With leading names behind the camera and in front of it, these new series already have people talking, long before their arrival on the air. For those whose New Year's resolutions do not include spending less time in front of the small screen, here is a selection of ten new must-see series to look forward to throughout 2015.
Better Call Saul
After bidding farewell to their favorite program in September 2013, "Breaking Bad" fans will soon reunite with some of its characters in a spin-off. Walter White and Jesse Pinkman will not necessarily be in the picture, but their shady lawyer Saul Goodman, played by Bob Odenkirk, should help to make up for their absence. Viewers will learn about his life prior to meeting the two meth dealers, starting six years earlier, when his name was still Jimmy McGill.
Battle Creek
There is some impressive star power in this new CBS police series, both behind the scenes and on the screen. Hailing from Vince Gilligan and David Shore (the creators of "Breaking Bad" and "House MD," respectively), the show will debut with an episode directed by Bryan Singer. Josh Duhamel and Dean Winters co-star as two detectives who have opposing worldviews but are forced to work together to tackle crime in Battle Creek, Michigan.
Bloodline
An introspective psychological thriller, this new production from the creators of "Damages" revolves around themes of competition, jealousy and betrayal among brothers and sisters. The siblings' secrets and private wounds come to light when one of their own, the black sheep of the family, returns to the fold. Netflix has compiled an all-star cast for the drama, including Kyle Chandler, Sam Shepard and Sissy Spacek.
Wayward Pines
Following in the footsteps of "Twin Peaks," M. Night Shyamalan's first small-screen project will combine suspense and crime drama with fantasy elements. Matt Dillon, Melissa Leo, Terrence Howard, Juliette Lewis, Carla Gugino and Toby Jones are cast in this miniseries, which will center on a federal agent's complex investigation into the disappearance of two colleagues in a strange town in Idaho. Soon after his arrival, Agent Ethan Burke comes to realize that getting out of Wayward Pines will not be an easy task.
The drama will debut May 14 on Fox and simultaneously in 125 countries worldwide.
Daredevil
The first series resulting from Marvel and Netflix's recent tie-up, "Daredevil" will join a growing roster of superhero productions for the small screen. Following in the footsteps of Ben Affleck, who starred in a movie adaptation of the comic, Charlie Cox portrays Matt Murdoch, a blind lawyer by day who by night becomes Daredevil, a superhero with enhanced senses. Vincent D'Onofrio and Rosario Dawson also feature in the series, which will be followed in the coming years by three others dedicated to other Marvel heroes -- Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, Iron Fist -- and an event mini-series on "The Defenders," a group that will likely unite the four superheroes.
True Detective - Season Two
While not a new series, technically speaking, HBO's crime anthology show will take on an entirely new cast and setting for its second cycle, echoing the format of "American Horror Story," among others. The decor has moved from Louisiana to California, and Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson have given way to a cast with similarly renowned names. Colin Farrell, Vince Vaughn, Rachel McAdams, Kelly Reilly and Taylor Kitsch will pick up the baton with a new investigation in 2015.
Scream
The new spin-off on Wes Craven's franchise reflects two separate trends taking over the American airwaves: movie-to-series adaptations and horror series. So far, no plot details have been revealed regarding the 10 episodes ordered so far. But fans of the "Scream" movies shouldn't be disappointed, as the project is headed up by Wes Craven himself, who is a producer of the project.
Martin Scorsese's rock 'n' roll series
When Martin Scorsese, Mick Jagger, Terence Winter and HBO work hand in hand on a new musical series, the result is bound to be interesting, to say the least. Their untitled project has piqued the curiosity of viewers and critics alike. Set in the music industry of the 1970s, the drama will center on Richie, the founder and president of a New York record label with an ear for fresh, promising talent. Bobby Cannavale plays this title character and is joined by Olivia Wilde, Ray Romano, Juno Temple and James Jagger, the son of the Rolling Stones front man. With its star-studded cast and top-notch production team, it's no surprise the show is among the most eagerly anticipated of 2015.
The rock 'n' roll drama is due to arrive on HBO before the end of the year.
Sense8
Sci-fi fans are likely to be more interested in the latest project from Lana and Andy Wachowski, the directors of "The Matrix" and "Cloud Atlas." The story will follow eight strangers in different locations around the world, who find themselves mentally and emotionally linked to one another after a tragic death.
While attempting to understand what is happening to them, these individuals must also escape from the organization trying to eliminate them. The drama will feature Daryl Hannah, who played the mermaid in "Splash" and Elle Driver in "Kill Bill I & II," and Naveen Andrews, known for playing Sayid on "Lost."
Westworld
J.J. Abrams, Jonathan Nolan, Anthony Hopkins, Ed Harris, Evan Rachel Wood, Thandie Newton, James Mardsen, Miranda Otto and Jeffrey Wright... there is no shortage of prestige in the credits of this HBO project. Inspired by Michael Crichton's 1973 feature, the series will be based on the same premise, depicting a futuristic theme park where life-like robots allow visitors to time-travel virtually.
AFP RELAXNEWS
Tue Jan 06 2015
"Battle Creek" will mark the return to TV of Josh Duhamel. - AFP Photo
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