The 30 Best and Most Anticipated New Shows of 2024
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PERHAPS NOTHING IS changing as much from year to year, across the entire cultural landscape, than the state of quality, entertaining television. A world that a decade ago was dominated by prestige cable networks eventually gave way to a streaming bubble, which has since both expanded and, to some degree, popped. Certain stalwarts, like HBO on the premium cable side and Netflix on the streaming side, are always going to be relevant; others across the spectrum seem to have quiet and loud stretches. All of this is to say that it seems like in 2024, you may have to look in a bunch of different places to find your favorite new TV shows.
While Netflix and HBO are usually among the first stops on people's remote-surfing journeys, Apple TV+ has become a major player in recent years as well; its high-quality filmmaking that tends to be stacked with top-line talent is an easy draw for people looking for a new show to get sucked into. Apple has had a massive slate in 2024: a Tom Hanks/Steven Spielberg-produced war epic starring Academy Award-nominee Austin Butler, along with shows starring Cate Blanchett, Colin Farrell and Vince Vaughn, among others.
There are also some old friends like Hulu/FX, and Prime Video; places we've found lots of great shows from before. Hulu was the home of Oscar-nominated actress Lily Gladstone's follow-up to Killers of the Flower Moon—a grisly true crime thriller called Under the Bridge—while Prime Video once again treaded into blockbuster territory with Fallout, a big-budget adaptation of the hit game series (produced by Westworld's Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy).
Disney+ is holding onto relevance as well. Despite things purposely slowing down with Marvel Studios (their only planned live-action show is the WandaVision spinoff Agatha All ALong), the Star Wars has continued to expand in new directions. The Acolyte was a flawed show that was still better and more inventive than what your social media feed probably told you, while the upcoming Skeleton Crew looks to bring together a team of truly impressive directors to tell an Amblin-like story.
Which is all to say... TV may be stranger and a bit harder to navigate than ever (remember when "cable" was the only answer?), but there's a ton out there already for us to be excited about. Below, you can check out a list of all the new shows set to come out in 2024—and why we're so excited about them.
Masters of the Air (Apple TV+)
Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks once again reunite as producers of a TV limited series of war, brotherhood, and incredible visual spectacle. The show follows the story of the 100th Bond Group—also known as the "Bloody Hundreth"—and both their tragic and triumphant adventures through the WWII theater. The story features incredible visuals and even better acting, led by a cast that includes Austin Butler, Callum Turner, Barry Keoghan, and Anthony Boyl, among others.
Mr. and Mrs. Smith (Prime Video)
Donald Glover and Maya Erskine take a new approach to the hit 2005 film Mr. and Mrs. Smith with this action-packed, super clever, and very engaging Prime Video dark comedy. It may not have the same star-powered punch as the film (which, if you haven't watched it in a while, does have incredibly charismatic stars, but otherwise barely has a plot), but it's actually a better product overall. Glover and Erskine both shine, and the guest stars—including Paul Dano, Parker Posey, John Turturro, and more—are episodic highlights. One of the best, and most fun, shows of the year, by far.
Shōgun (FX)
FX is not playing around, people. The long-in-the-works samurai epic (based on James Clavell's book of the same name, previously adapted as an NBC miniseries in 1980) is absolutely fantastic, a big-budget story that uses that budget in all the best ways, looking incredible, and featuring top-notch acting, but perhaps most importantly, coming to play with some seriously fantastic writing that spans several languages; some of the best parts of the show come in the moments where Mariko (Anna Sawai) is translating the words of John Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis). Led by a cast that features Hiroyuki Sanada (a martial arts legend who audiences may recognize from Bullet Train, Westworld, or Avengers: Endgame), Shōgun is probably the best show overall to land in 2024 so far.
Manhunt (Apple TV+)
Based on a thrilling true story, Manhunt is an adaptation of the nonfiction book of the same name and follows the 12-day hunt for John Wilkes Booth that came in the immediate aftermath of President Abraham Lincoln's assassination. The cast is led by Tobias Menzies as Edwin Stanton, Anthony Boyle (who also appeared in Masters of the Air) as Booth, and Hamish Linklater as Lincoln.
