The 20 Most Anticipated TV Shows of 2017
By Ben Travers, Hanh Nguyen and Liz Shannon Miller
James Franco and Zoe Kazan in HBO 'Deuce'
The Young Pope
Network: HBO
Release Date: January 15
Talent: Paolo Sorrentino (director), Jude Law, Diane Keaton, James Cromwell, Toni Bertorelli, Cecile de France
Dude, if ever there was a time when we’d accept the idea of a straight-shooting, chain-smoking, Pope of the people, this is it. This is the era of Brexit, Trump, and reality-show villains joining the White House, after all. We can’t wait to see Law play the bad-boy Bishop of Rome who will upset all of our ideas of that stuffy institution, give Diane Keaton’s nun some grief, and alternately thrill and scandalize Catholics. The Oscar-winning Sorrentino has made some fun choices as far as how he’s shot Law, giving his pimpin’ pontiff a soaring quality with strategically placed torso shots, so this will be a visual treat as well.
Legion
Network: FX
Release Date: February 8, 2017
Talent: Noah Hawley (creator), Dan Stevens, Rachel Keller, Jean Smart, Aubrey Plaza, Katie Aselton, Jemaine Clement
FX and Marvel let the genius behind “Fargo” take on the X-Men universe. This may be one of the best things to happen in 2017, period. The series stars the always charming Dan Stevens in a slightly more disheveled capacity than usual as a young man whose unique powers might be mutant, but might also be madness. The trailers alone have promised something visually dazzling and mind-bending, and Hawley’s eclectic cast includes “Fargo” Year 2 breakout Keller, “Parks and Recreation” favorite Plaza, and “Flight of the Conchords” legend Jermaine Clement. We’re not totally sure what kind of ride Hawley’s going to take us on, but we are on board.
Big Little Lies
Network: HBO
Release Date: February 19
Talent: Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, Shailene Woodley, Adam Scott, Alexander Skarsgard, Laura Dern, Jean-Marc Vallee (director)
Based on the book by Liane Moriarty, this dramatic limited series examines a group of wealthy East coast parents who get involved in a local murder. Shailene Woodley is arguably the lead in this ensemble project, playing a newcomer to the coastal town whose son gets in a spot of trouble on his first day of school. Regardless, Woodley’s single mother befriends the married moms, including Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman, all before the most heinous act goes down. Who’s to blame (and who the victim is) remain a mystery for the audience to solve, all while enjoying Adam Scott, Alexander Skarsgard, Laura Dern, and the direction — in all eight episodes — of “Wild” and “Dallas Buyers Club” helmer Jean-Marc Vallee.
American Gods
Network: Starz
Release Date: April 2017
Talent: Ian McShane, Gillian Anderson, Pablo Schreiber, Chlorid Leachman, Peter Stormare, Orlando Jones, Kristin Chenoweth, Corbin Bernden, Crispin Glover, Jonathan Tucker, Dane Cook, Bryan Fuller (EP), Neil Gaiman (EP)
No matter what, adapting Neil Gaiman’s novel of the same name was bound to be an ambitious and unenviable undertaking. The concept of thoughtform creating the reality of gods merely because people believe in them is central to the premise of how Odin, slumming it as a guy named Mr. Wednesday, is trying to gather the old gods together. As the people’s belief in these gods has waned, they’ve now created new gods — Media, Technology, etc. We will follow Bryan Fuller anywhere, even if most of his shows break our hearts with their short runs, for his strength of creative vision and full embrace of dark humor. Mythology with a fatalistic, American twist? Thank the gods.
The Handmaid's Tale
Network: Hulu
Release Date: April 26
Talent: Elisabeth Moss, Samira Wiley, Joseph Fiennes, Max Minghella, Ann Dowd, creator Bruce Miller
Margaret Atwood’s novel about a dystopian future in the military dictatorship of Gilead, in what was the former United States of America, is even more pertinent now that the national conversation about women’s health appears to be reverting back to a more patriarchal view. Casting Moss as the protagonist Offred, a Handmaid who is tasked with having sex with her Commander to hopefully bear him a child in an era of rampant infertility, is the first brilliant move the series has made. Moss is one of the most compelling and nuanced actresses on TV today, and will give Offred that magnetism we need in such an alien, yet eerily familiar world.
