Contemporary comedies and dramas have had a chokehold on the TV space in recent years. People seem to gravitate toward grounded stories with issues most can readily relate to. Yet there’s a strong yearning for stories that stretch what we believe is possible. And what better avenue is there for that than sci-fi? Lovers of this genre don’t mind that the grounded quality comes from the characters and quite enjoy the worlds none of us have ever experienced (yet).
Science fiction shows often get overlooked when the entertainment industry discusses the most anticipated works. However, the tide seems to be turning. Throughout 2024 and into 2025, several sci-fi shows are getting released. And we’re not talking low-budget projects from small studios. Marvel. Disney. Apple TV+. Netflix. These entertainment powerhouses and more are finally investing time and money into the sci-fi genre. Here are upcoming sci-fi series releases to look forward to.
15 The Acolyte
June 4, 2024
The Acolyte is another addition to the Star Wars world, set nearly a century before the original films. Amanda Stenberg stars as Mae, a Padawan student turned warrior alongside Lee Jung-jae as Jedi Master Sol. Jedi are under attack, with one of them getting murdered. Though Mae and Sol have a complicated history together, they will team up to solve the various criminal acts taking place.
Promising Production Value From a Franchise That Refuses to Quit
No matter how long it’s been since the original Star Wars, studios can’t seem to get enough of this world. A question inevitably pops up is, is this necessary? That remains to be unanswered, with viewers getting those answers on June 4, 2024. The production value is promising, showing at least it wasn’t a low-effort cash grab.
14 Supacell
June 2024
Michael Lasaki in Supacell appears to be an ordinary young adult living in South London. He’s found success in his career and is in a loving relationship with his girlfriend Dionne. Technically, now his fiancé. Things seem to be looking up until he’s zapped into the future where he discovers that Dionne is dead. But he also has the opportunity to save her, by bringing together a group of four people with superpowers who he must also keep alive.
Supacell Promises Conflict, Intrigue, and Tons of Action
Sometimes, as evidenced by this list, there’s little to no early buzz about a series. Other times, early details give away too much. Supacell nails the perfect balance, providing the public with enough information to understand the overall premise, while still leaving plenty of questions they can’t wait to answer. June 2024 can’t come soon enough.
13 Sunny
July 10, 2024
Rashida Jones is slated to star in the sci-fi dark comedy Sunny on Apple TV+. The premise of the show is based on a novel called The Dark Manual by Colin O’Sullivan. Jones plays Suzie Sakamoto, an American living in Kyoto, Japan while in the throes of immense grief. Her husband, Masa, and son perished in a plane crash which doesn’t sit quite right with her. Masa was a roboticist and worked for an electronics company that gifts Suzie a domesticated robot her husband helped create.
No Trailer? No Problem.
Despite the release date rapidly approaching (July 2024), there isn’t an official trailer to go along with this intriguing premise. Perhaps it isn’t needed, as it’s enticing enough to wonder how the plane crash and the electronics company tie into one another. It’s unclear how much of a humorous tone this show will have, but given Jones’ previous work on The Office and Parks and Recreation, she can handle it.
12 Agatha
Late 2024
Agatha is a future miniseries in the Marvel Cinematic Universe revolving around Agatha Harkness, who many fell in love with in WandaVision. Those with their eyes on industry news may have seen the multiple name changes from Coven of Chaos, Darkhold Diaries, and House of Harkness before the studio decided to keep it simple with the main character’s name. Agatha is a witch who’s stripped of her powers and help in captivity. Once she frees herself, she makes it her mission to reclaim her lost magic.
Just in Time for Spooky Season
Actress Kathryn Hahn will reprise her role as Agatha and will act alongside Aubrey Plaza and young talent Joe Locke (best known for his role in Netflix’s Heartstopper). If viewers are wary of jumping into a series because of the lengthy commitment, they won’t have to worry here. With nine episodes, Agatha is promising to be a concise and snappy show. To capitalize on the witchy vibes, Disney+ plans to release it around the fall for Halloween.
11 Dune: Prophecy
Late 2024
Dune: Part Two, as of May 2024, hasn’t been out long but has already set the bar high for subsequent movie releases this year. It makes sense with the intense fan dedication to this world that the studios would want to capitalize with more stories. Dune: Prophecy will act as a prequel to the first film and will spotlight the Bene Gesserit, the sisterhood with superhuman abilities.
