17 HBO and Max Original Series to Get Excited for in 2024

“True Detective: Night Country”

Release Date: Sunday, January 14 at 9 p.m. ET
Cast: Jodie Foster, Kali Reis, Fiona Shaw, Finn Bennett, Isabella Star Lablanc, Aka Niviâna, Anna Lambe, Joel D. Montgrand, Christopher Eccleston, John Hawkes
Creator/Writer/Director: Issa López
What’s the Big Deal? “True Detective” is back! For many, that alone merits “big deal” status, but Season 4 of HBO’s anthology crime series also features more of a reset than usual. Nic Pizzolatto, who wrote the first three seasons and created the franchise, is no longer involved in the series (though he does maintain an executive producer credit), and writer/director/executive producer Issa López has taken the reins for “Night Country,” an Alaskan set season focused on a group of missing scientists and the unsolved, years-old case of a murdered woman. Jodie Foster and Kali Reis are your lead detectives, so settle in, stay warm, and let’s see if HBO can keep this franchise cookin’ with new creatives in the kitchen.

Read our review of “True Detective: Night Country,” along with coverage of each episode.

“The Regime”

Release Date: Sunday, March 3 at 9 p.m. ET
Cast: Kate Winslet, Matthias Schoenaerts, Guillaume Gallienne, Andrea Riseborough, Martha Plimpton, Hugh Grant
Showrunner: Will Tracy
Director: Stephen Frears
Writers: Seth Reiss, Sarah DaLappe, Gary Shteyngart, Jen Spyra, Juli Weiner
What’s the Big Deal? Kate Winslet doesn’t miss very often, but her track record is nothing short of immaculate at HBO. An Emmy winner for “Mildred Pierce” (2011) and “Mare of Easttown” (2021), Winslet is back for her third limited series at the network, this time with “Succession” writer Will Tracy leading the way and two-time Oscar nominee Stephen Frears directing all six episodes. Winslet plays the chancellor of a modern European nation whose tactics skew dictatorial with the help of an unstable chief of security (Matthias Schoenaerts). Once titled “The Palace,” we’ll find out this spring if Winslet can go three-for-three — at the Emmys, with HBO, and, most importantly, in our hearts.

Read our review of “The Regime,” as well as our full coverage of the limited series.

“The Sympathizer”

Release Date: Sunday, April 14 at 9 p.m. ET
Cast: Hoa Xuande, Fred Nguyen Khan, Toan Le, Ky Duyen, Sandra Oh, Robert Downey Jr.
Co-Showrunner/Director/Writer: Park Chan-wook
Co-Showrunner/Writer: Don McKellar
What’s the Big Deal? First and foremost, “The Sympathizer” brings together two elite talents: Author Viet Thanh Nguyen, whose 2015 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name is being adapted into this seven-part series, and Park Chan-wook, the four-time Palme d’Or nominee who’s directed “Oldboy,” “The Handmaiden,” and “Decision To Leave” (among other esteemed films). “The Sympathizer” marks Chan-wook’s second episodic spy story, following his American TV debut with the underseen but beautifully realized John le Carré adaptation, “Little Drummer Girl.” This time around, his lens will focus on a half-French, half-Vietnamese communist who, after the end of the Vietnam War, is sent to America to study and report back on the South Vietnamese exiles stationed there. Along the way, he’s recruited to help film a movie about the war (from a one-sided, very white point-of-view) and participate in various missions at the behest of his North Vietnamese handlers. Part immigration story, part war story, part espionage thriller (and surprisingly funny), “The Sympathizer” is the kind of ambitious undertaking best suited for an uncompromising filmmaker like Chan-wook. Here’s hoping everyone involved — including Robert Downey Jr. in half-a-dozen roles — can do right by the source material.

Read IndieWire’s review of “The Sympathizer,” as well as our interview with Park Chan-wook.

“Jerrod Carmichael: Reality Show”

Release Date: Friday, March 29 at 9 p.m. ET
Cast: Jerrod Carmichael, family, and friends
Creators: Jerrod Carmichael
What’s the Big Deal? In his first project since the Emmy-winning stand-up special “Rothaniel,” Jerrod Carmichael stars in a documentary series/reality show about his life after coming out. The teaser, shown at an HBO press day in November 2023, highlighted tricky conversations with his family, as well as Carmichael going on dates, hanging with friends, and pondering how life as an out gay man changes how people see him — and how he sees himself. Vulnerable, meta, and very funny, Carmichael’s next HBO entry looks to be just as exciting as his last.

