Movies aren’t the only place where horror continues to thrive as we begin 2023; all signs point to a banner year for the genre on the small screen in addition to the big screen.
On the smaller screen, 2023 brings the return of acclaimed favorites “Yellowjackets,” “The Witcher,” and “Evil,” plus “The Walking Dead” spinoffs, the final season of “Servant,” and more. And here’s hoping “Chucky” gets that season three renewal announcement soon.
But for all the returning series, we’re excited about the brand-new series on the horizon.
Here are thirteen new genre shows to look forward to in 2023.
The Last of Us – January 15 (HBO Max)
A series adaptation of the critically acclaimed video game, co-written and executive produced by “Chernobyl“ creator Craig Mazin and Naughty Dog vice president Neil Druckmann. “The series takes place twenty years after modern civilization has been destroyed. Joel, a hardened survivor, is hired to smuggle Ellie, a 14-year-old girl, out of an oppressive quarantine zone. What starts as a small job soon becomes a brutal, heartbreaking journey, as they both must traverse across the US and depend on each other for survival.”
Pedro Pascal stars as Joel, with “Game of Thrones” actor Bella Ramsey as Ellie.
Junji Ito Maniac: Japanese Tales of the Macabre – January 19 (Netflix)
Japanese horror master Junji Ito has teamed up with Netflix for an anime anthology series based on his works.
About the series: “Featuring a selection of 20 macabre masterpieces brimming with his original worldview and fascinating characters drawn in his stunning style, including popular titles such as ‘Hanging Balloon’ and fan-favorite characters Tomie and Soichi, this animated series will totally immerse viewers in the maniacal charm of Junji Ito.”
Wolf Pack – January 26 (Paramount+)
“Buffy the Vampire Slayer” legend Sarah Michelle Gellar stars in this Teen Wolf spinoff series. The series follows “a teenage boy, Everett (Armani Jackson), and a girl, Blake (Bella Shepard), whose lives are forever changed when a California wildfire awakens a terrifying supernatural creature. Wounded in the chaos of its attack, the teens are inexplicably drawn to each other and to two others, fraternal twins Harlan and Luna, who were adopted sixteen years earlier by a park ranger after another mysterious wildfire. As the full moon rises, all four teens come together to unravel the secret that connects them –the bite and blood of a werewolf.”
Lockwood & Co. – January 27 (Netflix)
Lockwood (Cameron Chapman), Lucy (Ruby Stokes) and George (Ali Hadji-Heshmati), photo credit: Netflix
Edgar Wright (Last Night in Soho, Shaun of the Dead) teamed up with Attack the Block director Joe Cornish for a supernatural YA series based on the novels of Jonathan Stroud. The series is set “in a world plagued by ghosts, three teens band together as paranormal investigators, risking what little they have to unravel a diabolical conspiracy.”
The Ark – February 1 (Syfy)
THE ARK — Episode 101 — Pictured: (l-r) Dominik Cicak as Harrison Beckner, Richard Fleeshman as Lt. James Brice, Reece Ritchie as Lt. Spencer Lane — (Photo by: Aleksandar Letic/Ark TV Holdings, Inc./SYFY)
Space travel never goes well in sci-fi and horror, which seems to be the case in Dean Devlin‘s upcoming SYFY series. The series “takes place 100 years in the future when planetary colonization missions have begun as a necessity to help secure the survival of the human race. The first of these missions on a spacecraft known as Ark One encounters a catastrophic event causing massive destruction and loss of life. With more than a year left to go before reaching their target planet, a lack of life-sustaining supplies, and loss of leadership, the remaining crew must become the best versions of themselves to stay on course and survive.”
Fatal Attraction – April 30 (Paramount+)
The series adaptation of Adrian Lyne’s Fatal Attraction is on the way, with Lizzy Caplan (“Castle Rock”) as female lead Alex Forrest and Joshua Jackson (“Dr. Death”) playing Dan Gallagher. “The series explores the timeless themes of marriage and infidelity through the lens of modern attitudes towards strong women, personality disorders, and coercive control.”
