8 Upcoming Sci-Fi Shows You Cannot Miss

Science fiction on TV is booming, with both new stories and fresh takes on classic tales. Once a smaller interest, sci-fi is now incredibly popular, and these eight shows are definitely worth watching.

Popular franchises like Star Trek and Doctor Who continue to thrive. Star Trek recently launched Starfleet Academy, and Doctor Who is set to return with a Christmas special in 2026. In addition to these established shows, several new series are also gaining traction, with Pluribus becoming Apple TV+’s most popular show ever and Paradise finding success on Hulu.

Good news for sci-fi fans: we can expect plenty more excellent shows in the future. Several popular series are coming back for new seasons, and eight promising new shows are on the way with compelling stories and a lot of potential.

8. Lanterns

As a huge DC fan, I’ve been waiting years for a proper Green Lantern show, and it looks like James Gunn is finally delivering with Lanterns! I’m especially excited they’ve cast Kyle Chandler as Hal Jordan and Aaron Pierre as John Stewart – a great pairing! From what I understand, the series will focus on Jordan mentoring Stewart. What I’ve always loved about Green Lantern, and it’s great to see this new show leaning into it, is that it’s always been rooted in science fiction, going all the way back to the 1960s comics. It’s not just capes and magic; it’s about technology and the wider universe.

The Green Lantern ring is a powerful alien device that harnesses the energy of willpower to control light, energy, and even matter to some extent. What the ring can do – like allowing someone to fly or shoot energy blasts – varies depending on the specific comic book story and character.

Although Kyle Chandler’s flight isn’t featured in the trailer for Lanterns, that actually builds anticipation. It seems they’re holding back the most impressive aspects for the show itself. Hopefully, the series will successfully combine the atmospheric style of True Detective with the exciting potential of the Lantern ring’s powers.

7. Blade Runner 2099

Both Blade Runner and Neuromancer are considered key works that popularized the cyberpunk genre, so it’s great news that they’re both becoming TV shows in 2026. Blade Runner 2099 will be the fourth major release based on Philip K. Dick’s Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, following two films and an anime series.

As a huge fan of Blade Runner 2049, I’m really excited about the new TV show! It’s set 50 years after the film, and while they’re keeping the story details close to the vest, we do know Michelle Yeoh will be playing Olwen, a replicant who’s getting older. That’s a fascinating twist, because the movies have always been about the people who hunt replicants, not the replicants themselves. It’ll be cool to see things from their perspective for a change.

The upcoming Blade Runner show on Prime Video, confirmed to have 10 episodes, will give fans a much deeper look into its captivating world. While we don’t have a specific release date yet, it’s expected in 2026 and promises to be a must-watch.

6. Snowball Earth

Snowball Earth is a thrilling new anime series that animated TV fans won’t want to miss when it premieres in April. Set in 2035, the story follows Tetsuo Yabusame after he and his robot, Yukio, are defeated in a battle against alien monsters. He awakens to find Earth covered in snow and ice after a catastrophic event.

Snowball Earth promises to be incredible! It’s packed with action, featuring aliens, a colossal robot, and mechs, all set against the backdrop of an environmental disaster. The story also has a compelling mystery: Tetsuo needs to uncover what happened to Earth during the eight years he was unaware. And with the director of Zombie Land Saga at the helm, you can expect fantastic action and plenty of laughs.

5. Consider Phlebas

News came out in early 2025 that Iain M. Banks’s Consider Phlebas, the first book in his Culture series, is being adapted into a TV show for Prime Video. These action-packed science fiction novels center around a conflict between the Culture—a highly advanced civilization where humans and artificial intelligence coexist—and the Idrian Empire, a power driven by religious law.

It’s currently unknown if the show will adapt only the first book or the complete Culture series, but either way, it promises to be exciting. The source material is visually stunning and filled with action-packed space battles. Plus, acclaimed sci-fi author Charles Yu is writing the series, which is great news for fans of Consider Phlebas.

4. Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord

The world of Star Wars is growing on television, and the new animated series Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord looks particularly exciting. The show picks up after the end of Clone Wars season 7, following Maul as he attempts to establish a new headquarters on the planet Janix.

This series won’t be a typical space opera about the Empire fighting the Jedi. Instead, it’s a darker, more suspenseful sci-fi thriller, leaning into a noir style with plenty of crime and corruption. You can still expect familiar elements like police droids, lightsabers, and blasters – it will still feel like Star Wars, but with a different focus.

What’s really exciting is that the team behind the acclaimed Clone Wars series – a highlight of Star Wars – will also be making the Maul series. They’re known for crafting compelling stories and adding unexpected depth to familiar characters.

3. The Captive’s War

As a huge sci-fi fan, I think The Expanse is truly one of the best shows we’ve seen in years, and it’s so exciting to hear the creators are already working on something new! Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck – who write as James S.A. Corey – are currently releasing a new book series called The Captive’s War, and the great news is that it’s going to be adapted into a show on Prime Video. I can’t wait!

The series centers around a group of human scientists taken prisoner by the powerful and aggressive Carryx Empire, who then try to fight back. Fans won’t have to wait for all the books to be published to begin enjoying the story, as Abraham and Franck are already on board. Plus, Naren Shankar and Breck Eisner, known for their work on The Expanse, are returning to work on The Captive’s War.

2. Astro Boy Reboot

For over ten years, a new version of Astro Boy has been planned, going through several different ideas and designs. Because of this, many people thought it would never actually be made. But recent leaks of images and a short animated test suggest that the project is finally moving forward.

The series features characters like Astro Boy, Uran, Dr. Ochanomizu, and Yuko Kisaragi. A recent video clip shows Astro Boy springing into action, and if early looks are accurate, the Astro Boy Reboot has the potential to be excellent. The animation quality, especially, is very impressive.

Mediawan Kids & Family, the company behind Method Animation, recently showcased the new ‘Astro Boy Reboot’ at the 2026 San Diego Kidscreen Summit. Since this event isn’t open to the public, we haven’t seen any previews yet, but it’s encouraging to see the show is still in development.

1. Neuromancer

Though not the first of its kind, the cyberpunk novel Neuromancer is considered a hugely influential work. It tells the story of Case, a talented but disabled hacker, who is recruited for a high-stakes digital robbery by a shadowy group, alongside a dangerous female operative and a skilled mercenary. Surprisingly, it took 42 years for this groundbreaking book to be adapted for the screen.

Honestly, the wait felt forever, but seeing Apple TV finally bring this story to the screen makes it all worthwhile. They’ve really proven they care more about making things well than just churning stuff out, and they’re becoming known for fantastic sci-fi. I was so pleased to hear Callum Turner is playing Case – it’s inspired casting, truly! And Briana Middleton? If her work in The Silent Planet is anything to go by, she’s going to absolutely kill it as Molly.

2026-03-06 05:20