Fans Are Craving More Dune
While the action sequences in Dune are fantastic, a large cohort of viewers deeply connected with the side characters in the first two films. Lady Jessica, for example, is part of the Bene Gesserit and is one of the most fascinating characters. While it doesn’t seem like she’ll be part of Dune: Prophecy (given that it’s set 10,000 years before), her deep characterization and intriguing backstory do inspire hope for the two sisters, Valya and Tula, who will be featured here. It’s early days, though, and we likely won’t get their story until late 2024.
10 Star Wars: Skeleton Crew
Late 2024
Star Wars: Skeleton Crew is a series that will take place directly after 1983’s Return of the Jedi. If the other spin-offs in the Star Wars world feel too mature, this coming-of-age series may be the perfect option. Though surely the inclusion of Jude Law as a Force-user is meant to give it that crossover appeal.
(Potentially) Great for the Whole Family
Any hints at a synopsis online are quite vague. The kids “… make a mysterious discovery on their seemingly safe home planet, then get lost in a strange and dangerous galaxy. Finding their way home—and meeting unlikely allies and enemies—will be a greater adventure than they ever imagined,” according to a Disney press release. The first season will have eight episodes and is rumored to release later this year.
9 Citadel: Diana
2024
Citadel is an action spy thriller starring Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Richard Madden and produced by the Russo brothers. Chopra Jonas and Madden play two agents of Citadel, a spy agency that crumbled. All Citadel agents lose their memory and a rival agency takes full advantage. While the show didn’t receive stellar ratings or reviews, it somehow managed to spawn several spin-offs, one of which being Citadel: Diana.
The Trailer Offers Very Few Details
This upcoming series focuses on the Italian branch of Citadel and an agent named Diana. The trailer, while interesting, definitely focuses on the overall vibe rather than the plot. It’s likely the memory issues present in the original will also come into play, but no one is quite certain. If fans are interested in the expanding Citadel-verse, the original was renewed for a second season and several other spin-offs are in production.
8 Ironheart
Fall 2025
Marvel Studios is going all in for 2025. Ironheart will follow a character first introduced in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Riri Williams is a highly intelligent MIT student who was a target of many powerful people in Wakanda Forever. In Ironheart, she returns to her native Chicago. But her creation of a powerful iron suit will place her in the line of danger once again.
Bringing the MCU Back in a Major Way in 2025
Dominique Thorne will reclaim her role as Riri, aka Ironheart. There’s no indication of episode length, but even if it falls on the longer side, the planned six episodes should be quick to get through. The supporting cast sounds promising and will bring back faces many will recognize from other Marvel Films. As expected, Disney+ landed the rights to this one and expects it to be primed for streaming by fall 2025.
7 Daredevil: Born Again
2025
Fans of the lawyer turned masker justice seeker Daredevil are highly anticipating the continuation of his story. Specifics on the plot are very light at the moment, but fans of the Netflix series will appreciate Charlie Cox reprising the titular role. In Daredevil: Born Again, viewers will follow Matt Murdock (aka Daredevil) as he tries to fight against the corrupt businessman who’s running for office in New York City.
Episode Count Will Be Shorter Than Initially Announced
This series has been through a few roadblocks already. From filming delays because of the WGA strike in 2023 to shuffling around the directors and writers attached to the project. Though it was originally announced to have eighteen episodes, recent reports state showrunners are trimming the episode count. In early 2025, Marvel fans will be able to weigh in if that was the right call when they tune in on Disney+.
6 FX’s Alien
2025
In 1979, sci-fi horror movie Alien became a massive success and became a staple within the genre. It follows the crew of a spaceship who have to combat an alien that is causing havoc within their vessel. Now, over forty-five years later, FX is bringing viewers back into that world by way of a prequel.
Big Shoes to Fill
The Alien TV series will take place three decades before the film, in the year 2089, as corporations try to develop different types of artificial intelligence. Unfortunately, Sigourney Weaver won’t be reprising her role as warrant officer Ellen Ripley. Perhaps it’s for the best, as the show doesn’t want to be drowned in comparisons to the original that had such a long-lasting legacy. Although it hasn’t been confirmed, the series will likely run on Hulu in 2025.
