Even though the era of streaming (and now TikTok) has changed the way people watch TV, the fundamental principles remain the same: people will always be drawn to storytelling and characters that entertain, move, excite, or even surprise them. Sometimes it’s easy to see a new critical darling (“Pluribus”) arrive, while sometimes a new hit appears out of nowhere (“Pluribus”).The Pitt“).
We’ve highlighted a mix of both in these 40 shows airing across multiple streaming services, including new projects from top creative talents. We cheated a bit by skipping most of January: we too are looking forward to the second season of “The Pitt,” the third season of “Shrinking,” the launch of “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms,” the return of “The Night Manager” and Netflix’s “His & Hers,” but all of that will be reviewed in depth here very soon. These 40 are further down, listed in alphabetical order. All release dates are subject to change.
“12 12 12” (Apple TV)
There’s a horror movie called “12/12/12” (released in, you guessed it, 2012), and even a documentary called “12-12-12” about a concert held on that date to raise money for victims of Hurricane Sandy. This show has nothing to do with it either. It’s a heist show! The title apparently refers to the 12 months of planning the heist, the 12 hours of carrying it out, and the 12 days that followed. Interesting. Even more interesting? It brings together the stars of the underrated”Synchronic“: Anthony Mackie and Jamie Dornan. No date on this one.
“The Age of Innocence” (Netflix)
The classics are back in force in 2026 with cinematic versions of Senses and sensitivity And Wuthering Heights. The most interesting television production is another version of the Edith Wharton novel that Martin Scorsese so eloquently filmed in the ’90s. This one was created by Emma Frost, who has worked on high-profile costume dramas including “The White Queen,” “The Man in the High Castle” and “The Spanish Princess.” This undated Netflix production stars Kristine Froseth, Ben Radcliffe and Camila Morrone (Emmy nominee for “Daisy Jones & the Six” and star of the upcoming second season of “The Night Manager”). It might not be Day-Lewis, Pfeiffer and Ryder, but we’ll give it a shot.
“Bait” (First video)
There are always some interesting episodic projects that launch at Sundance. Last year, Utah saw the premieres of “Pee-wee as Himself” and “Hal & Harper,” for example. One of the episodic program’s most interesting projects this year is the upcoming Prime Video series “Bait,” which not only stars the phenomenal Riz Ahmed, but was also created by the Oscar nominee. All we know is Sundance’s limited description, but it suffices: “Struggling actor Shah Latif auditions for the role of a lifetime, only to watch his life spiral out of control for four frenzied days.” » No date here, but we’ll try to do it in Park City to give you a taste.
“Beef” Season Two (Netflix)
The first season of “Beef” won the Emmys for Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series, Outstanding Lead Actor (Steven Yeun) and Outstanding Lead Actress (Ali Wong). Naturally, it had to return in some form. Still, the surprise might be that creator Lee Sung Jin takes an approach closer to “The White Lotus” or “Fargo” and tells a completely different story, apparently about “A young couple witness an alarming fight between their boss and his wife, setting off chess moves of favors and coercion in the elite world of a country club and its Korean billionaire owner.” Sounds cool, right? Now discover this cast: Oscar Isaac, Carey Mulligan, Charles Melton, Cailee Spaeny, Youn Yuh-jung, William Fichtner and Song Kang-ho. No date yet, but it won’t be long.
“Big Mistakes” (Netflix)
“Schitt’s Creek” star Dan Levy hasn’t really found a project since this Emmy winner that matches his talents, so we sincerely hope that this Netflix comedy proves to be his suitable sequel. It helps to have a good collaborator, and Levy co-created this one with Rachel Sennott (“I Love LA”), but it doesn’t look like she’s acting, at least not in a significant role. Levy will headline this show about two siblings who “are blackmailed into the world of organized crime” alongside Taylor Ortega, Laurie Metcalf and Elizabeth Perkins. Again, no date here yet, but given that filming started in August 2025, it should be in 2026.
