Although the COVID-19 outbreak has postponed production on many anticipated TV series and movies, there are still plenty more that are scheduled to premiere as planned in 2020. Here are some of the best upcoming series of 2020 for you to look forward to.
Star Trek: Lower Decks
The next installment of the long-running Star Trek series is going to be an animated show, the first since Star Trek: The Animated Series in 1973. Like other famous Star Trek series, it takes place on a starship but follows the lives and experiences of crewmen on the lower decks rather than the captain and the bridge crew. It has already been ordered for two seasons, with the first one consisting of ten episodes expected to be released in 2020.
Belgravia
Belgravia is an upcoming show based on a novel written by Julian Fellows, the creator of the mega hit Downton Abbey. It takes place surrounding the ball hosted by the Duchess of Richmond for the Duke of Wellington in June 1815, right before the famous Battle of Waterloo that ended Napoleon’s campaign in Europe. This series will likely have many of the elements fans have come to expect from Fellows: a rich attention to historical detail, a large cast of distinctive characters and a captivating story. It was picked up for six episodes and is due to premiere in the United States in April.
Defending Jacob
Defending Jacob is an upcoming crime drama miniseries based on the novel of the same name by William Landay. It follows the story of assistant district attorney Andy Barber, played by Chris Evans, as he and his family discover their fourteen-year-old son might have committed murder. It also stars Michelle Dockery, Jaeden Martell, Cherry Jones, Pablo Schreiber and J. K. Simmons. It will consist of eight episodes that are scheduled to premiere in April 2020.
Source: IMDBThe Falcon and the Winter Soldier
This anticipated upcoming show will focus on the adventures of Anthony Mackie’s Falcon and Sebastian Stan’s Winter Solider after the events of Avengers: Endgame. It will be part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and is scheduled to make its first six-episode season available in August 2020.
Ratched
Also due out in 2020 is Ratched, a prequel series following the early days of the infamous Nurse Mildred Ratched from One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest. It is set to star Sarah Paulson as Ratched and explore the circumstances and reasons behind Ratched’s transformation into the iconic character. A series order was placed for two seasons consisting of nine episodes each.
The Stand
Given the current pandemic sweeping the world, 2020 seems an apt year for a TV adaptation of Stephen King’s sprawling post-apocalyptic novel. The story was previously adapted into a miniseries in 1994 but this one carries high expectations due to advancements in special effects technology and the reputation of the work as one of King’s best. It follows a large cast of characters in a plague-decimated world as the struggle between good and evil unfolds. It is set to star James Marsden, Amber Heard, Alexander Skarsgård and Whoopi Goldberg.
The Underground Railroad
Based on Colson Whitehead’s acclaimed, bestselling novel, The Underground Railroad does not have an exact release date yet but is believed to be slated to premiere in 2020. Written and directed by Barry Jenkins of Moonlight fame, The Underground Railroad tells the story of a slave named Cora who makes an escape on the Underground Railroad. However, in this story, the Underground Railroad is not a metaphor. It is a literal railroad operated by engineers and conductors in secret tunnels throughout the South and into the North.
Source: ShutterstockBrave New World
Based on Aldous Huxley’s classic dystopian science fiction novel, this upcoming series will star Alden Ehrenreich, Jessica Brown Findlay and Demi Moore. It takes place in a futuristic society where engineered humans are assigned castes, with it all being challenged by a single man. An adaptation of Brave New World has been in production for a long time, so fans have reason to be excited that it is finally set to come to the screen in 2020.
Genius: Aretha
Actress Cynthia Erivo, Oscar-nominated for her role as Harriet Tubman in last year’s Harriet, will play the legendary singer Aretha Franklin. This is the first authorized work about Franklin’s life. It is part of an anthology series and will explore the star’s life, career and legacy. It was originally due to be released in May but has had production postponed due to the COVID-19 outbreak. With any luck it will premiere later this year.
The year 2020 is shaping up to be a good one for television, in spite of production delays and other unforeseen circumstances. If any of these interest you, be sure to check them out when they become available.
