In many ways, 2019 felt like a transitional period for TV. After much build-up, Disney and Apple launched their own much-hyped streaming platforms at the tail end of the year, and they will be joined in 2020 by a variety of other services, including WarnerMedia's HBOMax and Peacock from NBCUniversal. For the first time in years, Netflix's dominance over the streaming market is in question.
But while the future of streaming is uncertain, for now, it's great news for audiences. In order to gain subscribers in this highly competitive market, all the platforms and networks have lined up a seriously impressive slate of shows in 2020. It's a mix of returning series, new adaptations of much-loved novels and comic books, and some intriguing new titles.
This will be the year that the MCU properly makes it to the small screen--Agents of SHIELD doesn't really could-- Disney+ kickstarts its line-up of Marvel shows with The Falcon And The Winter Soldier, while Star Trek fans can celebrate the much anticipated return of the great Jean Luc Picard with CBS All Access's Picard. The popularity of Stephen King adaptations shows no sign of slowing down, with a new version of his classic post-apocalyptic novel The Stand on the way, and there will also be adaptations of cult comic books such as Locke & Key and Y: The Last Man. And of course, there's plenty of series coming back for new seasons, including Doctor Who, The Clone Wars, and Doom Patrol. So with the next 12 months set to deliver a dizzying number of new TV shows, here's our guide to biggest series to watch in 2020...
Doctor Who: Series 12
Release date: January 1
Network: BBC
One of the few series in 2020 we have a specific release date for, Jodie Whittaker returns as the time-traveller The Doctor for the 12th series of the revamp of the long-running science fiction series. The series kicks off on New Year's Day with part one of a two-part story called "Spyfall." Who knows what kind of time-altering antics The Doctor will get up to in the newest episodes?
Star Trek: Picard
Release date: January 23
Network: CBS All Access
Patrick Stewart returns to his most famous role this January on the streaming service CBS All Access. Once again playing Jean Luc Picard, the upcoming series will explore what happened to the former Enterprise captain after he retired. According to some of the trailers we've seen, he makes wine. However, he won't be able to enjoy his retirement entirely because something is about to drag him back into Starfleet. While Season 1 has yet to arrive, the upcoming series is already getting a second season.
Clone Wars Season 7
Release date: February
Network: Disney+
Dave Filoni's Clone Wars series made the Star Wars prequels worthwhile. While the movies pretty much skipped over a massive war between the Galactic Republic and the Separatists, Clone Wars dived right into the thick of it, exploring the Jedi and Clone Troopers on the front line, while expanding stories from the Star War universe that the movies never concluded. It was a big surprise when Season 7 was announced, years after the show originally came to an end. So we'll finally get closure to all our favorite Clone Wars characters that didn't pop up in Rebels.
Locke & Key
Release date: February 7, 2020
Network: Netflix
One of the many comic book adaptations coming out in 2020, Locke & Key is highly-anticipated from comic fans. In early December, we got a release date and poster for the upcoming series. Starring Darby Stanchfield (Scandal), Emilia Jones (Horrible Histories), Connor Jessup (American Crime), Bill Heck (The Ballad of Buster Scruggs), Thomas Mitchell Barnet, and Griffin Gluck (American Vandal), the show follows three siblings who lose their family and move into their ancestral home. However, this house holds secrets and magical keys that give people extraordinary abilities. Locke & Key is an adaptation people have been waiting a long time for, and it's almost here.
Doom Patrol Season 2
Release date: Sometime in 2020
Network: DC Universe and HBO Max
DC Universe's Doom Patrol is the streaming service's best show. It's weird, wild, and completely unpredictable, unlike any other superhero show on television. However, it's also on DC Universe, a very niche service that caters to primarily to comic book readers. However, with Season 2 on the horizon, it was announced that the show would also be coming to the upcoming streaming service HBO Max, so more people will get to see moments like Brendan Fraser playing a robot or people going into a pocket dimension which is contained within a donkey. Doom Patrol is such a unique TV show, and Season 2 will be a must-watch. While there is no release date set yet, there is a chance it could launch with HBO Max in May.
Y
Release date: Sometime in 2020
Network: FX
Y: The Last Man is one of Vertigo's most beloved comic books. The series followed a man (Yorick) and his monkey (Ampersand), who were the last two males on the planet after a disease wiped out everything with a Y chromosome. Getting this comic adapted has been a bumpy ride, though. It was a TV show, then a movie, then a TV show once again. Most recently, Eliza Clark (The Killing) has taken over as showrunner, writer, and executive producer. Comic creators Brian K. Vaughan and Pia Guerra spoke about the show at NYCC 2019 saying this will be the series comic fans deserve. Let's hope FX does this amazing comic justice.
