Disney+ and Hulu's 2026 revival series, Malcolm in the Middle: Life's Still Unfair, revealed the newest addition to Hal and Lois' family. After becoming a major influence for multiple modern-day stories, Malcolm in the Middle made its way back this year, adding its first new chapter since Season 7 aired in 2006. Two decades later, Malcolm's family is still just as crazy as ever.

Malcolm in the Middle: Life's Still Unfair featured Vaughan Murrae as a new character in this show's long-running story, Kelly. Appearing in all four episodes of the 2026 revival series (one of the biggest Disney+ series of the year), Kelly is Hal and Lois' sixth child and their first daughter after having five sons in the original show: Francis (Christopher Masterson), Reese (Justin Berfield), Malcolm (Frankie Muniz), Dewey (Caleb Ellsworth-Clark), and Jamie (Anthony Timpano).

Kelly was revealed in the series finale of the original Malcolm in the Middle (Season 7, Episode 22) from 2006. The show concluded with Hal and Lois revealing that Lois was pregnant once again.

The Pitt Season 2, Episode 14 finally pulled back the curtain on Dr. Baran Al-Hashimi's (Sepideh Moafi) long-hidden condition, catching Dr. Michael "Robby" Robinavich (Noah Wyle) completely off guard. Season 2 of HBO Max's medical drama introduced Dr. Al-Hashimi as the new Chief Attending of the Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center (PTMC), working alongside Dr. Robby, during the Fourth of July weekend shift. Dr. Al-Hashimi delivered innovations in the Emergency Department, such as AI-assisted charting to reduce the burden on healthcare workers. However, her rule-oriented style clashed with Robby's more intuitive approach, making her a divisive figure in The Pitt. 

The Pitt Season 2, however, revealed that something is wrong with Dr. Al-Hashimi, as she freezes or zones out during pivotal moments, such as treating Baby Jane Doe and another patient. Dr. Robby took notice, and she finally came clean to him. 

As it turned out, the ending of The Pitt Season 2, Episode 14 confirmed that Dr. Al-Hashimi has a long-standing seizure order, which explains the lagging, pausing, or freezing moments viewers and her peers have noticed when she treats a patient. 

Following the announcement that For All Mankind will end with its sixth and final season, fans have once again been holding on to one key theory about the show: that eventually, the timeline will reach the point that the human race makes first contact with alien life. 

For All Mankind is one of Apple TV's biggest shows, following an alternate timeline of the international space race in which the Russians reach the moon first. Each season jumps ahead 10 years, giving each set of episodes a new feel and presenting plenty of fresh storytelling opportunities for its narrative and characters.

At WonderCon 2026, The Direct attended roundtable interviews with some of the filmmakers and stars of Apple TV's For All Mankind Season 5, which premiered on March 27. One of the most interesting tidbits came from the show's co-showrunner, Ben Nedivi, who addressed common fan theories that the series could eventually reach first contact with aliens.

Over the course of its animated adaptation, Invincible has made several changes from the comics, including the races of its characters. However, the series has yet to deviate from any major events or when they take place in the timeline.

That changed in Season 4, Episode 6, "You Look Horrible," when Nolan informed Mark after he awoke from his coma that it had only been "almost two months." However, in the comics, Mark took much longer to recover, which means he'll return to Earth far sooner than expected.

The events of the Viltrumite War are far more condensed in the animated series than in the comics, which could affect multiple storylines moving forward, including Nolan's reconciliation with Debbie over what he did as Omni-Man.

Invincible Season 4, Episode 6 revealed an unexpected new design for Mark Grayson following his brutal battle with Conquest. The Viltrumite War has already begun in the brand-new season of the hit animated Prime Video series, meaning that deaths and major injuries are bound to happen. Mark suffered a devastating blow in Episode 5, even though he finally killed Conquest. This placed him in a coma, with Nolan and Oliver working hard to bring him back to health. 

Invincible Season 4, Episode 6 confirmed that Mark spent roughly two months in a healing coma on an alien rock. As time passed, Mark looked noticeably different, with his hair and beard growing longer and uneven. 

Mark Grayson's brand-new look marks the character's fifth design change in the Invincible animated series. 

