New on Netflix 2019: The Most Exciting Upcoming Films and TV Shows
In 2019, Netflix will release a slew of projects primed to ensnare you in the services never-ending ..
In 2019, Netflix will release a slew of projects primed to ensnare you in the services never-ending algorithm (if youre not already ensnared). Since its actually impossible to keep up with everything available, heres a brief guide to the movies, shows, and one-off specials that most deserve your keen attention—from the return of Stranger Things to a handful of potential prestige movies.
Lets start with the TV offerings. Stranger Things, undoubtedly one of Netflixs biggest properties, is set to return for its third season next summer (though a specific release date has not yet been announced). While the mysterious Matt and Ross Duffer have not yet revealed what will happen next season, we do know the story will be set in 1985 and feature Steve Harrington working at an ice cream shop at Starcourt Mall. Take a stab at guessing further plot points by parsing the seasons recently released episode titles, which include “Suzie, Do You Copy?” and “The Sauna Test.”
Speaking of beloved shows on their third season: more of The Crown is finally on its way. The third season will jump ahead in time, replacing Claire Foy with Olivia Colman in the titular role. The rest of the cast is rounded out with Helena Bonham Carter as Princess Margaret and Ben Daniels as Lord Snowdon, among others. Like Stranger Things, this show does not yet have a premiere date, but based on past release dates, it will likely come out next winter.
Also returning on the TV front are beloved comedies Grace and Frankie, which will debut its fifth season on January 18, and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, which will air the second half of its final season on January 25. Why are co-creators Tina Fey and Robert Carlock closing up shop after just four seasons? Because they want to save plot points for a potential Kimmy Schmidt movie. “There are things that I think would be fun to hold off for kind of a big epic finale in feature form,” Carlock said back in August.
Another returning series is Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, the dark, Satanic take on the teen-witch story, which will come back for its second season on April 5 (after dropping a surprisingly delightful holiday special).
On a newer TV front, Netflixs adaptation of The Umbrella Academy, Gerard Ways best-selling comic book series about a misfit family with beguiling superpowers (think along the lines of X-Men), will debut on February 15, featuring a cast that includes Mary J. Blige and Ellen Page, among others.
For a brisk change of pace, dramedy fans can check out British series Sex Education on January 11. The show stars Asa Butterfield as an awkward teen who sets up a sex-therapy clinic at school with the help of a resident bad girl named Maeve (Emma Mackey). Gillian Anderson also stars as Butterfields frank sex-therapist mom.
For documentary fans, look no further than Our Planet, the latest earthly offering from Sir David Attenborough. The eight-episode series about, well, the planet, was filmed over four years in 50 countries, and will make its debut on April 5
The streamer also has a bunch of other buzzy titles in the mix, though many dont yet have a release date. That batch includes the second season of the Penn Badgley thriller You, which Netflix recently saved from Lifetime; another season of the teen drama On My Block; and the upcoming Central Park Five miniseries directed by Ava DuVernay.
While fans wait for those release dates to come out, lets take a look at the streaming platforms upcoming film slate (which is subject to change, depending on whether Netflix picks up any distribution-seeking items at Sundance next month). One item of interest is Velvet Buzzsaw, the thriller that reunites Nightcrawler director Dan Gilroy with Jake Gyllenhaal, starring the actor as a character named Morf (for real) who works in the Los Angeles art scene. Its set for a February 1 release date, which suggests that it might be more pulpy and less prestige—but thats not necessarily a bad thing. Also on the docket for an early release is The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, Chiwetel Ejiofors feature-directing debut based on a true story about a young Malawian inventor, which will debut at Sundance and hit Netflix on March 1.
The streamer is also getting in on this years dominant music-movie trend (hello, Mamma Mia! 2 and Bohemian Rhapsody!) with The Dirt, a biopic about the fast life and times of Mötley Crüe, based on the best-selling autobiography of the same name. Jackass auteur Jeff Tremaine sits at the helm for this ride.
And perhaps most excitingly on the doc front, Netflix is delivering Fyre, a behind-the-scenes look at the ill-fated Fyre Festival, directed by Chris Smith (Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond) and set to debut on January 18. Get ready to relive the schadenfreude.
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Get Vanity Fairs HWD NewsletterSign up for essential industry and award news from Hollywood.Full ScreenPhotos:An Ode to 2018s Film and TV Dogs, Who Were All Very Good
Charlie, A Star Is Born
Named Charlie both in the film and in real life, this goldendoodle comes with an adorable backstory: he actually belongs to star and director Bradley Cooper. The films human stars are getting all the awards attention, but I think we all know who the real scene-stealer was.Photo: From ©Warner Bros./Everett Collection.
