It feels like just yesterday that we were eagerly looking ahead to a summer TV schedule filled with the antics of Max Cady, Spider-Noir, and the Vampire Lestat. Now that September’s here, though, our minds are turning to thoughts of more prestige-minded fare included period dramas starring the likes of Florence Pugh and Jon Hamm as well as high-concept comedies from such trusted laugh-getters as Amy Poehler and Woody Harrelson.
But don’t worry — the first half of the 2026-27 TV season isn’t going to feel like homework. The various broadcast networks, cable channels, and streaming services are programming an eclectic mix of fare that offers something new for everyone along with the returns of some established hits… as well as a handful of misses that are hoping to become hits this time around.
Gold Derby looked ahead at the release calendar between September and December and found 25 new shows that you can expect viewers — and voters — to be buzzing about when holiday binge-mode comes around. We’ve also got you covered with premiere dates for other notable newbies and returning favorites.
Who’s in it: Gail Bean, Isiah John, Mykelti Williamson,
What’s the story: Return to the world of Snowfall one decade after the events chronicled in the six season FX series. Now that we’re in the ‘90s, Wanda (Bean) and Leon (John) are taking their talents into the rap game — but their drug game past is always lurking in the background.
Behind the buzz: The first iteration of Snowfall cultivated a devoted fanbase for its vivid sense of place and compelling stories but never got its due at the Primetime Emmys. Maybe The Drop’s ‘90s setting will inspire more Love Story-like affection among voters.
Agatha Christie’s Tommy & Tuppence (Sept. 15, Britbox)
Who’s in it: Antonia Thomas, Josh Dylan, Imelda Staunton
What’s the story: The celebrated author’s vintage detective duo — and on-again, off-again lovers — receive a present-day reimagining for contemporary fans of cozy mysteries.
Behind the buzz: While Christie sleuths like Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple pop up on TV screens on the regular, Tommy and Tuppence have been waiting for their close-up for some time. The modern setting and ‘ship-friendly romantic subplot could help elevate them to Agatha’s A-list.
Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story (Sept. 17, Netflix)
Who’s in it: Ella Beatty, Charlie Hunnam, Rebecca Hall
What’s the story: The notorious axe-wielder (Beatty) takes center stage in the latest edition of Ryan Murphy’s anthology crime series.
Behind the buzz: Monster may not be a critical darling, but each edition does regularly scare up Emmy nominations for its cast. It’s also a prime opportunity for Beatty — daughter of Warren Beatty and Annette Bening, and niece of Shirley MacLaine — to carry on her family’s illustrious screen legacy.
Youth (Sept. 20, HBO/HBO Max)
Who’s in it: Sharon Horgan, Rupert Friend, Sharlene Whyte
What’s the story: Newly divorced and freshly 50, Alex (Horgan) looks to kickstart her love life even as her aging parents and college-bound son act as roadblocks.
Behind the buzz: From Catastrophe to Divorce to Bad Sisters, Horgan hasn’t missed when it comes to wickedly funny takes on romantic and familial relationships. Youth should only provide further evidence that her comic skills are forever young.
Who’s in it: Jon Hamm, Giovanni Ribisi, Mireille Enos
What’s the story: Indianapolis radio reporter Fred Heckman (Hamm) stumbles onto the story of a lifetime when he becomes enmeshed in a hostage crisis. But as he comes to discover, getting this close to a story carries serious risks.
Behind the buzz: Ripped from ‘70s headlines, American Hostage expands on a real-life hostage crisis that was previous chronicled in last year’s Gus van Sant film, Dead Man’s Wire. Expect the eight-episode series to explore fascinating facets of the case that didn’t make the final cut of the film.
Brothers (Sept. 23, Apple TV)
Who’s in it: Matthew McConaughey, Woody Harrelson, Holland Taylor
What’s the story: Meet Matthew and Woody, two movie stars, best friends, prodigious pot smokers… and maybe, brothers?
Behind the buzz: We’ve been waiting over a decade for the next McConaughey-Harrelson TV joint, and the fact that these true detectives are leaning into comedy for their reunion warms our EDtv-defending hearts. Here’s hoping Ron Howard drops by to tease EDtv 2: Don’t Touch That Dial.
