The leaves are falling from the trees and it’s that time in the month when we point out the upcoming must-see series from streaming platforms and TV networks. Fortunately, the fall slate of shows promises to be very exciting, offering us spin-offs of major franchises, TV adaptations, dramas from successful showrunners and impactful biopics.
Among the most anticipated and talked-about TV premieres in the coming weeks are: the Netflix sports docuseries Senna, based on the life of legendary driver Ayrton Senna; the fast-paced thriller The Agency, from Paramount+ with Showtime, starring Michael Fassbender and Richard Gere; and the long-awaited return of Netflix’s beloved karate show Cobra Kai.
Fans of TV adaptations, too, will be treated to some great projects. Unforgettable and widely recognized books such as: Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel, Sisterhood of Dune by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson, and the Alex Cross series of suspense and detective novels by James Patterson will reach our screens, converted into series format.
From the ambitious HBO prequel Dune: Prophecy, to the sixth and final season of Cobra Kai produced by Netflix, November offers us many reasons to hit play and have a good marathon.
Like Water for Chocolate
HBO | Season Premiere | Release date: Sunday, November 3
The Mexican literary classic Like Water for Chocolate is coming soon to the small screen.
With magical realism as its narrative pulse, the new HBO series adapts Laura Esquivel’s book about the eternal love between Tita de la Garza (Azul Guaita) and Pedro Múzquiz (Andrés Baida).
Set during the Mexican Revolution in the early 20th century, the six-episode series explores the idea that family traditions can sometimes become a terrible prison for those who are in love.
Here is the official synopsis:
“Tita de la Garza and Pedro Múzquiz are two souls deeply in love, yet unable to be together due to entrenched family customs. The protagonists navigate a world of magical realism and rich flavors as Tita struggles between the destiny imposed on her by her family and her fight for love. Along the way, the audience will witness her greatest refuge: the kitchen. For Tita, her magical connection to cooking becomes an active resistance against oppression, allowing her to channel her deepest desires and passions into her recipes, transforming those who taste them.”
Directed by Julian de Tavira (Reina Roja) and Ana Lorena Perez Rios (El Hotel de los Secretos), and executive produced by Salma Hayek (Frida), the series Like Water for Chocolate introduces a new audience to the classic 1989 Mexican novel and promises to seduce our imaginations and hearts.
Cross
Prime Video | Season Premiere | Release date: Thursday, November 14
Everyone’s favorite D.C. detective is headed to the small screen.
James Patterson’s investigator Alex Cross is one of the most enduring characters in the detective novel, having appeared in more than 30 novels since his debut in Along Came a Spider published in 1993.
It is not surprising, therefore, that he has been brought to the big screen on multiple occasions, although not yet with the same success as Patterson’s novels.
So far, the character has already received several Hollywood treatments, having been played by two big Hollywood names. Oscar winner Morgan Freeman played Alex Cross in Kiss the Girls (1997) and Along Came a Spider (2001), and famed director/writer/actor Tyler Perry took on the mantle of the character in the film titled Alex Cross (2012).
Now, the skilled detective is once again being reimagined, this time in a TV series titled Cross, starring Aldis Hodge (Leverage and City on a Hill). The more open-ended format of a TV series seems a better fit for Alex Cross’s story, as it involves the possibility of following the character over several seasons and various investigations.
Like the books, the program focuses on the intelligent and pragmatic detective as he solves crimes in Washington, D.C.
Here’s the synopsis on Amazon Prime Video:
“Cross is a crime/thriller series that follows Alex Cross, a decorated D.C. homicide detective and forensic psychologist who faces a sadistic serial killer leaving a string of bodies strewn around the city. As Alex and his partner, John Sampson, track this killer, a mysterious threat from Cross’ past appears, aiming to destroy what he’s done to keep his grieving family, career and life together.”
Cross is already confirmed to be getting a second season. Showrunner Ben Watkins said:
“I am thrilled to be embarking on another chapter of Cross. Moments like this don’t happen by accident. Getting a Season 2 pick-up before our first season even drops is a huge testament and vote of confidence in the amazing work that our crew, cast, directors, writers and production team have delivered thus far.”
Cobra Kai
Netflix | Season: 6 – Part 2 | Release date: Friday, November 15
Netflix’s beloved karate show will continue its “mega” final season this fall. The creators of Cobra Kai have decided to split the fifteen episodes of the sixth season into three parts. The first part of the final season debuted on Netflix on July 18, leaving us desperate for the second part, which will arrive on November 15. Sadly, the third and final installment won’t be with us until next year.
