9-1-1: Nashville is breaking a major franchise trend of Ryan Murphy's 9-1-1 shows on ABC by featuring an important casting decision. 9-1-1: Nashville, which premiered on ABC in October 2025, is the third 9-1-1 series set in the same universe, following the flagship 9-1-1 in Los Angeles and 9-1-1: Lone Star in Austin, Texas. The 9-1-1 franchise has had its fair share of character exits in its first two shows, most notably Peter Krause's Bobby Nash, who died on-screen in 9-1-1 Season 8, and Sierra McClain's Grace Ryder, who exited the show after 9-1-1: Lone Star Season 4 to head into a better future. These character exits were impactful to the overall franchise, as they were anchored by a trend that began in the debut season of 9-1-1. 

The franchise has a habit of treating Season 1 like a dress rehearsal. 9-1-1 said goodbye to Connie Britton's Abigail Clark in the Season 1 finale due to a variety of reasons. Britton only agreed to a temporary, one-year contract while the in-universe explanation revolved around Clark doing her soul-searching in Ireland following the death of her mother from Alzheimer's. 

Stranger Things is about to bring Henry Creel's (aka Vecna) backstory to life in a 2027 spin-off, and fans were finally given a first look at what the character design for the young Vecna will look like in the project. The flagship Stranger Things series may be over on Netflix, but the sci-fi franchise is continuing to live on in multiple ways. Netflix recently released an animated series titled Stranger Things: Tales from '85, which takes place between Seasons 2 and 3 of the main show, and in March 2025, a Broadway play set before the events of the main series debuted.

In January 2027, Dark Horse Comics will be releasing an 88-page graphic novel titled Stranger Things: The First Shadow, which will adapt the events of the five-time Tony Award-winning Broadway play of the same name, and fans were recently given a first look at three of the characters from the book, including Vecna.

Tom Proctor revealed the path Blue Ridge will take to a possible Season 3 renewal on Prime Video (and it's simpler than fans think). Blue Ridge revolves around a small-town Appalachian crime drama that began as a 2020 movie, premiered as a series on INSP in 2024, and has since found a new home on Amazon Prime Video. It follows Sheriff Justin Wise (Johnathon Schaech) as he deals with local crime, family feuds and secrets, and mysterious killings in the small North Carolina mountain town while trying to rebuild a life near his ex-wife, Elli (Sarah Lancaster). Blue Ridge Season 2's eight-episode run, which ran from July 9 through September 6, 2026, expanded the threats to include bounty hunters, drug operations, and a finale landslide that brought everyone in the town together (albeit briefly). This is why the anticipation for Season 3 is high, considering that the show just finished a stronger second season. 

Prime Video has yet to renew Blue Ridge for a potential Season 3, but star Tom Proctor, who plays the charming local Jeremiah Wade, led a social media campaign to boost the show's chances of renewal by urging fans to watch both seasons to increase viewership. On his official Facebook account, Proctor admitted, "If enough people watch it, they'll be coming for Season 3:"

"OK, y’all have been asking me about season three.  Well here’s how you can help make that happen watch season one and two on Amazon prime  if enough people watch it, they’ll be coming for season three   it’s a great little series. You’ll love it anyway."

FX's 2017 smash hit Snowfall has spun off a new series, The Drop: A Snowfall Saga, and fans have been wondering if Damson Idris' Franklin Saint will feature in it. Snowfall star Gail Bean, who starred alongside Idris as the drug-addicted Wanda Bell, opened up about his potential involvement, and she had some interesting words. It's no surprise fans are eager to see Idris reprise the role, given his amazing portrayal of Franklin and where the original show left the character.

In an interview with TV Insider while promoting The Drop, Bean was quizzed on whether Franklin Saint will be referenced in the spinoff, and she answered coyly: "You'll have to see, 'cause I cannot give any spoilers. But watch and then you let me know." The Drop: A Snowfall Saga, which started airing on FX, Hulu, and Disney+ on September 8, charts a very different course from its predecessor. It follows a now-sober Wanda and Isaiah John's Leon Simmons, both trying to leave the street life behind and contribute positively to their community. 

Mark Duplass and Patrick Brice's Creep franchise has become an iconic staple of the horror genre over the years, which isn't surprising given how effective and unsettling the first two films were. Even less surprising was how Shudder wanted to capitalize on that with a new television show, The Creep Tapes, which is airing its third season.

The performance of Duplass' Peachfuzz, the iconic killer at the center of the series, has always invited strangeness to the franchise at every turn. However, somehow, the first episode of Season 3 might have taken that to a whole new level.

