Top 10 Shows You Didn't Know Are Being Made
With so many fantastic shows being released, it can be hard to keep track of what’s still to come. Welcome to WatchMojo and today we’re counting down our picks for the Top 10 Shows You Didn’t Know Were In Development.
For this list, we’re looking at the most exciting upcoming shows currently being worked on, regardless of how far along in development they are.
#10: “Monsters”
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Released in 2010, Gareth Edwards’ directorial debut “Monsters” was a monster movie with a difference. Shot on a shoestring budget, it told the tale of two Americans trapped in Mexico, as they crossed an alien-infected zone to reach the US border. Its political subtext and Lovecraftian creature design elevated it above standard alien invasion fare, although its follow-up, “Monsters: Dark Continent” missed the mark with both critics and audiences. Fortunately, the franchise still has legs. In January 2018, it was announced that Vertigo Films was developing “Monsters” as a series for UK broadcaster Channel 4. Details are sparse, but Gunpowder’s Ronan Bennett will serve as showrunner, with Daniel Fajemisin-Duncan and Marlon Smith on writing duties.
#9: “The Wheel of Time”
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Robert Jordan’s epic fantasy series (completed by Brandon Sanderson) consists of 14 core books and one prequel, meaning that there’s no shortage of material! Amazon and Sony are co-producing, with “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” writer Rafe Judkins acting as showrunner. The series follows a group of youths from the same village on an epic journey, with one among them fated to both break and save the world. The cast has already been brought together, with relative newcomer Josha Stradowski as the primary protagonist, and “Gone Girl’s” Rosamund Pike as Moraine, a member of a powerful female organization of magic-users. The story sounds familiar, but the politics, set pieces, and massive character roster rival even “The Lord of the Rings”.
#8: “The Chronicles of Narnia”
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Disney and Walden Media never did get to finish adapting C.S. Lewis’s beloved book series on the big screen. Luckily, Netflix acquired the rights in October 2018 for film and TV adaptations. The fantasy saga is centered around a group of siblings who discover an alternate world filled with wondrous magic, dangerous creatures, and a kingdom under threat. While there’s no casting news yet, Netflix has begun assembling an impressive creative team. Matthew Aldrich, co-writer of 2017’s “Coco”, will oversee the development of the franchise. Since he’s already successfully pulled off another story about a child entering an enchanting and dangerous world, here’s hoping he can do the same here.
#7: “The Lord of the Rings”
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If you’re one of the many fans who felt disappointed by “The Hobbit” trilogy, we wouldn’t blame you for not paying attention to this one. But there are actually several reasons to get excited. For one, it will take place during the Second Age before Sauron was defeated by the alliance of elves and men. For another, the creatives attached have pretty impressive track records. “Game of Thrones” writer and producer Bryan Cogman will consult while “A Monster Calls” director J. A. Bayona will helm the first two episodes. John D. Payne and Patrick McKay will serve as showrunners.
#6: “Animaniacs”
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The television landscape is being inundated with revivals these days, and while we can’t say that all of them are well-conceived, we’re definitely excited for “Animaniacs.” This self-aware series walked the fine line of what you could and couldn’t show in children’s television; and it’s that humor that has made the multi-Emmy award winner a classic. The revival is expected to hit Hulu in 2020, and they’ve already ordered two full seasons. Warner Bros. Television and Amblin Entertainment are returning as production companies, with Steven Spielberg back again as executive producer. The insane antics of Yakko, Wakko, and Dot in the modern age? Yes, please.
#5: “The Dark Tower”
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To call 2017’s “The Dark Tower” a misfire is to put it kindly. But Stephen King’s dark fantasy series is much better suited for TV anyway. And Amazon has already made the smart decision to make their series a reboot. The books focus on grizzled gunslinger Roland Deschain as he attempts to reach the titular tower, the center of the multiverse, before it falls to the evil Man in Black. The series will focus on Roland’s origins, shown in the fourth book “Wizard and Glass”. I Sam Strike of “Nightflyers” and Jasper Pääkkönen of “Vikings” are attached as Roland and the Man in Black respectively. “The Walking Dead” executive producer Glen Mazzara will act as showrunner. Here’s hoping Amazon has better luck than Sony!
#4: “Locke & Key”
With the likes of “The Umbrella Academy” and Mark Millar’s “Millarverse,” Netflix is quickly distinguishing itself as a must-have subscription for comic book fans. Based on the IDW comic of the same name, “Locke & Key” has had a troubled development period stretching back to 2010. The comics follow three siblings who return home after their father’s murder, where they discover magical keys that give them special abilities. Unfortunately, there’s a demon who wants the keys too. After a failed pilot for Fox, the series was re-adapted for Hulu, who passed, allowing Netflix to pick up and rework the series. Finally, this property is poised to receive the small screen treatment it deserves.
#3: “M.O.D.O.K.”
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To be fair, there are several animated Marvel productions in development at Hulu, including “Howard the Duck,” but none of them are quite as strange as “M.O.D.O.K.” This classic Marvel villain, whose name stands for Mechanized Organism Designed Only for Killing, has a design that probably wouldn’t translate to live-action. Once a technician for Hydra’s scientific research team, he was experimented on until he gained psionic abilities, supreme intelligence, and a gigantic head. This also made him mad as a hatter. “American Dad!” producer Jordan Blum will co-executive produce with comedian Patton Oswalt, who is also attached to voice the egomaniac.
#2: “Avatar: The Last Airbender”
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After the 2010 live-action film… those who know about this series are understandably nervous. However, Netflix seems to be playing it smarter than Paramount did. This live-action adaptation will be a series, so they won’t be cramming a season’s worth of story into two hours. They also have the original show’s creators, Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, serving as showrunners. “Avatar” takes place in a land divided between four kingdoms in which some citizens, known as benders, can manipulate one of the four elements. The Avatar, who’s reborn to bring peace and balance, can use all four. The creators are wisely taking their time here as there have been few updates since being announced in September 2018.
Before we get to our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions:
“St. Elmo’s Fire”
“The Kingkiller Chronicle”
“Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur”
“Cursed”
#1: “The Sandman”
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Neil Gaiman adaptations are all the rage these days. So it was only a matter of time before one of his most beloved pieces of work was made into a TV show. Fans of “American Gods” and “Good Omens” will be delighted to discover yet another intriguing world filled with enigmatic characters and rich history. The story follows Morpheus, the titular Sandman, as he tries to put his realm of dreams back together after a 75-year-long imprisonment on Earth. Gaiman himself will co-executive produce alongside “Dark Knight” trilogy writer David S. Goyer. He’ll also co-write the first episode with “Wonder Woman” scribe Allan Heinberg, who serves as showrunner. Consider our hopes very high.
