Top 10 Anticipated TV Shows of 2024
Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re looking at the shows we’re looking forward to the most in 2024. We’re including new shows and returning ones, but we’re leaving off animated programs like “X-Men ‘97.” Which show has you the most excited for 2024? Let us know in the comments!
#10: “House of the Dragon” - Season 2
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“The Game of Thrones” finale made fans rage quit, but this prequel series pulled audiences back into Westeros. “House of the Dragon” engrossed us with all of the hallmarks we associated with its predecessor: epic battles, Shakespearean drama, and central characters who are hard to pin down. What separates this show from “Game of Thrones” is that we know it’s not going to end well for House Targaryen. As such, it’s less about who takes the Iron Throne and more about who comes out of this with the most body parts intact. With the Dance of the Dragons underway, George R. R. Martin promises an “emotional” and “gut-wrenching” second season. We expect nothing less, but that still doesn’t prepare us for what’s coming.
#9: “The Sympathizer”
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What’s the only thing more exciting than a new HBO miniseries? One that was co-produced by A24! “The Sympathizer” is based on a Pulitzer Prize-winning novel about a North Vietnamese captain who infiltrates the South Vietnamese military. While seeking refuge in the U.S., the Captain finds himself torn as the Vietnam War winds down. The series is being developed by Park Chan-wook, who directed “Oldboy,” and Don McKellar, who brought us the Y2K black comedy “Last Night.” The cast offers a mix of fresh faces like Hoa Xuande as the Captain, as well as household names like Sandra Oh and Robert Downey Jr., the latter of whom adopts multiple roles. It might be about picking sides, but we expect “The Sympathizer” to unite critics.
#8: “The Acolyte”
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It happened a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. “The Acolyte” takes place an especially long time ago, set nearly a century before the Skywalker Saga. Since joining the Disney family, “Star Wars” stories have been primarily restricted to post-“Revenge of the Sith” and post-“Return of the Jedi.” “The Acolyte” dives into the High Republic Era, centering on a former Padawan who finds herself wrapped up in a mystery with ties to the dark side. The crime drama approach feels well-tailored for the “Star Wars” mythos, and showrunner Leslye Headland of “Russian Doll” is sure to leave a distinct stamp. For those who think recent “Star Wars” shows have been delivering more of the same, “The Acolyte” promises uncharted territory.
#7: “Mr. & Mrs. Smith”
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The year was 2005. Brangelina was the celebrity couple with “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” making a killing at the box office. Meanwhile, Donald Glover had a few bit roles on “Late Night with Conan O’Brien” while Maya Erskine won an Emerging Young Artist Award from the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts. Needless to say, Glover and Erskine have come a long way since then. The “Community” and “PEN15” stars are taking on the roles of John and Jane Smith, respectively, in this modern adaptation of the spy comedy. Glover is also co-developing the series with Francesca Sloane, having previously worked together on “Atlanta.” They aren’t the only “Atlanta” alumni with Hiro Murai directing two episodes and Stephen Glover among the executive producers.
#6: “The Regime”
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HBO has another Emmy contender for Outstanding Limited Series with “The Regime,” which assembles a stacked cast including Kate Winslet, Andrea Riseborough, and Hugh Grant. Winslet plays the chancellor of a made-up European government that crumbles over a year. The series is the brainchild of Will Tracy, who scribed multiple “Succession” episodes and co-wrote “The Menu.” So, expect the dialogue to have plenty of bite. We can also count on director Stephen Frears of “The Queen” to bring an elegant eye to this satire. Although “The Regime” revolves around a fictional country, it has the potential to reflect real-world politics, which have rarely been on shakier ground. With 2024 poised to be another politically-charged year, “The Regime” is bound to be a zeitgeist show.
#5: “The Boys” - Season 4
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Speaking of politics, Season 3 of “The Boys” ended with Homelander showing his true colors to the world, but his supporters don’t seem to mind. If anything, they adore him even more. We wonder if that’s supposed to reflect anything that might be a big deal in 2024…? In any case, we’re just excited that the boys are back in town after a two-year hiatus! Don’t get us wrong, “Gen V” more than held us over, but we’ve been eager to catch up with Butcher, Hughie, Annie, and the rest. Season 4 will also bring some new players into the mix, including Jeffrey Dean Morgan. Because if there’s one thing that “The Boys” has been missing up until this point, it’s a comedian.
#4: “Fallout”
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Has Hollywood finally figured out how to adapt video games into TV shows? “The Last of Us” bodes well, but “Fallout” will be another crucial test. Based on Bethesda’s hit post-apocalyptic game series, “Fallout” unleashes a mushroom cloud of talent. It’s being developed by Lisa Joy and Jonathan Nolan, who previously brought us “Westworld.” The showrunners are Graham Wagner, who has written for comedies like “Portlandia,” and Geneva Robertson-Dworet, who co-wrote the 2018 adaptation of “Tomb Raider.” Ella Purnell takes center stage as a Vault Dweller while Walton Goggins is sure to have a ball playing a gunslinging Ghoul. With the franchise’s signature grim humor on display, “Fallout” should be full of references for long-time fans while bringing in a new audience as well.
#3: “The Penguin”
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Despite not having the most screen time in “The Batman,” Colin Farrell managed to steal every scene he was in as the Penguin. For those who felt the film could’ve used a little more Oswald Cobblepot, this Max series has you covered. Farrell is again unrecognizable as the Gotham gangster in a story that’ll explore his rise to prominence. “The Batman” ended with much of Gotham underwater. Taking place a week later, this eight-episode limited series pits Penguin against Sofia Falcone, played by Cristin Milioti. Out for blood following the death of her father, Sofia challenges Penguin in a war that will determine the next kingpin of Gotham’s criminal underworld. Whether or not Batman appears, this show is all about letting Penguin spread his wings.
#2: “Avatar: The Last Airbender”
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Netflix is hit and miss when it comes to their live-action adaptations of animated classics. “Cowboy Bebop” was so bad that it didn’t even get a second season, but “One Piece” was a pleasant surprise. Here’s hoping that “Avatar: The Last Airbender” continues this trend. Although creators Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko were initially set to return as showrunners, they exited over creative differences. While that might be a red flag, we’d be lying if we said that the trailer didn’t get us pumped with its colorful visuals, promising casting choices, and rousing music. Whether or not this reimagining can capture the brilliance of the animated series, we can take solace in one thing: it’s gotta be better than the M. Night Shyamalan movie.
Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
“Masters of the Air”
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“The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live”
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“Echo”
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“Cobra Kai” - Season 6
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“Agatha: Darkhold Diaries”
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#1: “3 Body Problem”
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Since we commenced this list with “House of the Dragon,” it seems only appropriate that we end with the new show from David Benioff and D. B. Weiss. Say what you will about where D&D took “Game of Thrones,” but we believe they can find redemption through this adaptation of Liu Cixin’s best-selling novel. With Alexander Woo of “True Blood” serving as a co-showrunner, “3 Body Problem” revolves around an astrophysicist’s actions in the 1960s that go on to shape the future of humanity. With an aesthetic that blends elements of fantasy, sci-fi, and ancient history, this series looks utterly unique, but it’s the themes beneath that surface that have us hooked. It has the potential to be indistinguishable from anything we’ve seen before.
