best comedy series by the Writers Guild of America. Winners will be announced March 20. Statsky is a 2004 graduate of Milton High School.

Milton:Jen Statsky wins Emmy for writing, creating HBO comedy 'Hacks'

On tap for Norwell’s Jennifer Coolidge

Few had a better 2021 than Norwell’s Jennifer Coolidge, scoring acclaimed turns in HBO’s limited series “The White Lotus,” a satire from writer-director Mike White (“Enlightened”), and the Oscar-nominated film “Promising Young Woman.” She also stole scenes in December’s Netflix Christmas rom-com “Single All the Way.” Upcoming are the romantic comedy “Shotgun Wedding,” playing the mother-in-law-to-be of Jennifer Lopez; and two Netflix projects, the movie “We Have a Ghost” and the Ryan Murphy series “The Watcher.” She’ll also return for the second season of “The White Lotus,” and reprise her role as Reese Witherspoon’s BFF, Paulette, in “Legally Blonde 3” (May 20). Coolidge is in the running for an Emmy nod for “The White Lotus.” Nominations will be announced July 12. In the meantime, she’s up for a SAG award.

Norwell: Jennifer Coolidge presents Emmy Award to Jason Sudeikis for 'Ted Lasso'

Milton’s Jenny Slate looks for love

Just in time for Valentine’s Day comes the romantic comedy “I Want You Back” starring Milton native Jenny Slate as a woman attempting to win back the love of her life. Charlie Day and Scott Eastwood co-star. The movie debuts Feb. 11 on Amazon Prime. Slate was the valedictorian of Milton Academy’s Class of 2000. Her film roles include “Venom,” “Obvious Child,” “Hotel Artemis,” “Landline” and “Gifted.”

Weymouth’s Nate Corddry gets political

Weymouth’s Nate Corddry joins Julia Roberts and Sean Penn for the political drama “Gaslit,” an eight-episode STARZ series about how Martha Mitchell, the wife of President Nixon’s attorney general, John Mitchell, tried to expose the Watergate scandal long before Woodward and Bernstein. Corddry will play Michael Deaver, a campaign official for then-California Gov. Ronald Reagan and a key potential ally to the Mitchells. The release date is TBD.

Steve Carell returns to ‘Space’

Steve Carell has exited “The Morning Show,” but he’ll return for the second season of “Space Force” on Feb. 18 on Netflix. He’ll also reprise the role of Gru in “Minions: The Rise of Gru” when it hits theaters July 2. Carell is currently filming “The Patient,” a limited series on FX. He plays a psychotherapist held prisoner by a serial killer (Domhnall Gleeson). Carell is married to Cohasset native Nancy Walls. They have two children. He is originally from Acton, but usually spends summers in Marshfield. He owns Marshfield Hills General Store. Carell became a darling in town when he gave the “MarshVegas” shout-out from the Oscar Red Carpet in 2007.

Quincy-shot ‘Whitney’ gets release date

The Whitney Houston biopic “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” will be released Dec. 23, just in time for Oscar consideration. Kasi Lemmons (“Harriet”) directs a cast including Stanley Tucci as Clive Davis and Naomi Akie (“Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker”) as Houston. Filming took place at Marina Studio in Quincy.

Movie magic: New studio opens in Marina Bay, filming Whitney Houston biopic

Another Grammy for Lori McKenna?

Stoughton hitmaker Lori McKenna is among the songwriters nominated for song of the year at the currently postponed Grammys. The song, “A Beautiful Noise,” was co-written by Ruby Amanfu, Brandy Clark, Hillary Lindsey and Hailey Whitters. It is sung by Brandi Carlile and Alicia Keys. McKenna already has three Grammys to her credit.

Music Scene: Stoughton's Lori McKenna returns to her roots with 'The Balladeer'

New series from Scituate’s Peter Tolan

“Belated” is the new half-hour FX comedy series written, directed, created and produced by Scituate’s Peter Tolan (“Rescue Me”). The show, which is in development, is about a friendship between 40-year-old Owen (Kal Penn, “Harold & Kumar,” “House”) and Clay, a 17-year-old trans teen. Tolan has also written for “Murphy Brown” (winning an Emmy), “The Larry Sanders Show” and “The Job”; and the films “Analyze This” and “Analyze That.” Not bad for a guy who got his start in Scituate High School theater productions.

