Paste‘s 29 Most Anticipated New TV Shows of 2017

TV Lists
Paste‘s 29 Most Anticipated New TV Shows of 2017

It can be hard to stay atop the tsunami of TV these days, and at some level this list is another log on the fire—29 more shows to feel guilty about not watching. But take heart, friend. We’re here to guide you, not to guilt you. Read through the entries below and select whichever ones capture your interest, then mark the premiere dates (where applicable) on your calendar. And remember to check back in for interviews, essays, episodic reviews, lists and galleries related to all your favorite shows—new and returning—in 2017. Paste TV is in your corner.

Emerald City
Network: NBC
Premiere date: January 6

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Fans of Tarsem Singh’s cult fantasy The Fall won’t be disappointed with his interpretation of The Wizard of Oz. The executive producer/director’s epic Emerald City is fantastical (even by the standards of its source material), erotic, hallucinatory and decidedly foreboding. Whether fans of Victor Fleming’s indelible vision of L. Frank Baum’s turn-of-the-century novel warm up to Singh’s flamboyant, whimsy-free vision remains to be seen. Relative newcomer Adria Arjona anchors an ensemble cast as tough but tormented Dorothy, navigating her way through an expansive Oz being warred over by witches, wizards, warriors and mystics, many of whose souls are held prisoner in either cruel and primitive incarceration or an endless opium haze. Yes, there is the incentive of watching to see if and how Dorothy finds her way back home, but the real thrill will come from observing Emerald City walk a fine line between contemporary buzz-worthiness and future infamy. Kenny Herzog

Taboo
Network: FX
Premiere date: January 10

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Anyone who’s seen Locke knows that Steven Knight and Tom Hardy can spin a captivating story out of the slightest of premises (like, say, a guy driving all night making a series of phone calls). So I’m even more excited to see what they can do with a tale this rich—set in pre-Victorian London, Taboo follows an explorer long presumed dead (Hardy), who returns after a decade abroad to inherit what’s left of his family’s shipping empire. Created by Knight, along with Hardy and his father Chips Hardy, and executive produced by Ridley Scott, the eight-episode miniseries draws from a wealth of historical intrigue, promising an epic power struggle as the prodigal son returns to enact bloody revenge on his late father’s enemies, including the all-powerful East India Company. The resulting atmospheric period drama looks like a Merchant-Ivory production as written by George R.R. Martin. Rick Mele

A Series of Unfortunate Events
Network: Netflix
Premiere date: January 13

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In the post-Game of Thrones rush to find the next “beloved-but-unconventional” book franchise to adapt, Netflix made a wise choice investing their resources in A Series of Unfortunate Events. Written by satirist Daniel Handler under the pen name Lemony Snicket, the series weaves the tragicomic saga of three orphans whose parents are killed under mysterious circumstances. As they are shipped from guardian to guardian, they find themselves pursued by the devious Count Olaf, who seeks to obtain their significant fortune by any means necessary. Though written ostensibly for younger readers, the books boast a wry, dark sensibility that gave them a definite edge over more traditional children’s fare. Back in 2004, Paramount attempted a big-screen adaptation starring Jim Carrey as the villainous Olaf. Despite decent box-office receipts, studio politics appeared to halt the production of any sequels. More than 12 years later, Netflix has commissioned a 26-episode series (two episodes per book), with the first eight installments coming in January. Along with the perfect casting of Neil Patrick Harris as Count Olaf and Patrick Warburton as the solemn yet hilarious Lemony Snicket figure, the series will also feature turns from Joan Cusack, Aasif Mandvi, Catherine O’Hara, Don Johnson and Alfre Woodard. Add in the offbeat directorial prowess of Men in Black’s Barry Sonnenfield and the fact that Daniel Handler himself will be handling the scripts and you have the potential makings of a miserably joyful binging experience. Mark Rozeman

The Young Pope
Network: HBO
Premiere Date: January 15

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Jude Law is arrogant. He’s sexy. He’s young. And yes, he’s Pope-tacular. In The Young Pope, HBO’s new limited series from famed Italian director Paolo Sorrentino, Jude Law plays Lenny Belardo, the first American-born Pope. Early (glowing) reviews have confirmed what we saw from the trailer: The Young Pope will be a tantalizing, scrumptious project. Law looks to be having the time of his life as he struts around the Vatican with a cigarette dangling from his mouth. Trying to reign in Law’s edgy pontiff is Diane Keaton as Sister Mary, a nun who ran the orphanage where Lenny’s hippie parents left him; James Cromwell as Cardinal Michael Spencer, who wanted to be the Pope; and Silvio Orlando as Cardinal Voiello, a rival of the young Pope. With all that talent and a name like The Young Pope, the series is sure to make some waves in 2017. Alex Stern

