2023 has already welcomed a plentiful slate of sci-fi releases. From the long-awaited gaming adaptation, The Last of Us, to more Star Wars franchise offerings with new seasons of The Bad Batch and The Mandalorian, it’s been a year blessed with binge worthy delights. Yet, there’s so much more to come.
The sci-fi TV genre is full of possibilities and the ideas are, well, pretty much endless. We’ve got Jedi knights, alien invasions and post-apocalyptic survival and much more on the cards for 2023 and beyond into 2024.
Whilst some of our entries have release dates yet to be announced, we’ll be sure to update when we hear more. Once you’ve consumed this list, it’s worth heading over to our upcoming sci-fi movies of 2023 guide where the creative minds continue to flourish on the big screen. Let’s first focus on the exciting releases yet to come for the remainder of the year.
Ahsoka – August 23, 2023
- Release date: August 23, 2023
- Cast: Rosario Dawson, Hayden Christensen, Mary Elizabeth Winstead
Whilst we’ve been treated to a slate of new Star Wars content on Disney+ from The Mandalorian to The Book of Boba Fett in 2022, potentially 2023, we’ve also got a Mando spin-off, Ahsoka. Fans of Star Wars: The Clones Wars animated TV series were very excited to learn that Ahsoka Tano will get her own series in the ever-expanding Star Wars universe, and rightly so, as she’s a badass.
Rosario Dawson takes on the titular character and Jedi padawan as she embarks on her own adventures, although there’s not much known about the plot thus far. We do know that Hayden Christensen is back as Anakin Skywalker in a great crossover with his appearance in Obi-Wan Kenobi. With a 2023 release date, it’s almost time to see what Ahsoka brings to the table when thrust into the limelight.
Gen V – September 29
- Release date: September 29, 2023
- Cast: Patrick Schwarzenegger, Jaz Sinclair, Chance Perdomo
The Boys spin-off you didn’t know you needed, or maybe you did if you’re a fan of the comic books, and in Gen V, we’re heading to college. The supes of Godolkin University School of Crimefighting take part in battle royale challenges, in a Hunger Games-esque style, run by Voight to come out on top.
Gen V supes include a gender shifter, empath, metal bender, and shrinking YouTuber as they go head-to-head while battling their own inner turmoils and hormones of their young lives. Known previously as The Boys Presents: Varsity, Gen V will link to the main show. In an interview with Deadline, The Boys creator Eric Kripke said, “There’s definitely crossover, and we’re doing our best to design a universe that seems some of the issues and storylines in Season 3 hand off to the first season in Varsity.”
Loki (Season 2) – Oct 6
- Release date: October 6, 2023
- Cast: Tom Hiddleston, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Owen Wilson
Loki; brother of Thor, God of Mischief, Prince of Asgard, and, as relevant to our upcoming sci-fi TV shows list, star of his own Marvel TV series. After its positive debut in the Marvel universe, six more episodes of Loki’s own spin-off series will grace the Disney+ streaming platform as part of the MCU’s Phase Five offering this October.
It was always in the works, featuring in Marvel’s ever-contributing end-credits sequence of season 1, but this time round there’s promise of more multiverse mischief picking up where the last season so dramatically left viewers. In true MCU fashion, the plot is very much being kept under wraps though. Thanks to the recent trailer, we do know that Kang the Conqueror and his variants will play a role despite the controversy around actor Jonathan Majors.
Ironheart – Fall 2023
- Release date: TBC 2023
- Cast: Dominique Thorne, Aiden Ehrenreich, Anthony Ramos
Back to the MCU’s Phase 5 slate, Ironheart gets her own spin-off and origin story. First appearing in 2022’s Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Riri Williams has a life synonymous with Tony Stark, creating her own tech-laden suit similar to that of Iron Man. But how did she become Ironheart? Well, season 1 looks set to explore her beginnings.
In the comics, the MIT student with genius intellect uses her skills to build a suit worthy of superhero status. But where there’s triumph, there’s also terror and Anthony Ramos (Transformers: Rise of the Beasts) has been confirmed to take on the role of dark arts villain, The Hood, as seen in first looks of the show.
Orphan Black: Echoes – TBA 2023
- Release date: TBC 2023
- Cast: Amanda Fix, James Hiroyuki Liao, Keeley Hawes, Krysten Ritter
A decade after introducing us to the Clone Club in the original Orphan Black comes AMC’s spin-off title, Orphan Black: Echoes. But, according to the show’s co-creator John Fawcett, it’s going to be its very own show. Speaking to Radio Times, he says, “If you go with the expectation that you’re going to see Orphan Black, you’re going to probably be disappointed. It’s got its own feel, it’s got its own identity. What makes it Orphan Black, there’s a bit of a slow burn to it.”