Who’s in it: Florence Pugh, Christopher Abbott, Mike Faist
What’s the story: Follow the rising and falling fortunes of two families, the Trasks and the Hamiltons, from the Civil War to World War I.
Behind the buzz: Zoe Kazan adapts the classic John Steinbeck novel — and her grandfather Elia Kazan’s celebrated 1955 cinematic adaptation of said novel — in a sprawling new limited series that recenters the story around Pugh’s antihero, Cathy Ames. Between that source material, cast, and creative team, the awards-friendly prestige factor is off the charts for this version of Eden.
War (Oct. 1, HBO/HBO Max)
Who’s in it: Dominic West, Sienna Miller, Phoebe Fox
What’s the story: Two London law firms go to war over a high-stakes divorce between a tech titan (West) and his actress wife (Miller).
Behind the buzz: HBO is already collaborating with Sky on a second season of this U.K. import, which will follow a different squad of legal eagles, including Marisa Tomei, on an all-new case. That’s definitely a vote of confidence in the first series, which feels like Succession goes to Divorce Court.
Tip Toe (Oct. 2, Starz)
Who’s in it: Alan Cumming, David Morrissey, Elizabeth Berrington
What’s the story: When Leo (Cumming) lends his spare key to his neighbor Clive (Morrissey) that simple exchange opens the door to a series of unfortunate events that upends their private and public lives.
Behind the buzz: Having surrendered the keys to Doctor Who’s TARDIS for the second time, Russell T Davies is once again exploring the U.K.’s checkered past and present relations with its LGBTQ+ community — issues that also animated his terrific limited series A Very English Scandal and It’s a Sin. The chance to see Cumming bite into a meaty dramatic role after becoming Emmy voters’ favorite reality host is another selling point.
Who’s in it: Catherine Zeta-Jones, Daniel Ings, Ron Perlman
What’s the story: Uma Thurman’s Beatrix Kiddo has nothing on Jackie Price (Zeta-Jones). After the drug smuggler extraordinaire is targeted by a squad of ace assassins, she has to resort to extreme measures to avoid a premature burial.
Behind the buzz: Boasting a roll call of executive producers from such action-heavy projects as Gangs of New York, Killing Eve, and John Wick, Kill Jackie should bring plenty of firepower to the fall lineup. And after matching swords (and wits) with Zorro back in the day, it’ll be good to see Zeta-Jones be an outlaw in her own right.
Carrie (Oct. 7, Prime Video)
Who’s in it: Summer H. Howell, Amber Midthunder, Matthew Lillard
What’s the story: Stephen King’s seminal novel gets the prestige streaming treatment, as Carrie White (Howell) is once again driven to her telekinetic breaking point by bullying classmates and a domineering mother.
Behind the buzz: Sure, Brian De Palma’s 1976 film version remains the gold standard and still plays great at 50 years young. But we have a feeling that Carrie is in good hands with justly celebrated King whisperer Mike Flanagan, whose adaptations of Gerald’s Game, Doctor Sleep, and The Life of Chuck have all delighted fans and the author himself.
Below (Oct. 8, Netflix)
Who’s in it: Josh Hartnett, Mackenzie Davis, Charlie Heaton
What’s the story: It’s Jaws meets The Host when a small Newfoundland town is invaded by a creature from the deep sea, forcing one fisherman (Hartnett) to go on the offensive with the help of a marine biologist (Davis).
Behind the buzz: Get an early jump on Halloween with this Maritimes monster mash with Hartnett playing the Quint to Davis’s Hooper. That combination of setting and star power should help Below rise to the top of Netflix’s streaming charts.
Who’s in it: Mike Colter, Rachel Keller, Busy Phillipps
What’s the story: Two Big Tech-spurned lawyers (Colter and Keller) join forces to take on the Silicon Valley elite.
Behind the buzz: A tech-world Matlock starring Luke Cage and Syd Barrett? Talk about a dynamic duo — and we’re assuming these two don’t use AI to write their legal briefs.
