Internationally recognised art and literary critic, writer and cultural producer. Published in ELLE, Glamour, Esquire and Cosmopolitan; member of the Union of Writers.
The year 2024 promises to be a feast for TV lovers, as some of the most anticipated series of the decade are set to debut on various streaming platforms and networks. From adaptations of literary classics to original stories of intrigue and adventure, here are 15 series that you won’t want to miss.
Avatar: The Last Airbender. Netflix is hoping to redeem the reputation of the beloved animated series, which was tarnished by a poorly received live-action film in 2010. The new adaptation, created by Albert Kim (Sleepy Hollow, Nikita), will follow the adventures of Aang, a young boy who can control all four elements, and his friends, who must stop the Fire Nation from conquering the world. The series will feature a diverse cast of Asian and Indigenous actors, as well as stunning visual effects and martial arts choreography.
Masters of the Air. The third installment of the acclaimed World War II miniseries produced by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks, following Band of Brothers and The Pacific, will focus on the heroic exploits of the US Air Force’s 100th Bomb Group, also known as the “Bloody 100th” for their high casualty rate. Based on the book by Donald L. Miller, the series will showcase the bravery and sacrifice of the bomber pilots and crews, who faced deadly enemy fire and harsh weather conditions. Cary Fukunaga (True Detective, No Time to Die) directed four of the nine episodes, while the ensemble cast includes Austin Butler, Callum Turner, Anthony Boyle, and Barry Keoghan.
All coincidences are random (“Disclaimer”). Oscar-winning director Alfonso Cuarón (Children of Men, Gravity, Roma) returns to the small screen with this psychological thriller, based on the novel by Renee Knight. Cate Blanchett stars as a famous journalist who is shocked to discover that she is the main character of a novel that exposes her darkest secret. As she tries to find out who wrote the book and why, she becomes entangled in a web of lies and danger. Emmanuel Lubezki, Cuarón’s longtime collaborator, serves as one of the cinematographers.
Dune: Prophecy. Fans of the epic sci-fi saga by Frank Herbert will be delighted by this spin-off of Denis Villeneuve’s Dune, which explores the origins of the Bene Gesserit, the mysterious order of women who possess extraordinary powers and influence. Set 10,000 years before the events of the main story, the series follows sisters Vale and Thule Harkonnen, who rebel against the oppressive forces that threaten the future of humanity. Emily Watson and Olivia Williams lead the cast, while Diane Ademu-John (The Originals, The Haunting of Bly Manor) and Alison Schapker (Fringe, Altered Carbon) are the showrunners.
The Three Body Problem. One of the most ambitious and expensive projects in Netflix’s history, this adaptation of the Hugo Award-winning sci-fi trilogy by Liu Cixin will span the history of humanity from the Cultural Revolution to the end of the world, as a secret alien invasion unfolds. David Benioff and D. B. Weiss, the creators of Game of Thrones, are the executive producers, along with Alexander Woo (The Terror, True Blood) and Rian Johnson (Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Knives Out). The cast and crew are yet to be announced, but the series is expected to have a global scope and a diverse representation of cultures and languages.
True Detective: Night Country. The fourth season of the critically acclaimed anthology series will take a different approach from the previous ones, as it will be based on an existing novel rather than an original script. The novel in question is Night Country by James Lee Burke, a crime thriller set in Montana, where a former detective investigates a series of murders that may be connected to his past. Issa Lopez (Tigers Are Not Afraid, Vuelven) and Nic Pizzolatto, the creator of the series, are the co-writers and co-showrunners, while Mahershala Ali, who starred in the third season, is one of the executive producers.
The Penguin. One of the most iconic villains of the Batman universe will get his own origin story in this series, which is a spin-off of The Batman, the upcoming film by Matt Reeves. The series will explore the rise of Oswald Cobblepot, a low-level criminal who becomes the ruthless kingpin known as the Penguin. Colin Farrell, who plays the character in the film, will reprise his role, while Lauren LeFranc (Impulse, Chuck) is the writer and executive producer.
The Regime. A satirical comedy that takes aim at the absurdities and hypocrisies of the American political system, created by Will Tracy, a former editor-in-chief of The Onion. The series follows a group of eccentric and incompetent staffers who work for a fictional senator, who is constantly embroiled in scandals and controversies. The cast includes John C. Reilly, Tim Heidecker, Fred Armisen, and Maya Rudolph, among others.
Ripley. A new adaptation of the classic novels by Patricia Highsmith, which have inspired several films, such as The Talented Mr. Ripley and The American Friend. The series will follow the exploits of Tom Ripley, a charming and cunning sociopath who assumes the identities of his wealthy victims, while evading the law and his own conscience. Andrew Scott, best known for his roles in Sherlock and Fleabag, will play the title character, while Oscar-winning writer and director Stephen Zaillian (Schindler’s List, The Night Of) is the showrunner.
Shogun. A remake of the 1980 miniseries, which was based on the historical novel by James Clavell. The series will tell the epic story of John Blackthorne, an English sailor who becomes a samurai in feudal Japan, and gets involved in the power struggle between warlords and emperors. The series will feature a predominantly Japanese cast, including Hiroyuki Sanada, Cosmo Jarvis, Masami Kosaka, and Kana Hanazawa, while Rachel Kondo (The Terror, Counterpart) and Justin Marks (The Jungle Book, Counterpart) are the creators and executive producers.
The Sympathizer. A spy thriller based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Viet Thanh Nguyen, which explores the legacy of the Vietnam War from the perspective of a half-French, half-Vietnamese communist agent, who infiltrates the South Vietnamese army and the American intelligence. The series will be directed by Park Chan-wook, the acclaimed filmmaker behind Oldboy, The Handmaiden, and Stoker, while Don McKellar (Blindness, The Red Violin) is the co-writer and co-showrunner. Robert Downey Jr. will play multiple roles as the antagonists of the story, while the lead actor is yet to be cast.
Fallout. A post-apocalyptic adventure based on the popular video game franchise, which depicts a world ravaged by nuclear war, where survivors must contend with mutants, raiders, and other dangers. The series will be produced by Amazon Studios and Kilter Films, the company behind Westworld and Person of Interest, with Lisa Joy, Jonathan Nolan, Jeniva Robertson-Dworet, and Graham Wagner as the executive producers and writers. The cast and plot details are still under wraps, but fans can expect to see familiar elements from the games, such as the Vault-Tec Corporation, the Pip-Boy device, and the Nuka-Cola beverage.
Expats. A comedy-drama that explores the lives of four American women who move to Hong Kong for different reasons, and form an unlikely friendship. The series is based on the novel by Janice Y. K. Lee, and stars Nicole Kidman, Sarayu Blue, Ji-young Yoo, and Jack Huston. Lulu Wang, the director of The Farewell, is the creator and executive producer, along with Kidman and her production company Blossom Films.
