Looking ahead at the month exemplifies the idea of Peak TV at its most hectic. With so many quality shows coming out, it can be challenging to decide which ones to focus on, especially when so many options are new releases (though “Atlanta” fans will be happy to know that season three is soon on the way.) It’s telling to see trends in narratives being told, with series such as “The Dropout,” “Joe vs. Carole,” and “The Girl From Plainville” all ripped from the headlines stories which have, in some way, been in our pop-culture orbit for a few years now.
Streaming services still reign supreme, with few notable series released on standard networks. It’s also a big month for star power invading the television space, though those lines have been blurred for years now as well. In just one, both we’ll have an adaptation of one of the most popular video games, one of a critically acclaimed novel, and, if all else fails, the latest addition to the Marvel television series with “Moon Knight.”
“The Dropout“
Amanda Seyfried stars in the upcoming miniseries for Hulu, “The Dropout” as disgraced entrepreneur Elizabeth Holmes. Originally meant to be played by Kate McKinnon, Seyfried ended up taking on the role that documents Holmes’s rise and fall as her fraudulent crimes come into the light. “New Girl” showrunner Elizabeth Meriwether is behind the series, with Michael Showalter (“The Big Sick“) listed as principal director of the series. Based on the podcast of the same name by Rebecca Jarvis, the series will also star Naveen Andrews (“Sense8,”), William H. Macy (“Shameless,”), and Laurie Metcalf (“Lady Bird“) in supporting roles (read our glowing review here).
Release Date: The series premieres March 3 on Hulu.
“Joe vs. Carole“
There’s no escaping the story of “The Tiger King,” a documentary series that aired in 2020. Now, it’s being made into a narrative television series with John Cameron Mitchell (“Hedwig and the Angry Inch“) and Kate McKinnon (“SNL“) taking on the titular Joe and Carole, respectively. Most will already know portions of their story. If not, “Joe vs. Carole” will update viewers as it tracks Carole Baskin and Joe Exotic in their ten-year feud as they become sworn enemies following the latter having his livelihood threatened. Kyle MacLachlan (“Twin Peaks: The Return“) and Nat Wolff (“Mainstream“) also star.
Release Date: The series premieres March 3 on Peacock.
“Our Flag Means Death“
Creator David Jenkins (“People of Earth“) has assembled a crew of excellent comedic forces for his series airing on HBO Max. The period comedy, semi-based on the story of Stede Bonnet, an aristocrat who abandons his life of comfort to become a pirate, stars Rhys Darby, Taika Waititi, and Kristian Nairn with recurring roles from Fred Armisen and Leslie Jones. Our critic praised the ensemble cast, writing, “The best parts of the early episodes have the energy of Aardman’s clever “The Pirates! A Band of Misfits,” such as when the crew each design handmade flags for their ship or the consistently funny Joel Fry singing a little shanty about how they’re all going to die.”
Release Date: Season one premieres March 3 on HBO Max.
“Pieces of Her“
Toni Collette returns to television following her 2019 turn in “Unbelievable” with “Pieces of Her,” which follows a woman who must piece together her mother’s dark past after a violent attack on her small town. The series is based on the 2018 novel of the same name from author Karin Slaughter and created by Charlotte Stoudt. Bella Heathcote (“Professor Marston and the Wonder Women“) will play Collette’s daughter, who witnesses the violent act and seeks to discover the truth behind her mother’s past. David Wenham (“Lion“) and Joe Dempsie (“Game of Thrones“) also star.
Release Date: Season one premieres March 4 on Netflix.
“Winning Time“
Adam McKay refuses to slow down, demonstrated by his Executive Producer credit on one of the more popular series in recent years with “Succession” and his divisive Netflix hit “Don’t Look Up.” Next on the docket for him, “Winning Time” reunited him with his “Step Brothers” star John C. Reilly as he steps behind the camera to direct several episodes of the latest HBO series. Created by Max Borenstein and Jim Hecht and based on the book “Showtime: Magic, Kareem, Riley, and the Los Angeles Lakers Dynasty of the 1980s” by Jeff Pearlman, the series follows the rise of the NBA Lakers, Dr. Jerry Buss, and Magic Johnson. Alongside Reily stars Jason Clarke and Quincy Isaiah (read our review).
Release Date: Season one premieres March 6 on HBO.
“The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey“
Samuel L. Jackson gets the spotlight in the upcoming series for Apple TV+, “The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey.” Based on the same name from author Walter Mosely, the drama series is helmed by “99 Holmes” director Ramin Bahrani. The 73-year-old Jackson is aged up for the role, as he plays a lonely 93-year-old man who has dementia who, while temporarily able to remember his past, uses this time to investigate the death of his nephew. Dominique Fishback (“Judas and the Black Messiah,”) Walter Goggins (“The Righteous Gemstones“), and Marsha Stephanie Blake (“This Is Us,”) also star.
Release Date: The series premieres March 11 on Apple TV+.
“Minx“
Created by Ellen Rapoport, “Minx” promises an under-the-radar gem of a comedy series starring Ophelia Lovibond (“Elementary“) and Jake Johnson (“New Girl.”) Set in the 1970s, a young feminist from Los Angeles joins forces with a low-rent publisher to create the first women’s erotic magazine. Idara Victor (“Shameless,”) and Michael Angarano (“This Is Us,”) also star in the series, and the first episode is helmed by “Unpregnant” director Rachel Lee Goldenberg.
