‘Spider-Noir’
Starring: Nicolas Cage, Lamorne Morris, Li Jun Li
Cage’s first lead role in a TV series sees him assume the mantle of Ben Reilly/The Spider, a version of Spider-Man from an alternate world based on New York in the 1930s, based on the Marvel Comics character Spider-Man Noir. Reilly is an ageing, jaded PI who gave up being a superhero years previously following a “personal tragedy,” but returns to his alter-ego when “an exceptional case” comes his way. According to co-show runner Oren Uziel, Cage’s performance is “70 percent Humphrey Bogart, 30 percent Bugs Bunny.”
Release date: May 27 on Amazon Prime
‘The Boroughs’
Starring: Bill Pullman, Geena Davis, Clarke Peters
Also known as “What the Duffer Brothers Did Next.” Can the “Stranger Things” creators find a magic second act? They’re following up their sci-fi coming-of-age phenomenon as exec producers on another supernatural thriller-style show, this time featuring heroes at the other end of the age spectrum, living in “an idyllic retirement community” threatened by otherworldly monsters who can “steal” time. The Duffers have said that the heroes are “a similarly lovable bunch of misfits” to the “Stranger Things” kids, adding: “We can’t wait for you to join them on an adventure that is at turns scary, funny, and deeply touching.”
Release date: May 21 on Netflix
‘House of the Dragon’
Starring: Matt Smith, Emma D’Arcy, Rhys Ifans
This “Game of Thrones” spinoff — set a couple of centuries before the events of that series — has had a lukewarm reception thus far. Hopefully season three will see the action ramped up, with more dragons and less droning, as House Targaryen continues to tear itself apart in a war of succession that has raged since the death of King Viserys I. On the one side is Viserys’ daughter and heir apparent Rhaenyra; on the other, Viserys’ sons with his queen consort Alicent Hightower, Rhaenyra’s childhood friend.
Release date: June 22 on OSN+
‘The Bear’
Starring: Jeremy Allen White, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Ayo Edebiri
The multi-award-winning drama, set in the eponymous Chicago restaurant, returns for its fifth and final season next month. Let’s hope it gets the ending it deserves. For the majority of its run, it’s been one of the finest shows on television — at times unbearably tense, but balanced with heart and humor — and its ensemble cast has been pitch-perfect. In season five we’ll learn whether anxiety-ridden master chef Carmy can really stay away from the kitchen he helped build, and whether his protégé Syd can step up and earn the place the Michelin star she’s always dreamed of.
Release date: June on Disney+
‘Silo’
Starring: Rebecca Ferguson, Common, Harriet Walter
The compelling dystopian sci-fi drama comes back for a third season that, judging from the promotional materials so far, will give us much more information (via flashbacks) about how Juliette Nichols and her community came to be living in their huge underground silo in the first place. We’ll also learn what they will do with the news that at least 50 other Silos exist, and how they will adapt to the new hierarchy of their own following the uprising at the end of last season.
Release date: July 3 on Apple TV+
‘Lucky’
Starring: Anya Taylor-Joy, Annette Bening, Timothy Olyphant
Limited series based on a novel of the same name by Melissa Stapely — and on the “one last job for a criminal trying to go straight” trope. In this case, that criminal is the title character, played by Taylor-Joy, who goes on the run when her planned multi-million-dollar heist goes wrong. But it’s not just the Feds she has to worry about; a ruthless crime boss is also hot on her heels.
Release date: July 15 on Apple TV+
‘Ted Lasso’
Starring: Jason Sudeikis, Hannah Waddingham, Tanya Reynolds
Three years on from the last episode, season four of the sports comedy-drama sees the ever-optimistic eponymous American college football coach-turned English Premier League manager return to AFC Richmond, but this time as coach of their women’s team, who are currently languishing in the second division. In other words, Ted’s going have to win everyone over once again.
Release date: August 5, on Apple TV+