The Direct sat down with Shudder's The Creep Tapes Season 3 star Kate Siegel, who plays Crystal, where she revealed that this role was "[the] most bizarre thing that has ever been asked of [her]." Nonetheless, she trusts Mark Duplass and Patrick Brice implicitly, so joining the show was a no-brainer.

Reacher is one of Amazon Studios' Prime Video's biggest shows, and the moment it aired, Alan Ritchson's colossally jacked wanderer stole the hearts (and eyes) of audiences across the world. There was another piece of the puzzle, however, that helped the show reach those highs: Maria Sten's Neagley. Neagley was one of Reacher's closest friends, having served with him in the US Army's elite 110th Special Investigations Unit. While she was only a supporting, recurring character in the first three seasons of Reacher, she now has her own show.

Neagley, which hits Prime Video on the same day as Reacher's Season 4 finale on September 16, finally puts the spotlight on the titular character. This time around, audiences will dive deeper into the character than ever before and see what she's like when she's not helping Reacher out of trouble.

The Direct sat down with the cast and co-creator of Neagley for a series of interviews to discuss why the show is perfect to watch after the Reacher Season 4 finale and what makes it a unique experience. The full list of talent we spoke with includes Maria Sten (Neagley), Greyston Holt (Detective Hudson), Jasper Jones (Keno), Adeline Rudolph (Renee), and co-creator/co-showrunner Nicholas Wootton.

HBO boss Casey Bloys clarified the release schedule plans for Harry Potter's reboot TV show. Warner Bros. and HBO will begin one of their biggest endeavors ever as they set out to adapt J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter a second time. The seven-book saga comes with some challenges for Hollywood, as each season notably takes place across a year of these wizarding kids' lives, requiring short windows between outings, despite the massive scales of these stories. Season 1 will begin this year, and Season 2 is already in production, while the streamer is planning for the adaptation to span the next decade (up to the mid-2030s).

Deadline spoke with HBO's Chairman and CEO, Casey Bloys, about Harry Potter's planned release schedule, confirming that the seven-season adaptation won't be released annually. When asked if the blockbuster TV reboot can keep up an annual release with its tight production schedule, Bloys clarified that it won't be possible, but they will be working to "bring it back as quickly as possible."

He also settled some fears as he stated that "it's not going to be 2 years" between seasons, as some HBO originals like House of the Dragon have had:

White Lotus Season 4 received a much-needed release update straight from HBO's head executive. White Lotus Season 3 made headlines when it premiered in February 2025 for its brilliant balance of compelling storylines anchored by its star-studded cast, as a new group of wealthy guests and overworked staff dove deep into the secrets, tensions, and twists among them while staying at a luxury resort in Thailand. The third season's success served as a springboard for the White Lotus' future, as the show received an early renewal in January 2025 (via Variety) before Season 3 episodes dropped on HBO and HBO Max. The long wait is a given, and now, HBO has given a definitive update on when to expect new episodes. 

Speaking with Deadline, Casey Bloys, Chairman and CEO of HBO and HBO Max Content, officially confirmed the release window for White Lotus Season 4, revealing that fans can expect it to premiere on HBO Max in the first half of 2027. 

DEADLINE: "The White Lotus. When exactly can we expect the Season 4?"

Golden Axe is a name that will ring deeply familiar to some, and completely foreign to many others. It's the title of a classic SEGA 1989 arcade game, that saw players fight through fantasy lands against the evil villain Death Adder as three iconic characters: Ax Battler the barbarian, the battle sorceress Tyris Flare, and a feisty, battle axe-wielding dwarf named Gilius Thunderhead.

Now, nearly forty years later, Golden Axe is back in the public spotlight thanks to Paramount+'s latest animated adaptation, whose ten episodes air on September 16. The show, which has been overhauled to adopt a more light-hearted, campy vibe, sees those iconic characters, along with new faces, set off on a quest to once again stop the evil Death Adder, who refuses to stay dead.

The Direct sat down with the cast and creatives behind the new Golden Axe animated series to discuss why this new series is perfect for both new and old fans alike, and why the drastic shift to campy comedy was the perfect direction for this story.

A new poster for the upcoming Paramount+ series Avatar: Seven Havens offers the first proper look at the show's villain. Premiering in three-episode batches beginning October 9, Seven Havens is the latest project set in the world of the original Avatar: The Last Airbender. Set 225 years after the events of Avatar Studios' most recent series, The Legend of Korra, Seven Havens follows a young Earthbender named Pavi, who discovers they are the next Avatar and that they have a long-lost twin sister. However, the Avatar is no longer viewed as a savior following a series of undisclosed events involving the previous Avatar, Korra.

