By Irshad Khan 
Television in 2025 represents an unprecedented golden age of content, with streaming platforms, broadcast networks, and premium cable channels collectively unleashing over 400 new and returning series throughout the year. From the highly anticipated final season of the cultural phenomenon Stranger Things to the resurrection of beloved shows like Severance after multi-year hiatuses, audiences are spoiled for choice across every conceivable genre and demographic. This comprehensive guide highlights 41 of the most anticipated new and returning TV shows of 2025, spanning from prestige dramas and horror series to comedies and international content that’s reshaping the global television landscape.
Streaming Drama Powerhouses
Season 2
Severance – Season 2
Network: Apple TV+
Release Date: January 17, 2025
Ben Stiller’s mind-bending thriller returns after a three-year hiatus, with Adam Scott, Britt Lower, and John Turturro ready to dive deeper into the mysteries of Lumon Industries. The first season’s cliffhanger regarding the nature of consciousness separation left fans desperate for answers. Season 2 promises to expand the conspiracy while maintaining the claustrophobic atmosphere and existential dread that made the original groundbreaking.
Season 3
The White Lotus – Season 3
Network: HBO/Max
Release Date: February 2025
Mike White’s Emmy-winning anthology relocates to Thailand with a new ensemble cast including Walton Goggins, Leslie Bibb, Parker Posey, Carrie Coon, and BLACKPINK’s Lisa. Each season of The White Lotus has delivered intricately plotted mysteries wrapped in biting social commentary and stunning cinematography. Season 3 promises to explore class dynamics, tourism, and existential despair against Thailand’s idyllic backdrop.
Season 2
The Last of Us – Season 2
Network: HBO/Max
Release Date: April 2025
Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey return for the adaptation of the video game’s second chapter, with Kaitlyn Dever joining as Abby. Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann’s Emmy-dominating adaptation transforms the game’s controversial narrative into prestige television. Season 2 will expand the emotional and moral complexities that made the game divisive among fans, exploring themes of revenge, loss, and the cycle of violence.
Season 2
Andor – Season 2
Network: Disney+
Release Date: April 22, 2025
Tony Gilroy’s mature Star Wars prequel returns for its final season, continuing Cassian Andor’s transformation into a Rebel Alliance operative. The first season earned critical acclaim for avoiding fan service, instead delivering intelligent political thriller storytelling. Season 2 will chronicle the events leading directly to Rogue One, providing definitive character closure while expanding the Star Wars universe through a sophisticated lens.
Season 5
Stranger Things – Season 5 (Final)
Network: Netflix
Release Date: Q4 2025
The Duffer Brothers conclude their cultural phenomenon with the fifth and final season, arriving as the cast and characters have aged naturally alongside the show’s progression. Beginning in 1987 Hawkins, Indiana, this culmination promises to resolve six seasons of mythology while delivering emotional closure to beloved characters. Filming wrapped earlier this year, with editing and post-production now underway for the anticipated finale.
Season 1
Pluribus
Network: Apple TV+
Release Date: TBD 2025
Vince Gilligan’s highly secretive sci-fi series reunites him with Rhea Seehorn in a genre-bending mystery about “the most miserable person on Earth” tasked with saving the world from happiness. With Gilligan’s Breaking Bad/Better Call Saul pedigree and Apple’s confidence (already greenlit for Season 2), Pluribus represents one of 2025’s most intriguing unknown quantities. Minimal information has been released about the project, fueling intense speculation among prestige TV enthusiasts.
Returning Fan Favorites
Season 2
Wednesday – Season 2
Network: Netflix
Release Date: Late 2025
Jenna Ortega returns to Tim Burton’s gothic comedy about the iconic Addams Family character. The first season became Netflix’s most-watched season of television ever, making Season 2 among the platform’s most anticipated releases. Burton has expanded his directorial involvement, bringing even more visual flair to Nevermore Academy’s mysteries and Wednesday’s deadpan heroics.
Season 4
Hacks – Season 4 (Final)
Network: HBO/Max
Release Date: Late 2025
Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder’s Emmy-winning comedy concludes with the fourth season, bringing closure to Ava and Deborah’s tumultuous partnership. Smart and Einbinder’s chemistry became legendary within the comedy community, with their performances consistently earning critical acclaim. The final season promises to resolve character arcs while maintaining the sharp writing and comedic timing that defined the series.
Season 3
Squid Game – Season 3 (Final)
Network: Netflix
Release Date: December 2025
Hwang Dong-hyuk brings his global phenomenon to its conclusion with the third and final season. Lee Jung-jae returns as Seong Gi-hun, the protagonist who now understands the games’ machinery intimately. The final season promises to deliver on the revolution setup from Season 2, potentially transforming the narrative from individual survival to systemic change.
Season 6
The Handmaid’s Tale – Season 6 (Final)
Network: Hulu
Release Date: April 2025
Elisabeth Moss returns for the final chapter of Margaret Atwood’s dystopian masterpiece, as the rebellion against Gilead reaches its climax. After five seasons of psychological torment, Offred’s transformation completes with the sixth and final season. Fans eagerly anticipate how showrunner Bruce Miller will conclude the Emmy-winning series’ exploration of totalitarianism and female resistance.
Season 2
Peacemaker – Season 2
Network: HBO/Max
Release Date: 2025
John Cena returns as Christopher Smith/Peacemaker in James Gunn’s irreverent superhero comedy. The first season’s success justified the renewal, with Cena’s comedic timing and Gunn’s wild storytelling creating unexpected chemistry. Season 2 will continue exploring the protagonist’s twisted morality and dysfunctional relationships while maintaining the series’ unique tonal balance of violence and absurdist humor.