Who’s in it: Saheli Khan, Aishu Devan, Major Curda
What’s the story: Picking up after The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra, the newest Avatar series follows Avatar Pavi (Khan) as she adjusts to her new powers — and new life.
Behind the buzz: The long-awaited Avatar animated feature film may have been a bust, but hopes remain high for the latest sequel series, which has franchise masterminds Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko back onboard. Look for Seven Havens to bend, but not break, the elements that make this series so beloved.
Who’s in it: Paul Bettany, James Spader, Ruaridh Mollica
What’s the story: Get the scoop on what happened to the Avengers’ favorite android (Bettany) after he flew away for parts unknown at the end of WandaVision — and prepare to welcome back a familiar villain in the form of Ultron (Spader).
Behind the buzz: WandaVision kicked off the Disney+ era of the MCU and now VisionQuest is here to offer some resolution. Obviously, there’ll be plenty of Easter eggs for Avengers: Doomsday, but here’s hoping the writers make it a top priority to close the loop on Wanda and Vision’s grand and grief-stricken love story.
Who’s in it: Linda Cardellini, William Catlett, Cameron Scoggins
What’s the story: Before Jason Voorhees stalked sex-starved camp counselors, his mother, Pamela (Cardellini), ensured that it wasn’t safe to go in — or out — of Crystal Lake’s waters.
Behind the buzz: After lots of stops and starts, the long-in-the-works Friday the 13th prequel series is finally ready to draw first blood. And Cardellini’s presence ensures that Peacock is treating Crystal Lake as a Bates Motel-like prestige production instead of the cheap cash grab that was the syndicated Friday series from the ‘80s.
Who’s in it: Téa Leoni, Tim Daly, Jamie Lee Curtis
What’s the story: A late in life fling leads to wedded bliss — maybe — for Jeanie (Leoni) and James (Daly) provided they can overcome challenges like his nosey ex-wife Claudia (Curtis).
Behind the buzz: Think they don’t make ‘em like they used to? Then Newlyweds is for you. This old-school multi-camera sitcom is embracing its status as an ‘80s and ‘90s throwback… and features a trio of stars who excelled in that format back in the day whether it was Leoni on The Naked Truth, Daly on Wings or Curtis on Anything But Love.
Nocturne (Oct. 30, Apple TV)
Who’s in it: Liev Schreiber, Zazie Beetz, Stephen Graham
What’s the story: Not even the sturdiest of prison walls can keep serial killer Jurek Walker (Graham) from wreaking havoc in a small Western Pennsylvania town — a reign of terror that only one retired detective (Schreiber) can stop.
Behind the buzz: After dominating the Emmys — and pretty much every other TV awards ceremony in existence — with his Netflix blockbuster Adolescence, we’re ready to see Graham go for the dramatic jugular as a Hannibal Lecter-esque villain. He’s well-matched with Schreiber, who knows a thing or two about visiting the dark side thanks to Ray Donovan and The Perfect Couple.
Who’s in it: Jalen Best, Omari Hardwick, Dana Gourrier
What’s the story: Learn how young Cassius Clay (Best) grew up to become all-time boxing great, Muhammad Ali, and the challenges he faced in and out of the ring.
Behind the buzz: Executive producer and noted cinematic boxing expert Michael B. Jordan got our blood pumping when he previewed The Greatest at Prime Video’s upfront earlier this year. The Ali family has given their blessing to the series, which hopefully won’t pull any punches when it comes to exploring Ali’s great — and complicated — legacy.
Who’s in it: Rose Byrne, Meghann Fahy, Brendan Gleeson
What’s the story: Twenty years after their lives were upended by a terrifying home invasion, two estranged sisters (Byrne and Fahy) attempt to reconnect with their father (Gleeson) who has gotten caught up in another small-town crime.
Behind the buzz: The success of All Her Fault and The Five-Star Weekend proved that Peacock can play in the #BookTok space. With The Good Daughter, the NBCUniversal streamer is clearly out to show that they can make good at the Emmys, too, after All Her Fault scored multiple Limited Series nominations, but seems unlikely to take home any statuettes.