Paramount+ released a new trailer and poster for Avatar: Seven Havens, offering several new looks at the series' featured antagonists. Composed of individuals wearing white, animal-like masks, the group appears to be part of a larger faction targeting the new Avatar, Pavi.

Kyle Clark's Cam Dillinger takes the spotlight in Netflix's Crew Girl, and his real-life preparation for the part is every bit as compelling as his performance itself. Netflix's latest romance drama series, which premiered on September 10, follows the story of 16-year-old single-scull rower Teagan Tao (Bet star Miku Martineau), who moves to the small town of Eagle's Cove after her life imploded due to her father's financial scandal. Following her new beginning at Easton Prep and the revelation that there is no girls' team at her new school, Teagan's only path back to the water is to become the coxswain of the school's boys' varsity team. 

The boat is a ticking time bomb; egos and rivalries overshadow the team's best version, and it's up to Teagan to set it right. One of the intriguing team members is Kyle Clark's Cam Dillinger, the team's best rower and a driven member who will stop at nothing to prove himself and earn a spot in the Junior Nationals. Aside from being a tried-and-tested member of the team, Cam also has undeniable chemistry with Teagan, which is why Crew Girl stands out in Netflix's lineup. 

Kyle Clark's age has not been publicly revealed online, but it's worth noting that he plays a 16-year-old in the Crew Girl series. Speaking with TUDUM, Crew Girl showrunner Vivian Lin offered high praise toward Kyle Clark's performance as Cam in the series, emphasizing that he provides a "natural warmth" and "boyishness" for the role: 

Avatar: Seven Havens, the sequel series to The Legend of Korra, released its latest trailer in anticipation of its premiere on Paramount+ on October 9. It was reported that the series would consist of two seasons: the first with 13 episodes and the second with 13, for a total of 26 episodes. Fans were initially skeptical of Paramount after it abandoned a theatrical release for Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender, fearing that Seven Havens would suffer a similar fate with a binge release of its first season. Thankfully, the newest trailer came with a press release clarifying that the first season of Seven Havens would release episodes in batches of three every week.

The newest trailer for Seven Havens also showed off more of the world and its characters, including Pavi, the newest Avatar after Korra (who supposedly plunged the world into chaos over 225 years ago). Now, it's up to Pavi and her sister, Nisha, to restore balance to the world. The two seem well on their way, since Pavi already knows three of the four elements. Similar to Korra, Pavi has mastered the basics of three elements: Earth, Fire, and Air.

Why Did I Get Married Again? reunites the franchise's friend group, including Tasha Smith's Angela, who looks noticeably different on-screen. Netflix's latest entry to Tyler Perry's dramedy series (Perry is best known for the Madea Family franchise) is built around a wedding weekend in Lake Como, Italy, where Marcus and Angela's daughter, Jasmine, is preparing to marry Wesley, the son of longtime friend Roselyn (Taraji P. Henson). 

Tasha Smith, 54, reprises her role as Angela in 2026, which she played in 2007's Why Did I Get Married? and 2010's Why Did I Get Married Too?, and in five seasons and 162 episodes of For Better or Worse from 2011 to 2017. The fact that Angela has been on screen for so long explains why many viewers noticed her completely different look in Why Did I Get Married Again (which premiered on Netflix on September 9). 

Did They Change Tasha Smith's Angela in Why Did I Get Married Again?

HBO's Harry Potter trailer hinted that Albus Dumbledore may have been testing the Boy Who Lived and his Hogwarts friends longer than anyone thought. HBO is officially expanding Harry Potter with new scenes that weren't in the books or movies, offering original flashbacks, moments with other students and Hogwarts professors, and hopefully fresh revelations about the franchise's lore. Of course, the show is largely staying loyal to the books, adding in the moments that the movies cut due to runtime restrictions. That will come in handy for Harry Potter's later, much longer books, which cut a lot for the big screen, but for the early tales, it offers hours of extra wiggle room for new content. 

One original addition to Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone featured in the latest trailer for the HBO show, with a new conversation between Janet McTeer's Minerva McGonagall and John Lithgow's Albus Dumbledore. The cryptic dialogue teases that HBO may confirm a 29-year-old fan theory that changes everything about the conclusion of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.

The iconic and beloved comedy series The Office received a spinoff last year, titled The Paper, on Peacock (no, not the Australian remake). Not only did it nail the landing, but it also did well enough to get renewed for Season 2. Cut to now, and those new episodes are almost here.

Instead of Dunder Mifflin, The Paper centers on the staff of the fictional newspaper The Toledo Truth Teller, a struggling local publication looking to get back on its feet under the new leadership of Domhnall Gleeson's editor-in-chief, Ned Sampson. Returning from The Office is Oscar Núñez, reprising his role of Oscar Martinez.

