Clockwise from the bottom left: Lanterns (Photo: John P. Johnson/HBO), Scarpetta (Photo: Connie Chornuk/Prime Video), Widow's Bay (Photo: Apple TV), The Testaments (Photo: Disney)
You might still be catching up on all of the great TV from 2025, but make room for this year’s barrage of shows. 2026 kicks off with additions to the Star Trek, Game Of Thrones, and Marvel franchises. Later, James Gunn adds Lanterns to his DCU docket, a Blade Runner sequel series hits Prime Video, and Nicolas Cage suits up for Spider-Noir. As is the norm these days, you can also expect multiple small-screen projects from Ryan Murphy, Taylor Sheridan, and Bill Lawrence (including that Scrubs revival on ABC). And speaking of network TV, get ready for a 30 Rock reunion of sorts thanks to a new show starring Tracy Morgan that was co-created by Tina Fey. Plus, gear up for the latest from Baby Reindeer‘s Richard Gadd, a Florence Pugh-led period drama, Mike Flanagan’s take on Carrie, and, per usual, plenty of Nicole Kidman.
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy (Paramount+, January 15)
Cast: Holly Hunter, Tig Notaro, Paul Giamatti, Robert Picardo, Oded Fehr
The gist: This entry in the Star Trek franchise, which takes place after the events of Discovery, centers on Starfleet Academy’s chancellor (played by Hunter) as she trains the first new class of cadets at the institute in more than a century.
A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms (HBO, January 18)
Cast: Peter Claffey, Dexter Sol Ansell, Finn Bennett, Bertie Carvell, Sam Spruell
The gist: It might be another Game Of Thrones prequel, but don’t expect the flying beasts and cold-blooded politicking of House Of The Dragon. This half-hour newbie brings George R.R. Martin’s novella The Hedge Knight to life, exploring the adventures of Ser Duncan The Tall and his tiny squire, Egg.
The Beauty(FX, January 21)
Cast: Evan Peters, Rebecca Hall, Ashton Kutcher, Jeremy Pope, Anthony Ramos
The gist: Ryan Murphy begins the year with this body-horror series, in which a shadowy tech billionaire (portrayed by Kutcher) invents a drug to make people physically perfect. Soon enough, supermodels around the world start dying, prompting an agent (played by Ramos) to go on a global-trotting journey.
Wonder Man (Disney+, January 27)
Cast: Yahya Abdul Mateen II, Ben Kingsley, Arian Moayed, Olivia Thirlby, Ed Harris
The gist: Marvel kicks off 2026 on a meta note. In Wonder Man, an actor auditions to be in a superhero movie within the MCU, only to end up gaining unparalleled strength and the ability to create explosions. Kingsley also makes his return as Trevor Slattery here.
The ‘Burbs (Peacock, February 8)
Cast: Keke Palmer, Jack Whitehall, Julia Duffy, Paula Pell, Mark Proksch
The gist: Inspired by the 1989 horror-comedy led by Tom Hanks, The ‘Burbs sees Keke Palmer playing a housewife who reluctantly moves into her husband’s childhood digs. After becoming fascinated by a nearby dilapidated home, she uncovers long-buried secrets about the families who live around her.
The Fall And Rise Of Reggie Dinkins (NBC, February 23)
Cast: Tracy Morgan, Daniel Radcliffe, Bobby Moynihan, Erika Alexander
The gist: Co-creator Tina Fey and Tracy Morgan reunite for this sitcom, in which the latter stars as a former NFL player who, desperate to revive his reputation, hires a popular filmmaker to make a documentary about him.
Scrubs (ABC, February 25)
Cast: Zach Braff, Donald Faison, Sarah Chalke, Judy Reyes
The gist: 16 years after wrapping up, Scrubs returns with a tenth season, with series creator Bill Lawrence bringing the gang back together to continue their adventures at Sacred Heart Hospital.
Rooster (HBO, March)
Cast: Steve Carell, Alan Ruck, Danielle Deadwyler, Connie Britton, Phil Dunster
The gist: Bill Lawrence is also behind this HBO series, which follows an author (played by Carell) who gets a position at a prominent university and helps out his struggling daughter.
Scarpetta (Prime Video, March 11)
Cast: Nicole Kidman, Jamie Lee Curtis, Bobby Cannavale, Ariana DeBose
The gist: Kidman once again leads a crime drama based on a book. In this series from Lost writer Liz Sarnoff, the actor tackles a brilliant forensic pathologist who uses advanced tech to solve various mysteries.
Imperfect Women (Apple TV, March 18)
Cast: Elisabeth Moss, Kerry Washington, Joel Kinnaman, Kate Mara
The gist: Two TV mainstays from Scandal and The Handmaid’s Tale team up in this psychological thriller about a decades-long friendship that unravels after a devastating crime.