The Boys Season 5 brought back Soldier Boy (Jensen Ackles) in Episode 2, but only to seemingly kill him again in a shocking twist ending. The second episode of the final season of the Prime Video superhero series culminated with Billy Butcher (Karl Urban) and the Boys testing the supe-killing virus against members of the Teenage Kix (The Boys' answer to Young Justice). However, their plan is slightly derailed when Homelander sends Soldier Boy to track them down and eliminate them. 

The Boys Season 5, Episode 2's climactic battle showed the team luring Soldier Boy and young supe Jetstreak into the Teenage Kix headquarters, unaware that Rock Hard was already trapped inside. The sealed environment allowed The Boys to unleash the virus inside the headquarters, killing off Rock Hard and Jetstreak outright from the exposure.

Soldier Boy, who is far more durable and one of the strongest characters in The Boys, still experienced symptoms of the virus, including skin lesions, coughing, and severe illness. While he managed to fight the effects longer, Soldier Boy eventually passed out, seemingly dying from the exposure to the virus. 

The Boys Season 5 has begun on Amazon Prime Video, but Ryan Butcher's absence so far has left many fans puzzled about his fate, which all links back to his twist decision in the Season 4 finale. The supe seres' final season launched with a two-episode premiere that sees the Boys breaking out of prison, plotting to test their supe-killing virus against Teenage Kix, and fighting Soldier Boy.

The Boys has been delivering season finale twists for Ryan since Season 1, which confirmed he was alive and in hiding with his mother, Becca Butcher, at a secret Vought compound. He went on to accidentally kill his loving mother at Season 2's climax while trying to defend her from Stormfront. By Season 3's conclusion, Ryan left with his father, Homelander, turning his back on Billy Butcher.

What Happened to Ryan In The Boys Season 4 (And Leading Into Season 5)

In the latest episode of Invincible, Oliver and Nolan spent some long-needed quality time together while Mark recovered from his second death-match with Conquest. However, as Nolan talked with Oliver, his son said something a little concerning.

When Nolan referred to Oliver's home as Earth, he told his father otherwise, telling him, "I don't know if I'd call Earth home," and that he still felt "different from everyone else there. Even Mark." While Oliver mentioned the friends he made in Season 3 as a kid, because of his physiology, he outgrew them fast, which was "weird" for him and his former friends.

Oliver's apathy toward Earth and its people is concerning because it foreshadows an impending conflict over a decision that will determine humanity's fate forever.

The first look at Paradise Season 3 emerged online, confirming the return of two (newly reunited) major characters. Hulu's original post-apocalyptic series is designed as a three-season story by creator Dan Fogelman, meaning that the show's story will soon culminate in an explosive third season. Paradise Season 2 raised the stakes by introducing the concept of time travel and alternate realities driven by a dangerous supercomputer named Alex, capable of manipulating time itself.

Following the cliffhanger ending of Paradise Season 2, where the original bunker is destroyed in an explosion that left Sinatra dead, Paradise creator Dan Fogelman shared a spoiler-filled look at Season 3, showcasing the first look at Xavier and Teri Collins seemingly using an abandoned cabin as a safe haven. 

In the previous episode of Invincible, "Give Us a Moment," Mark Grayson was finally able to put down Conquest. In the follow-up, "You Look Horrible," Nolan gave him a grave, seemingly confirming the Viltrumite's fate.

However, the post-credit scene gave some audiences a scare, framing his grave with ominous music, as if his fist would erupt from the earth at any second, only to turn it into a subversive joke at the expense of knowledgeable comic readers. It stays true to the source material, with Conquest never getting a second chance, but that doesn't mean it's the last time audiences will see the lonely Viltrumite.

Mark had to deal with the consequences of leaving Angstrom Levy alive last season, which ended with evil variants of himself attacking the planet. That's where their story and Conquest's return coincide.

The Boys Season 5 will officially introduce a new superhero team that could be the franchise's dark, satirical answer to DC's Young Justice. The cast of the final season of the hit Prime Video series is growing, with several new additions and exciting special appearances expected to take center stage, including Supernatural stars Jared Padalecki and Misha Collins, and the return of main Gen V characters like Marie Moreau and Jordan Li. Ahead of its Season 5 premiere, The Boys confirmed that another chaotic group will also take part in the final season: Teenage Kix. 