Star Trek: Discovery
Network: CBS All Access
Release Date: May 2017
Talent: Sonequa Martin-Green, Doug Jones, Anthony Rapp, Michelle Yeoh, EPs Bryan Fuller, Heather Kadin, Rod Roddenberry
It’s been too long since the last “Star Trek” TV series, and even longer if you prefer to forget “Star Trek: Enterprise” like we do. Despite the departure of Bryan Fuller as showrunner (he’s focusing his energies on “American Gods” instead), we still have faith this will be a new series representing the best intentions of our time: all-inclusive, badass, futuristic and appropriately nerdy, and delving into canon. The casting is already making us happy with its gender and multicultural equality, and the big-screen reboots have teased a taste for this world again. Engage!
Twin Peaks
Network: Showtime
Release Date: TBA 2017
Talent: David Lynch (EP and director), Mark Frost (EP), Kyle MacLachlan, Madchen Amick, David Duchovny, Sherilyn Fenn, Miguel Ferrer, Ray Wise, Russ Tamblyn, Alicia Witt and a slew of new cast members
We have been teased with promises of “Damn good coffee,” for three years now, so we are more than ready to return to the small town with crazy, murderous secrets lurking beneath its too-perfect surface. In the era of TV revivals, this followed such an iconic and unique series that we wonder at what the appetite will be. Other than many returning familiar faces (alas, not the Log Lady), we have no freakin’ idea of what to expect… except for something appropriately Lynchian. Bring it.
Alias Grace
Network: Netflix
Release Date: TBA 2017
Talent: Mary Harron (director), Sarah Polley (writer), Anna Paquin, Sarah Gadon, Edward Holcroft, Zachary Levi, Kerr Logan, Michael Therriault
One of two Margaret Atwood adaptations we’re looking forward to this year, this Canadian co-production returns the director of “American Psycho” to murder — specifically, a historical drama about two real-life murders in 1843 Canada. As it’s an Atwood story, there’s a lot more to it, especially when it comes to the relationships between men and woman — something Polley, who’s turned out to be an impressive writer, should be able to mine.
Barry
Network: HBO
Release Date: TBA 2017
Talent: Bill Hader (star, director, EP), Henry Winkler, Stephen Root, Sarah Goldberg, Alec Berg (writer, EP)
No, this isn’t the Barack Obama film that hit Netflix in December. “Barry” is an HBO comedy created by, starring, and directed by former “SNL” star Bill Hader. In the half-hour series, Hader plays an ex-Marine who operates as a for-hire hitman in the Midwest. Depressed with his simple life, Barry heads out west on a job and finds an exciting new area of interest in the L.A. theatre scene. “Barry” was the first new show ordered to series by HBO Programming President Casey Bloys (after he took over for long-time head, Michael Lombardo), which shows a good degree of confidence in a creator who’s certainly earned it with his recent work.
Dear White People
Network: Netflix
Release Date: TBA 2017
Talent: Justin Simien (creator), Brandon P. Bell, Logan Browning, Antoinette Robertson, DeRon Horton, John Patrick Amedori, Ashley Blaine Featherson, Nia Long
The 2014 film written and directed by Justin Simien is an IndieWire favorite going way back (it won our first-ever Project of the Year award) and we couldn’t be happier to see him get the opportunity to expand his original story to 10, 30-minute episodes. And there’s clearly plenty of both comedy and drama to mine in the story of race relations on a modern-day college campus, with at least one returning cast member (Brandon P. Bell, reprising the role of Troy) to keep the connection going. Directors lined up for this season include “Moonlight’s” Barry Jenkins, by the way, which means “Dear White People” could be premiering with a hint of Oscar gold.