The Stand
Release date: Sometime in 2020
Network: CBS All Access
This upcoming year will be a much better one for CBS All Access, as the service has a few new original programs to check out including another adaptation of Stephen King's epic The Stand. Announced back in January, CBS All Access ordered 10-episodes for the miniseries, which revolves around a planet that was destroyed by a plague, and there's a battle between good and evil survivors.
Twilight Zone
Release date: Sometime in 2020
Network: CBS All Access
The first season of Twilight Zone--hosted by Jordan Peele--was easily the best original series from CBS All Access in 2019. It encapsulated what the original series was all about, while adding a modern twist to it. Back in May, a second season of Twilight Zone was announced. There is still very little known about Season 2, like the release date or who is involved on the show, but it is expected to hit the CBS streaming service in 2020.
The Boys Season 2
Release date: Sometime in 2020
Network: Amazon Prime Video
The first season of this very adult superhero show arrived on Amazon in 2019, and it was a surprise hit. It followed a group of regular people trying to keep corrupt superheroes in their place. Based on an over-the-top comic of the same name, Season 2 is expected to arrive sometime in 2020. The first season was relatively short, but it is a must-watch for anyone who has Amazon Prime.
Lovecraft Country
Release date: Sometime in 2020
Network: HBO
Based on a novel by Matt Ruff, this show follows three people traveling across the country during the Jim Crow-era of America--the 1950s--as one of them searches for his missing father. The three come across a few threats, including racist America and monsters from the writing of HP Lovecraft. The series stars Michael Kenneth Williams, Montrose Freeman, Courtney B. Vance, and Jonathan Majors.
Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous
Release date: Sometime in 2020
Network: Netflix
Building on the world created by numerous big-budget summer blockbusters, Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous is an animated series that follows a group of teens who head to an adventure camp on Isla Nubar. And guess what? The dinosaurs on the island escape! The group has to survive and escape the rampaging dinos.
There isn't a lot known about the show at this time. Scott Kreamer and Lane Lueras will serve as showrunners and executive producers for the join and be joined by executive producers Steven Spielberg, Frank Marshall, and Colin Trevorrow.
The Falcon And The Winter Soldier
Release date: Sometime in 2020
Network: Disney+
Disney+ may not pump out the quantity of original content that Netflix does, but it does have the most-hyped shows and movies, primarily from the worlds of Star Wars and the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In 2020, we'll get our very first MCU show in the upcoming year with The Falcon and The Winter Soldier. Anthony Mackie and Sebastian Stan return to play their respective roles, and they'll be joined by Daniel Brühl reprising his role of Zemo from Captain America: Civil War.
The Haunting Of Bly Manor
Release date: Sometime in 2020
Network: Netflix
2018's The Haunting of Hill House was a smashing-success for Netflix, and GameSpot's #1 TV show for that year. It was one of the scariest TV shows of the year, so it wasn't any surprise when it was announced in February this year that Season 2 is happening. A specific release date hasn't been revealed yet, but it will be arriving in 2020. The new season is based on the 1898 Henry James novella The Turn of The Screw, with showrunner Mike Flannagan will return to direct. Catherine Parker, T'nia Miller (Years and Years, Free Rain), Rahul Kohli (iZombie, Supergirl), and Amelia Eve (Mens Sana, Big Boys Don't Cry) have all been cast. They'll join Victoria Pedretti, Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Henry Thomas, and Kate Seigel, who return to the series in brand-new roles.
Ju-On: The Grudge
Release date: Sometime in 2020
While there is a Grudge reboot movie coming in 2020, there is also a Netflix series arriving next year. Very little is known about the show, but there is an official synopsis for Ju-On on its Netflix landing page: "The J-Horror classic franchise Ju-On was actually based on real events that occurred over four decades--and the truth is even more terrifying." The overall story for the Ju-On series follows a vengeful curse that behaves more like a virus, killing its host and moving on to infect someone else. Shô Miyake is set to direct, and more than likely, Ju-On will arrive on Netflix in late-2020.
I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson (Season 2)
Release date: Sometime in 2020
Tim Robinson's sketch show I Think You Should Leave was bizarre, easily one of the weirdest sketch comedy series in years. Robinson's unique brand of humor is absurdist and pushes the envelope for how far it's willing to go to deliver its comedy. While we don't know a lot about the upcoming season, series co-creator Zach Kanin told Variety that The Lonely Island will be involved.
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