Amanda Peet (“The Chair”) and Dee Wallace (Cujo, The Lords of Salem) also star.
Hazbin Hotel – Summer 2023
The adult animated series “Hazbin Hotel” began as a pilot written, produced, and directed by Vivienne “VivziePop” Medrano that went viral when it premiered three years ago on YouTube. Medrano has teamed up with A24 and Bento Box Entertainment (“Bob’s Burgers”) for a new long-form series about Hell princess Charlie as she attempts to rehab Hell’s denizens and reduce overpopulation. While we don’t know where it’ll air just yet, we do know that the series will arrive this summer.
The Fall of the House of Usher – Fall TBD (Netflix)
Mike Flanagan‘s next series is Netflix’s “The Fall of the House of Usher,” based on the works of Edgar Allan Poe. The ensemble cast will include Carla Gugino (Gerald’s Game, “The Haunting of Hill House”), Mary McDonnell (Scream 4), Carl Lumbly (Doctor Sleep), Bruce Greenwood (Gerald’s Game), and Mark Hamill. Considering Netflix’s track record with Flanagan’s series, it’s safe to assume that this one is destined for a Halloween season release. Especially considering Flanagan previously said of the series, “It’s the closest I will get to Giallo.”
Gen V – TBD (Prime Video)
The live-action spinoff series of “The Boys” from Amazon Studios is set at America’s only college exclusively for young-adult superheroes (run by Vought International). It’s said to be “an irreverent, R-rated series that explores the lives of hormonal, competitive Supes as they put their physical, sexual, and moral boundaries to the test, competing for the best contracts in the best cities.” Expect crossover from the parent series. Jaz Sinclair, Chance Perdomo, Lizze Broadway, Shelley Conn, Maddie Phillips, London Thor, Derek Luh, Asa Germann, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Sean Patrick Thomas, Marco Pigossi, Clancy Brown, Alexander Calvert, and Jason Ritter star.
Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai – TBD (HBO Max)
The half-hour animated series from WB Animation and Amblin TV takes place in 1920s Shanghai and tells how 10-year-old Sam Wing met the young Mogwai called Gizmo. The voice cast includes Ming-Na Wen (“Agents of SHIELD,” “The Mandalorian,” Mulan), James Hong (Big Trouble in Little China, Blade Runner, Mulan), BD Wong (Jurassic World film franchise), and Izaac Wang. Live-action franchise star Zach Galligan will also lend his voice to the animated prequel series, only as a new character this time.
The Horror of Delores Roach – TBD (Prime Video)
The Horror of Dolores Roach podcast
The eight-episode, half-hour series is a contemporary Sweeney Todd-inspired tale based on the hit Gimlet podcast. The macabre urban legend of love, betrayal, weed, gentrification, cannibalism, and survival of the fittest stars Justina Machado (The Purge: Anarchy) in the title role. Marc Maron (“GLOW”), Jean Yoon, Judy Reyes (Smile), Jeffery Self (“Search Party”), and Cyndi Lauper will also appear in recurring roles. With this series now in post-production, it feels like a safe bet that it’ll arrive in 2023.
Scavengers Reign – TBD (HBO Max)
The plot follows “the surviving crew of a damaged deep space freighter who are stranded on a beautiful yet unforgiving planet. They begin to learn the true nature of this planet as they try to survive long enough to escape or be rescued.” Titmouse produces the series, the award-winning animation company behind “The Boys: Diabolical” and the upcoming Beavis and Butt-Head Do the Universe. “Scavengers Reign” is based on the short film “Scavengers,” which premiered on Adult Swim’s Toonami block in December 2016.
Twisted Metal – TBD (Peacock)
This high-octane action comedy from Zombieland and Deadpool duo Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick follows “Anthony Mackie as John Doe, a smart-ass milkman who talks as fast as he drives. With no memory of his past, John gets a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make his wish of finding community come true, but only if he can survive an onslaught of savage vehicular combat.” Neve Campbell, Stephanie Beatriz, and Thomas Haden Church also star.
Production wrapped on this video game adaptation series in September, making it highly probable that we’ll see it later this year. Stay tuned for more as we learn it.