Season 4
Abbott Elementary – Season 4
Network: ABC
Release Date: Fall 2025
Quinta Brunson’s Emmy-winning sitcom returns for its fourth season, continuing the mockumentary comedy about Philadelphia public school educators. The show’s success lies in its ability to balance workplace comedy with genuine heart and social commentary regarding education funding and teacher burnout. Season 4 promises fresh chaos at Abbott Elementary while maintaining the ensemble’s infectious chemistry.
Bold New Originals
TO DERRY
IT: Welcome to Derry
Network: HBO/Max
Release Date: October 26, 2025
Andy Muschietti explores Pennywise’s origins and Derry’s dark 1960s history in this prequel series. Bill Skarsgård reprises the iconic clown role alongside Jovan Adepo and Taylour Paige. The nine-episode first season has already earned “Certified Fresh” status on Rotten Tomatoes, with subsequent seasons planned to move backward through Derry’s timeline in 27-year intervals, creating an intricate temporal mythology.
Crime Thriller
Task
Network: HBO
Release Date: Fall 2025
Brad Ingelsby (Mare of Easttown) creates this crime thriller starring Mark Ruffalo as a former priest-turned-FBI agent hunting a violent robbery crew led by Tom Pelphrey. The pedigree—Ingelsby’s proven storytelling acumen combined with Ruffalo’s intense dramatic presence—positions Task as HBO’s next prestige Sunday night offering following the Mare of Easttown legacy.
Comedy
The Studio
Network: Apple TV+
Release Date: March 26, 2025
Seth Rogen stars as a newly appointed studio head in this insider comedy serving as a modern take on Robert Altman’s The Player. Guest appearances from Martin Scorsese, Bryan Cranston, Catherine O’Hara, and Kathryn Hahn promise satirical Hollywood commentary from Rogen’s unique perspective as someone who’s navigated both independent and studio filmmaking successfully.
Comedy
Chad Powers
Network: Hulu
Release Date: TBD 2025
Glen Powell headlines this comedy about a college quarterback who reinvents himself. Powell’s recent star power following Top Gun: Maverick and Hit Man positions Chad Powers as potentially breaking through to mainstream success as both action star and comedic leading man. The series balances satire with physical comedy in the tradition of Powell’s comedic sensibilities.
THE SEVEN KINGDOMS
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
Network: HBO/Max
Release Date: 2025
This Game of Thrones prequel adapts George R.R. Martin’s Dunk and Egg novellas, set a century before the main series. Unlike House of the Dragon’s dragon-focused spectacle, this promises intimate storytelling about a knight and squire traversing the Seven Kingdoms. The scaled-down approach provides refreshing contrast while maintaining the detailed world-building that made the original series compelling.
Sci-Fi Horror
Alien: Earth
Network: FX
Release Date: 2025
FX ventures into the Alien universe with this original series exploring how the franchise’s terrifying xenomorph reaches Earth for the first time. The premise offers opportunity for franchise reinvention while honoring the body-horror traditions established by Ridley Scott and James Cameron. This entry positions the franchise for streaming success similar to The Mandalorian’s Star Wars triumph.
By Genre: What to Expect
Prestige Drama: The White Lotus, Severance, The Last of Us, Andor, and Task represent the gold standard of television drama—production companies willing to invest substantial budgets in character-driven storytelling that prioritizes artistic integrity. These series compete for Emmy consideration and establish their networks’ prestige credentials.
Horror/Thriller: IT: Welcome to Derry, Alien: Earth, Monster: The Ed Gein Story, Talamasca, and Devil in Disguise indicate the horror renaissance in television. Audiences increasingly accept genre content in prestige spaces, enabling elevated filmmaking applied to formerly dismissal-worthy categories.
Comedy: Abbott Elementary, Hacks, The Studio, Chad Powers, The Chair Company, and various returning comedies demonstrate that laughter remains essential programming. Elevated comedy with diverse perspectives continues attracting talent and audiences seeking respite from darkness without sacrificing sophistication.
International/Subtitled: Squid Game Season 3, Alice in Borderland Season 3, and emerging international productions prove that language barriers dissolve when content quality transcends geographic boundaries. Streaming has democratized access to global storytelling, enabling cross-cultural appreciation of diverse narratives.
Your 2025 Must-Watch Strategy
January 2025: Start with Severance Season 2 (Apple TV+) to immediately satisfy your need for complex, character-driven drama after the long hiatus.
February-April 2025: Follow with The White Lotus Season 3 (HBO) and The Last of Us Season 2 (HBO) for prestige content that will dominate critical discourse.
Summer 2025: Complete Andor Season 2 (Disney+) for sophisticated science fiction and anticipate Stranger Things’ final season promotional campaign.
Fall 2025: Immerse yourself in IT: Welcome to Derry (HBO) for genre entertainment and prepare for the Stranger Things finale alongside weekly absorption of remaining premieres.
Year-Round: Maintain Abbott Elementary Season 4 (ABC) and Hacks Season 4 (HBO) as weekly comedic respite alongside your drama consumption.
Release Schedule at a Glance
January 2025: Severance S2, Reacher S3
February 2025: The White Lotus S3
March 2025: The Studio
April 2025: The Last of Us S2, Andor S2, The Handmaid’s Tale S6
Fall 2025: Abbott Elementary S4, IT: Welcome to Derry, Task
Late 2025: Stranger Things S5, Wednesday S2, Hacks S4, Squid Game S3
Sources: Variety, Deadline, The Hollywood Reporter, TV Guide, Entertainment Weekly, Rotten Tomatoes, TVLine, Apple TV+, HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, IMDB, Metacritic