The 11 Most Anticipated TV Shows of 2021
From HBO Max’s ‘Gossip Girl’ reboot to Disney+’s ‘WandaVision.’
As we step into 2021, a number of TV shows are finally back in progress and are set to premiere in the coming months. With some about to wrap up filming and post-production, we’ve gathered 11 of the best titles to add to your binge-watch list this year. Whether you’re eagerly waiting for the release of HBO Max‘s highly anticipated reboot of Gossip Girl, or you’re looking forward to seeing more of Scarlet Witch and Vision in Disney+‘s upcoming WandaVision, our selection of standout television series has got you covered.
Read on for all our top picks. While you’re at it, check out our list of 10 rising actors you need to know in 2021.
Dickinson Season 2
A dramatic adaptation of the life of American poet Emily Dickinson, Dickinson stars Hailee Steinfeld as the show’s protagonist. Season 2 continues to follow the story of Emily, a young aspiring poet, who finally rises to fame. However, as the public starts to take notice of her talent, Emily second-guesses her new status in society, and questions whether or not she is fit for the influential role.
Release Date: January 8
WandaVision
Based on the Marvel characters Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) and Vision (Paul Bettany), Disney+’s WandaVision will take place after the events of Avengers: Endgame. The Marvel Studio-produced series will highlight the couple living a seemingly picture-perfect life in the suburbs of Westview. However, as they begin to get questioned about their relationship, Wanda and Vision suspect that something about their reality isn’t quite right.
Release Date: January 15
Batwoman Season 2
Following Ruby Rose’s departure from the show at the end of Season 1, The CW named Javicia Leslie as its new Batwoman lead last year. Leslie will portray the role of Ryan Wilder, who, according to Deadline, is “likable, messy, a little goofy and untamed.” The CW states that Ryan is a queer, highly skilled fighter who isn’t the clichéd all-American hero. Last October, the network gave fans a first look at the actress in her character’s new re-designed Batsuit.
Release Date: January 17
Fate: The Winx Saga
Inspired by Nickelodeon’s 2004 animated series Winx Club, Fate: The Winx Saga follows five fairies – Bloom (Abigail Cowen), Stella (Hannah van der Westhuysen), Aisha (Precious Mustapha), Musa (Elisha Applebaum) and Terra (Eliot Salt) – who are students at a magical boarding school called Alfea in the Otherworld. While trying to master their special abilities, the powerful group must protect their kind from monsters that threaten their very existence.
Release Date: January 22
Loki
Regardless of your love-hate relationship with Loki, the infamous villian played by Tom Hiddleston is (sort of) back from the dead. Disney+’s Loki will highlight the life of a different version of Loki from a parallel universe. After stealing the Tesseract from Avengers: Endgame, Loki uses it to travel through time, which leads to him altering history.
Release Date: May 2021
Gossip Girl
Jose Perez/Bauer-Griffin/Gc Images
The much anticipated Gossip Girl reboot is set to hit HBO Max this summer. Narrated by none other than Kristen Bell, the new series will take place eight years after the original show. It will focus on a new generation of private school teens in New York City who are being secretly observed by another gossip girl. The new cast includes Whitney Peak as Zoya Lott, Eli Brown as Otto “Obie” Bergmann IV, Emily Alyn Lind as Audrey Hope, Tavi Gevinson as Kate Keller, Evan Mock as Akeno “Aki” Menzies, Thomas Doherty as Max Wolfe, Zion Moreno as Luna La, Savannah Smith as Monet de Haan and Jordan Alexander as Julien Calloway.
Release Date: Summer 2021
Colin in Black & White
Based on the life of all-star athlete and activist Colin Kaepernick, Colin in Black & White will follow Kaepernick’s high school years as a Black teen growing up with a white family. Jaden Michael, Mary-Louise Parker and Nick Offerman have been cast to play the leads. Michael Starrbury will serve as the writer and executive producer, alongside Ava DuVernay as well as Kaepernick, who will take on the role of the narrator.
Release Date: TBC
Inventing Anna
Created and produced by Shonda Rhimes, whose credits include Bridgerton, Netflix‘s Inventing Anna is inspired by the New York Magazine article “How Anna Delvey Tricked New York’s Party People” by Jessica Pressler. Centered on real-life con artist Anna Delvey (played by Julia Garner), the miniseries will break down journalist Vivian’s (Anna Chlumsky) invesigation on Anna’s case.
Release Date: TBC
Never Have I Ever Season 2
Lara Solanki/Netflix
Following the successful first season of Never Have I Ever, Netflix is set to bring back Mindy Kaling and Lang Fisher’s coming-of-age comedy. Fans can expect their favorite characters to return, including Devi Vishwakumar (Maitreyi Ramakrishnan), Paxton Hall-Yoshida (Darren Barnet), Fabiola Torres (Lee Rodriguez), Eleanor Wong (Ramona Young) and Ben Gross (Jaren Lewison). In addition, the streaming giant has welcomed two new cast members. Megan Suri will portray Aneesa, “a new student at Sherman Oaks High, whose confidence and radiance will pose an immediate threat to Devi,” and Tyler Alvarez will play Malcom, an aspiring actor who went to elementary school with Devi and her friends.
Release Date: TBC
Sex Education Season 3
Will Maeve and Otis get their happily ever after this time around? After leaving fans with a major cliffhanger last season, the third installment of Sex Education will return to Netflix sometime this year. A few new faces will also be joining the cast. Jemima Kirke will take the part of Hope as Moordale’s new headmistress. Making their acting debut, Dua Saleh will portray Cal, “a student who clashes with Hope.” Jason Isaacs, best known for playing Draco Malfoy’s father in the Harry Potter franchise, will play Peter Groff, “Mr. Groff’s more successful/less modest older brother.”
Release Date: TBC
Stranger Things Season 4
Last year, Netflix unveiled a major plot point for Season 4 of Stranger Things, revealing Hopper (David Harbour) is alive. Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, Noah Schnapp, Gaten Matarazzo, Sadie Sink, Joe Keery, Caleb McLaughlin, Charlie Heaton, Natalia Dyer, Winona Ryder and Harbour will all reprise their original roles. In addition, new regulars will be joining the Stranger Things family: Jamie Campbell Bower will play Peter Ballard, “a caring man who works as an orderly at a psychiatric hospital;” Eduardo Franco will play Argyle, “Jonathan’s new best friend, a fun-loving stoner who proudly delivers delicious pizza pies for Surfer Boy Pizza;” and Joseph Quinn will be Eddie Munson, “an audacious ’80s metalhead who runs The Hellfire Club, Hawkins High’s official D&D club.”
Release Date: TBC
