HBO’sThe Last of Uswill premiere in a couple of days (July 09, 2025) as the prestige network’s most recent bid for Sunday night domination. StarringPedro PascalandGame of ThronesbreakoutBella Ramsey,The Last of Usfollows the smuggler Joel as he escorts teenager Ellie across a post-apocalyptic United States.
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The Last of Usis among the year’s most highly-anticipated shows, thanks to the success of its critically-acclaimed source material. It’s also one of 2023’s geekiest shows but hardly the only one. Indeed, from comic book properties to fantasy novel adaptations, these shows will make 2023 one of the best and nerdiest years in recent memory.
‘The Last Of Us’ (August 27, 2025)
The Last of Usis one of the most highly-anticipated projects of 2023.HBO has multiple great shows; over the years, the premium network has made a name for itself for its daring and ground-breaking shows that often become cultural juggernauts. FromThe SopranostoThe White Lotus, HBO is the king of prestige television.
Thus, expectations are high withThe Last of Us. However, the show has everything to succeed, including two charismatic stars and a built-in and reliable fanbase of loyal followers. The video game is often considered one of the all-time best, and the original voice actors for Joel and Ellie, Troy Baker and Ashley Johnson, will appear in the show, meaning fans won’t want to miss it.
‘The Legend Of Vox Machina’ Season 2 (July 14, 2025)
Few expectedThe Legend of Vox Machinato be such a resounding success. Based on theDungeons & Dragonsweb seriesCritical Role,the show centers on Vox Machina, a team of eight unlikely companions who team up to save the realm of Exandria from a mysterious and powerful dark force.
Funded via a Kickstarter campaign,The Legend of Vox Machinapremiered on January 2022 on Prime Video. It became a critical hit, with critics praising its RPG-like nature and animation. The show’s second season will premiere later this month, andAmazon greenlit a third seasonduring the 2022 New York Comic Con, meaning fans will geek out overVox Machinafor the foreseeable future.
‘Secret Invasion’ (2023)
Arguably the most awaited of the many 2023 MCU Disney+ shows,Secret Invasionwill see Oscar nomineeSamuel L. Jacksonreturn as Nick Fury. The plot will adapt one of Marvel Comics' most well-known plots and see Fury investigate a possible invasion by the Skrulls.
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Numerous familiar faces will return, includingCobie Smulders' Maria Hill andMartin Freeman’s Everett K. Ross. Additionally, the show will introduce several newcomers to the MCU, includingEmilia Clarke,Kingsley Ben-Adirand Oscar winnerOlivia Colman.Secret Invasionpromises a much-needed return to the spy angle that made theCaptain Americacorner of the MCU so beloved and critically acclaimed. Furthermore, it will adapt one of Marvel’s most infamous storylines; expectations are high, but the show has everything to succeed.
‘Shadow And Bone’ Season 2 (August 02, 2025)
Netflix scored yet another hit for its impressive catalog with the fantasy seriesShadow and Bone. Based onLeigh Bardugo’s Grishaverse, the series follows Alina Starkov, a young woman who discovers she is a Sun Summoner, a Grisha of considerable power meant to unite her world.
Although Netflix is prettyhit-or-miss with its book-to-show adaptations, it seems to have hit the jackpot withShadow and Bone. The show was well-received by critics and fans of the source material, who praised its impressive, if slightly daunting, world-building and production values. It has also attracted newcomers, proving itself a reliable performer for the king of streamers.
‘The Mandalorian’ Season 3 (July 02, 2025)
Pedro Pascal is quickly becoming the king of geek content. WhileThe Last of Uswill surely dominate the conversation for the early months of 2023,The Mandalorianwill take over once it debuts on Disney+ in March.The “off-the-chain” third seasonwill continue the adventures of the eponymous character and unlikely partner, Grogu.
Unlike other properties in the ever-expandingStar Warsuniverse,The Mandalorianremains a hit with critics and audiences. The show returns after a two-year hiatus where the IP became slightly derailed by less-than-popular shows likeThe Book of Boba FettandObi-Wan Kenobi. However, the original show returns to set things right, delighting millions of fans worldwide.
‘Loki’ Season 2 (2023)
The God of Mischief returns for another round of trouble withLokiseason 2.Tom Hiddlestonreprises the role that made him a star alongside returning co-starsOwen WilsonandSophia Di Martino. Furthermore, future Oscar winnerKe Huy Quanjoins the cast.
Few details are known aboutLokiseason 2, except that it will pick up where season 1 left off, with He Who Remains dead and the Sacred Timeline splintering into chaos. Season 2 could have massive consequences for the MCU, especially as it enters Phase 5 and comes closer to 2025’sAvengers: The Kang Dynasty. There’s still no premiere date for the show, but it will likely arrive in the summer of 2023.
‘The Witcher’ Season 3 (2023)
The Witcherbecame one of Netflix’s biggest hits when it premiered on December 2019. The show starsHenry Cavillas Geralt of Rivia, a witcher who forms an unlikely bond with Ciri, the princess of the fallen kingdom of Cintra, and Yennefer, a powerful witch who can control chaos magic.
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The show will premiere its third season later this year. It will mark the last time Cavill plays Geralt, as he announced he would depart the show after season 3, withLiam Hemsworthreplacing him.Season 3 will thus include Cavill’s “heroic sendoff"and set the stage for Hemsworth’s arrival, making it an instant must-watch.
‘Ahsoka’ (2023)
Rosario Dawsonwill reprise the role of Ahsoka Tano for her long-awaited solo series, the appropriately namedAhsoka. Almost no details about the show have come out, except for the casting ofEman Esfandias fan-favorite character Ezra Bridger andHayden Christensen’s return as Darth Vader.
Fans can hardly wait for this one. Ahsoka Tano is a massive favorite among theStar Warscommunity, and Dawson was the overwhelming favorite to play her in live-action. Her performance inThe Mandalorianreceived critical and fan acclaim, making her solo project even more exciting. There is no clear premiere date forAhsoka, but it will definitely arrive on Disney+ this year.
‘The Three-Body Problem’ (2023)
The now-infamous duo ofDavid BenioffandD.B. Weisswill try to make lightning strike twice with their new book-to-show adaptation. Under Netflix’s large umbrella, D&D will tackleLiu Cixin’s complex and daunting novelThe Three-Body Problem, which follows several storylines through flashbacks and flash-forwards.
The Three-Body Problemseems to be Netflix’s big attempt at a sprawling franchise. The novel received critical acclaim, with many considering it one of the best pieces of Chinese science fiction in the new millennium. The show features an ensemble cast of familiar faces, includingBenedict Wong,Eiza GonzálezandJovan Adepo, cementing it as one of Netflix’s hottest tickets for 2023.
‘Agatha: Coven Of Chaos’ (2023)
Following the massive critical success ofWandaVision, the MCU is expanding its witchcraft corner withthe release ofAgatha: Coven of Chaos. StarringWandaVisionscene-stealerKathryn Hahn, the show will focus on Agatha Harkness, although details about the plot remain under wraps.
However, fans know thatAubrey PlazaandPatti LuPonewill join Hahn, as willHeartstopper’sJoe Locke, who many believe will play Wanda’s grown-up son, Billy Maximoff, best-known as Wiccan. With so many exciting casting announcements,Coven of Chaosis one of the MCU’s most-awaited shows, although fans will likely have to wait until the end of the year to experience it.