Margo’s Got Money Troubles (Apple TV, April 15)
Cast: Elle Fanning, Michelle Pfeiffer, Nicole Kidman, Nick Offerman, Greg Kinnear
The gist: David E. Kelley and Kidman pair up once more in this adaptation of Rufi Thorpe’s novel, in which a young woman (played by Fanning) turns to OnlyFans after being impregnated by a cheating professor.
Widow’s Bay (Apple TV, April 29)
Cast: Matthew Rhys, Stephen Root, Dale Dickey, Kate O’Flynn
The gist: Parks And Recreation writer Katie Dippold and Atlanta director Hiro Murai present this horror-comedy set on a quaint New England island without wifi or cell reception.
12 12 12 (Apple TV, TBD)
Cast: Jamie Dornan, Anthony Mackie, Kali Reis, Ólafur Darri Ólafsson
The gist: This cat-and-mouse chase between a career criminal (played by Dornan) and a disgraced FBI agent (portrayed by Mackie) covers three stages of a robbery in Zurich: the year of planning the heist, the 12 hours of the job itself, and the 12 days after.
The gist: The Buccaneers‘ Froseth is back in period-drama mode, starring in this adaptation of Edith Wharton’s beloved Gilded Age-set novel by Shameless‘ Emma Frost.
The Audacity (AMC, TBD)
Cast: Billy Magnussen, Simon Helberg, Zach Galifianakis, Sarah Goldberg, Meagan Rath
The gist: Better Call Saul scribe Jonathan Glatzer takes on Silicon Valley in his this darkly comedic drama, which explores the personal and professional lives of tech bros, billionaires, and investors.
Big Mistakes (Netflix, TBD)
Cast: Dan Levy, Laurie Metcalfe, Taylor Ortega, Jack Innanen, Elizabeth Perkins
The gist: In his first TV show post-Schitt’s Creek, Levy teams up with co-creator Rachel Sennott for a crime comedy about two good-for-nothing siblings who get blackmailed.
Blade Runner 2099 (Prime Video, TBD)
Cast: Michelle Yeoh, Hunter Schafer, Daniel Rigby, Tom Burke
The gist: Four years after its announcement, the Blade Runner sequel series is actually around the corner. The show chronicles a fugitive replicant who pairs up with an aging police operative to save her brother. Together, they discover a conspiracy that threatens to destroy a rebuilt city.
The Boroughs (Netflix, TBD)
Cast: Bill Pullman, Geena Davis, Alfred Molina, Alfre Woodard, Denis O’Hare
The gist: Set in a retirement home, this sci-fi series (which is executive produced by the Duffer Brothers) centers on an unlikely group of people who must save the world.
Carrie (Prime Video, TBD)
Cast: Summer H. Howell, Amber Midthunder, Samantha Sloyan, Matthew Lillard, Kate Siegel
The gist: In his first project after leaving Netflix, Mike Flanagan takes on the daunting task of reimagining Stephen King’s Carrie, in which a high schooler deals with bullies and unexpected mystical powers.
Criminal (Prime Video, TBD)
Cast: Charlie Hunnam, Richard Jenkins, Adria Arjona, Emilia Clarke, Luke Evans
The gist: Co-created by Ed Brubaker (and based on the comic book he wrote alongside illustrator Sean Phillips), Criminal explores the interconnecting lives of two disparate lawbreakers.
Crystal Lake (Peacock, TBD)
Cast: Linda Cardellini, William Catlett, Devin Kessler, Callum Vinson
The gist: After a bit of drama, this Friday The 13th prequel finally releases this year, chronicling Pam Voorhees (Cardellini) after she gave up her singing career to raise a child, Jason.
DTF St. Louis (HBO, TBD)
Cast: Jason Bateman, Linda Cardellini, David Harbour, Richard Jenkins, Chris Perfetti
The gist: This seven-episode dark comedy focuses on a love triangle between folks experiencing midlife crises whose worlds fall apart when one of them ends up killed.
East Of Eden (Netflix, TBD)
Cast: Florence Pugh, Christopher Abbott, Mike Faist, Tracy Letts, Martha Plimpton
The gist: Zoe Kazan gives John Steinbeck’s masterpiece the limited-series treatment more 70 years after her grandfather directed the 1955 film version. The seven-parter is a multi-generational saga told through the lens of its female protagonist, Cathy Ames (Pugh).
Elle (Prime Video, TBD)
Cast: Lexi Minetree, June Diane Raphael, Chandley Kinney, Tom Everett Scott
The gist: Everyone gets a prequel nowadays, so why not Legally Blonde‘s pink-loving lawyer? This comedy explores the life of high-school student Elle Woods (Minetree) before she ever dreamed of going to Harvard. Reese Witherspoon is involved as an executive producer.
The Five-Star Weekend (Peacock, TBD)
Cast: Jennifer Garner, Chloë Sevigny, Regina Hall, Gemma Chan, D’Arcy Carden
The gist: To escape her strained family life, a famous food influencer hosts a getaway with three of her closest friends and one surprise guest in a coastal town. As they spend time together, secrets are revealed that push each of them to the brink.