Read IndieWire’s review of “Jerrod Carmichael: Reality Show.”

“The Franchise”

Release Date: TBA Fall 2024
Cast: Billy Magnussen, Himesh Patel, Aya Cash, Jessica Hynes, Darren Goldstein, Lolly Adefope, Isaac Cole Powell, Daniel Brühl, Richard E. Grant
Creators: Armando Iannucci, Sam Mendes
What’s the Big Deal? Anytime the creator of “Veep” (and “In the Loop,” and “The Thick of It,” and “The Death of Stalin,” and “Avenue 5”) cooks up something new, it’s a big f’n deal. His latest caustic satire comes with a meta spin, as “The Franchise” chronicles the production of a big-budget superhero film from the perspectives of those making it. (The idea for the series came from Sam Mendes, who’s got a bit of experience with tentpole moviemaking himself, after directing two James Bond films.) You’ve got your artistic-minded director (Daniel Brühl), muscular leading man (Billy Magnussen), no-nonsense workhorse (Himesh Patel), and various other cast and crew members, all tasked with carving out never-before-seen thrills from a corporate-mandated I.P. excavation. Can they pull it off? What will “success” cost them, both literally and figuratively? And how many winks and nods toward HBO’s parent company, which owns a little superhero shop called DC Entertainment, can we expect? All great reasons to watch, even if all you really need is Iannucci’s name.

“Curb Your Enthusiasm” Season 12

Release Date: Sunday, February 2 at 10 p.m. ET
Cast: Larry David, Jeff Garlin, Susie Essman, Cheryl Hines, J.B. Smoove, Richard Lewis, Ted Danson, Vince Vaughn, Tracey Ullman
Creator: Larry David
Executive Producers: Larry David, Jeff Schaffer, Jeff Garlin
What’s the Big Deal? After enduring years of questions about when “Curb Your Enthusiasm” will end (again), Larry David finally relented — Season 12 will be his last. As far as final seasons go, what’s exciting about “Curb’s” is that anything can happen. David keeps a tight lid on plot points, and there’s no guarantee storylines from previous seasons will continue in new episodes. So kick back and get excited — it’s hard to find truly surprising television in 2024, and you’ll never find another show like “Curb.”

For more on “Curb Your Enthusiasm’s” final season, read IndieWire’s review and further coverage.

“The Jinx” Part Two

Release Date: TBA Spring 2024
Cast: Robert Durst
Director: Andrew Jarecki
What’s the Big Deal? If you saw “The Jinx,” then you already have your answer — a sequel to one of the most consequential documentary series ever made is a pretty big deal. Having the original director, Andrew Jarecki, back behind the camera is huge, and he’s honing his lens (and microphones) on convicted killer Robert Durst once again. “The Jinx” Part Two picks up shortly after Durst’s 2015 arrest in New Orleans, as the filmmakers continue their investigation for the next eight years, “uncovering hidden material, Durst’s prison calls, and interviews with people who had never before come forward.” Given the explosion of true crime documentaries since its premiere, not to mention the controversy surrounding the shocking finale confession, you better believe the TV world will be tuning in to see what Jarecki has to say with his sequel.

For more on “The Jinx” Season 2, read IndieWire’s full report on the announcement.

“House of the Dragon” Season 2

Release Date: June 2024
Returning Cast: Matt Smith, Olivia Cooke, Emma D’Arcy, Eve Best, Steve Toussaint, Fabien Frankel, Ewan Mitchell, Tom Glynn-Carney, Sonoya Mizuno, Rhys Ifans
New Cast: Abubakar Salim, Gayle Rankin, Freddie Fox, Simon Russell Beale, Clinton Liberty, Jamie Kenna, Kieran Bew, Tom Bennett, Tom Taylor, Vincent Regan
Creators: Ryan Condal (showrunner), George R.R. Martin
What’s the Big Deal? Dragons, I guess? I kid, though only slightly. HBO’s most profitable franchise roared back to life when the prequel series, “House of the Dragon,” tempted tens of millions of fans back to Westeros, and the network only expects a rise in demand after the positive reception to Season 1. “Game of Thrones” fever is still hot, hot, hot. We’ll see if the eight-episode second season can keep the fire blazing.

Watch the teaser-trailer for “House of the Dragon” Season 2 here.