Orphan Black was centered around a sci-fi conspiracy of the creation of genetically identical human clones and the ethical implications they have on identity. Orphan Black: Echoes reportedly takes viewers to 2052, advancing the cloning timeline and exploring it in a whole new way. Cast members include Krysten Ritter (Marvel’s Jessica Jones), Keeley Hawes (Bodyguard), and James Hiroyuki Liao (Barry).
Scavengers Reign – TBA 2023
- Release date: TBC 2023
- Cast: TBA
Adult animated series, Scavengers Reign, is coming to Max at some point in 2023. Based off of short film ‘Scavengers’ by Charles Huettner and Joseph Bennett, the expanded series has an official synopsis, “it follows a crew of a damaged deep space freighter who are stranded on a beautiful, but dangerous planet.”
In the official teaser, a female voice is heard saying, “our goal is to create a sustainable life where we can survive and thrive until our return home.” Hoping to escape or be rescued, the astronauts are set to see how life unfolds. Voice cast for the series is yet to be announced, but we’ll be sure to update when we hear more.
Star Wars: Skeleton Crew – TBA 2023
- Release date: TBC 2023
- Cast: Kerry Condon, Jude Law, Ryan Kiera Armstrong
There’s a new addition to the Star Wars franchise on the way and it’s a coming-of-age story. Skeleton Crew is set to take place in the same timeline as The Mandalorian, following four kids looking to find their way home after becoming lost in the galaxy.
Created by 2017-2021’s Spider-Man trilogy director, Jon Watts and screenwriter Christopher Ford, Skeleton Crew’s plot is fairly unknown aside from a closed door Star Wars Celebration first-look. But, in an interview with Entertainment Weekly, executive producer Jon Favreau explains how this new addition fits into the franchise, “As long as you adhere to a certain aesthetic, and we all agree that it feels like it’s Star Wars, there’s a lot of room for how you can move around.”
With talk around a November/December release date, this one could seep into 2024. Be sure to check out our guide containing everything we know about Star Wars Skeleton Crew.
The Three-Body Problem – January, 2024
- Release date: January 2024
- Cast: Eiza González, Benedict Wong, John Bradley
Based on the novel of the same name from Cixin Liu, Netflix have also taken it upon themselves to transform this complex sci-fi book into an ambitious sci-fi adaptation for the streaming platform. The Three-Body Problem tackles space and time whilst looking at humanity’s first contact with aliens and impending alien invasion. A nanomaterials expert discovers a countdown that puts him under military investigation.
To find the truth, he enters a mysterious VR game called Three-Body that will hopefully untangle the web of lies. The story takes place across a series of timelines, jumping backwards, forwards, and remaining in present-day throughout. With such an ambitious project comes a cast list full of big names. Maybe we’ll be able to add this one to our best sci-fi TV shows based on books list?
Halo (Season 2) – TBA
- Release date: TBA, likely 2024.
- Cast: Pablo Schreiber, Nastascha McElhone, Jennifer Taylor.
One gaming franchise turned TV adaptation that has already boasted a successful first season is Halo. The dark, foreboding man of few words, Master Chief, returns for season 2 on Paramount Plus with a wealth of unfinished business.
Season 1 followed the Spartans, led by Master Chief, as they continued their war against the Covenant. Season 2 looks set to continue the epic battle with a cliffhanger season finale setting the story up for longevity. Described by Paramount Plus’ Chief Programming Officer, Tanya Giles, as “an expansive, world-building opportunity” for the streaming platform.
Fallout – TBA
- Release date: TBA, likely 2024
- Cast: Walton Goggins, Ella Purnell, Kyle MacLachlan
This won’t be the first gaming franchise turned into a TV adaptation and it certainly won’t be the last, but Fallout has held fast as one TV show that has been highly-anticipated and long-awaited by fans of the iconic series. Officially confirmed for Amazon Prime, not much is known about the show just yet.
What we do know is that Bethesda figureheads, Todd Howard and James Altman, are onboard as executive producers. This means that speculation has strongly steered towards the TV show closely following with the storyline of the main Fallout games.
Agatha: Coven of Chaos – TBA
- Release date: TBC 2023/4
- Cast: Kathryn Hahn, Patti LuPone, Miles Gutierrez-Riley
Last but not least, WandaVision spin-off and new addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Agatha: Coven of Chaos. Reprising her role as Agatha Harkness, Kathryn Hahn takes center stage in her true powerful witch form after masquerading as Wanda’s neighbor, Agnes. Patti LuPone also confirmed she’d be joining the coven as 450-year-old witch, Lilia Calderu, alongside Aubrey Plaza and Joe Locke.
The plot for the show currently remains unclear with the MCU keeping it locked down. What is confirmed though is how many episodes season 1 will have, a mighty nine, streaming on Disney+. With a writers strike to navigate, the release date also seems to be floating around Winter 2023 moving on into a possible 2024 release.