“Blade Runner 2099” (Video Premiere)
Every sci-fi property eventually gets a TV show, so it’s more surprising that it took this long for an episodic take on the Philip K. Dick, Ridley Scott, and Denis Villeneuve franchise. The television sequel to “Blade Runner 2049” was created for Prime Video by Silka Luisa, but it’s worth noting that Scott Free Productions produced it, so it’s not a knockoff. It’s canon. Little is known about the plot and there’s no release date, but the cast includes Michelle Yeoh, Hunter Schafer, Tom Burke, and Sheila Atim. Cool.
“The Boroughs” (Netflix)
The Duffer Brothers are wasting no time after the controversial ending of “Stranger Things” to return with another show that they hope to produce even a fraction of the cultural impact of their worldwide success. What’s funny? They move from children to seniors with an “otherworldly menace” about a retirement community starring Bill Pullman, Geena Davis, Clarke Peters, Alfred Molina, Alfred Woodard, Denis O’Hare, Jena Malone, Ed Begley Jr, Jane Kaczmarek and Dee Wallace. To be clear, this one didn’t was created by The Duffers, which was just produced – it’s owned by Jeffrey Addiss and Will Matthews – but it certainly looks like something that could feature a cameo from Vecna.
“Brothers” (Apple TV)
Have you seen those remarkably boring AI commercials with Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson? Want to watch an entire comedy like this? Yeah, me neither, but one would hope that the undeniable charm of these talented actors would be put to better use in this series that purports to present fictionalized versions of the hacky sacking stars who move their families together on McConaughey’s ranch. Created by David West Read (“Schitt’s Creek”), the film stars Holland Taylor and Natalie Martinez, but production was shut down last summer and Read was replaced by Lee Eisenberg (“Jury Duty”). We’ll see how it goes later in the year. Maybe.
“Cape Fear” (Apple TV)
THE The much-loved Nick Antosca (“Channel Zero”) is reportedly returning to the source material (1957 The executioners by John D. MacDonald) for the 1962 and 1991 films, rather than imitating the films that made Max Cady an icon. Who can step into the twisted shoes of Robert Mitchum and Robert DeNiro? How about another Oscar winner who knows something about playing a soulless villain? None other than Anton Chigurh himself, Javier Bardem will play Max Cady, opposite Amy Adams and Patrick Wilson as the couple he terrorizes. Not enough? Steven Spielberg and Martin Scorsese are executive producers on what appears to be one of the most compelling television projects of the decade.
“Carrie” (First video)
King of Kings Mike Flanagan has filmed his miniseries adaptation of the 1974 novel that made Stephen a household name. Unlike “Gerald’s Game,” “Doctor Sleep” or “The Life of Chuck,” Flanagan treads on hallowed ground with this one, given the adoration that remains for Brian De Palma’s masterful film. Interestingly, and probably cleverly, he cast a newcomer in the role of Carrie White, Summer H. Howell, and turned to one of his regular collaborators, Samantha Sloyan, to play his monstrous mother. The miniseries was reportedly eight hours long and finished filming in October, so a 2026 release seems likely.
“Criminal” (First video)
Excellent writers Jordan Harper and Ed Brubaker have teamed up for what should be a compelling adaptation of the Bad Guy and Good Guy comic book. Criminalwritten by Brubaker, one of the best comic book writers today. Criminal is vicious writing about vicious people, so it will be interesting to see how much of that noir tone carries over to this Amazon Prime Video show starring Charlie Hunnam, Richard Jenkins, Adria Arjona, Logan Browning, Kadeem Hardison, Emilia Clarke, and Luke Evans. Not excited yet? How about the first half of the season being directed by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck (“Half Nelson”) and the second half by Dee Rees (“Mudbound”)? Filming wrapped in October 2024, so it’s going to happen soon.
“Crystal Lake” (Peacock)
With the success of “IT: Welcome to Derry“, you can expect a ton of horror franchises to go the prestige television route. One of the first to air will be this A24 “Friday the 13th.”th” spin-off, formerly under the direction of the brilliant Bryan Fuller (“Hannibal”) and written by Kevin Williamson (“Scream”). Unfortunately, the two gentlemen left the production early, handing over the reins to Brad Caleb Kane, a screenwriter of, you guessed it, “Welcome to Derry”. Interestingly, this prequel will focus more on the killer of the first film, Pamela Voorhees, played by Linda Cardellini (“Dead to Me”).
