As we enter the second half of 2021 there is plenty of new television shows to look forward to from the various streaming services. FinalBoss picks out some of the series we are most looking forward to, with details on when and where you will be able to watch them.
Nine Perfect Strangers – August 18, Hulu/Prime Video
Described as a drama but sounds like a mystery, Nine Perfect Strangers is created by David E. Kelly and John Butterworth. “Nine strangers from the city gather for a 10-day retreat at Tranquillum House, a health and wellness resort which promises to transform and heal the guests who stay there. However, the resort is not what it seems to be and the guests are about to discover many secrets about each other and the resort’s host Masha.” Masha is played by Nicole Kidman and there are big names playing the guests including Melissa McCarthy, Michael Shannon, Luke Evans and Samara Weaving. Nine Perfect Strangers will stream on Hulu in the States and on Amazon Prime internationally.
The Chair – August 20, Netflix
The Chair is a comedy-drama coming to Netflix in August. “At a major university, the first woman of color to become chair tries to meet the dizzying demands and high expectations of a failing English department.” Sandra Oh will play ‘The Chair’ and is joined in the cast by veteran character actors Bob Balaban and Holland Taylor.
Foundation – September 24, Apple TV+
Foundation is based on the classic science fiction novels of Isaac Asimov. David S. Goyer, known for his work on Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy, and Josh Friedman (Sarah Connor Chronicles) are the creators though Friedman is no longer involved. The show follows “ …the thousand year saga of The Foundation, a band of exiles who discover that the only way to save the Galactic Empire from destruction is to defy it.” The ten-episode first series will star Jared Harris and Lee Pace as the main characters.
Invasion – October 22, Apple TV+
Apple gets into more science fiction with this upcoming series. Greenlit for 10 episodes and with a $200 budget, the show will feature an alien invasion seen from different perspectives around the world. Filming in America, England, Morocco and Japan hints at the international flavour of the show. Co-created by Simon Kinberg, best known for his work on various X-Men movies, Invasion will star Sam Neill in the lead role.
The Shrink Next Door – November 12, Apple TV+
A dark comedy inspired by an award-winning podcast of the same name. The series will run for eight episodes and tells the story of a psychiatrist, Dr Isaac Herschkopf, played by Paul Rudd, who abuses his relationship with his patients for personal gain. The small cast announced so far includes Will Ferrell, Kathryn Hahn and Casey Wilson.
The Chestnut Man – Late 2021, Netflix
From Netflix – “A young woman is found brutally murdered in a Copenhagen playground. Above her hangs a small doll made of chestnuts.” This is another in the long line of crime dramas from Scandinavia and is an adaptation of the novel by Soren Sveistrup. Sveistrup was a scriptwriter for the acclaimed The Killing so has a decent pedigree.
The Wheel Of Time – Late 2021, Prime Video
Since Game Of Thrones ended two years ago, TV studios have been searching for the next big fantasy series. And they don’t come much bigger than The Wheel Of Time, an epic series of 14 books by Robert Jordan. So lots of potential there, and indeed the show has already been renewed for a second season. The main character is called Moiraine and will be played by Rosamund Pike. No trailer yet but a tease of the logo. The six-episode first season is expected by the end of the year.
FinalBoss Wheel Of Time Preview
Cowboy Bebop – Late 2021, Netflix
A live-action adaptation of the Japanese anime series of the same name which features a group of bounty hunters chasing down criminals across the solar system. John Cho, Mustafa Shakir and Daniella Pineda star with comic book writer Christopher Yost on script duties. Production on the show was delayed by an injury to John Cho and Covid-19 but it is set to hit Netflix by the end of the year.
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What’s your most anticipated show still to come in 2021? Let us know!
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