Half Man (HBO, TBD)
Cast: Richard Gadd, Jamie Bell, Bilal Hasna, Neve McIntosh
The gist: Baby Reindeer‘s creator-star Richard Gadd moves to HBO for his next series, which unpacks the close and complicated relationship between two brothers.
How To Get To Heaven From Belfast (Netflix, TBD)
Cast: Roisin Gallagher, Sinead Keenan, Josh Finan, Tom Basden
The gist: Derry Girls‘ Lisa McGee thankfully has another Northern Ireland-set series up her sleeve. In the comedic thriller, three friends reunite to solve the murder of their former classmate.
Kill Jackie (Prime Video, TBD)
Cast: Catherine Zeta-Jones, Daniel Ings, Jonathan Cake, Darci Shaw
The gist: A wealthy art dealer (played by Zeta-Jones) with a shadowy past becomes the target of several bounty hunters in this thriller.
Lanterns (HBO, TBD)
Cast: Kyle Chandler, Aaron Pierre, Kelly Macdonald, Poorna Jagannathan
The gist: Chris Mundy, Damon Lindelof, and Tom King expand the DCU with Lanterns, in which two intergalactic peacekeepers head to Nebraska to investigate a murder and get roped into a conspiracy.
Little House On The Prairie (Netflix, TBD)
Cast: Luke Bracey, Alice Halsey, Jocko Sims, Warren Christie, Crosby Fitzgerald
The gist: A new generation is about to be introduced to the world of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s beloved, late- 1800s-set books thanks to this Netflix adaptation.
Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette (FX, TBD)
Cast: Sarah Pidgeon, Naomi Watts, Paul Kelly, Grace Gummer, Leila George
The gist: Ryan Murphy launches his latest anthology series by charting the high-profile romance between JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette that ended in tragedy.
The gist: Creator Jonathan Tropper’s next Apple TV series centers on a woman raised in the criminal world who is forced to embrace her dark side for one last job.
The Madison (Paramount+, TBD)
Cast: Michelle Pfeiffer, Matthew Fox, Patrick J. Adams, Kurt Russell
The gist: The very busy Taylor Sheridan (who also co-created another Yellowstone spin-off that drops this year, Y: Marshals) continues to attract stacked casts to his shows. This one follows the McIntosh clan, who move from New York City to central Montana for a fresh start.
Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed (Apple TV, TBD)
Cast: Tatiana Maslany, Jake Johnson, Dolly de Leon, Charlie Hall
The gist: In this darkly funny thriller, a divorced mom gets caught in a whirlwind of blackmail, murder, and youth soccer.
The Miniature Wife (Peacock, TBD)
Cast: Elizabeth Banks, Matthew Macfadyen, Zoe Lister Jones, O-T Fagbenle
The gist: In this familiar sounding high-concept dramedy, a husband (played by Macfadyen) tries to keep his marriage afloat after accidentally shrinking his wife (portrayed by Banks) to only six inches.
The Other Bennet Sister (BritBox, TBD)
Cast: Ruth Jones, Ella Bruccoleri, Indira Varma, Richard E. Grant, Varada Sethu
The gist: This British drama is told through the lens of Pride And Prejudice‘s Mary Bennet as she travels to London and the Lake District for a romantic adventure of her own.
Spider-Noir (MGM+, TBD)
Cast: Nicolas Cage, Lamorne Morris, Brendan Gleeson, Li Jun Li, Jack Huston
The gist: A down-and-out PI (played by Cage) grapples with his dark past in 1930s New York City while investigating a mob boss (portrayed by Gleeson). Fittingly, the Marvel show is set to premiere both in color and black and white.
The Testaments (Hulu, TBD)
Cast: Ann Dowd, Chase Infiniti, Rowan Blanchard, Lucy Halliday
The gist: The Handmaid’s Tale might be over, but the fight for freedom in Gilead is far from done. Set five years later, this sequel tells the story of young girls training under Aunt Lydia who rebel when faced with the prospect of marriage. The Testaments is told from the POV of June’s eldest daughter (played by One Battle After Another breakout Chase Infiniti).
Untitled Larry David Project (HBO, TBD)
Cast: Larry David
The gist: Celebrate America’s 250th birthday with David, who returns to HBO with a sketch comedy about the country’s history that is executive produced by Barack and Michelle Obama.
VisionQuest (Disney+, TBD)
Cast: Paul Bettany, James Spader, T’Nia Miller, Todd Stashwick, Emily Hampshire
The gist: Bettany gets the spotlight in WandaVision‘s secondspin-off. As White Vision tries to regain his humanity and memories after the cataclysmic events in Westview, he also attempts to escape a bounty hunter.
Keep scrolling for more great stories from A.V. Club.
Keep scrolling for more great stories from A.V. Club.