“Dig” (Peacock)
Creator Michael Schur and star Amy Poehler reunite for the first time since their beloved “Parks and Recreation” for this Peacock comedy based on the 2023 novel. Excavations by Kate Myers. Starring Geraldine Viswanathan and Hugh Laurie, the film is described by the network as follows: “Dig follows four women working on archaeological digs in Greece who find themselves at a very different crossroads in their lives. When they uncover a long-buried secret that could rewrite history, they find themselves at the center of a high-stakes international conspiracy. That might not seem like the most fertile ground for comedy, but neither does “The Mole Agent,” and Schur turned that into the charming “A man inside.” Trust one of the best writers in television history.
“DTF St. Louis” (HBO)
Northwestern graduate Steven Conrad has written some interesting screenplays, including “The Weather Man,” “The Pursuit of Happyness” and the hit adaptation of “Wonder.” He also created even more interesting television series in “Patriot”, “Perpetual Grace, LTD” and “Ultra City Smiths”. He tries his luck once again on the small screen with this dark comedy with a phenomenal cast that includes Jason Bateman, David Harbour, Linda Cardellini, Richard Jenkins and Chris Perfetti. An article from the New Yorker would have inspired him with this catchy title: “The murder trial of my dentist: adultery, false identities and fatal sedation”. It was filmed in May 2025, so HBO is expected to release through EOY.
“East of Eden” (Netflix)
Zoé Kazan takes up the pen for the first time since her excel nt work as co-writer on “2018”Wildlife” to adapt John Steinbeck’s beloved 1952 novel that helped make James Dean a star in its film adaptation. And she’s surrounded herself with major talent, including directors Garth Davis (“Lion,” “Top of the Lake”) and Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre (“The Mustang”). Who takes Dean’s place as Caleb Trask? Newcomer Joseph Zada plays Cal, but he’s surrounded by a crazy ensemble that includes Florence Pugh, Christopher Abbott, Mike Faist, Hoon Lee, Tracy Letts, Martha Plimpton and Ciaran Hinds It finished ten months ago – expect it to be in time for the Emmys this year.
“Euphoria” Season 3 (HBO)
It’s been four years since the final season of HBO’s Emmy-winning series, and many people probably thought this series would end quietly, but most of the creatives got together a year ago and filmed a third chapter in the lives of the East Highland teens. The third season will reportedly focus on Rue’s (Zendaya) sobriety outside of high school, and we know that at least Jacob Elordi, Eric Dane, and Sydney Sweeney filmed episodes last year. It will be presented in April.
“The Good Girl” (Peacock)
It seems that streamers can’t get enough of suspense novels adapted into prestige mini-series. The writer herself adapted Karin Slaughter’s bestselling book for Peacock, and the series likely stars Oscar nominee Rose Byrne, Meghann Fahy, Brendan Gleeson, and Harper Steele. There is almost no information about it online, but book descriptions reveal the story of a home invasion of a small-town family that leaves the mother dead and the daughters traumatized. Several years later, one of the girls returns home to another crime scene that threatens to unearth buried skeletons. This seems Murdaugh-y to me.
“The Greatest” (Prime Video)
MGM and Amazon attack the life of one of the most important figures of the 20th century, Muhammad Ali, played here by newcomer Jaalen Best. An interesting element of this miniseries is that it was produced in collaboration with Lonnie Ali, Muhammad’s widow, and co-produced by Michael B. Jordan. Omari Hardwick and Dana Gourrier play Ali’s parents, while Giovanni Ribisi takes on the infamous Angelo Dundee. Another interesting casting element: Michael Ealy in the role of Malcolm X.