Frontier
Network: Netflix
Premiere date: January 20

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Jason Momoa (Game of Thrones and Aquaman) stars as Declan Harp in this Netflix series, which focuses on the North American fur trade in the 1700s. Out for revenge and money, Harp wants to control the disorganized trade. Does this power grab sound like something Khal Drogo would approve of? Most definitely. Although Momoa is on his way to being a blockbuster movie actor, it’s nice to see him return to TV. This series is so highly anticipated that it’s already been renewed for a second season. Alicia Kort

Planet Earth II
Network: BBC America
Premiere date: January 28

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Ever since the BBC released a short clip of a little lizard running for his life from a group of snakes, a chase as perfectly executed as anything from the Fast & Furious franchise, anticipation for the new Planet Earth series has been high. Sure enough, the show hits new heights in its most recent edition, with new 4k technology bringing out every little scar and drop of blood during a Komodo dragon fight, while the team of editors, along with narrator David Attenborough, highlight the high-stakes drama of the animal kingdom. What makes Planet Earth II unique, and one of the most anticipated TV shows of 2017, is that it’s a documentary series presented like an episodic thriller. The editing and camerawork tell a story in every segment; nature becomes relatable, all part of the human experience. In an age where our planet’s health is in more danger than ever, that kind of urgent storytelling is desperately needed. Kyle Fowle

Riverdale
Network: The CW
Premiere date: January 26

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Something’s not what it seems in Riverdale: Jason Blossom (Trevor Stines) has been murdered, and nobody knows who’s to blame. The CW’s Riverdale is an adaptation of the traditional Archie Comics universe with a sinister, modern-day twist. All the original players are involved: Archie (K.J. Apa), Betty (Lili Reinhart), Veronica (Camila Mendes) and Jughead Jones (Cole Sprouse), the first three part of one of the most famous love triangles of all time. Recalling the angst and drama of Gossip Girl crossed with the mysterious noir sensibilities of Twin Peaks, Riverdale is sure to divide viewers of a new generation, and I’m completely looking forward to it. Dhaaruni Sreenivas

Powerless
Network: NBC
Premiere date: February 2

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Adam West is the best Batman, but it has been a while since superheroes have been a laughing matter, at least when it comes to live action. While Marvel tends to have a little fun in their movies and TV shows, DC’s output has been characterized by self-seriousness (see the completely insane Gotham). So it’s refreshing to see a show like Powerless pop up on the scene. Finally, we have a sitcom set in the world of comic book superheroes, and in the DC universe to boot. The show stars Vanessa Hudgens as Emily Locke, a woman who gets a job at Wayne Enterprises—where her role is to help innocent bystanders feel safer in a world where men and women in masks and garish costumes are beating the crap out of each other all over the city. Basically, it’s a show about being a “regular” person trying to do good in a world where superheroes are doing good on a massive and destructive level. It’s a great premise for a comedy and, on top of that, the cast includes Danny Pudi, Alan Tudyk and Ron Funches. Finally, DC superheroes get to be funny. Chris Morgan

Santa Clarita Diet
Network:Netflix
Premiere date: February 3

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The list of major movie stars yet to make the transition to TV gets even smaller in February thanks to Netflix’s latest original, Santa Clarita Diet. The always-appealing Drew Barrymore (whose last recurring TV role was in 1992, in the short-lived soap 2000 Malibu Road), plays an L.A. realtor who undergoes a dramatic change that sends her marriage “down a road of death and destruction… but in a good way.” The black comedy also co-stars Timothy Olyphant—so charismatic in the criminally underrated Justified—as her equally jaded partner in both life and business. And if creator Victor Fresco can recapture the razor-sharpness of his overlooked gems Better Off Ted and Andy Richter Controls the Universe, rather than the tired contrivances of his more recent Sean Saves the World, then this particular diet should be the rare one worth getting excited about. Jon O’Brien

