The Most Anticipated New TV Shows Of 2022
Great TV series are a saving grace in a time when COVID-19 pandemic precautions have people tending to stay at home more often. And with the advent of streaming services, there are countless options at our fingertips. 2021 brought us several great new epics, dramas, and binge-able series, including "The Wheel of Time," "Mare of Easttown," and "Invincible." Also, some of the best series, like Netflix's "The Witcher," returned and promise to endure well into the future.
With 2022 upon us, so too comes a new slate of series ripe for the picking. Many have eagerly anticipated the Marvel, DC, and Star Wars offerings heading our way. However, some of the highest-rated blockbuster video games are also being adapted for television alongside a retread of classic tales that have already seen live-action representations, like "The Lord of the Rings." Whether you're a fan of sci-fi, fantasy, sitcoms, action, or adventure narratives, there is something for everyone in 2022. Let's take a look at the most anticipated shows of the new year.
Obi-Wan Kenobi
It's time for the legendary Jedi Knight to receive a bit of the limelight in the age of streaming services. Ever since "Star Wars" fans understood that there was a lengthy gap in Obi-Wan's life missing from the big screen, there were always going to be opportunities to tell more stories featuring Anakin Skywalker's former mentor. With Ewan McGregor back in the role, fans are now primed to see a return of one of the most beloved Jedi warriors in "Star Wars" history. It might be high time that we see just how Obi-Wan kept Luke's identity and presence from the Empire concealed all of those years.
"Obi-Wan Kenobi" will also see another famous "Star Wars" actor reprise a former role. Hayden Christensen will return as Darth Vader. How much of Christensen's face we will actually see is unknown, however. "Obi-Wan Kenobi" is set ten years after the third of the prequel series, "Revenge of the Sith," which portrayed Anakin's transformation into Darth Vader once and for all, so it stands to reason that much of Christensen's performance could be hidden behind his character's iconic helmet. Regardless, "Obi-Wan Kenobi" is sure to please anxious "Star Wars" fans in 2022.
The Lord of the Rings
Fans of J.R.R Tolkien's epic fantasy adventure series and Peter Jackson's subsequent film adaptations are in for a treat. "The Lord of the Rings" is returning to live-action once again — this time as an Amazon Prime seires. However, this isn't a simple recreation of the path that's already been well-tread by Jackson and crew.
While there isn't much detail about the plot at all, as of this writing, we do know from Amazon's release of a series companion map that it is set thousands of years before the events of "The Hobbit" or "The Lord of the Rings," during a time when a shadowy evil was attempting to sow its seeds among the hills of Middle-Earth, much like Sauron's conquest in the popular trilogy.
The show will, of course, present a wholly new cast of characters with an original story that is bound to set itself apart from the films that we all know and love. "The Lord of the Rings" series debuts in September and promises to be one of the most expensive TV series ever made, with a production price tag for the first season alone coming in at $465 million (via The Hollywood Reporter).
She-Hulk
Marvel is plodding along continuing their lucrative vortex that is the MCU that continually sucks the money right out of our wallets. Disney+ is offering a smattering of new Marvel-centric shows in 2022, including "She-Hulk." Tatiana Maslany plays the role of Jennifer Walters, a lawyer for metahumans who ultimately becomes She-Hulk. As part of Phase Four of the MCU, "She-Hulk" Season 1 will come packed with 10 episodes.
"She-Hulk" opts to take a bit of a different tone from the traditional Marvel fair as it will lean heavier into the comedic side of the Marvel world, according to the Marvel director and MCU guru, Kevin Feige (via Discussing Film). "She-Hulk" fans will also see Mark Ruffalo reprise his role as Bruce Banner, as well as Tim Roth returning as the Abomination, per The Hollywood Reporter. For those who remember the earliest "Hulk" film in the MCU that originally starred Edward Norton in the titular role, Roth played Emil Blonsky, who transformed into the sinister Abomination.
As is typical of Marvel productions, there's likely to be many cameos and interactions with other MCU characters throughout the show. The creators behind Marvel productions are always throwing surprises at audiences.
