Trib Total Media TV writer Rob Owen offers a viewing tip for the coming week.
It’s not officially summer in TV land until the end of the 2025-26 TV season arrives later this month, but that won’t stop streaming services and cable outlets from beginning their rollout of new scripted shows for the warmest months of the year, including:
“Lord of the Flies” (May 4, Netflix): Adapted by “Adolescence” co-creator Jack Thorne, this four-episode redo of William Golding’s dystopian classic follows a group of children who descend into savagery when they become desert island castaways. The first hour is all about introducing the characters. The second episode offers flashbacks to the plane crash that strands the English schoolboys on the island.
“The Other Bennet Sister” (May 6, BritBox): Mary Bennet (Ella Bruccoleri), the overlooked middle sister of “Pride and Prejudice,” gets the spotlight in a 10-episode journey of self-discovery that’s based on the Janice Hadlow novel.
“MIA” (May 7, Peacock): When her family’s drug-running business shatters, Etta Tiger Jonze (Shannon Gisela) heads to Miami’s underbelly. For added exposure, the first episode will air on NBC at 10 p.m. May 14.
“The Terror: Devil in Silver” (May 7, AMC /Shudder): Latest installment of the horror anthology follows working-class Pepper (Dan Stevens, “Downton Abbey”), who’s wrongfully committed to a psychiatric hospital. The series will air on linear AMC later this year.
“Unconditional” (May 8, Apple TV): A young woman (Talia Lynne Ronn) is arrested for drug-smuggling in Moscow and her mother (Liraz Chamami) fights for the daughter’s freedom.
“Amadeus” (May 8, Starz): This five-part limited series adaptation of the 1979 play stars Will Sharpe (“White Lotus” season two) as Wolfgang “Amadeus” Mozart and Paul Bettany (“WandaVision”) as envious composer Antonio Salieri.
“Song of the Samurai” (May 9, HBO Max): Live-action Japanese drama based on the manga series “Chiruran: Shinsengumi Requiem,” “Song of the Samurai” depicts the lives of the Shinsengumi, an iconic samurai force that defended Kyoto in the final years of Japan’s shogunate. Subtitled and dubbed versions will be available.
“The Punisher: One Last Kill” (May 12, Disney ): Frank Castle (Jon Bernthal) tries to find peace but gets pulled back into the fight in this one-off Marvel special.
“Off Campus” (May 13, Prime Video): Based on the Elle Kennedy book series, this college soap follows an elite ice hockey team and the women in the players’ lives.
“Nemesis” (May 14, Netflix): An expert criminal faces off against a brilliant police detective.
“Dutton Ranch” (8 p.m. May 15, Paramount Network, Paramount ): “Yellowstone” sequel series follows Beth Dutton (Kelly Reilly) and Rip Wheeler (Cole Hauser) as they relocate from Montana to South Texas, where another land battle awaits.
“Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed” (May 20, Apple TV): Darkly comedic, half-hour thriller starring Tatiana Maslany (“She-Hulk”) as a newly divorced mom who thinks she witnesses a crime and begins her own investigation.
“The Boroughs” (May 21, Netflix): Executive produced by the “Stranger Things” team, this series is set in a New Mexico retirement community where a new resident (Alfred Molina) discovers something monstrous lurks nearby.
“Mating Season” (May 22, Netflix): Adult animated comedy from the creators of “Big Mouth,” “Mating Season” is set in the animal world with a focus on love, sex and relationships.
“Spider-Noir” (2:30 p.m. May 25, MGM linear; May 27, Prime Video): Nicolas Cage stars in this live-action Marvel comic adaptation as Ben Reilly, a private eye in 1930s New York who’s also the city’s only superhero. Available on Prime in “authentic black and white” or “true-hue full color.”
“Star City” (May 29, Apple TV): “For All Mankind” spin-off series that shows the space race from the Soviet point of view.
“Cape Fear” (June 5, Apple TV): 10-episode series inspired by Martin Scorsese’s 1991 remake, this version stars Javier Bardem as Max Cady, who’s out for revenge against the married attorneys (Amy Adams, Patrick Wilson) who put him behind bars.
“Alice and Steve” (June 8, Hulu): Jemaine Clement and Nicola Walker star as friends who become foes in this “wrong-com.”
“Every Year After” (June 10, Prime Video): Based on Carley Fortune’s “Every Summer After,” this YA romance is set in a lake town and tells the story of first loves.
“Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness” (9 p.m. June 26, HBO/HBO Max): Larry David (“Curb Your Enthusiasm”) returns in this seven-episode series timed to America’s 250th anniversary and executive produced by Barack and Michelle Obama.
“Elle” (July 1, Prime Video): This prequel to “Legally Blonde” finds Elle Woods (Lexi Minetree) still in high school. Already renewed for a second season.
“Little House on the Prairie” (July 9, Netflix): Remake of the 1974-83 classic again based on the Laura Ingalls Wilder book series about a family trying to survive newly pioneered America.
“Lucky” (July 15, Apple TV): Con artist Lucky (Anya Taylor Joy, “The Queen’s Gambit”) is on the run from the FBI and a ruthless crime boss.
“The Five Star Weekend” (July 16, Peacock): Best-selling author Hollis Shaw (Jennifer Garner) suffers a tragedy and to recover invites friends from different eras of her life to a weekend on Nantucket where secrets are exposed.
“Lanterns” (August TBD, HBO/HBO Max): Intergalactic cops John Stewart (Aaron Pierre) and Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler) investigate an Earth-based mystery in the American heartland.
Returning scripted series
May 6: “Citadel” (Prime Video)
May 11: “Everyone is Doing Great” (Netflix).
May 12: “Devil May Cry” (Netflix).
May 13: “Good Omens” (Prime Video).
May 15: “Rivals” (Hulu).
May 21: “SkyMed” (Paramount ).
May 22: “The Chi” (Paramount Premium).
May 24: “Rick and Morty” (11 p.m., Adult Swim).
May 27: “A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder” (Netflix).
May 28: “The Four Seasons” (Netflix), “Criminal Minds: Evolution” (Paramount ), “Deli Boys” (Hulu).
June 3: “The Legend of Vox Machina” (Prime Video).
June 7: “The Vampire Lestat,” third season of “Interview with the Vampire” (9 p.m., AMC/AMC ).
June 11: “Sweet Magnolias” (Netflix).
June 12: “Power Book III: Raising Kanan (Starz).
June 19: “Sugar” (Apple TV).
June 21: “House of the Dragon” (9 p.m., HBO, HBO Max).
June 25: “Avatar: The Last Airbender” (Netflix).
July 3: “Silo” (Apple TV).
July 17: “Heartstopper Forever” (finale movie, Netflix).
July 23: “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds” (Paramount ).
Aug. 28: “Dark Matter” (Apple TV).