Legion
Network: FX
Premiere date: February 8

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With its Netflix output like Jessica Jones and Luke Cage, Marvel has been pushing the boundaries of what you can do with a comic book property. So, tapping Fargo’s Noah Hawley to lead a series about one of the most damaged and fascinating players in the X-Men universe seems like a match made in heaven. The series follows David Haller (Dan Stevens), who’s being treated at a psychiatric hospital and believes he is schizophrenic. But, there could be a whole lot more to his condition than first believed. The first few trailers look like an absolute trip, and with Hawley’s proven skills at character drama, this Marvel and 20th Century Fox co-production could be the sweet spot between good sci-fi and generally great TV. Trent Moore

Big Little Lies
Network: HBO
Premiere date: February 19

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I discovered Liane Moriarty’s Big Little Lies right after my son was born. Up in the middle of the night with zero sleep, I would read her bestselling novel about suburban mothers navigating the tricky landscape of female friendships as I fed my son. Moriarty’s intriguing characters are so relatable—except, of course, for murder mystery part, which HBO is definitely playing up with its “marriage, motherhood and murder” tag line. So I’m filled with equal amounts excitement and dread about the book being adapted for TV. Will HBO ruin one of my favorite novels? But I’ve decided to be optimistic in 2017. Executive produced by David E. Kelley, Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon and starring Witherspoon, Kidman, Shailene Woodley, Laura Dern and Zoe Kravitz, it’s hard to imagine this seven-episode miniseries being anything but a big little hit. Amy Amatangelo

The Good Fight
Network: CBS All Access
Premiere date: February 19

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Yes the title could be better. And yes, like 95% of the time, spin-offs don’t work. We know that for every Frasier there’s a Joey. But didn’t you just hear me say I’m going to be optimistic in 2017? I loved The Good Wife. Even its bad episodes were better than most things on TV. And I need to know that Diane (Christine Baranski) is okay. Plus, with their BrainDead cancelled, Robert and Michelle King are back as showrunners and The Good Fight is bringing along two fan favorites, Lucca (Cush Jumbo) and Marissa (Sarah Steele). Plus, I’m so looking forward to hearing Diane swear. The biggest mystery is whether the show will be worth the $5.99 monthly CBS All Access price tag. But optimism, people. Optimism. Amy Amatangelo

Crashing
Network: HBO
Premiere date: February 19

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How do you make sadness funny? Well, by not being so sad. A recent trend in sitcoms has been to rev up the drama and sink the humor into the inky depths of rueful chuckles and mirthless grins. Pete Holmes couldn’t fill a chuckle with rue if his life depended on it, and his new, semi-autobiographical series about a sweet, mid-divorce comedian looks to be a refreshing take on midlife crises. Former talk show host and the voice of the eTrade baby (you remember), Holmes brings wholesomeness to a comedy scene filled with angst one-upmanship. Jacob Oller

Iron Fist
Network: Netflix
Premiere date: March 17

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As a kid, I was OK with relatively straightforward superheroes like Superman and Captain America, but when I really got into a comic, I generally preferred the outsiders—the loners and outliers in the hero pantheon. The X-Men were particular favorites, as were Doctor Strange and Moon Knight. Right up there was Iron Fist, the wealthy, orphaned martial arts expert with the, well, iron fist. So when Marvel and Netflix announced that Danny Rand would get the fourth Netflix entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), I was pretty psyched. Now that I’ve seen what Marvel has done with Daredevil, Jessica Jones and Luke Cage, I’m positively giddy with anticipation. The early to mid-1980s run of “Power Man and Iron Fist” was a compelling book, and Netflix’s Iron Fist should be the perfect lead-in to The Defenders miniseries, scheduled to premiere sometime later in 2017. And it stars Loras Tyrell!. Mark Rabinowitz

Great News
Network: NBC
Premiere date: April 25

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Following 30 Rock and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, NBC welcomes executive producers Tina Fey and Robert Carlock back with Great News. (Note: the single-camera sitcom is created by 30 Rock and The Mindy Project alum Tracey Wigfield.) The premise involves a burgeoning TV producer (Briga Heelan) grappling with her mother, who joins her station as an intern. Lest you be underwhelmed by the kitschy Nancy Meyers-esque storyline, or the prospect of another warm-blooded meta-comedy, Great News bolsters an impressive cast. Heelan was last seen on Netflix’s Love, and has been on the rise the past few years as a TV comedienne. Other cast members include John Michael Higgins, Horatio Sanz, Nicole Richie (!!!) and the legendary SCTV vet Andrea Martin. Andy Hoglund