The Boys' official social media account confirmed the arrival of the modern-day version of Teenage Kix, a Vought International-owned team of teenage supes specifically aimed at a younger audience. This team is an explicit parody of young superhero tropes, most notably Young Justice from DC Comics and its animated series. 

Ashley Barrett is once again playing a starring role in Amazon Prime Video's The Boys Season 5, and her new superpowers come with some big twists. The Boys Season 4 ended on a shocking cliffhanger for Ashley Barrett, as, after learning that she was atop Homelander's hitlist, she took Compound V and lurched in pain as her near-bald head was exposed. The almost two-year-old cliffhanger left her true superpowers a mystery that is only just unraveling in Season 5.

The supe series' fifth and final season kicked off with multiple major reveals for Colby Minifie's Ashley Barrett, including that she is now U.S. Vice President under President Steven Calhoun, who is merely a puppet for Antony Starr's Homelander.

Throughout The Boys Season 5 premiere, Ashley claims in the White House's press room and an Oval Office interview with Firecracker, alongside her new devout Christian fiancée, that she has mind-reading powers. However, there is more to Ashley's mystery superpowers than initially meets the eye.

Steven Universe: Lars of the Stars writer Ian Jones-Quartey gave a reassuring update about the planned spinoff of the Cartoon Network original series. In June 2025, Steven Universe creator Rebecca Sugar announced (via Deadline) the expansion of the franchise at the Annecy International Film Festival, with an upcoming animated sequel titled Steven Universe: Lars of the Stars, set to premiere on Amazon Prime Video. This sequel is set to explore the past, present, and future of the universe, chronicling the story of Lars Barriga, an eternal teenager, as he captains his pirate crew, the Off Colors, in crime-driven adventures while uncovering the terrifying secrets of the fallen Gem Empire. 

Since its announcement in June 2025, the spinoff has seen relatively few public updates, leading some fans to speculate whether the project has been quietly deprioritized or put on the back burner. Thankfully, Lars of the Stars writer Ian Jones-Quartey posted some exciting updates on X, confirming that they are still working on the Steven Universe spinoff, but he doesn't have any news to share yet: 

"Yes, we are still working on Lars Of The Stars but I don't have any news to share yet. Hopefully soon!"

Peacock and Seth MacFarlane's Ted is known to be crazy sometimes, but Season 2, Episode 3 took it to another level when the gang played Dungeons and Dragons with a weed dealer, run by the legendary Brennan Lee Mulligan.

Mulligan is an extremely popular online personality known for his D&D show Dimension 20. The series airs on the Dropout streaming service, where he also appears on improv comedy shows such as Make Some Noise and Game Changer.

His talents in the D&D space made him the perfect person for the role, and not only does the cast of Ted agree, but they're confident he's the reason why the episode truly worked.

April 15, 2026, is shaping up to be an absolute high point for Invincible fans with the proper debut of a major character from the comics. Season 4 of the hit adult animated series from Amazon Prime Video is expected to ramp up the stakes for the Viltrumite War by introducing Thragg as the ruthless leader of the Viltrumite Empire and one of the strongest fighters of the galaxy. Thragg's arrival is expected to change the status quo in the looming war, as he is being positioned as an all-consuming threat that could spell trouble for Mark Grayson and his allies from the Coalition of Planets. 

Speaking in an interview with ComicBook while promoting Invincible Season 4, Lee Pace, who voices Thragg in the show, confirmed that the show will do a deep dive into the character's backstory in Episode 7, which is set for release on Prime Video on Wednesday, April 15: 

Comicbook: "So, with that understanding of sort of what makes them tick, do you think Thragg is a character who could ultimately be redeemed?"

Lee Pace: "Well, I mean, I don't know. He does some pretty appalling things, even in the backstory that we kind of would get into, I guess it's Episode 7. Is it seven? Yeah, it's seven. We get into the backstory, and he's really done some pretty bad things. He's a character with unstoppable ambition."