The Defenders
Network: Netflix
Release Date: TBA 2017
Talent: Charlie Cox, Krysten Ritter, Mike Colter, Finn Jones, Rosario Dawson, Sigourney Weaver, Elden Henson, Carrie-Anne Moss, Scott Glenn; EPs S.J. Clarkson, Cindy Holland, Drew Goddard (EP)
Daredevil. Jessica Jones. Luke Cage. Iron Fist. Yeah, New York won’t know what hit it. Yes, “Iron Fist” will premiere before “The Defenders,” but really, this is the culmination of all the Marvel Netflix series so far, and having our favorite characters finally fight side-by-side (and no doubt bicker with each other) promises to be entertaining as hell. We’re also intrigued by Sigourney Weaver’s casting as someone who is “very smart” and “very in charge.” Perhaps villainy is in her future?
The Deuce
Network: HBO
Release Date: TBA 2017
Talent: James Franco, Maggie Gyllenhaal, David Simon (creator), Michelle MacLaren (pilot director)
“Vinyl” this is not. Yes, “The Deuce” is a period drama set in New York promising loads of drugs, sex, and ‘70s spirit. But dating back to “Homicide: Life on the Streets,” every David Simon project has been an event worth marking on the calendar. From “The Wire” to “Generation Kill,” “Treme” to “Show Me a Hero,” TV fans have yet to experience a project from the prolific scribe unworthy of the investment required. “The Deuce,” set in the ‘70s and tracking the rise of the porn industry in New York, stars James Franco playing twin brothers — that’s right: dueling James Francos! — and Maggie Gyllenhaal as a Time’s Square prostitute with entrepreneurial aspirations. Considering the thorough research and unparalleled thought Simon puts into his work, “The Deuce” should carry loads of insight into how modern sexual politics came to be, gender relations, and so much more. Bring on the Francos.
Feud
Network: FX
Release Date: TBA 2017
Talent: Ryan Murphy (producer), Jessica Lange, Susan Sarandon,
Alfred Molina, Sarah Paulson, Stanley Tucci, Judy Davis, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Kathy Bates
We have good reason to be a bit skeptical about this one, due to Ryan Murphy’s talent for creating bonkers interesting series with phenomenal casts… that then just go bonkers. But with a focus on the rivalry between Joan Crawford (Lange) and Bette Davis (Sarandon) as they film “Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?” in 1962, there’s a real chance that “Feud” won’t go off the rails the way “American Horror Story” sometimes does. And really, look at that cast. These are actors primed for the most epic catfights of 2017.
G.L.O.W.
Network: Netflix
Release Date: TBA 2017
Talent: Jenji Kohan (creator), Alison Brie, Betty Gilpin, Marc Maron
Look, did we think that a show set in a woman’s prison had the potential to be one of television’s most compelling dramedies? Not necessarily. But Jenji Kohan taught us a thing or two with “Orange is the New Black,” and so it’s easy to believe that “G.L.O.W.,” her upcoming series set in the world of ’80s women’s wrestling, will be equally fascinating. The outfits will be a lot more eye-catching, anyway, and it’s exciting to see Alison Brie (a performer whose incredible range was showcased previously in “Community”) take on a proper series lead role.
Godless
Network: Netflix
Release Date: TBA 2017
Talent: Scott Frank (creator/writer/director), Steven Soderbergh (executive producer), Jeff Daniels, Jack O’Connell, Michelle Dockery, Scoot McNairy, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Merritt Wever, Rob Morgan, Sam Waterston
Steven Soderbergh and the writer of “Get Shorty” and “Out of Sight” are making a Western? It’s got the cast as listed above? Boom. Done. We’re on board. Plot description, as reported by Deadline: “‘Godless’ centers on Frank Griffin (Daniels), a menacing outlaw who is terrorizing the West as he hunts down Roy Goode (O’Connell), his son-like partner turned mortal enemy. While Roy hides at Alice Fletcher’s (Dockery) ranch, Frank’s chase leads him to the quiet town of La Belle, N.M. — which is mysteriously made up of entirely women.” “Westworld” gave us a taste for cowboy action led by strong women, so while we don’t anticipate the appearance of any robots here, we’re still pretty excited.