The Handmaid’s Tale
Network: Hulu
Premiere date: April 26

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Unfortunately, the timing for the release of this adaptation of Margaret Atwood’s 1985 novel couldn’t be better. With a new administration about to be handed the keys to the White House, led by a man with some of the most egregiously reductive and awful ways of viewing women, the themes of female subjugation and power run amok feel more prescient than ever. The idea of turning this book into a TV series is a great one, as it will allow producer Bruce Miller and his team to dive more deeply into the story than previous stage and screen versions have attempted. And they’ll be aided every step of the journey by a cast of TV veterans like Elisabeth Moss, Yvonne Strahovski and Samira Wiley, working alongside savvy character actors Joseph Fiennes and Max Minghella. That the show has Atwood on board as a consulting producer can only help matters, and will likely make this series as dark, satirical and damning as its source material. Robert Ham

American Gods
Network: Starz
Premiere date: April

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There’s most anticipated and then there is most anticipated. Indeed, Starz’s American Gods, which centers on a recently released convict who finds himself in the middle of a burgeoning war between gods, is probably the single most anticipated TV event of my relatively young life. Shall I count the ways? The source material, courtesy of Neil Gaiman, is one of my favorite novels. Co-creator Bryan Fuller has developed three of my favorite TV shows of all time (Pushing Daisies, Wonderfalls and Hannibal). Co-creator Michael Green was behind Kings, which I consider to be one of the greatest cancelled-before-its-time programs of the past decade. Director David Slade has spent the last few years proving himself a master of visually sumptuous TV installments, with Fuller’s Hannibal being his magnum opus. One of the show’s central roles will be played by Ian McShane, whose pantheon-level performance in Deadwood all but assured that I will watch whatever he’s in for the rest of my life. The cast list has grown to include the likes of Gillian Anderson, Cloris Leachman, Emily Browning, Crispin Glover, Kristin Chenoweth and even a major curveball in the case of Dane Cook. Sure, I could be setting myself up for disappointment, but—given the year we’ve had—if one can’t have hope in a premium cable adaptation of a Gaiman classic with all these auspices, then, really, what’s there to live for? Mark Rozeman

Star Trek: Discovery
Network: CBS All Access
Premiere date: May

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Whether you’re a fan of Gene Roddenberry’s cerebral space utopia or not, it’s impossible to deny Star Trek’s profound impact on the medium of television. One could even go so far as to argue that the original series’ 1969 cancellation was the very event that catalyzed modern fan culture. Now, more than 50 years after the flagship show’s premiere, and 12 since the admittedly controversial finale of Enterprise, the series will return to television in the form of Star Trek: Discovery. Developed by Alex Kurtzman, who co-wrote the recent films, and Bryan Fuller, who contributed episodes of Deep Space Nine, Voyager and is a self-proclaimed Star Trek fanboy, Discovery marks the first time a Star Trek series will be free from broadcast restrictions (via CBS’s All Access streaming service). Whether that means we’ll be treated to a bevy of profanity or gore remains to be seen, but it’s an intriguing prospect nonetheless. And while the main storyline is still being kept under wraps, the series has been confirmed to take place a decade before Captain Kirk and company, with the focus being not the ship’s captain—played by Michelle Yeoh—but its lieutenant commander (The Walking Dead’s Sonequa Martin-Green). Moreover, Fuller’s previous statements have indicated a highly serialized structure with a “touchstone” being the action-packed original series episode “Balance of Terror.” Needless to say, Fuller’s recent departure from the project has been a major blow to fans, but Star Trek is still Star Trek and a new reiteration should always be cause for celebration. Mark Rozeman

Channel Zero: No End House
Network: Syfy
Premiere date: TBD

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The first season of Channel Zero was an unexpected pleasure for lovers of well-executed horror anthologies; a show that exceeded its expectations with stylish aplomb, disturbing visuals and solid ensemble performances. Season Two of the creepy pasta-inspired show is to be titled “No End House,” and feels much more directly inspired by internet-style urban legends, for better or worse. It centers around the titular house, seemingly a carnival-esque chamber of horrors—”six rooms, each scarier than the last,” which would presumably fit neatly into the series’ brisk six-episode format. The premise seems measurably more campy, or at least conventional, than the previous “Candle Cove,” but there are more than enough reasons to be cautiously optimistic. Chief among them is the presence of the deeply unsettling John Carroll Lynch, who stole the show in David Fincher’s Zodiac and appeared prominently last year in the critically acclaimed dinner party horror film The Invitation. It’s an absolutely inspired choice of character actor to base this limited season around, which makes me hope that “No End House” can prove Channel Zero to be a concept with plenty of replay value for the next few years. Jim Vorel