“Imperfect Women” (Apple TV)
Another book-based mystery miniseries is finding its way to Apple, adapted from the novel of the same name by Araminta Hall. You kind of have to love such basic plot descriptions: “A devastating crime impacts a decades-long friendship. »Is that all you have? So why is it on the list? The casting! Elisabeth Moss, Kerry Washington, Kate Mara, Joel Kinnaman, Corey Stoll, Keith Carradine and Leslie Odom Jr. Whoa. And unlike many shows of this feature, we’ll get this one soon: March 18, 2026.
“Lanterns” (HBO)
Remember the incredible adaptation of “The Penguin” from the world of “The Batman”? There’s reason to hope it could be just as impressive. The third show in the DCU (including “Peacemaker”) was created by Chris Mundy, Damon Lindelof and Tom King. Mundy comes from a brand of what might be called dark television, writing for “Bloodline,” “Ozark” and “True Detective.” This isn’t your typical comic book stuff. Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre play Green Lanterns Hal Jordan and John Stewart, respectively, alongside Kelly Macdonald and Nathan Fillion, who played Lantern Guy Gardner in “Superman.” It will be released in mid-2026. Not soon enough.
“Man on Fire” (Netflix)
AJ Quinnell’s novel The man on fire has already been adapted twice, most notably in the 2004 Tony Scott/Denzel Washington banger. It gets the Netflix prestige miniseries treatment with the great Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (“Watchmen”) as John Creasy, joined by Bobby Cannavale and Billie Boullet. Netflix describes it like this: “The man on fire follows John Creasy, who was once a high-level and skilled special forces mercenary known for surviving even the most desolate situations. However, John now struggles with extreme post-traumatic stress and personal demons. As he attempts a new beginning, he will find himself in the (metaphorical) fire again and fight harder than ever. Kyle Killen (“Fear Street”) is the showrunner. They announced it in November, so a drop in 2026 may be optimistic, but it seems compelling enough that we can hope for it.
“Margo has money problems” (Apple TV)
It wasn’t long ago that David E. Kelley was Hollywood’s most important showrunner, the man behind hits like “Picket Fences,” “The Practice” and “Ally McBeal.” He returns to television in April 2026 with a drama starring his wife, Michelle Pfeiffer, as the titular mother Margo, played by the great Elle Fanning. This original comedy-drama also stars Nicole Kidman, Nick Offerman, Marcia Gay Harden, Thaddea Graham and Greg Kinnear, and was produced by A24. This could be one of the TV highlights of the second quarter of 2026.
“Maximum enjoyment guaranteed” (Apple TV)
David Gordon Green played a role in bringing all of Danny McBride’s HBO shows to life, including “Eastbound & Down” and “Righteous Gemstones.” But he moved to Apple to work with David J. Rosen, the showrunner behind this dark comedy. Deadline says that “The darkly comedic half-hour thriller follows Paula (Tatiana Maslany), a newly divorced mother who falls into a dangerous rabbit hole of blackmail, murder and youth football.” The Orphan Black star needs to find the right vehicle for her talents, and she’s joined here by Jake Johnson and Dolly de Leon.
“Neuromancer” (Apple TV)
William Gibson’s 1984 novel Neuromancer is one of the most influential works of science fiction of all time. Yet it has long been considered unsuitable for a feature film, with efforts undertaken by Ridley Scott, Mel Gibson, Vincenzo Natali and Tim Miller to get it off the ground over the years. In February 2024, Apple announced that it had given the green light to a 10-episode adaptation overseen by JD Dillard (“Sleight”) and Graham Roland (“Dark Winds”). Directed by Callum Turner as Case, this version also stars Briana Middleton, Joseph Lee, Mark Strong, Peter Sarsgaard, Emma Laird and Dane DeHaan. Filming reportedly took place a year ago, so a 2026 launch seems likely.
“King NOLA” (Paramount+)
They might as well rebrand Paramount+ as Sheridan+, because the man behind “Yellowstone,” “Mayor of Kingstown,” “Landman” and “Tulsa King” has become their most important brand. This universe expands this year with “NOLA King”, a production similar to Sly Stallone’s hit with Samuel L. Jackson in the lead role. In fact, the third season in 2025 featured Jackson as Russell Lee Washington Jr. in a two-part episode (#9-10), serving as a backdoor pilot for the new show, which is expected to launch sometime in 2026.