Dropkick Murphys to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day

The Quincy-based Dropkick Murphys (“Shipping Up to Boston”) plan a 22-date tour in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day. The kickoff is Feb. 17 in Reading, Pennsylvania. The tour wraps in Boston from March 17-20. Three of the local shows are at the House of Blues and the tour finale at Roadrunner, Boston's newest music venue . The band was formed in 1996 in the basement of a Wollaston barbershop.

The South Shore's Oscar night

Will Quincy native Peter Del Vecho become the city’s first two-time Oscar winner? The animated adventure “Raya and the Last Dragon,” which he produced, is likely to grab a spot when the nominations are announced Feb. 8. He previously won for “Frozen.” He is a 1976 graduate of Quincy High. This year’s Oscars are on March 27 on ABC. “Raya” scored 10 nominations for the Annie Award and a Golden Globe nod.

'Raya and the Last Dragon': Quincy producer leads another animated adventure

Elsewhere, Ariana Grande could pick up a nomination for best song for “Just Look Up,” which was filmed locally at Union Point. The film is also in the running for writing and directing nods. ... George Clooney’s “The Tender Bar,” which shot a pivotal third-act sequence in Braintree, is garnering Oscar buzz for Ben Affleck’s acting. Sian Heder’s Gloucester-shot flick, “CODA,” is circling many nominations, including best picture and both supporting-actor categories.

Emmy buzz for Canton’s Bill Burr

Canton native Bill Burr, a standup comedian who appeared in “Breaking Bad” and “The Mandalorian,” recently released the fifth season of Netflix’s animated adult comedy “F is for Family.” Burr voices the main character. The show is based on his upbringing in Canton in the 1970s. He’s also generating Emmy buzz for his work on Hulu’s “Reservation Dogs.” Next for Burr is the Morgan Freeman film “Hate to See You Go,” about a Chicago blues musician. Burr is a 1987 graduate of Canton High School.

Director Judd Apatow: Canton's Bill Burr is 'riotously funny' in 'King of Staten Island'

Chris Cooper joins ‘Boston Strangler’

Kingston resident and Academy Award winner Chris Cooper (“Adaptation”) will join Isabel Coixet’s Broadway-set drama “Light on Broken Glass” after he wraps “Boston Strangler.” The shot-in-Massachusetts film is written and directed by Matt Ruskin (“Crown Heights”). Locations include Braintree, Belmont, Lowell, Lynn, Wellesley and Malden. It centers on how Milton journalist Loretta McLaughlin (Keira Knightley) and fellow Boston Record American reporter Jean Harris (Carrie Coon), of Scituate, challenged the sexism of the early 1960s while covering the story.

‘Spirited’ among 2022 premieres

Premiere dates are still to be determined for high-profile movies and series filmed last year on the South Shore. They include “Julia,” the HBO Max original series about chef Julia Childs; and “Confess, Fletch,” the crime-comedy reboot with Jon Hamm in the title role. Scenes for “Julia” were shot at Adams Shore Supermarket in Quincy. Cohasset’s sprawling Oaks Estate was the backdrop for scenes in “Confess, Fletch.” The Apple TV+ Christmas musical “Spirited,” starring Ryan Reynolds and Will Ferrell, is aiming for a December release date. South Shore Plaza was among locations for “Spirited.”

‘Gilded Age,’ ‘Ray Donovan’ and more

HBO’s “The Gilded Age” will premiere Sunday. The period drama created by “Downton Abbey’s” Julian Fellowes was shot in Newport, Rhode Island. … “Ray Donovan: The Movie” was partially filmed in South Boston and features Brockton native Pooch Hall. It is airing on Showtime. … Aerosmith, the storied rock band with South Shore roots, is scheduled to play its pandemic-delayed 50th-anniversary concert Sept. 9 at Fenway Park. … Cohasset High alum Kate Bosworth (“Still Alice,” “Blue Crush”) has three movies out this year: “Along for the Ride,” “The Enforcer” and “Bring on the Dancing Horses.” Release dates are to be announced. … The Worcester-set “Kevin Can F**k Himself,” which was shot in Quincy, Hingham and Brockton, has been renewed for Season 2 and will debut on AMC and AMC Plus in 2022. ... Randolph native Keisha Tucker ("Black Panther") is the stunt double for actress Kiki Layne in the 1950s-set psychological thriller “Don’t Worry Darling.” It opens Sept. 23. … We’re also keeping an eye on announcements about sequels for “Spenser Confidential” and “Free Guy,” both partially filmed in Weymouth.

Keisha Tucker: From Randolph High to Hollywood stunt double

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Reach Dana Barbuto at dbarbuto@patriotledger.com.

This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: 2022 will be a big year for entertainers with South Shore ties