X-Men '97 (Disney+)
This is another one where we don't have to make it too complicated: the beloved '90s X-Men animated series continues just a few decades later with X-Men '97. The original voices and creative forces largely returned from that original product, and, as detailed in a Men's Health interview with producer Brad Winderbaum, Marvel Studios made '97 a major priority—and it shows. It's a nostalgic, delightful treat for any fan of Professor X's squad.
3-Body Problem (Netflix)
Netflix's 3 Body Problem is based on the bestselling hard sci-fi novel The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu, and while the book may seem, at times, to be rather unadaptable, the team of showrunners (including the Game of Thrones team of David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, along with True Blood writer Alexander Woo) did an admirable job bringing everything together. 3 Body Problem makes some major changes from the source material, but ultimately comes together in a brisk, exciting sci-fi adventure that works on the back of ambitious visuals and writing and a fun, game cast that includes the likes of Eiza Gonzalez, Benedict Wong, Liam Cunningham, Rosalind Chao, and more.
Anyone looking for a fun, realistic look at what first contact with an alien race would really be like is in for a treat; 3 Body Problem ultimately plays as half extremely intense sci-fi, half tension-filled political thriller, and 100% a good time. Season 2, thankfully, will continue the story.
The Gentlemen (Netflix)
The Gentlemen comes from writer/director Guy Ritchie, and is based on his 2020 movie of the same name, but not a prequel or a sequel; rather it essentially does a do-over from the film (think The Evil Dead and Evil Dead II) from a different perspective, slightly changing some things, and largely for the better—the show is a blast. The cast is led by Theo James, and also includes Giancarlo Esposito and Ray Winstone, among others.
Ripley (Netflix)
The world of Patricia Highsmith's The Talented Mr. Ripley comes to Netflix in the form of the new series Ripley, shot in black-and-white and starring Andrew Scott, coming off arguably the high-point of his career as the lead in 2023's fantastic All of Us Strangers. The series is distinctly different from 1999's The Talented Mr. Ripley, but also fantastic in its own right—which says a lot, considering that such a fantastic film sets a high bar. But with Scott in the lead role and the series entirely written by Steven Zaillian (The Night Of, Gangs of New York, The Irishman, among other great projects), Ripley manages to shine.
Sugar (Apple TV+)
Guys. It's Colin Farrell in a detective show. Do we need to say much more? Think neo-noir throwback of sorts, but starring one of everyone's favorite actors. We'll get to see Farrell again later in the year on The Penguin, but Sugar almost feels like a throwback to an era of noir and detective shows that almost feels forgotten. We're glad this show exists.
Fallout (Prime Video)
Coming off 2023's massive hit of The Last of Us (and modest hit of Twisted Metal), Prime Video's Fallout proved that there's video game adaptations making for great TV is a trend that we need to take seriously. Based on the games of the same name, Fallout comes from the Westworld team of Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy, and stars the tremendous Ella Purnell (Yellowjackets) and Walton Goggins (Justified, The Righteous Gemstones). Purnell plays a sheltered girl whose eyes are opened to the reality of their post-apocalyptic nuclear landscape, while Goggins plays "The Ghoul," a gunslinging cowboy who's been made immortal thanks to, well, the sick and twisted radioactive world they're living in. The show is a fantastic mix of fun, funny, and super violent—and really all comes together at the end in a way that makes the whole thing worth it. We can't wait for season 2.
Franklin (Apple TV+)
We don't have to make this one too complicated: Michael Douglas as Benjamin Franklin. Yes!
The Sympathizer (HBO)
Based on Viet Thanh Nguyen's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name, HBO's The Sympathizer tells the story of a half-French, half-Vietnamese double agent who spends time on a mission in the United States as he reports back to his superiors in Vietnam; he's loyal to the North, but he's embedded with the South, and the United States. The show, which is co-showrun and partially directed by the fantastic Park Chan-Wook (Oldboy, The Handmaiden, Decision to Leave), is a brilliant combination of spy/espionage thriller, dark comedy, and satire about the everlasting state of how American imperialism chews up and spits out everything in its path. Hoa Xuande is a standout as the show's lead, while Robert Downey Jr. plays the face of American imperialism in the form of multiple different villainous diplomats and figures. This is a show you won't want to skip.