12 12 12 (Nov. 13, Apple TV)
Who’s in it: Anthony Mackie, Jamie Dornan, Jack Kesy
What’s the story: A dogged FBI agent (Mackie) pursues an elusive thief (Dornan) across the 12 months leading up to the crook’s daring raid on a bank vault, the 12 hours of the crime itself, and the 12 days following the heist.
Behind the buzz: Paging Christopher Nolan; Apple’s time-skipping limited series borrows the triptych narrative structure that The Odyssey helmer employed for his Oscar-nominated WWII film Dunkirk and applies it to a 24-like ticking clock thriller. Luckily, we’ll be able to watch it on a more linear weekly timeline.
Who’s in it: Julia Garner, Anthony Boyle, Hudson Williams
What’s the story: Relive the meteoric rise and steep fall of cryptocurrency guru Sam Bankman-Fried (Boyle) and his partner in life and white collar crime Caroline Ellison (Garner).
Behind the buzz: After watching the dramatized exploits of Jeremy Strong’s Mark Zuckerberg and Andrew Garfield’s Sam Altman on the big screen this fall, you’ll be able to come home and stream Netflix’s contribution to the burgeoning subgenre about tech gurus in trouble. Already a Tony nominee and Olivier winner for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Boyle may feel some of that Emmy magic next fall.
Dig (Nov. 23, Peacock)
Who’s in it: Amy Poehler, Geraldine Viswanathan, Hugh Laurie
What’s the story: When a crew of American archeologists in Greece literally stumble upon a centuries-old buried secret, they’ve got to figure out how to also avoid excavating an international incident
Behind the buzz: One decade after releasing Parks and Recreation back into the wild, Poehler and comedy creator extraordinaire Michael Schur reunite for a comedy-laced adventure featuring the actress and podcast host as a cooler, funnier Indiana Jones. Sure she may not have Indy’s whip and fedora, but at least she ain’t afraid of no snakes.
Who’s in it: Michelle Yeoh, Hunter Schafer, Dimitri Abold
What’s the story: Eighty years after Ridley Scott’s original Blade Runner and 50 years after Denis Villeneuve’s sequel, a close-to-death Replicant (Yeoh) partners with a Blade Runner (Schafer) on the run from a dark past.
Behind the buzz: While both previous films experienced mixed results at the box office, Blade Runner remains a seminal sci-fi property that creators keep trying to crack. Maybe Shining Girls showrunner Silka Luisa will be the one to turn it into a streaming phenomenon.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (Dec. 25, HBO Max)
Who’s in it: Dominic McLaughlin, Alastair Stout, Arabella Stanton
What’s the story: Four words: “You’re a wizard, Harry.”
Behind the buzz: Sure, the Harry Potter movies were blockbusters back in their day, but there’s a whole new generation of Wizarding World readers that regard them the same way that Tom Holland’s Spider-Man regards The Empire Strikes Back. Devoting 10 hours of television to re-adapting the first of J.K. Rowling’s giant tomes is a high-risk proposition that could also see HBO reaping the fall’s highest ratings rewards.
Also Premiering
It’s the best of times and worst of times for former Jon Snow, Kit Harington, as he headlines a new adaptation of the Charles Dickens classic A Tale of Two Cities (Sept. 6, MGM+); Dang! (Sept. 8, Netflix) a new adult-oriented animated series starring Stephanie Hsu, Poppy Liu and Andrew Law as grown-up siblings in the big city sounds like fun; a desperate father searches for his missing daughter in the Aussie import Last Seen (Sept. 9, Apple TV); crew up for lots of YA-related rowing drama in Crew Girl (Sept. 10, Netflix); the classic Sega hack-and-slash game Golden Axe (Sept.16, Paramount+) gets an animated series with the voices of Matthew Rhys and Danny Pudi; because even the mighty Jack Reacher needs a break from kicking bad guy butt every now and then, his associate Neagley (Sept. 16, Prime Video) gets her own action-packed adventure series; Gillian Anderson cultivates her Irish accent in an adaptation of the acclaimed novel Trespasses (Sept. 20, PBS); Peter Krause and Hope Davis are part of a law enforcement family in the Peacock network’s new procedural Line of Fire (Sept. 21, NBC); it’s A Different World (Sept. 24, Netflix) then where you come from, but Netflix’s revival of the ‘80s comedy features some familiar faces, including Jasmine Guy and Kadeem Hardison; Shemar Moore suits up and straps up for the spin-off series SWAT: Exiles (Sept. 25, Starz); three aspiring witches master their (witch)craft at Coven Academy (Oct. 2, Disney+); former West Coast-based NCIS agent LL Cool J heads east for NCIS: New York (Oct. 6, CBS); a pair of married vampires learn the hard way that eternal life isn’t all it’s cracked up to be in Eternally Yours (Oct. 8, CBS).