Dear White People
Network: Netflix
Premiere date; TBD

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Dear White People. Three words that pack enough provocation to set a comment section ablaze. Back in 2014, Paste’s review of Justin Simien’s debut film turned into a mini Klan meeting, invited by the picture’s salutatory title. The parade of racist invective has long since been scrubbed from the comments on the piece, but Netflix’s upcoming TV adaptation of Simien’s work may well strike the same chord: The series is a mirror of the movie. Simien will serve as its showrunner, and will write and direct a few episodes himself; a handful of original cast members are signed on to star, including Brandon Bell, Ashley Blaine Featherson and Marque Richardson; and the material will focus on the experiences of minority students attending a majority white Ivy League school. This last is what makes the show a necessity. Dear White People, the film, proved that Americans need to hear what storytellers like Simien have to say on the subject of race. Dear White People, the show, is primed to keep that conversation going. Andy Crump

The Defenders
Network: Netflix
Premiere date: TBD 2017

My dreams of being accepted into SEAL Team Six have been dashed by this fact: I love Sea, Air, and Land separately, but never together. So I decided to start SEAL Team 11. Team 11 has a single freedom-loving mission: Watch amazing franchises indoors, inside temperature-controlled rooms. The Defenders, a Marvel Cinematic Universe miniseries, is one such operation. Unlike SEAL, this is a team-up I do love. The series is the culmination of all four of Netflix’s moody superhero tone poems. Remember when Daredevil made us fall in love with blindness and lawyering all over again? This is where that road takes us. In 2017, Luke Cage, Jessica Jones, Iron Fist, and Daredevil will team up in long shots and amazing action scenes—plus compelling soundtrack choices, featuring the swingin’ tunes that the kids love so much today. Cheo Hodari Coker, showrunner of Luke Cage, compared the assembling together of New York’s best to the gathering of the Wu-Tang Clan. I, for one, am ready to check my neck. Jason Rhode

The Deuce
Network: HBO
Premiere date: TBD

I’m anticipating The Deuce in large part because it appears balanced on a razor’s edge, teetering between being incredible television or the second coming of Vinyl, which is to say a big disappointment. David Simon’s latest project on HBO is a ‘70s-set drama focused on the rise of the porn industry and its ties to the Mafia, starring James Franco as twin brothers (!) and Maggie Gyllenhaal, presumably as one person. The cast is surprisingly deep beyond those two (three?), including The Wire alums Lawrence Gilliard Jr., Gbenga Akinnagbe, Chris Bauer and others. And that Wire connection is key: Simon’s involvement gives me confidence that The Deuce will skirt Vinyl’s clumsy, frivolous sleaze in favor of a more resonant grit. This show will be a spectacle at the very least, and HBO’s next great sexed-up, mobbed-out romp at best—I can’t wait to find out which. Scott Russell

Dimension 404
Network: Hulu
Premiere date: TBD

It sounds like Hulu is entering The Twilight Zone with its upcoming scripted anthology series, Dimension 404. The six-episode sci-fi/fantasy show takes its name from the web’s 404 error codes, and the show’s storylines explore happenings that can’t be explained rationally in this world. We especially can’t wait for the episode in which energy drinks may cause the apocalypse, or another in which NSA’s top analyst is “a gigantic, all-knowing cube of sentient meat named Bob” (Hulu’s description, not ours). But the real draw here is the cast. Already signed onto appear are Lea Michele, Joe McHale, Patton Oswalt, Megan Mullally, Kenneth Choi and Constance Wu, among others. Christine N. Ziemba

Feud
Network: FX
Premiere date: TBD

The first season of Feud, Ryan Murphy’s latest anthology series, will focus on the deliciously vicious rivalry between Bette Davis and Joan Crawford. The two Hollywood divas, who starred together in Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? (the shooting of which anchors the season’s storyline), will be played by Susan Sarandon and Jessica Lange, proving once again that Murphy will not rest until actresses over 60 not named Meryl Streep get the juicy roles they deserve. As always, the American Horror Story showrunner has stacked his show with a delectable supporting cast, including Sarah Paulson (as Geraldine Page), Stanley Tucci (as Jack Warner) and Catherine Zeta-Jones (as Olivia de Havilland). Its high camp rubbernecking premise alone would make Feud must-see TV. But the potential for reigniting conversations about aging actresses in Hollywood and the latent misogyny they face may make for an all too powerful and timely project in 2017. Manuel Betancourt