“My Brilliant Friend” Season 4

Release Date: TBA Summer 2024
Cast: Alba Rohrwacher (as Elena Greco), Irene Maiorino (as Lila Cerullo), Fabrizio Gifuni (as Nino Sarratore)
Creator: Saverio Costanzo
What’s the Big Deal? It’s the fourth and final season of HBO’s widely acclaimed adaptation of Elena Ferrante’s books, closing with the last entry in the quadrilogy, “The Story of the Lost Child.” Spanning more than 60 years of friendship between Elena and Lila, the epic yet intimate drama series — told in Italian — is a remarkable journey in both scope and subtlety, covering key moments in history alongside the moving developments of its two primary subjects. For those who’ve been on board from the start, it will be an emotional send-off. And for those who have yet to dig in, well, just give yourself some time to process each season. There’s a lot to appreciate.

“Industry” Season 3

Release Date: TBA Summer 2024
Cast: Myha’la, Marisa Abela, Mark Dexter, David Jonsson, Harry Lawtey, Conor MacNeill, Ken Leung, Andrew Buchan, Sarah Goldberg, Kit Harington
Creators: Mickey Down, Konrad Kay
What’s the Big Deal? The young traders of Pierpoint & Co. have had a rocky first few years, but “Industry” has only gotten better with age. Set in the London office of an international bank, the hourlong drama tracks aspiring Scrooge McDucks as they manage the sleazy, criminal-adjacent businesspeople they’re forced to regularly work with by making savvy money moves and, quite often, showing them a good time — that means snorting coke, drinking heavily, and having as much sex as humanly possible, all while passing for respectable, trusted, financial advisors. “Industry” addresses the financial world’s pressing need for change while emphasizing just how difficult it is to curtail bad behavior when it’s so firmly tied to literal fortunes. Season 3 introduces a pair of HBO favorites to keep everyone on their toes: Kit Harington and Sarah Goldberg, in yet to be divulged roles.

“Somebody Somewhere” Season 3

Release Date: TBA 2024
Cast: Bridget Everett, Jeff Hiller, Mary Catherine Garrison, Murray Hill, Jane Brody, Mercedes White, Kailey Albus, Meighan Gerachis, Tim Bagley, Jennifer Mudge, Barbara Robertson
Creators: Hannah Bos and Paul Thureen
Executive Producers: Bridget Everett, Carolyn Strauss, Jay Duplass, Mark Duplass, Mel Eslyn
What’s the Big Deal? A poignant comedy absolutely bursting with love, Hannah Bos and Paul Thureen’s HBO series enters its third season with a core group of beloved characters and plenty of room to see where life takes them. Everett stars as Sam, whose hesitancy over returning to her hometown in Kansas (following the death of her sister) has been topped by the friends she’s made since returning. Chief among them is Joel (Jeff Hiller), and the duo’s platonic bond has provided as many moving moments as quick hits of happiness across two seasons. If you haven’t given this a shot yet, don’t hold out any longer. “Somebody Somewhere” is here to make lives better.

“The Penguin”

Release Date: TBA Fall 2024
Cast: Colin Farrell, Cristin Milioti, Rhenzy Felix, Michael Kelly, Shohreh Aghdashloo, Deirdre O’Connell
Showrunner: Lauren LeFranc
Director: Craig Zobel
Executive Producers: Matt Reeves, Dylan Clark, Colin Farrell, Bill Carraro, Lauren LeFranc, Craig Zobel
What’s the Big Deal? As we move into the Max original programming part of our 2024 preview, it’s best we start off with the streamer’s most curious piece of I.P. extension. “The Penguin” picks up shortly after the events of Matt Reeves’ 2022 feature film, “The Batman,” and follows Colin Farrell’s burgeoning criminal mastermind as he rises in the ranks of Gotham’s grimey underworld. Billed as a crima saga, the eight-episode limited series will test the strength of DC Entertainment’s new branding — gone is the DCEU, but before James Gunn’s new universe arrives with “Superman: Legacy,” the DC Elseworlds brand (projects with DC characters that aren’t part of the serialized DCU narrative) will be tested with its first extension into TV. Audiences were happy with a “Gotham” story without Batman, so why not a Penguin story, too?

Watch the trailer for “The Penguin” here.

“Conan O’Brien Must Go”

Release Date: Thursday, April 18
Cast/Creator: Conan O’Brien
What’s the Big Deal? I mean, it’s Conan! Back on TV! Doing an extended version of his travel specials! What more could you ask for? Just watch the trailer already.