The Last of Us
"The Last of Us" is an ultra-popular PlayStation game developed by Naughty Dog. The game has earned countless awards for not only its game mechanics, but the depth of the writing and the journey behind the game's lead characters. If any video game was made to be adapted into an epic drama, it's "The Last of Us." HBO snapped up the property due to its enduring popularity, and has cast Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey in the lead roles of Joel Miller and Ellie, respectively (via Variety).
The story centers around an apocalyptic Cordyceps fungal infection that slowly deteriorates its host into a ravenous zombie-like monstrosity. Joel is a survivor in the post-apocalyptic landscape who is tasked with delivering Ellie, a young girl, to an underground organization known as the Fireflies. The scope of the game follows the bond that Joel and Ellie develop as well as the revelations that occur along their cross-country adventure. The HBO series is sure to offer up a raw portrayal of the game's themes and overall plot in pristine live-action glory.
Peacemaker
Famed publisher DC Comics is no stranger to television. Countless DC properties have been into small screen serials since the 1940s. Even today, HBO Max is filled to the brim with offerings from CW-based shows to raunchy animated comedies like "Harley Quinn." "Peacemaker," however, marks the first TV series set in the world of the DC Extended Universe (or DCEU), which is the canon of films that began with director Zack Snyder's "Man of Steel."
The character of Peacemaker was already brought into live action with 2021's "The Suicide Squad," helmed by James Gunn of "Guardians of the Galaxy" fame. John Cena portrays the wayward soldier bent on following orders to the letter, regardless of some harrowing moral qualms. And yet, despite Peacemaker's dour career in the art of death-dealing, he's a rather humorous fellow.
Cena has already proven his comedic timing and ability pull off a wildly fun and action-centric series based on the soldier. Gunn also wrote and directed much of the debut series, which starts on January 13, 2022, per IMDb. If you liked what you saw from "The Suicide Squad," "Peacemaker" seems primed to return to that same well.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds
Paramount+ has solidified itself as the "Star Trek" hub, with an ever-expanding catalog that now includes "no less than five 'Trek' series orbiting the ... streaming service," per /Film. 2022 will see the Gene Roddenberry property in yet another serial incarnation that acts as a spin-off of "Star Trek: Discovery" and a prequel to the original series.
"Star Trek: Strange New Worlds" is set nearly a decade before Captain Kirk's time on the USS Enterprise. At the helm for the prequel is Captain Christopher Pike, played by Anson Mount in a reprisal of his "Discovery" role. Similarly, Rebecca Romijn and Ethan Peck return to their roles as Number One and Spock, respectively.
It seems that this Alex Kurtzman-created spin-off was always in the cards as "Discovery" established a look at the USS Enterprise early on. Of course, the series will be exclusive to Paramount+, but that's likely no matter for Trekkies who've already dipped their toes into the Kurtzman expanded "Star Trek" universe, in which the scribe has adapted multiple films and shows, starting with director J.J. Abrams' cinematic reboot in 2009.
Andor
Named after one of the primary protagonists of "Star Wars: Rogue One," "Andor" features Cassian Andor prior to the events of "Rogue One." Diego Luna steps back into the characters shoes at the height of the Galactic Empire in which the rebels must operate in secret in order to not be snuffed out by the despotic machine. "Rogue One" was seen as a success as far as new original "Star Wars" stories under the Disney banner have gone, with both the audience and critical scores both landing in the mid 80% range on Rotten Tomatoes. Therefore, it only seemed fitting to cover more of the ground surrounding the events of that film.
Cassian Andor portrayed the conflict of utilitarianism, finding himself doing dirty deeds in the name of freedom for all in the galaxy. While plot details about "Andor" are characteristically sparse, we're guessing this sort of conflict will certainly be more ever-present during Andor's formative years with the Rebellion.