“Paradise” Season 2 (Hulu)
Dan Fogelman’s sci-fi thriller was one of the biggest out-of-nowhere hits of 2025, surprising viewers with its blend of high-concept ideas and human emotion. Nominated for best drama at the Emmys, as well as nods for stars Sterling K. Brown, Julianne Nicholson and James Marsden, it’s a series that even fans fear will quickly run out of ideas. How do you maintain this concept over several seasons? We’ll see if the writers can avoid the sophomore crisis starting February 23, 2026.
“Pride and Prejudice” (Netflix)
People can’t get enough of Jane Austen’s beloved novel, most notably made into an Oscar-winning film in 1940 starring Laurence Olivier, a beloved miniseries in 1995 starring Colin Firth, and again into a film in 2005 starring Keira Knightley. Is there enough life in this tale to tell it again? Netflix subscribers will find out when Emma Corrin and Jack Lowden take on the roles of Elizabeth and Darcy, joined by Rufus Sewell, Freya Mavor, Jamie Demetriou, Daryl McCormack and Fiona Shaw. The costumes will surely be lovely.
“Rooster” (HBO)
Bill Lawrence is one of the most successful television creators of his generation with a resume that includes “Scrubs,” “Spin City,” “Ted Lasso” and “Shrinking.” The author of the comedy is about to do what he did for Jason Sudeikis and Jason Segel for a certain Steve Carell, who directs this HBO comedy already scheduled for March 2026. reports this official plot description which doesn’t tell us much but seems promising enough to produce that Lawrence charm: “a comedy set on a college campus centered on the complicated relationship of an author (Carell) with his daughter (Charly Clive). »
“Scarpetta” (First video)
Patricia Cornwell’s book series starring Kay Scarpetta is incredibly popular and a TV adaptation has been in the works for years. Developed by Liz Sarnoff (“Barry,” “Deadwood”), this Prime original will star Oscar winners Nicole Kidman and Jamie Lee Curtis, which is pretty remarkable, but benefit from this supporting cast: Rosy McEwen, Amanda Righetti, Ariana DeBose, Bobby Cannavale, Simon Baker and Sosie Bacon. Kidman seems perfect for this protagonist, who will begin solving cases on March 11, 2026.
“Something very bad is going to happen” (Netflix)
As the fallout from the “Stranger Things” finale continues to be felt, the Duffers are planning several sequels, including “The Boroughs” earlier in this list and an animated “Stranger Things” spinoff. They executive produce this horror drama from Haley Z. Boston, who wrote for the wickedly underrated “Brand New Cherry Flavor” and Ana Lily Amirpour’s chapter of “Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities.” Here’s the official synopsis, courtesy of Netflix: “Rachel (Camila Morrone) and Nicky (Adam DiMarco) are engaged and will be married in a week. Before they can get married, however, something very serious gets in their way.”
“Spider-Black” (MGM+)
While we wait way too long for “Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-verse”, we can enjoy this spin-off of the character who stole scenes in the first film, voiced by Nicolas Cage. Developed by Oren Uziel (“The Cloverfield Paradox”), it is a black-and-white live-action retelling of the Spider-Man Noir story, starring Cage, Lamorne Morris, Brendan Gleeson and Jack Huston. This one looks stylish in a “Sin City” sort of way that could be really cool. We’ll find out when it comes out later this year.
“Star City” (Apple TV)
Ronald D. Moore will reprise his critically acclaimed film “For All Mankind” in this Soviet Union-centered drama for Apple starring Rhys Ifans (“House of the Dragon”). This would be another alternate universe tale, set in a reality where the Soviets won the space race. According to Deadline, “…we explore the story behind the Iron Curtain, showing the lives of the cosmonauts, engineers and intelligence officers embedded among them in the Soviet space program, and the risks they all took to propel humanity forward.” »
“S Survivor » Season 50 (CBS)
We need a reality show on this list, right? “The Traitors” and “Taskmaster” will probably be better, but this one is the first time CBS’s granddaddy has been interesting in years. For the 50th anniversary, they’re bringing back stars from across the series, including Cirie Fields, “Coach” Wade, Colby Donaldson, Jenna Lewis-Dougherty, Ozzy Lusth, Stephenie LaGrossa Kendrick and, of course, Mike White. “Survivor” launches its incredible 50th season February 25th.