“Tokyo Vice” Season 2

Release Date: Thursday, February 8
Cast: Ken Watanabe, Ansel Elgort, Rinko Kikuchi, Rachel Keller, Show Kasamatsu, Ayumi Ito, Yosuke Kubozuka, Miki Maya
Creator: J.T. Rogers
What’s the Big Deal? Following its gripping first season (with a tone-setting pilot directed by Michael Mann), “Tokyo Vice” is primed to take off by doubling down. Now that American reporter Jake Adelstein has established his reputation on the Tokyo crime beat, Season 2 can delve deeper into the criminal underworld he’s brave enough to cover. That undoubtedly means more trouble for Jake, Samantha (Rachel Keller), Sato (Show Kasamatsu), Emi (Rinko Kikuchi), and Hiroto (Ken Watanabe), all of whom left the first season a little worse for wear already. Shot entirely in Tokyo and co-produced by WOWOW, Japan’s premiere pay TV broadcaster, the series felt a tad overlooked when it originally premiered in June 2022. But Season 2 is well-positioned to become must-see TV.

Read our review of “Tokyo Vice” Season 2.

“Hacks” Season 3

Release Date: Thursday, May 2
Cast: Jean Smart, Hannah Einbinder, Carl Clemons-Hopkins, Jane Adams, Christopher McDonald, Kaitlin Olson, Paul W. Downs, Poppy Liu, Rose Abdoo, Mark Indelicato, Meg Stalter
Creators: Paul W. Downs, Lucia Aniello, Jen Statsky
What’s the Big Deal? Despite a few misreadings of its Season 2 finale, “Hacks” is nowhere near done. Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder are back for a third season of their Emmy-winning comedy series, created by “Broad City” veterans Paul W. Downs, Lucia Aniello, and Jen Statsky, who are tasked with answering the big question looming over Season 3: What will bring Deborah Vance (Smart) and Ava Daniels (Einbinder) back together? Their collaboration on Deborah’s stand-up special proved hugely successful — with DVDs selling out in minutes and a bidding war underway for the streaming rights — but now the employer/employee relationship has been severed. Deborah fired Ava, ostensibly to allow the young writer to pave her own way, but more so as a protective measure, so Ava wouldn’t be able to “dump” Deborah down the line. Can they find a way forward together, or will Season 3 see our favorite comedy duo going toe-to-toe? Either way, we can’t wait to find out.

“The Sex Lives of College Girls” Season 3

Release Date: TBA Summer 2024
Cast: Pauline Chalamet, Amrit Kaur, Alyah Chanelle Scott, Christopher Meyer, Ilia Isorelys Paulino, Renika Williams
Creators: Mindy Kaling, Justin Noble
What’s the Big Deal? Setting aside the limitations of a show set at (and tied by its title to) college, “The Sex Lives of College Girls” is the kind of coming-of-age story that should run for 100 episodes, minimum. Smart and fun, Mindy Kaling and Justin Noble’s Max original is rooted in camaraderie. It leans on its core cast to bring each endearing character to life, and through two seasons, the results speak for themselves. Heading into Season 3, the main question is how the show adjusts to Reneé Rapp’s departure. She’s signed on to recur this year, before bowing out of the series entirely, which should provide ample room for dynamics to adjust, but will still require a significant pivot for a series based around four leads.

“Dune: Prophecy”

Release Date: TBA Fall 2024
Cast: Emily Watson, Olivia Williams, Jodhi May, Sarah-Sofie Boussnina, Shalom Brune-Franklin, Faoileann Cunningham, Aoife Hinds, Chloe Lea, Travis Fimmel, Mark Strong
Showrunner: Alison Schapker
What’s the Big Deal? A prequel to the Warner Bros. movie franchise and the novel they’re based on, “Dune: Prophecy” takes place 10,000 years before Timmy Chalamet learned to ride sandworms. Little white princes aren’t really a priority at all, really, as the series studies the origins of the Bene Gesserit — a sisterhood that gains political power after its members teach themselves how to wield superhuman powers and abilities. Behind the scenes, there’s been a bit of reshuffling: Denis Villeneuve was originally expected to direct, before production on his film sequels got in the way. Johan Renck replaced him, but he, too, left the production, which also saw one of its showrunners drop out (Diane Ademu-John) and one of its original cast members (Shirley Henderson). How it all comes together — and if audiences still crave more of “Dune’s” very particular spice — remains to be seen.

What’s Coming in 2025

“The Last of Us” Season 2

“The White Lotus” Season 3

“Euphoria” Season 3

“Welcome To Derry” (pictured)

“And Just Like That” Season 3