Under The Bridge (Hulu)
In her first role since the release of Killers of the Flower Moon (and since being nominated for the Best Actress Oscar), Lily Gladstone plays a local law enforcement officer alongside Riley Keough's lead journalist. Under the Bridge is a crime drama adaptation of a horrifying nonifiction book about the murder of a young girl by a number of her peers. It's dark subject matter, but done exceptionally well—making for some truly captivating (and depressing) television.
Conan O'Brien Must Go (Max)
Years after ending his TBS show and announcing that he'd move to a new weekly show on Max (then called HBO Max!), Conan O'Brien finally returned to our screens this year with a new limited series called Conan O'Brien Must Go, where the legendary comedian hits the road to meet up with some fans he's met through episodes of his fantastic podcast, Conan O'Brien Needs A Friend. Team Coco, our time has arrived.
The Acolyte (Disney+)
We're going to be honest—The Acolyte deserved better. Was it a perfect show? No. Was it a flawed show? Very much so. Did it do some unique, fun, and creative things that stood out from the rest of what we've seen in the last few years of Star Wars? Absolutely. The Acolyte was set in a brand new era of Star Wars, and explored a new kind of relationship with the force amidst a series of murders, leading into the emergence of the Sith. Some of the action was super cool, and Manny Jacinto gave what should be a star-making performance. The show was unfortunately cancelled after its single season, but we won't forget the high highs.
Clipped (FX/Hulu)
About a decade ago, one of the biggest scandals in NBA history hit the league when audio was leaked of Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling making racist remarks; after the storm that followed, he was eventually forced to sell the team. Clipped dramatizes that story, with Ed O'Neill playing Sterling and Laurence Fishburne playing then-Clippers coach Doc Rivers. Anyone missing Winning Time—and anyone looking for a juicy dramatization of a relatively recent scandal—should have a good time with this one.
Presumed Innocent (Apple TV+,)
Based on the 1987 novel of the same name (which was also previously adapted into a 1990 movie starring Harrison Ford), Presumed Innocent is one of 2024's best—and almost certainly juiciest—shows. This legal thriller/mystery procedural tells the story of a prosecutor who becomes the prime suspect when his female colleague is murdered; the story is updated for our present day, so that means all sorts of text messages and modern technology wind up playing a role in the case. The lead role played by Harrison Ford in the movie here is played by a fantastic Jake Gyllenhaal, who's joined by a tremendous supporting cast that includes Peter Sarsgaard, Ruth Negga, Bill Camp, and O-T Fagbenle putting on one of the most unique accents you've heard on TV or in a movie in a while.
Bad Monkey (Apple TV+)
Based on Carl Hiaasen's book of the same name, Bad Monkey is a classic Apple TV+ show—led by a charming big star (Vince Vaughn) with an easy-to-buy-into premise (a former detective becomes a health inspector and gets pulled into a wild mystery) and comes from Bill Lawrence, who's already co-created both Ted Lasso and Shrinking for the streamer. Michelle Monaghan and Rob Delaney are also a part of the show's impressive cast. It's bringing a bunch of pieces that should work together together—and, surprise! It works. Bad Monkey is a ton of fun, and maybe Vaughn's best project in years.
Kaos (Netflix)
Charlie Covell, who previously was behind Netflix's underrated hit dark comedy The End of the F***ing World, returns to the streaming giant for Kaos, an eccentric dark comedy about narcissistic gods (Jeff Goldblum plays Zeus) who make a connection with six humans on earth.
The Perfect Couple (Netflix)
The Perfect Couple marks a The Undoing reunion between star Nicole Kidman and director Susanne Bier. The story is simple enough: a young woman (Eve Hewson) is about to marry into a wealthy New England family (with parents played by Kidman and Liev Schreiber) when suddenly a body turns up on the beach, and the mystery gets underway.
Agatha All Along (Disney+, September 18)
Aside from Echo (which dropped as a quick binge at the top of the year), the MCU's only planned TV series for 2024 is Agatha All Along, a spinoff of WandaVision that will center on Kathryn Hahn's evil witch Agatha Harkness (who we're guessing, like Loki, will get an anti-hero spin) with a cast that also includes Aubrey Plaza and Joe Locke. The genre-bending trailer looks fun! The show should be a part sequel to WandaVision, which remains (at least to this writer) Marvel's best show. Could Wanda Maximoff make a cameo? Well, we'll have to wait and see—but it would be fun.