Just like The Office, The Paper is also filled with workplace romance. One of those key relationships is that of Ned and Chelsea Frei's Mare Preeti, a staff writer who works under him. After an entire season of will-they-won't-they action, the two finally got together at the end of Season 1, leaving the door open for their relationship to be explored in Season 2.

Outer Banks Season 5 delivered a grand ending with major deaths that upended the Pogues' status quo. The hit Netflix series made a shocking move in Season 4 by killing off Rudy Pankow's JJ Maybank in the finale, signaling to the audience that no one is safe in this high-stakes treasure hunting show. Marketing for Outer Banks Season 5 provided hints that not everyone is safe in the final season, leaning into danger, brutal confrontations, and the idea that the Pogues' swan song could claim more lives. 

The first two episodes of Outer Banks' final season delivered tension through violent skirmishes, sudden betrayals, and the deaths of other supporting characters, keeping viewers on edge about whether the likes of John B, Sarah, Kiara, and Pope might meet brutal ends. 

Does Kiara Die in Outer Banks?

The Pendragon Cycle: Rise Of The Merlin star and writer Rose Reid has addressed the possibility of a second season, revealing that the creative team has already been discussing ideas for where the fantasy series could go next. Based on Stephen R. Lawhead's The Pendragon Cycle books, Rise Of The Merlin brings the legendary world of King Arthur and Merlin to the screen in a different manner. The series first premiered in January 2026.

While a second season of The Pendragon Cycle: Rise of the Merlin has not officially been announced, multiple stars of the show and one writer made clear that they hope the series will return, and that the team actually has an idea of where it could go next. Specifically, in an interview with LRM Online (shared via YouTube), The Pendragon Cycle: Rise of the Merlin star Myles Clohessy (Uther) talked about what it would mean to him to get to continue the series, mentioning that he hopes everyone "watches and supports it and pushes the network to do a Season 2:"

"Yes, sir. Thank you so much. We need a second season. Get it out there. I hope everyone that's listening to this watches and supports it and pushes the network to do a Season 2. We need it."

A second actor will play Ron Weasley for one particular scene in HBO's upcoming Harry Potter reboot series. Behind a cast of young new stars taking over for Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson, Warner Bros. and HBO will dive back into the Wizarding World of Harry Potter through its upcoming series that retells the story from author J.K. Rowling's books. The show is expected to highlight more details from the books than were released between 2001 and 2011.

Originally reported by Redanian Intelligence in February, Louis Shelton was cast in HBO's Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, which hits the streamer on Christmas Day. Later reports noted that he would play an older version of Ron Weasley alongside Alastair Stout, who would take over the role from Rupert Grint from the original films.

This is an important scene from the original book, in which Harry and Ron come across a magical artifact called the Mirror of Erised. When they find it and look into it, they both see what they desire more than anything in the world. Harry sees himself standing next to his parents, Lily and James Potter, whose deaths led to him becoming the chosen one after Voldemort killed them and attempted to murder the young wizard.

Lioness Season 3, Episode 6, "Sugar Land," continued the team's search for their missing leader, Joe McNamara (Zoe Saldaña), and they dropped an important aviation jargon, "FBO," during their most important mission. The latest season of Taylor Sheridan's Paramount+ original has been going back and forth in between timelines to show how Joe has been abducted by terrorists and how her captors have evaded the CIA and her team from tracking her down. Joe had been through a lot ever since her capture, with her being physically abused and successfully removing her tracker on her foot to avoid detection. 

Lioness Episode 5 confirmed that Joe is still on U.S. soil after the ending revealed that her last known location had a Texas flag after landing. This confirmation sets the stage for her team, the Quick Reaction Force (QRF), in a race against time to save her before she is transported to another country, where it would be hard to pin down her location.  

What FBO Stands For In Lioness Season 3, Explained

HBO's new Harry Potter trailer omitted a major character who is being recast for Season 2, now in production. Almost six months after HBO debuted the Wizarding World reboot's first official teaser in March, fans finally have a second trailer ahead of Harry Potter's series premiere this December. The sneak peek offers up more detailed looks at the portrayals that will carry Harry Potter into its new TV era, including Dominic McLaughlin's Boy Who Lived, John Lithgow's Dumbledore, Katherine Parkinson's Molly Weasley, and Paapa Essiedu's Hagrid.

HBO released the second trailer for its Harry Potter reboot, revealing a brand-new scene that wasn't in the books or movies: Alastair Stout's Ron Weasley receiving his Hogwarts acceptance letter at The Burrow. While almost all of the already-cast Weasleys are together at the dining table, Gracie Cochrane's Ginny Weasley is absent from the gathering, and there may be a good reason for that.