Release Date: Season one premieres March 17 on HBO Max.
“Life & Beth“
After stepping out of the spotlight for a few years, comedian Amy Schumer has been making a quiet comeback, first with last year’s film “The Humans” and now with the television series “Life & Beth,” which she headlines. After a sudden incident, Schumer plays Beth, who begins to evaluate her life and the successful career and long-term relationship that make up most of it. The show will delve into her past, with Violet Young playing young Beth in her teenage years. The comedy series also stars Michael Cera, Michael Rappaport, Kevin Kane, and Susannah Flood.
Release Date: Season one premieres March 18 on Hulu.
“WeCrashed“
The latest in a string of television shows about individuals scamming their way into positions of power only to watch it fall to pieces around them, “WeCrashed,” is based on the podcast “WeCrashed: The Rise and Fall of WeWork.” Anne Hathaway and Jared Leto star as Rebekah and Adam Neumann, whose chaotic love story fueled one of the world’s most valuable startups. The series was created and written by Lee Eisenberg (“Little America“) and Drew Crivello and will premiere a portion of the series at this year’s SXSW.
Release Date: The series premieres March 18 on Apple TV+.
“Atlanta“
The highly anticipated third season of FX’s “Atlanta” will make its premiere at this year’s SXSW before debuting later this month. It’s been nearly four years since the series – considered one of the best of the last decade – has been on the air, with Donald Glover, LaKeith Stanfield, Brian Tyree Henry, and Zazie Beetz continuing to see their stars rise without projects. Season three will continue where the second left off as the group supports Henry’s character as he tries to find continued success in the music scene. The show has reportedly shot the third and fourth season back to back, ensuring that the wait for the final season won’t be quite as long as the last.
Release Date: Season three premieres March 24 on FX.
“Halo“
Following the box office success of the Tom Holland-led “Uncharted” comes the latest in video game adaptations with “Halo” from creators Kyle Killen (“Lone Star“) and Steven Kane (“Curb Your Enthusiasm“) and executively produced by Steven Spielberg. Already renewed for a second season before the series premiere, the show follows the character Master Chief (played by “American Gods” actor Pablo Schreiber), a cybernetically enhanced super-soldier who is tasked with defending humanity from the alien Covenant in the 26th century. Natascha McElhone (“Designated Survivor,”), Charlie Murphy (“Peaky Blinders,”), and Bokeem Woodbine (“Fargo“) also star.
Release Date: Season one premieres March 24 on Paramount+
“Pachinko“
Based on the enormously popular novel from author Min Jin Lee, “Pachinko” is one of the most highly-anticipated series of the upcoming months due to its incredible talent both in front of and behind the scenes. Oscar-winning Youn Yuh-Jung (“Minari“) stars in the series, which chronicles a Korean immigrant family across four generations, stemming from when they first leave their homeland in a quest of hope and survival that spans from Korea to Japan and the United States. Lee Min-ho, Jin Ha, and Jung Eun-Chae also star. Konogonda, who already has a big month with the release of his film “After Yang,” shares directing duties with “Blue Bayou” director Justin Chon.
Release Date: The series premieres March 25 on Apple TV+.
“Bridgerton“
Following the massive success of the first season and launching the career of breakout star Regé-Jean Page, season two of Netflix’s “Bridgerton” has a high bar to reach, especially with the departure of Page. Created by Chris Van Dusen, season two will follow Lord Anthony Bridgerton (Jonathan Bailey) as he tries to find a wife. The cast includes Simone Ashley, Charithra Chandran, Nicola Coughlan, etc. Ashley and Chandra are new additions to the Shonda Rhimes produced project as two sisters who have just arrived from India, with Ashley’s Kate and Bailey’s Anthony set up for the central romance.
Release Date: Season two premieres March 25 on Netflix.
“The Girl From Plainville“
Following her incredible work in season two of Hulu’s “The Great,” Elle Fanning pivots to a much different, ripped from the headlines project. Fanning plays Michelle Carter, who was convicted for involuntary manslaughter for the death of Conrad Roy III, her boyfriend, whose suicide was linked to texts between the two of them. The true-crime series is created by Liz Hannah (“The Post“) and Patrick Macmanus and stars Colton Ryan and Chloë Sevigny.
Release Date: The series premieres March 29 on Hulu.
“Moon Knight“
Perhaps the most challenging source material to adapt thus far in the Marvel Universe, “Moon Knight,” starring Oscar Isaac and Ethan Hawke, is the latest television series from the studio to premiere on Disney+. The series follows Steven Grant, who suffers from dissociative identity disorder, as he investigates a deadly mystery involving Egyptian gods with his multiple identities, including Steven Grant. Created by Jeremy Slater (“The Umbrella Academy,”) the direction is led by Mohamed Diab for four episodes, with filmmaking duo Justin Benson and Aaron Moorehead brought on to direct two. May Calamawy (“Ramy”) will also star.
Release Date: Season one premieres March 30 on Disney+.
“Julia“
The second project about Julia Child is to be released in two years – both of which share the same name – HBO Max’x series “Julia” arrives on the heels of last year’s documentary from Julie Cohen and Betsy West. The series, led by Sarah Lancashire (“Happy Valley“) as the titular character with David Hyde Pierce, Brittany Bradford, Isabella Rossellini, Judith Light, and more rounding out the all-star cast, explores the life of television chef Julia Child who pioneered the cooking-show genre.
Release Date: Season one premieres March 31 on HBO Max.