“Ted Lasso” Season Four (Apple TV)
Did anyone really believe that the third season would be the last? Especially after the consensus that this was the weakest of the three, it became clear that they would have to reunite the team once again, which was announced in mid-2024, with the return of Jason Sudeikis, Hannah Waddingham, Brett Goldstein, Juno Temple and Brendan Hunt, among others. The fourth season opens with Ted reportedly coaching a women’s team, but little else is known. It seems worth noting that much of season four was filmed in the Kansas City area, suggesting that there may be more action in the United States this year than in previous seasons.
“The Terror: The Silver Devil” (AMC)
If you haven’t seen the 2018 adaptation of Dan Simmons’ novel of the same name or the equally gripping 2019 sequel “Infamy,” correct that oversight immediately. Then you too will be excited about “Devil in Silver”, an adaptation of this novel by Victor LaValle. Karyn Kusama will direct the first episodes, along with Dan Stevens, Judith Light, CCH Pounder, Marin Ireland and Stephen Root. The book seems incredible, the story of a man who ends up in a mental institution, accused of a crime he doesn’t think he committed. And the hospital corridors happen to be the Devil’s hunting ground.
“The Testaments” (Hulu)
If you’re missing the dystopian world of Hulu’s “The Handmaid’s Tale,” we have some good news for you. Marguerite Atwood wrote a sequel in 2019, The Willsand it is adapted for Hulu by Bruce Miller, the creator of the Emmy Award-winning and critically acclaimed series. This story takes place five years after the end of “The Handmaid’s Tale” and stars Chase Infiniti, “One Battle After Another”. Anne Dow returns as Aunt Lydia Clements, a role that already won her an Emmy.
“VisionQuest” (Disney+)
It’s hard to believe it’s been five years since “WandaVision,” but it’s finally time for a proper sequel to its male protagonist in this Paul Bettany-starring spinoff. The MCU’s shows have been consistently mediocre in recent years, in part because there are just too many of them (it’s 18th!). Still, the involvement of Bettany and showrunner Terry Matalas (“Star Trek: Picard”) makes this more promising than most. It would close a trilogy with “WandaVision” and “Agatha All Along”.
“Vladimir” (Netflix)
Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini (“American Splendor”) direct this Netflix adaptation of Julia May Jonas’ book of the same name, starring Rachel Weisz and the up-and-comer Leo Woodall, who starred in 2025’s “Nuremberg” and the upcoming “Tuner.” John Slattery, Ellen Robertson and Jessica Henwick round out the cast for a project that’s a bit like “Babygirl,” via Deadline: “…as one woman’s (Weisz) life unfolds, she becomes obsessed with her captivating new co-worker. Full of sexy secrets and dark humor, the series is about what happens when a woman struggles to turn her fantasies into reality.”
“Widows’ Bay” (Apple TV)
The dust is still settling on his excellent work on “The Beast in Me,” but we already have a new Matthew Rhys joint in this series from Katie Dippold (“Parks and Recreation”) and director Hiro Murai (“Atlanta”). Netflix reports that it’s about how “a skeptical mayor of a New England town refuses to bow to the superstitions of locals who claim the place is cursed.” Looks like fun! It stars Kate O’Flynn, Stephen Root (again!), Kevin Carroll and Dale Dickey. Dippold, Murai and Rhys make a fascinating trio. We are there.
“Young Sherlock” (First video)
Andrew Lane Young Sherlock Holmes The series (not the 1985 film) serves as the source for this account of Mr. Holmes’ life as a teenager at Oxford. It stars hero Fiennes Tiffin as Holmes and Guy Ritchie directed each episode. It will be available on Amazon on March 4th2026.