Others in the cast include Stellan Skarsgård, Aria Arjona, Fiona Shaw, Denise Gough, Kyle Soller, and Genevieve O'Reilly as the iconic Rebel leader, Mon Mothma. Forest Whitaker will also return in some fashion as the prominent insurgent from "Rogue One," Saw Gerrera. There are plenty of reasons to look forward to "Andor" when it hits the Disney streaming service in 2022.
How I Met Your Father
With a Metacritic user score of 8.7 out of a possible 10, "How I Met Your Mother" is one of the most popular modern sitcoms of all time (for comparison, "Friends" has a score of 8.5 on the same site). Audiences apparently couldn't get enough of Ted Mosby (Josh Radnor) telling his children the story of — you guessed it — how he met their mother. Quite possibly one of the longest stories a father ever told his children about anything, "How I Met Your Mother" went on to inspire memes, parodies, and pop culture at large.
In 2022, "HIMYM" receives a spiritual successor in the form of "How I Met Your Father." Hilary Duff stars as a young Sophie while Kim Cattrall appears as her grown-up counterpart, once again telling the fabled story of how she met their father to her children.
Like "How I Met Your Mother," the new series follows a group of close friends as they come into their own as young adults and figure out what they want most out of life. If the show is anything like its predecessor, there'll be plenty of hijinks, hilarity, and quotable lines along the way. In the immortal words of Barney Stinson (Neil Patrick Harris), when the show hits Hulu on January 18, "It's going to be legen – wait for it – dary!"
House of the Dragon
The ending of "Game of Thrones" rang in the weeping and wailing of fans everywhere. The show's sharpest critics (via Rotten Tomatoes) cited a distinct lack of character development and an apparent rush in narrative structure just to abruptly arrive at show's ham-fisted final curtain call. Some fans, however, wished it would simply have continued far beyond the eighth season. Whatever side of the fence you sit on, perhaps, you're willing to give the brand another shot? The series undeniably captivated the globe and became one of the most watched high-fantasy epics in television history. Now HBO hopes those viewers are ready to return for the prequel series "House of the Dragon."
The 2022 series is specifically based on George R. R. Martin's novel "Fire & Blood," which details the history of Westeros two centuries before the events of "Game of Thrones." House Targaryen is central to the plot as the series covers their downfall as one of the royal families in Westeros. The cast is entirely new, though some of the characters may have been referenced during the "Game of Thrones" narrative from a historical standpoint. Ultimately, the family known for its ties and interactions with dragons is certain to entertain in a wildly dramatic and bloody fashion as fans have come to expect.
Moon Knight
Oscar Isaac makes his grand entrance into the Marvel Cinematic Universe with the debut of the hero Moon Knight in his own 2022 Disney+ series. Once again, Marvel is plunging deep into its pantheon of characters that might be lesser known to the general populace. Marc Spector is the identity behind the hero who suffers from dissociative identity disorder. As a former marine and CIA operative, he is well versed in the art of combat and strategy. But the comic book realization of the character often depicts him attempting to embrace the moral high ground.
DC and Marvel have finally begun breaking ground in the realm of live action diversity. Depicting a hero with a mental illness is another drop in the bucket engaging audiences who can relate with the struggle. The driving force behind his superhero identity is the Egyptian moon god Khonshu. But ultimately, the character's abilities are all grounded in his life experiences as a combatant in armed conflict. The show is sure to offer a fresh take on the superhero genre with DID being a focal point, and the series promises a lot of action just by the very nature of the character.
Halo
Perhaps one of the biggest video gaming franchises of all time, "Halo" is set to make its live action debut on the Paramount+ streaming service in 2022. Fans will be able to sit back and watch a cinematic retelling of the conflict between humankind and the alien collective known as the Covenant. Pablo Schreiber ("The Wire") will portray the man behind the iconic armor, Master Chief Petty Officer John-117. The Spartan super soldier leads the charge against the alien threat and will likely be a driving force in the coming live-action series.