5 Bureau of Time Intelligence
2025
Bureau of Time Intelligence appears to be the best-kept secret in the entertainment world. Not much is known about this political sci-fi other than a top-line premise. It will follow a group of secret agents who use time travel to go back to the years of World War II. But the good guys aren’t the only ones with time-traveling capabilities. The Nazis can also go back in time and the agents fear they are trying to alter the past so they win the war, altering history for years to come.
For History Buffs Hungry for a High-Concept Series
Historical buffs who want a high-concept series are sure to devour this series whenever it releases. As of spring 2024, there is next to nothing potential fans know about it. Few stills have surfaced online and the names of some of the actors, many of whom are earlier in their careers. Execution is going to make or break this show, but we’ll have to wait closer to 2025 before we see any official sneak peeks.
4 Murderbot
Release Date TBA
The idea behind Apple TV+’s upcoming Murderbot originated in the world penned by author Martha Wells. Her award-winning The Murderbot Diaries series revolves around a half-human, half-robot being that was created as a security device, or using in-world terminology, a SecUnit. However, it manages to override its programming and begins gaining independence. In the series, he must keep his newfound agency secret while continuing to operate as a SecUnit.
Fans Are Cautiously Optimistic
Fantasy and science fiction book-to-screen adaptations are notoriously hard to nail. They are expensive in a way other genres are not, given that the writer typically has no budget for a hypothetical show in mind while they write the book. So fans of the book are excited, but skeptical, about the ability for showrunners to pull this off. Alexander Skarsgård will take on the lead role, and the show will likely drop in early 2025.
3 Neuromancer
Release Date TBA
Despite the risks involved in bringing it to life, studios are continuing to invest in sci-fi book adaptations. Neuromancer is a forthcoming series based on a novel of the same name by William Gibson published in 1984. Henry Case is a hacker living in Chiba, Japan in the future. He crossed the wrong person and he is unable to access to virtual reality dataspace that others can. He’s down on his luck and is surprised when someone hires him for a dangerous job.
A Series Several Years in the Making
The world of Neuromancer is intriguing, and the mention of a companion named Molly hints at a potential romantic subplot that many viewers will enjoy. This project has been in development for a couple of years, with talk of several actors considered for the lead role. According to Deadline, Callum Turner, known for his work in the Fantastic Beasts franchise) managed to notch the role in this ten-episode series.
2 Blade Runner 2099
Release Date TBA
Blade Runner 2099 will serve as a sequel to the 2019 film Blade Runner 2049, itself a sequel to the ’80s classic hit Blade Runner. As the titles suggest, the franchise centers on “blade runners,” people who hunt bioengineered humans, or “replicants.” Apart from it being placed 50 years after the events of 2049, little is known about the plot or characters of Blade Runner 2099 and whether it will pick up the plot from where that film left off or introduce a new conflict altogether.
A Smooth Production with a Promising Cast
Variety recently confirmed that Michelle Yeoh is set to portray a replicant named Olwen. According to the outlet, Olwen is an elderly replicant. Development halted for some time, another effect of the writer’s strike, but everything appears to be running smoothly now. Fans of the Blade Runner franchise will likely be able to see this next installment in late 2024, though an official release date hasn’t been stated. Once filming and post-production wrap up, viewers will be able to enjoy it on Amazon Prime Video.
1 Star City
Release Date TBA
In 2019, For All Mankind premiered on Apple TV+. It takes place in an alternate history where the space race didn’t end and the Soviet Union landed on the moon before the U.S. The series did extremely well on the platform, earning rave reviews, and was recently renewed for a fifth season. Now, the creators are branching out with a spin-off titled Star City.
Exploring History From a Different Perspective
Star City will look at things from the perspective of the Soviet Union’s space crew. According to the AppleTV+ press release, this series will “explore the story from behind the Iron Curtain, showing the lives of the cosmonauts, the engineers and the intelligence officers embedded among them in the Soviet space program, and the risks they all took to propel humanity forward.” Many of the creatives behind the original are attached to Star City, which is certainly promising. As of spring 2024, no release date has been announced.