Purity
Network: Showtime
Release Date: TBA 2017
Talent: Daniel Craig, Todd Field (director, co-writer, producer), Jonathan Franzen (co-writer), Scott Rudin (producer)
An adaptation of Jonathan Franzen’s literary follow-up to “Freedom,” “Purity” earned a big deal from Showtime: two seasons, 20 episodes, and with some major talent attached. A limited series starring James Bond himself, Daniel Craig, the complex drama focuses on Pip (not yet cast), an American who doesn’t know who she is, Andreas Wolf, a German provocateur who heads an organization that traffics in secrets. Pip snags an internship at the company to help her discover her identity. Meanwhile, indie film fans will be doubly excited to know “Little Children” and “In the Bedroom” director Todd Field will be helming every episode of both seasons. Considering we haven’t seen him behind the camera since 2006, this fact alone should make “Purity” a must-see, even if you weren’t a fan of the novel.
Room 104
Network: HBO
Release Date: TBA 2017
Talent: Mark Duplass, Jay Duplass (creators)
“Togetherness” may have ended too early for its devout fanbase, but its creators aren’t taking much time away from HBO. The Duplass brothers will be back on the premium cable network with a new anthology series taking place entirely inside a hotel room. Located in a common corporate venue outside of Cleveland, new characters will enter the titular “Room 104” in each episode with fresh stories to tell. That being said, there will still be a few serialized throughlines running throughout the largely episodic season, as well as a sterling cast of celebrity characters (including James Van Der Beek!) set to depict the intriguing personal stories found within “Room 104.”
Sharp Objects
Network: HBO
Release Date: TBA 2017
Talent: Marti Noxon (showrunner), Jean-Marc Vallée (producer), Amy Adams
Based on Gillian Flynn’s first novel, this HBO drama promises one of the writer’s patented dark descents into a troubled woman’s psyche, with Noxon (a former executive producer of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” who’s gone on to showrun series like “Girlfriend’s Guide to Divorce” and “UnREAL”) adapting the novel for eight episodes. Vallée is on board to direct the story of a reporter (Adams) returning to her hometown to cover a string of murders, and we’ll be eagerly looking forward to more news on this one as it develops — fingers crossed, by the end of 2017.
Untitled Alan Ball Drama
Network: HBO
Release Date: TBA 2017
Talent: Alan Ball (creator, writer, EP), Holly Hunter, Sosie Bacon, Daniel Zovatto, Raymond Lee, and Jerrika Hinton
After the critical and commercial success of “Six Feet Under” and “True Blood,” it makes perfect sense that HBO would be eager to stay in the Alan Ball business. Hence the straight-to-series order for his upcoming drama series makes perfect sense. Starring Holly Hunter as a lawyer married to a philosophy professor in a multiracial family, the untitled series has been described as a “tragicomic meditation” on complex American ideals. But there’s also a kid who starts seeing things the others can’t, and it’s unclear if he’s suffering from a mental illness or has an inexplicable gift. Good thing his mother secretly harbors a progressive personal philosophy and might be open to exploring what others deem impossible. But can a seemingly perfect family filled with adopted children from Vietnam, Somali, and Colombia all cope as well with the ongoing changes? We’ll find out, just as soon as we know when this hotly anticipated project is debuting.
Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan
Network: Amazon
Release Date: TBA 2017
Talent: John Krasinski, Abbie Cornish, Morten Tyldum (pilot director) Michael Bay (producer)
Tom Clancy’s wildly successful novel just can’t find a sustainable groove onscreen. First, Alec Baldwin left after one (very well-received) outing as Jack Ryan (“The Hunt for Red October”). Harrison Ford got two films under his belt before the franchise stalled out, and neither Ben Affleck (“The Sum of All Fears”) nor Chris Pine (“Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit”) could reboot the series for a more modern crowd. So, fitting with the general trend of films turning to TV for added life, creators Carlton Cuse and Graham Roland along with Michael Bay and his “13 Hours” star John Krasinski are attempting to make Jack Ryan work for the small screen. Few details have emerged since Amazon Studios gave the green light for 10 episodes in August 2016, but the hour-long action drama will pick up the story when Ryan is still an up-and-coming CIA analyst, yet to land his first field assignment. At 10 hours, the series will already mark the longest anyone has played Jack Ryan, so here’s hoping John Krasinski can make us forget about everyone who came before him.