If you're a Disney+ subscriber, you can expect some major changes to the streamer's TV content in the coming years, all thanks to some company-wide adjustments. The current era at Disney+ has officially come to an end as Disney's new regime, led by CEO Josh D'Amaro and president Dana Walden, has brought some changes with it regarding executive positions. Since its inception in 2019, Disney+ has largely focused on family-friendly streaming content. However, more recently, Disney+ has added more mature projects to its library, especially after combining Hulu with the House of Mouse's streaming service.

Disney recently appointed Debra OConnell as Chairman of Disney Entertainment Television. OConnell officially named her direct reports as Craig Erwich, Ayo Davis, and Courteney Monroe. Specifically, OConnell will be overseeing ABC Entertainment, Disney Branded Television, Hulu Originals, National Geographic Content, and creative for 20th Television and 20th Television Animation.

Notably, Craig Erwich, one of OConnell's direct reports, will remain in adult programming and at the head of ABC Entertainment & Hulu Originals.

Malcolm in the Middle was and remains a pop culture classic, running for seven seasons. While the show ended in 2006, 20 years later, a revival is finally here, and everyone's favorite family of pure chaos is back.

Nearly all of the original cast members are returning, including Frankie Muniz (Malcolm), Bryan Cranston (Hal), Jane Kaczmarek (Lois), Justin Berfield (Reese), and Christopher Masterson. Erik Per Sullivan, who played Dewey, did not return and was recast with Caleb Ellsworth-Clark.

Joining the family this time around is Vaughan Murrae's Kelly, the nonbinary child of Hal and Lois, who was born after the events of the original show. They bring their own chaos to the show and their iconic family, while holding themselves above their siblings as the last and most responsible child.

HBO's Harry Potter is seemingly adopting Star Wars' The Volume technology. While many have debated the need for a Harry Potter reboot just 25 years after the eight-movie saga began (and 15 years after it ended), HBO is pushing full steam ahead with its seven-season TV adaptations. Not only will the big-budget show benefit from four times as much time to adapt each book, but it can also utilize modern evolutions in CGI and filmmaking to craft its Wizarding World, alongside the practical effects and sets that make Hogwarts feel so real.

HBO Max released the first trailer for Finding Harry: The Craft Behind the Magic, a new documentary that offers a glimpse into the production of the reboot series. The teaser appears to confirm that HBO will use the Volume (a high-tech digital set created by Industrial Light & Magic for The Mandalorian) in some of its Hogwarts Express scenes, such as one featuring Harry and Ron on the back of the train.

One of the most well-received changes the Invincible series has ever made from the comics, acknowledged even by the hardest of purests, has been the foundational retooling of Mark Grayson's mother, Debbie. No longer a passive housewife defined by her husband, she became the bedrock for Mark's morals and even Nolan's change on Earth.

Ever since he abandoned his quest to take over the planet, from Season 2 onward, Nolan has been on a road to redemption. However, his reunion with Debbie in the latest episode, "Give Us a Moment," goes very differently from how it did in the comics, reflecting Debbie's newfound self-respect and bottled-up anger toward Nolan in the series.

His failed apology to Debbie in this episode could send Invincible and their relationship into completely uncharted territory. It's only a question of whether they'll still end up in the same place they do in the comics.

The next superhero TV show following Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 has a different release strategy than Marvel's typical fare. Gone are the days when Marvel films were just on the big screen, with streaming and TV opening up new avenues for superhero stories to play out across episodes. The next of these shows is Sony and Amazon MGM Studios' Spider-Noir. 

Spinning off of Sony's animated Into the Spider-Verse universe, Spider-Noir tells the tale of Ben Reilly, aka The Spider, which sees Nicolas Cage reprise the role he played in Spider-Verse in live-action. Spider-Noir is already taking some unique swings with its release, particularly with its color vs. greyscale viewing options, but one thing Marvel fans will need to take note of is the series' release platform.

While the majority of Marvel TV shows make their debut on Disney+, the home of all things Marvel Studios, because this Spider-Noir is a Sony Pictures and Amazon collaboration, this won't be the case. Spider-Noir will first debut in the US on MGM+ on May 25. This is two days before it releases globally on Prime Video on May 27, meaning those who want to see Spider-Noir as soon as possible will need an MGM+ subscription, or a Prime Video subscription if they want to watch it on the global release date.