A lavish science-fiction epic raises the bar on streaming spectacles and an array of 20th anniversary documentaries re-examine the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Here’s a rundown of streaming highlights for September:

"Foundation"

Isaac Asimov's sci-fi space novels get a densely plotted, jaw-dropping adaptation from the deep pockets of Apple Inc. The 10-episode space saga follows a group of exiles who, under the leadership of psychohistorian Hari Seldon (Jared Harris of "The Crown"), work to rebuild humanity after the fall of the Galactic Empire. Filmed over more than a year and a half, the series is stacked with grandiose set pieces, dazzling costumes and serious ambitions to become this fall's most talked about television event. (Apple TV Plus, Sept. 24, episodes weekly)

"Scenes from a Marriage"

Ten years into their seemingly idyllic marriage an American couple (played by Jessica Chastain and Oscar Isaac), begin to re-examine what they long deemed a successful relationship. Based on Ingmar Bergman’s acclaimed 1974 miniseries, this five-part limited series uses the Swedish director's story of love, monogamy, parenthood and the unspoken erosion of trust, as the framework for a contemporary update that introduces new dynamics and technology into the mix. (Crave/HBO, Sept. 12, episodes weekly)

"Come From Away"

Canadian couple David Hein and Irene Sankoff's rousing musical jumps from stages to the small screen in a recorded performance captured earlier this year on Broadway. "Come from Away" is based on real-life folks in Gander, N.L., who unexpectedly played host to thousands of passengers on flights that were diverted in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks. Their colourful story is brought to life using little more than 12 chairs, a few tables and some East Coast spirit. Director Christopher Ashley, who picked up a Tony Award for his work on the stage production, keeps faithful to the stage version while offering light touches that draw viewers closer to each character. (Apple TV Plus, Sept. 10)

9/11 Documentaries

Twenty years after the World Trade Center attacks shook New York City, nearly all of the major streaming services are revisiting the tragedy with fresh eyes and untold stories. The feature-length documentary "9/11: Inside the President's War Room" (Apple TV Plus, Sept. 1) retraces the historic day, minute by minute, through the eyes of George W. Bush and other U.S. leaders. The five-part series "Turning Point: 9/11 and the War on Terror" (Netflix, Sept. 1) steps back to establish the context around the attacks, touching on al-Qaida's roots, the terrorists who boarded each plane and the so-called "war on terror" that followed. Spike Lee's "NYC Epicenters 9/11-2021½" explores several New York stories — including how the city faced COVID-19 — but its third episode (Crave/HBO, Sept. 5) serves as a time capsule of that fateful day. Using an extensive collection of footage from the attacks and unsettling imagery of people jumping from the towers, Lee recreates the fear that swept through the city and finds new stories of resilience, including one of a little-known maritime rescue effort.

"Spirit to Soar: Mashkawi-manidoo bimaadiziwin"

Journalist and filmmaker Tanya Talaga's meditative 45-minute documentary on the deaths of seven First Nations high school students in Thunder Bay, Ont. — five of whom were found dead in rivers — is a heart-wrenching reflection on a community scarred by racism. Revisiting the stories she originally explored in her book "Seven Fallen Feathers," Talaga speaks with family members, local youth and community leaders about how colonial systems continue to fail them. (CBC Gem, Sept. 24)

ALSO THIS MONTH:

"Chocolate Babies" – A group of mostly HIV-positive Black queer and transgender activists launch a battle against New York politicians set on ignoring the AIDS epidemic in this delightfully unhinged satire that's a lost gem of 1990s indie filmmaking. (Criterion Channel, Sept. 1)

"Reservation Dogs" – Four Native American teens mourning the death of their friend commit petty crimes in hopes of raising enough money to leave their reservation in eastern Oklahoma. The comedy was co-created by Taika Waititi and stars Devery Jacobs, who grew up in the Kahnawà:ke Mohawk Territory in Quebec. (Disney Plus/Star, Sept. 1, episodes weekly)

"Kid 90" – Home video footage captured by actress Soleil Moon Frye, TV's original "Punky Brewster," shapes this glimpse at Hollywood teen stars of a pre-internet era, including Freddie Prinze Jr., David Arquette and Leonardo DiCaprio. (Amazon Prime Video, Sept. 2)

"Doogie Kamealoha, M.D." – A remake of "Doogie Howser, M.D." with a spin where the boy genius is now a 16-year-old girl and the setting is Honolulu, Hawaii. Co-starring Edmonton-born Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman. (Disney Plus, Sept. 8, episodes weekly)

RETURNING SERIES: Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston face the encroaching COVID-19 crisis in the second season of "The Morning Show," which debuts weekly episodes on Apple TV Plus starting Sept. 10. Netflix bedevils fans with the final season of "Lucifer" (Sept. 10) and new editions of "Money Heist" (Sept. 5), "Sex Education" (Sept. 17), "Dear White People" (Sept. 22) and reality competition "The Circle" (Sept. 8). Showtime’s "Billions" makes its mid-season premiere on Crave on Sept. 5, while British supernatural comedy "Ghosts" returns to CBC Gem for another go-around Sept. 24.

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 31, 2021.

© 2021 The Canadian Press. All rights reserved., source Canadian Press DataFile