TV and movie calendars are very different beasts. January is a dead month for new theatrical releases, and things won't really pick up until March, so I'll be writing my "most anticipated" movie lists then, after Sundance. January, however, is midseason for television series, and we'll be seeing the return of shows like "True Detective" and "Star Trek: Discovery" in a couple of days. So it feels more appropriate to be writing this list now.
I'm leaving off any delayed shows that I wrote about in last year's post, like "Young Justice: Outsiders." Oh, and the last season of "Game of Thrones" is a given. I'll be writing plenty about that one in the months to come.
Good Omens - The BBC and Amazon are producing the adaptation of Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman's comic fantasy novel, about an angel and demon Odd Couple joining forces to stop the apocalypse. Michael Sheen plays the angel and David Tennant plays the demon, and the previews look fantastic. I've been hearing about this project for ages, since Terry Gilliam was circling a proposed film version back in 2001. It's so satisfying to see the six part miniseries adaptation finally get off the ground, and with a pitch perfect cast to boot.
Watchmen - Everything about Damon Lindelof's new HBO "Watchman" series intrigues me. All we really have right now is a list of actors, including Regina King, Jeremy Irons, and Tim Blake Nelson, and a promise that the series will take place in the "Watchmen" universe. It's not a reboot, a remake of the movie, or a direct sequel. Lindelof has remained cryptic as to what the show is actually going to be about, But considering that he's coming off the ingenious finale of "The Leftovers," I am inclined to trust him to know what he's doing.
His Dark Materials - The film version of the first volume of Philip Pullman's "His Dark Materials" trilogy was a major disappointment. I'm happy that the BBC is taking another stab at it, with Dafne Keen as the new Lyra in an eight part miniseries. Lin-Manuel Miranda, James McAvoy, and Ruth Wilson have also been cast in major roles. If it does well enough, adaptations of the other books will follow. Filming has wrapped up, but due to the time necessary for extensive special effects, a series premiere is more probable toward the end of the year.
The Twilight Zone - The Jordan Peele produced and hosted relaunch on CBS All Access will be the third time "The Twilight Zone" has been brought back to television. Ten episodes are planned, and Peele has promised to stick to the format of the 1960s original. With the recent success of "Black Mirror," there have been a slew of new horror and science-fiction anthology series. None, however, have incorporated the same degree of social commentary and engagement with contemporary issues. I'm hoping that Peele's "Zone" will be an exception.
The Umbrella Academy - Ellen Page is having a bit of a comeback. She'll be leading the Netflix adaptation of the superhero comic series, which deals with a group of super-powered foster siblings trying to solve their adoptive father's murder. Steve Blackman, who has been involved with "Altered Carbon" and several of Noah Hawley's programs, is showrunner. And from the previews that came out of Comic-Con, apparently he'll be bringing the "Legion" dance numbers with him. This one already has a release date - February 15th.
Veronica Mars - Hulu is bringing "Veronica" back for what's being described as a limited series of eight episodes. Rob Thomas, Kristen Bell, and most of the old cast are onboard, for a new mystery that takes place five years after the events of the Kickstarter-funded movie. I'm looking forward to catching up with all the familiar characters, but being a fan of "The Good Place," I'm glad that this isn't a full revival of the show. The limited series approach sounds just about right, and I hope "Veronica" can keep coming back every few years this way.
The Dark Crystal: Age Of Resistance - I have very strong doubts as to how watchable this series is going to be. It's all well and good to romanticize doing a longer dark fantasy series starring Jim Henson's muppet creations, but the technological limitations simply can't be ignored. At the same time, I'm immensely curious to see what this is is actually going to look like. How much of the "Dark Crystal" universe can be translated to the small screen? Are they aiming at an audience of nostalgic adults or younger kids? And is Aughra coming back?
The Mandalorian - Production is already well underway, so there's a good chance that we'll see the new "Star Wars" series with Pedro Pascal this year. A strong lineup of directors has been unveiled, the budget is suitably ridiculous, and Jon Favreau certainly seems to be enjoying himself. It'll also cover the time period between the original and sequel trilogies, so there shouldn't be too much crossover with the new movies. And that's a plus for me, as too much interconnectivity has tripped up "Star Wars" media in recent years. I'm hoping this one can stand on its own.
The Boys - I like what Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg have done with "Preacher," so I'm interested in seeing what they do with an adaptation of another Garth Ennis comic, "The Boys." This one is about a group of vigilantes who go up against corrupt celebrity superheroes, which is a premise that feels very timely in the current deluge of superhero series. Karl Urban is headliing, and Dan Trachtenberg is directing the pilot. Amazon is giving this an eight-episode first season, which promises to be very bloody, very adult and very subversive.
The Big Bang Theory (Finale) - And finally, I'm not likely to be watching weekly, but I can't help but look forward to upcoming farewell of "The Big Bang Theory." I loved Sheldon and Amy's wedding last year, and I look forward to whatever nerdy shenanigans the creators cook up for the gang to say goodbye. The lives of the characters have pretty closely mirrored my own for the past few years, and though I've drifted away from the show (and most network television), it was always nice to be able to check in once in a while. And I always loved sitcom finales.
Happy watching.
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