The Last Tycoon
Network: Amazon
Premiere date: TBD

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You can practically hear the cad in the three-piece suit taking his cigar out of his spittle-drenched mouth and smacking his secretary on her rump as he sells this pitch: Matt Bomer and Kelsey Grammer star in a drama based on F. Scott Fitzgerald’s send-up of the early days of Hollywood. The pilot episode, which is now streaming on Amazon Prime, shows all the glitz and magic that the city bestows upon those lucky and scrappy enough to get it as well as the destitution that it gifts to pretty much everyone else. And while Amazon has not had a considerable amount of luck when it comes to period dramas (see its short-lived Good Girls Revolt and the meh reviews for the second season of The Man in the High Castle), the full series of The Last Tycoon comes during some (un)fortuitous timing. It mixes old-school cinematic splendor with something relatable to today’s audiences: the tiptoeing around land mines that must be done in order to do business with rising dictators with whom you may not agree. Oh, and the costume designs come courtesy of Mad Men’s resident trendsetter, Janie Bryant. Whitney Friedlander

Maniacs
Network:Netflix
Premiere date: TBD

With his work on the first season of True Detective, Cary Fukunaga became one of TV’s most intriguing directors, especially well known for making the medium more “cinematic.” Yet his most exciting project yet could be Maniacs, an adaptation of a 2014 Norwegian series, in which a man lives a fantasy life while locked up in a mental institution. Much as Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey seemed almost too big to make the move to TV, Maniacs has cast Jonah Hill as the star, with Emma Stone as a fellow inmate, reuniting the Superbad pair for the first time in a decade. While there hasn’t been any new information on Maniacs since the series was announced in March, fingers crossed it’ll make its debut in 2017—and be as amazing as it sounds.Ross Bonmaine

Samurai Jack
Network: Adult Swim
Premiere date: TBD

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Samurai Jack is, quite simply, one of the most beautiful animated series ever created. Genndy Tartakovsky’s dystopian, futuristic ronin adventure took its inspiration from Kung Fu and Kurosawa and, like those works, always felt bigger than the screen on which it appeared. When Tartakovsky put Jack on indefinite hiatus in 2004 with the omnipotent demon Aku still unconquered, the thought was that he would wrap up the story with a feature film. After years of rumors, it turns out that we’ll instead get ten more episodes—and with the move from Cartoon Network to Adult Swim, Tartakovsky will have the freedom to explore more mature themes and even crazier action sequences. Some advice: Make sure you aren’t watching Samurai Jack on a tablet or laptop. It deserves your biggest screen. Zach Blumenfeld

Twin Peaks
Network: Showtime
Premiere date: TBD

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No, Twin Peaks is not, by the strictest definition of the term, “new”: Mark Frost and David Lynch’s singular mystery (“Who killed Laura Palmer?”), which debuted on ABC in 1990, is in fact one of the most strange and extraordinary bits of storytelling ever to air on one of the broadcast networks. Still, 25 years after the series’ feature-film follow-up, Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me, it seems new again, or at least promises to surprise us. So little is known about Showtime’s fraught revival that Lynch’s latest “teaser” qualifies as A+ trolling, but that pedigree alone is enough to pique my interest. Starring Kyle Maclachlan alongside a sprawling cast of both Twin Peaks veterans and newcomers, the series’ return to TV screens is, if nothing else, an excuse to re-watch that sublime first season, and marvel anew at what TV is capable of. Matt Brennan

Young Justice
Network: TBD
Premiere date: TBD

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After Cartoon Network canceled one of its most talked about series back in 2013, the fan outcry could be heard ‘round the galaxy. One part superhero team-up, one part coming-of-age story, Young Justice followed the origins and development of the Justice League’s secret weapon: a covert team of teenage heroes and sidekicks like Nightwing, Aqualad and Kid Flash, dedicated to using their enhanced skills and super powers to stop Earth’s many super-villains. Four years later, the still-persistent calls of fans eager to see more of the series—heralded for its mature themes, attractive character design and rich long-form storytelling—were answered. While the network partner and official release date have yet to be announced, production on the third season started last November, making it seem fair to say that 2017 will be the year Young Justice finally provides answers to its many unresolved storylines, and introduces new heroes as a result of its long awaited return. Abbey White

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