Ardent "Halo" connoisseurs will likely take note that the voice behind Cortana in the game series, Jen Taylor, is reprising her role for the show, according to IGN. Live-action video game adaptations have often proved to be critical failures or, at the least, divisive. Only time will tell whether "Halo" proves to be as impactful as its own source material.
Vikings: Valhalla
History's semi-historical account of the Viking invasion of England under Ragnar Lothbrok is now receiving a successor with Netflix's "Vikings: Valhalla." The new series will indeed act as a sequel of sorts but with an entirely different cast of characters. The show will take place nearly a whole century following the events of "Vikings." The most prominent historical Norsemen to be featured will be Leif Erikson (Sam Corlett), Freydís Eiríksdóttir (Frida Gustavsson), and King Canute "the Great" (Bradley Freegard) among many others.
The timeline will focus on the end of the Viking Age as England begins to make a successful stand against the Norse invaders. The original "Vikings" series was highly regarded and lasted six seasons. "Vikings" creator Michael Hirst takes somewhat a step back to serve as executive producer of new series, with "Die Hard" scribe Jeb Stuart taking the reins as creator and showrunner on "Vikings: Valhalla," per Variety. Still, the sequel is sure to be a keeper for fans of the original. Season 1, Episode 1 airs February 25, 2022.
The Witcher: Blood Origin
Hot off the heels of "The Witcher" Season 2, Netflix plans to satiate fans' desire for more rather quickly compared to the lengthy two-year gap between Season 1 and 2. This time, however, audiences will be transported over a thousand years into the past with "The Witcher: Blood Origin." With Geralt's adventures now a distant dream of an exciting future, "Blood Origin" will portray the first Witcher ever created. And, after a healthy discussion over the Conjunction of the Spheres in "The Witcher" Season 2, "Blood Origins" will go even further, providing a visual history surrounding that topic.
In fact, speaking with EW, "Blood Origins" showrunner Lauren Hissrich said that the prequel with flip the script on the perception that "humans brought civilization to the elves," and that the events of the six-part series will shape some of the major arcs for characters in Season 3 of "The Witcher."
The first teaser for "Blood Origin" debuted during the credits of the "The Witcher" Season 2 finale, and it let audiences know that the setting and action they've come to love remains intact for the prequel. The miniseries is set to release on the streaming service in 2022.
Secret Invasion
With a steady stream of new Marvel properties hitting Disney's streaming service in 2022, it's about high time that Samuel L. Jackson's Nick Fury made a return to the spotlight. In "Secret Invasion," Nick Fury will return alongside Ben Mendelsohn's Talos and Cobie Smulders' Maria Hill. The last time we had seen Nick Fury, he was working with the Skrulls off-world. Talos had shapeshifted and played the role of the former S.H.I.E.L.D. director to aid Peter Parker in his fight against Mysterio in "Spider-man: Far From Home."
While the Skrulls are seemingly allies in the MCU, the comic book storyline by the same name depicts the shapeshifting aliens capturing and replacing many superheroes on Earth, hence the title "Secret Invasion." Throughout the series, it comes as a shock and surprise finding out which characters are not truly themselves. The six-part series is sure to garner a lot of interest once it hits Disney's streaming service in 2022.
The Sandman
Netflix has no shortage of comic book properties at its disposal. Now, the streaming giant is adapting Neil Gaiman's popular DC Comics published series "The Sandman." The show is developed by Allan Heinberg, with David S. Goyer is attached as an executive producer. The series follows the comics in portraying the story of Morpheus aka Dream — the titular hero who is among the most powerful beings in existence and is the embodiment of dreams and fantasy realities.
Tom Sturridge ("Sweetbitter") portrays Dream alongside Gwendoline Christie ("Game of Thrones"), who takes on the role of Lucifer. Speaking Collider, Gaiman promised diehard fans of the comics that they will "love" this adaptation. Beyond that, he even spelled out exactly what fans can expect from Season 1. "The first season is going to be 'Preludes and Nocturnes' and 'The Doll's House," he told the outlet, adding, "So it's 10 episodes, which will contain 16 of the comics. But there will be surprises on the way."