Returning favorites
Glen Powell straps on the nose and the football helmet for another run as Chad Powers (Sept. 2, Hulu); Guy Ritchie dispatches The Gentlemen (Sept. 3, Netflix) for another season of weed-laced criminal hijinks; don’t stop the presses, because The Paper (Sept. 9, Peacock) is back to keep good journalism alive in Toledo, Ohio; Mark Duplass unleashes a third season of The Creep Tapes (Sept. 15, Shudder/AMC+) ahead of Halloween; Gary Oldman and the Slow Horses (Sept. 16, Apple TV) crew are still going strong, albeit slowly, six seasons in; even after 29 seasons, there are still being goings-on in that little mountain town of South Park (Sept. 16, Comedy Central); Tom Hardy, Pierce Brosnan, and Helen Mirren take aim at a second season of MobLand (Sept. 18, Paramount+); the love story of Jamie and Claire Fraser may be over, but the return of Outlander: Blood of My Blood (Sept. 18, Starz) keeps Diana Gabaldon’s romantic fantasy world alive; Josh Charles is still practicing Best Medicine (Sept. 22, Fox) in Season 2 of the medical dramedy; it’s lucky No. 13 for American Horror Story (Sept. 24, FX on Hulu) as cast members and characters from the past 12 seasons reunite in wild ways; Saturday Night Live (Sept. 26, NBC) rings in Season 52 in 30 Rock’s famed Studio 8H, this time with less Chloe Fineman; The Simpsons (Sept. 27, Fox) are rounding Season 38 and heading for Season 40; Zach Braff and Donald Faison are scrubbing in for more fresh Scrubs (Sept. 30, ABC).
Taylor Sheridan’s Marshals (Oct. 4, CBS) are still protecting and serving the Yellowstone universe in Season 2; Carrie Preston’s Elsbeth (Oct. 8, CBS) shows no signs of quitting the crime solving game four seasons in; speaking of crime solvers, Mariska Hargitay’s Olivia Benson celebrates 28 seasons as the head honcho at Law & Order: SVU (Oct. 8, NBC) while Ethan Hawke’s truthstorian continues to hold the Tulsa, Okla. elite to account in Season 2 of The Lowdown (Oct. 14, FX on Hulu); Grey’s Anatomy (Oct. 15, ABC) said goodbye to Kim Raver and Kevin McKidd last season, but rest assured that new doctors will be walking the halls of Seattle Grace Mercy West in Season 23; Chris Pratt has more miscreants in his sights as The Terminal List (Oct. 21, Prime Video).
Catch up with Train Daddy and Opera Mommy as the curtain rises on Season 4 of The Gilded Age (Nov. 1, HBO); Tracy Morgan and Daniel Radcliffe continue to comedically explore life after football in The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins (Nov. 2, NBC) while Owen Wilson and Marc Maron tee up for more golf shenanigans in a second round of Stick (Nov. 4, Apple TV); get your fantasy delivered by Middle-earth monsters The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (Nov. 11, Prime Video) or Grecian gods in Percy Jackson and the Olympians (Nov. 20, Disney+), both of which are heading into Season 3; after four seasons, it’s the end of Yellowjackets (Nov. 20) as we know it and we feel fine; Vince Vaughn japes his way throughanother serving of Bad Monkey (Dec. 2, Apple TV); and after six seasons, those Only Murders in the Building (Dec. 8, Hulu) podcasters finally get to leave their building behind to go on a field trip to London.
