Yes, the film and TV industry has ground to a slowish halt as production schedules have been majorly impacted by the coronavirus epidemic. thankfully, though, streaming services and networks have enough new TV shows in storage to bring out over the next few months to keep us entertained.
There are superhero shows coming to Disney Plus, dramas heading to Hulu, and more than a few Netflix originals that have us very, very excited – we're looking at you, Dark season 3. We've searched high and low to bring you the very best new TV shows that you should watch. And for those with Disney Plus or Netflix, you can see what's new and available right now on the linked lists under here.
- New Disney Plus movies and shows
- New Netflix movies and shows
Star Trek Lower Decks
Star Trek: Lower Decks release date: 6 August
Star Trek leaps into the world of animation with Star Trek: Lower Decks. The first out-and-out comedy set in the Star Trek universe, this one's sure to turn some heads. For hardcore Trekkies, there are dozens of fun Trek references to enjoy. For newcomers, the animation style and stories are fresh and welcoming without requiring too much prior knowledge.
Lovecraft Country
Lovecraft Country release date: 16 August
Producers Jordan Peele and J.J. Abrams bring you Misha Green's new series, Lovecraft Country, a horror period piece and adaptation of Matt Ruff's novel. The series follows a young man and his family as they travel across '50s America to reach his father. However, the terrors of the real and fantastical world combine to try and stop the group achieving their goal.
Lucifer
Lucifer release date: 21 August
Another week, another season of a Netflix show that was brought back from the dead by the streaming service. Once cancelled, Lucifer continues on Netflix, and the tale of the devil looks set to be just as raunchy as ever.
The Boys season 2
The Boys season 2 release date: 4 September
Even before the first season of The Boys reached Amazon Prime, the streamers knew they had a hit on their hands, commissioning The Boys season 2. Luckily, the superhero show proved to be a huge smash, and fans cannot wait a second longer for season 2. That season 1 ending left things pretty up in the air for Karl Urban's Billy Butcher. How things will unravel is anyone's guess.
The Walking Dead: World Beyond
The Walking Dead: World Beyond release date: 4 October
There's another – yes, another! – Walking Dead series is on the way. This one sees a group of young survivors who are living in a seemingly safe sanctuary, away from the Walkers (known to them as "empties"). However, they want to believe there's more out there, and travel across the country to find some semblance of life beyond. Apparently, the show has ties to the Rick Grimes trilogy...
The Walking Dead season 10 finale
The Walking Dead season 10 finale release date: 4 October
October is a big month for Walking Dead fans. Not only are two shows returning, but the finale of season 10 is finally arriving to reveal what happened to the main survivors. We should clarify – this sin't quite a finale! There are actually six more season 10 episodes that have been written during lockdown, and they are being made later this year. So there's that to get excited about, too.
Fear the Walking Dead
Fear the Walking Dead release date: 11 October
Alongside World Beyond airing weekly, we'll also be getting new episodes of Fear the Walking Dead. However, only half of the season has been filmed, so only expect a few episodes before a significant break.
Star Trek Discovery
Star Trek: Discovery season 3 release date: 15 October
Star Trek has always had a thing for boldly going where no one has gone before. Star Trek: Discovery season 3 looks set to go so far beyond the final frontier, however, as last season's climactic, time-jumping ending changed the show's course forever.
That means that the next time we meet Lt Commander Michael Burnham, Commander Saru and the rest of the crew will be 930 years in the future, exploring a universe they don’t recognise and with no immediate allies to call on for help. In other words, for the first time since Star Trek: The Next Generation beamed onto TV screens in 1987, Star Trek: Discovery season 3 will be exploring an entirely new region of the Star Trek timeline – totally unbound by the restrictions of existing canon, and we cannot wait.
Helstrom
Helstrom release date: 16 October
Marvel goes full horror in Helstrom, a new series about a family who have to deal with their own super-powers. This looks set to be one seriously scary series – just don't expect too many tie-ins to the wider Marvel universe.
Falcon and the Winter Solder
Falcon and the Winter Solder release date: October 2020
Yes, there have been multiple Marvel shows that link to the larger MCU, but none have brought central Avengers to the small screen. Now comes Falcon and the Winter Soldier, which will be the first Disney Plus-exclusive Marvel show. MCU mastermind Kevin Feige has promised crossover between the Disney Plus shows and the movies, so get this on your watch list if you're a Marvel fan.
Fargo season 4
Fargo season 4 release date: TBA 2020
Fargo season 4 ramps up the intensity as the series heads further from the town of Fargo than ever before. The series depicts '50s Kansas City riddled with warring gangs, with Chris Rock starring as the boss of a gang of black migrants navigating a contentious relationship with the Kansas City mafia.
The Mandalorian season 2
The Mandalorian season 2 release date: October 2020
The Mandalorian has quickly become one of our favourite shows, mainly thanks to the adorable Baby Yoda. The adventures of Daddy Mando and his adopted green creature are a pleasure to watch, and we can't wait to see how that season 1 ending leads into season 2.
WandaVision
WandaVision release date: December 2020
Following Falcon and the Winter Soldier comes WandaVision, another MCU series that brings movie characters to the small screen. this one looks particularly wild, with the potential to dive into multiple dimensions. This is going to be one confusing head trip.
Stranger Things season 4
Stranger Things season 4 release date: Unknown
Who is "The American"? Is Hopper still alive? Will Joyce and the family be able to relocate successfully? These are all lingering questions we have after Stranger Things season 3 finished. Hopefully they will all be resolved later this year, though no exact release date for Stranger Things season 4 has been announced yet.
The Haunting of Bly Manor
The Haunting of Bly Manor release date: 2020
The Haunting of Hill House season 2, titled The Haunting of Bly Manor, will be based on Henry James' iconic novel, The Turn of the Screw, which tells the story of a governess who moves to Bly Manor to take care of a man’s niece and nephew – Miles and Flora – after their parents died. Things turn sour when the governess starts to see ghosts of the previous governess Miss Jessel and her lover Peter Quint around the property.
Speaking to GamesRadar+ and Total Film, the show's creator Mike Flanagan also confirmed the new series will adapt "dozens" of James's stories and not just The Turn of the Screw. Colour us intrigued and frightened – and eagerly awaiting a proper release date.
Lord of the Rings Amazon show
The Lord of the Rings Amazon show release date: TBC
No-one's expecting Amazon's Lord of the Rings show to be released anytime soon. We currently have a few casting announcements, such as Will Poulter as one of the leads, and a period setting, in The Second Age, but little else. Still, we're hugely excited to see what co-showrunners JD Payne and Patrick McKay will do with Tolkien's world. Because the more time spent in Middle Earth, the better.
What shows have been cancelled in 2020?
Although we're celebrating the shows that are coming our way, there are also a few that have been left behind, never to return. Here's a look at some of the major cancellations of this TV season. Note: this does not include shows that have come to an end, just the ones that have been cancelled.
- Osmosis
- Mortel
- Marianne
- Messiah,
- AJ and the Queen
- October Faction
- V Wars
- Turn Up Charlie
- Broke
- God Friended Me
- Man With a Plan
- The Purge
- Treadstone
- Dare Me
- The Magicians
- Ray Donovan
- Deputy
- Almost Family
- Flack
- Sorry For Your Loss
- Bless This Mess