“Obi-Wan Kenobi”
After years of trying to make “Obi-Wan Kenobi”—a show about the defeated Jedi Master exiled on Tatooine, safeguarding a young Luke Skywalker from a distance—the story finally arrives as a six-episode series, mainly shrouded in mystery, plot-wise. What we do know is Deborah Chow (“The Mandalorian”) directs and Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christiansen return as Kenobi and Darth Vader, respectively. Additionally, Inquisitors (aka Jedi Hunters scouring the galaxy for remaining Jedi not killed in the Order 666 purge), played by Moses Ingram, Rupert Friend, and Sung Kang factor into the tale too. Joel Edgerton, Kumail Nanjiani, O’Shea Jackson Jr., Benny Safdie, Maya Erskine, and more co-star.
Premiere Date: May 27 on Disney+.
“Stranger Things” (Season 4)
Although it’s been three long years since fans saw Hawkins, Indiana, the “Stranger Things” storyline has only advanced by six months. The main cast of kids (Finn Wolfhard, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Sadie Sink) are entering high school while still grappling with the aftermath of last season. The Byers family, Joyce (Winona Ryder), Will (Noah Schnapp), and Jonathan (Charlie Heaton) have seemingly left Hawkins behind with Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown). Will Chief Hopper (David Harbour) return? Expect more supernatural horrors lurking in the shadows.
Premiere Date: May 27 on Netflix.
“Pistol”
Based on a rollercoaster memoir by legendary Sex Pistols guitarist Steve Jones, “Pistol” tells of “the fury of the forgotten generation” aka, the rise of anarchy in the U.K, the birth of London’s punk rock scene and the meteoric ascension of the Sex Pistols. Directed entirely by Academy Award-winning “Trainspotting” and “Slumdog Millionaire” filmmaker Danny Boyle, the six-episode series stars Toby Wallace as Steve Jones, Jacob Slater as drummer Paul Cook, Anson Boon as notorious singer Johnny Rotten, Emma Appleton as Nancy Spungen, and Louis Partridge as the infamous bassist Sid Vicious.
Premiere Date: May 31 on Hulu.
Also in May: “The Wilds” (Amazon Prime Video, May 6), “Tehran” (Apple TV+, May 6).
JUNE
“This is Going To Hurt”
A medical comedy-drama starring Ben Whishaw (“No Time to Die”), “This Is Going To Hurt” is based on Adam Kay’s memoir of the same name. Kay is also the creator, writer, and exec producer on the show. The series depicts the gut-wrenching lows of life on a gynecology and obstetrics ward and co-stars newcomers Ambika Mod, Michele Austin (“Meet the Richardsons”), BAFTA-nominated Alex Jennings (“The Crown”), Kadiff Kirwan, Ashley McGuire, and Dame Harriet Walter.
Premiere Date: June 2 on AMC+ and Sundance Now.
“Physical” (Season 2)
Created by Annie Weisman (“About A Boy“) and directed by Craig Gillespie (“I, Tonya”), season one of “Physical” tracked the epic journey of a stifled, overlooked housewife (Rose Byrne) who transforms into someone we take for granted today (but was entirely radical at the time) — the female lifestyle guru. “The White Lotus” star Murray Bartlett joins the cast this season as a fitness instructor, weight-loss guru, and pioneer of the late-night infomercial. Rory Scovel, Dierdre Friel, Della Saba, Lou Taylor Pucci and Paul Sparks return.
Premiere Date: June 3 on Apple+.
“The Boys” (Season 3)
The R-rated superhero satire from “Supernatural” creator Eric Kripke still holds the title for most-watched global Amazon debut after season two. Where does the world of out-of-control, corrupt, superheroes go in season 2? Well, for one, Bill The Butcher (Karl Urban) becomes what he hates and gains superpowers. Joining the superhero fold are Jensen Ackles and Laurie Holden as Soldier Boy and Crimson Countess respectively.
Premiere Date: June 3 on Amazon Prime.
“Irma Vep”
In 1996, French filmmaker Olivier Assayas had one of his first international breakout movies with “Irma Vep,” a meta-filmmaking story about an actress cast in a remake of a silent-era vampire film then caught in the middle of its troubled production. With the help of A24, HBO, and Academy Award winner Alicia Vikander, Assayas revisits the same material, fiction and reality blurring on a film set, but expands it into a series. Adria Arjona, Carrie Brownstein, Tom Sturridge, Vincent Macaigne, and more co-star.
Premiere Date: June 6 on HBO Max, but a few episodes will debut in Cannes in May.