Television devoted to science fiction has had a tremendous year. From January’s The Last of Us to What If…? Even though certain programs were postponed because of strikes in Hollywood that improved the business, there has been no shortage of entertainment for fans of genres on cable and streaming services in the last days of the year with Season 2.
Even though those strikes will probably continue to affect us far after 2024, there are still a ton of thrilling science fiction, fantasy, and horror films this year to look forward to. Television by its very nature means that additional series will probably be added to the calendar in the future, but for now, here’s what’s scheduled for 2024 that you should be thrilled about, from high-profile adaptations to franchise experiments and everything in between.
ECHO MARVEL
Date of Release: January 10, 2024, via Hulu and Disney+
Marvel has a great start to 2024. Echo, a spin-off of Hawkeye, tracks Deaf heroine Maya Lopez as she goes back to her Choctaw village to exact revenge on the evil Kingpin. Notably, Echo is the first MCU program to air under the “Marvel Spotlight” banner, which is applied to several projects that highlight lesser-known characters. It will be a compelling watch because it is the first MCU program to receive a TV-MA rating. Since all five episodes are dropping simultaneously, you may want to set aside a few hours to watch them all at once.
Related: 7 Fantastic Upcoming Korean Dramas Series to Watch in January 2024
REAL INDIVIDUAL: NIGHT COUNTRY
HBO premieres on January 14, 2024.
After an almost flawless first season, True Detective has been hit or miss; nevertheless, with an Alaskan mystery and a staring role for Jodie Foster, Night Country promises to return the HBO series to its original essence. This may be more supernatural than just a true(ish) crime, as the season’s trailer suggests that the odd spiral from Season 1 is returning. Perhaps this is the year that everything falls back into place in Night Country.
MR. AND MRS. SMITH
PRIME VIDEO Available on Prime Video on February 2, 2024
Based on the same-titled 2005 film, this spy comedy stars Donald Glover and Maya Erskine. The narrative tracks two assassins as they manage their marriages and espionage endeavors. Think of it like The Americans with more humor and less wigs. With a supporting cast that includes Michaela Coel, Parker Posey, and Sarah Paulson, this series is sure to become a big name in Prime Video’s growing genre library.
AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER
Netflix will release Avatar: The Last Airbender on February 22, 2024.
It has taken a very long time. Following a turbulent development process, Nickelodeon’s smash-hit fantasy cartoon series is now being turned into a TV series that seems far more promising than M. Night Shyamalan’s dreadful 2010 film. It appears as though Avatar will live up to the high expectations of its supporters, as demonstrated by the success of Percy Jackson and the Olympians, which showed that a streaming series could overlook the shortcomings of a mediocre 2010 film.
Related: New Movies Coming Out in February 2024
3 BODY PROBLEM
3 BODY PROBLEM will be available on Netflix on March 21, 2024.
The creators of Game of Thrones, David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, may have botched the show’s conclusion, which could or could not be the reason their Star Wars trilogy was quietly shelved, but they hope to make amends with an ambitious new science fiction series. 3 Body Problem, which is based on critically acclaimed novels, centers on a Chinese astronomer who, in the 1960s, makes a decision that has far-reaching effects on both time and space. This makes the program a perfect fit for Netflix’s time-bending history, which also includes shows like Dark, 1899, and Bodies.
FALLOUT
Released on Prime Video on April 12, 2024.
The creators of Westworld, Lisa Joy, and Jonathan Nolan, are aiming to do the same with video gaming institution Fallout, following The Last of Us, which showed that video games might make for a fantastic prestige TV series. Fallout, which is set in a nuclear wasteland and depicts a whole new adventure in this well-known post-apocalyptic world, is the ideal option for an open-world game where experiences differ. It doesn’t adapt any particular game from the series.
THE BOYS SEASON 4
Released on Prime Video on April 12, 2024.
The Boys has grown into a successful series in and of itself, giving rise to a college-focused offshoot and an animated anthology (with more to come). However, the action returns to the original series in 2024, showcasing the fallout from Homelander’s downfall as well as the national rift arising from the increasingly divisive Supes debate. Oh, and just for kicks, there’s now a Supe-murdering contagion involved.
Summary
Television science fiction in 2024 promises a diverse lineup, including Marvel’s “Echo” on Hulu/Disney+, HBO’s “True Detective: Night Country,” Prime Video’s “Mr. and Mrs. Smith” with Donald Glover, Netflix’s “Avatar: The Last Airbender,” “3 Body Problem” by Game of Thrones creators on Netflix, and Prime Video’s “Fallout” by Westworld’s Lisa Joy and Jonathan Nolan. “The Boys” Season 4 on Prime Video continues the series, exploring the fallout from Homelander’s downfall and a Supe-murdering contagion. The article highlights release dates and key details for each show.