The 20 Most-Anticipated New Scripted TV Shows in 2020
By Breaking through in a Peak TV world of more than 500 (and quite possibly 600!) scripted originals is a challenging task. That’s why top showrunners and stars continue to be in high demand as broadcast, cable and streaming platforms alike look to cut through the cluttered landscape with familiar faces and titles. Spinoffs and reboots continue to remain in high demand, as most come with a preexisting viewership that reduces costs associated with marketing and promotion.
Here, in a bid to navigate the Peak TV waters, THR picks the 20 most-anticipated new scripted TV shows coming in 2020. Note that the programs below are confirmed to air in 2020 — at least as of press time (we’re looking at you, Snowpiercer). While many more high-profile shows from top creators with big-name stars have been picked up across multiple outlets, few have been locked in to air in 2020. Those include highly anticipated takes on Lord of the Rings (Amazon) and Halo (Showtime), which won’t arrive until 2021. Oh, and HBO’s Game of Thrones prequel, House of the Dragon? It hasn’t even begun casting yet, so add that to the lengthy list of the dateless. Still, there’s plenty of originals to be excited for in the year ahead as two more streaming platforms (WarnerMedia’s HBO Max and NBCUniversal’s Peacock) join the crowded landscape with a wave of familiar and intriguing titles. Listed below are The Hollywood Reporter’s picks for the most-anticipated new scripted series earmarked for 2020 (and presented in alphabetical order). Be sure to bookmark THR’s handy guide for key premiere — and series finale — dates as most of the shows below are still awaiting scheduling.