The Penguin (HBO/Max, September 19)
After doing a great job on the small screen earlier in the year with Sugar, Colin Farrell returns to once again play the scene-stealing, mobster version of The Penguin that he originate in 2022's The Batman. Matt Reeves—who wrote and directed The Batman—produces this series that follows Farrell's Oz Cobblepot as he makes a play for power in Gotham City following the fall of Carmine Falcone. Other cast members include the always fantastic Cristin Milioti as Sofia Falcone and Clancy Brown as Sal Maroni. This should be one of the very best franchise shows of the year.
Grotesquerie (FX/Hulu, September 25)
This series from Ryan Murphy is a creepy murder mystery that feels like American Horror Story with shades of Longlegs and True Detective thrown into the mix. Niecy Nash leads proceedings as a detective who has some trouble with her daughter at home, while the cast also includes Courtney B. Vance and, in a mysterious role, Travis Kelce. Yes, Travis Kelce.
Disclaimer (Apple TV+, October 11)
Disclaimer has the potential to be the biggest TV show—period—of 2024, and once you hear the names involved, you'll understand why. Based on the 2015 novel of the same name by Renee Knight about a woman who learns her life is actually the subject of a seemingly-fictional novel (think Stranger Than Fiction but in the form of a thriller), Disclaimer is written and directed entirely by Academy Award-winning director Alfonso Cuarón (Roma, Gravity, Children of Men), and stars Academy Award-winner Cate Blanchett. That alone is enough! But the cast also includes the likes of Kevin Kline, Sacha Baron Cohen, and The Power of the Dog's Kodi Smit-McPhee, among others. Get excited. Get very excited.
Dune: Prophecy (HBO/Max, November 14)
This long-gestating Dune prequel series has been in the works for quite a while and has had a bit of behind-the-scenes drama take place, but it will finally be released in November. The show will travel back in time 10,000 years before the events of the film/novel to understand the story behind the formation of the Bene Gesserit.
Landman (Paramount+, November 17)
Based on the hit podcast Boomtown, Landman comes from super-creator Taylor Sheridan (Yellowstone) to tell the story of modern-day oil barons. The cast is super impressive, led by Billy Bob Thornton, Ali Larter, and Demi Moore, with Jon Hamm and Michael Peña among the recurring cast.
Star Wars: Skeleton Crew (Disney+, December 3)
Co-created by MCU Spider-Man director Jon Watts, Skeleton Crew is said to be a coming-of-age, Amblin-style series (think Star Wars mixed with Stranger Things) with a cast that's led by Jude Law and Kerry Condon. Perhaps most interesting, though, is the show's lineup of directors: Watts himself will be joined by Bryce Dallas Howard, David Lowery, Lee Isaac Chung, Jake Schreier, and the Academy Award-winning Daniels.
Creature Commandos (Max, December 2024)
While we're eagerly waiting for James Gunn's Superman: Legacy to premiere in theaters in 2025, his rebooted DC Universe will actually kick off in earnest with the animated Creature Commandos series on Max in 2024. The show is based on a fairly obscure comic, and like most things Gunn is involved with, we can expect it to be eccentric and quite funny; the story finds Amanda Waller (a returning Viola Davis) pulling together a secret team of monsters. The voice cast is stacked, with the likes of Frank Grillo (as Rick Flag Sr.), David Harbour (as Frankenstein), Alan Tudyk, Maria Bakalova, Sean Gunn and Indira Varma among the many names involved. Check out the trailer—it looks fun.
Dexter: Original Sin (Paramount+/Showtime, December 2024)
This prequel to Dexter should serve as the famed serial killer's origin story of sorts; you know what you're getting into. Fans waiting on more from this franchise (following Dexter: New Blood a few years ago) will be excited to dive in. The show's cast includes Christian Slater and Patrick Dempsey, while Patrick Gibson plays the young titular character.
Zero Day (Netflix, TBA 2024)
Perhaps the year's most star-studded series will be Zero Day, a Netflix limited series set to star Robert De Niro, Lizzy Caplan, Jesse Plemons, Angela Bassett, Connie Britton, Dan Stevens, Matthew Modine, and more. We don't know a ton about the show beyond the fact that it will be a six-part series and some kind of political/conspiracy thriller.
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