President Pierce, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
Like many Jack Russell terriers, this guy was very prone to barking—not exactly an ideal quality for a dog in a wagon train to Oregon. But just look at that little face!Photo: Courtesy of Netflix.
Olivia, Widows
Olivia is the name of the fluffy little pooch who appeared in several projects this year, including a cameo in Netflixs Insatiable. In Widows, however, she found perhaps her best part yet: confidante of Viola Davis. For the record, little Olivia absolutely nailed her performance.Photo: By Merrick Morton/Twentieth Century Fox.
Pickles, BoJack Horseman
Whats not to love about Pickles Aplenty, Mr. Peanutbutters new paramour in BoJack Horsemans fifth season? Voiced with delightful cheer by Hong Chau, Pickles is probably the sweetest pug youll ever meet—even if she can be a little naïve.Photo: From Netflix.
Gertrude, Dog Days
Vanessa Hudgens was very impressed with her canine partner in this film, a little Chihuahua named Gertrude. As Hudgens told Collider, “I remember my very first day of filming, they put like a little black dot down on the ground and showed it to [the dog playing Gertrude], took her to the end of the street and called action. She started walking, got to her mark and sat down, and I was like, How do you do that?!”Photo: Jacob Yakob / LD Entertainment
The Titular Dogs, Isle of Dogs
Were they kind of creepy? Yes. Did the film make some questionable decisions with regard to Japanese representation? Also yes. But lets not blame the dogs themselves for it.Photo: Copyright © Fox Searchlight / Everett Collection
Borras, Roma
Borras has great credentials: escape artist, good jumper, prolific pooper. Is that what you want in a dog you own? Not necessarily. But in a dog youre watching from the comfort of your own home, complete with a clean, poop-free driveway? Absolutely.Photo: By Carlos Somonte/Netflix.PreviousNext
Charlie, A Star Is Born
Named Charlie both in the film and in real life, this goldendoodle comes with an adorable backstory: he actually belongs to star and director Bradley Cooper. The films human stars are getting all the awards attention, but I think we all know who the real scene-stealer was.From ©Warner Bros./Everett Collection.
President Pierce, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
Like many Jack Russell terriers, this guy was very prone to barking—not exactly an ideal quality for a dog in a wagon train to Oregon. But just look at that little face!Courtesy of Netflix.
Olivia, Widows
Olivia is the name of the fluffy little pooch who appeared in several projects this year, including a cameo in Netflixs Insatiable. In Widows, however, she found perhaps her best part yet: confidante of Viola Davis. For the record, little Olivia absolutely nailed her performance.By Merrick Morton/Twentieth Century Fox.
Pickles, BoJack Horseman
Whats not to love about Pickles Aplenty, Mr. Peanutbutters new paramour in BoJack Horsemans fifth season? Voiced with delightful cheer by Hong Chau, Pickles is probably the sweetest pug youll ever meet—even if she can be a little naïve.From Netflix.
Benji, Benji
The dog who took on this role in the Netflix reboot—perhaps one of the most iconic parts in the canine acting community—was once a stray. He arrived at a Humane Society shelter in Virginia malnourished, matted, and covered in fleas—but now, hes a star.From ©Netflix/Everett Collection.
Bastian, Game Night
This is, in fact, Olivia again—but shout-out to Bastian, one of the best characters in one of the years most woefully overlooked films.From ©Warner Bros./Everett Collection.
All of the Dogs, Dogs
Netflixs outstanding six-part doguseries is simply teeming with priceless pooches, and it would be inhumane to expect anyone to choose just one. The top dogs, though, are probably Rory, a service dog specially trained to help his owner with her epilepsy; Zeus, a Syrian husky whose owner is desperate to bring him to Germany; and Ice, who helps his owner keep up his fishing business, even as Lake Como begins to run out of fish.
Gertrude, Dog Days
Vanessa Hudgens was very impressed with her canine partner in this film, a little Chihuahua named Gertrude. As Hudgens told Collider, “I remember my very first day of filming, they put like a little black dot down on the ground and showed it to [the dog playing Gertrude], took her to the end of the street and called action. She started walking, got to her mark and sat down, and I was like, How do you do that?!”Jacob Yakob / LD Entertainment
The Titular Dogs, Isle of Dogs
Were they kind of creepy? Yes. Did the film make some questionable decisions with regard to Japanese representation? Also yes. But lets not blame the dogs themselves for it.Copyright © Fox Searchlight / Everett Collection
Borras, Roma
Borras has great credentials: escape artist, good jumper, prolific pooper. Is that what you want in a dog you own? Not necessarily. But in a dog youre watching from the comfort of your own home, complete with a clean, poop-free driveway? Absolutely.By Carlos Somonte/Netflix.
Yohana DestaYohana Desta is a Hollywood writer for VanityFair.com.