Thirty years after the events of The Karate Kid, Cobra Kai follows Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) and Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) as they reunite, dealing with old grudges and training a new, younger generation of karate fighters. Now that Daniel and Johnny are finally working together at Miyagi-Do, they will have to face 15 brutal dojos and old friends in the Sekai Takai world tournament.
For Cobra Kai season 6 part 2, Netflix released this official plot synopsis:
“At the Sekai Taikai, Miyagi-Do faces new challenges and old enemies as they fight to become world champions – can they stay united as internal rivalries bubble back to the surface?”
Although Cobra Kai is coming to an end, it is far from the end of the Miyagi universe. Currently, a new The Karate Kid movie is in development that aims to unite the original trilogy with the 2010 Karate Kid remake starring Jackie Chan and Jaden Smith.
Fear not, students: Cobra Kai never dies.
Dune: Prophecy
Max | Season Premiere | Release date: Sunday, November 17
The Dune prequel series, Dune: Prophecy, has been in the works since 2019 and finally has a release date. The first episode will air on HBO’s exclusive streaming service, Max, on Sunday, November 17, with weekly episodes airing through December 22, 2024.
Based on the novel Sisterhood of Dune by Brian Herbert, son of Dune author Frank Herbet, and Kevin J. Anderson, the sci-fi story takes place in the aftermath of the Butlerian Jihad, when humanity rose up against artificial intelligence.
“This show is about the origin of the Bene Gesserit, the sisters you might have seen in Denis [Villeneuve] ‘s movies if you watch them. We’re set 10,000 years before the film, but we’re in the distant future. We’re also 10,000 years, about, from now, and we are in the shadow of The Great Machine Wars. Humans have defeated artificial intelligence, and thinking machines are banned and now humanity is in a period of rebuilding…” said project director Alison Schapker, known for her work on series such as Lost, Fringe and Alias.
Set 10,000 years before Dune, the six-episode series reveals how the mighty Bene Gesserit was formed in the universe and came to her position of immense power.
Here’s what the official synopsis of the series published by Max says:
Dune Prophecy “follows sisters Valya and Tula Harkonnen as they combat forces that threaten the future of humanity, and establish the fabled sect known as the Bene Gesserit.”
In the Dune stories, the Bene Gesserit are an order of female sorcerers who attempt to guide human civilization from the shadows by manipulating rulers and implementing long-term breeding programs.
The series is co-produced by HBO and Legendary Television.
The Agency
Paramount + with Showtime | Season Premiere | Release date: Friday, November 29
The Agency thriller stars the chameleon-like Michael Fassbender as Martian, a covert CIA agent who is ordered to abandon his secret life. For the first time since 2008’s The Devil’s Lover, Fassbender returns to star in a TV series and we couldn’t be happier.
The Agency is an adaptation of the acclaimed French series Le Bureau des Légendes (also known as The Bureau). Interestingly, this isn’t the only French series that will be getting the Hollywood treatment in the near future, as ABC will also premiere High Potential in Fall 2024, based on the French series Haut Potentiel Intellectuel.
Here’s the synopsis from Paramount + with Showtime:
“The series follows Martian (Fassbender), a covert CIA agent ordered to abandon his undercover life and return to London Station. When the love he left behind reappears, romance reignites. His career, his real identity and his mission are pitted against his heart; hurling them both into a deadly game of international intrigue and espionage.”
The Agency’s cast also includes Jeffrey Wright, Jodie Turner-Smith, Katherine Waterston, John Magaro, Alex Reznik, India Fowler, Saura Lightfoot-Leon, Reza Brojerdi and Richard Gere; Jez and John-Henry Butterworth are the series’ screenwriters, and Joe Wright directs the first two episodes.
The show will debut on Friday, November 29 for Paramount+ subscribers who have the Paramount+ with Showtime plan. Internationally – United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Italy, Germany, Latin America and Brazil – the title will launch exclusively on Paramount+.
Senna
Netflix | Limited series | Release date: Friday, November 29
For Formula 1 fanatics, Senna is a fictionalized account of the life of the three-time Formula 1 world champion, produced with the Senna family and starring Gabriel Leone in the title role. The project comes 14 years after Asif Kapadia’s hugely popular documentary film of the same name.
Director Vinvente Amorim’s Senna promises a comprehensive look at the driver’s extraordinary rise in the racing world, from his early days in the UK competing in the Formula Ford 1600 championship to his dominance in Formula 1, where he claimed three World Championships and 41 grand prix victories. Described as Netflix’s “most ambitious series in Latin America,” the docuseries will debut on November 29, 2024.
According to the show’s creators, Senna not only “highlights the driver’s professional triumphs, but also delves into his personal life, showing the complexity and depth of his character.”
A portrayal of the intense competition between Senna and his McLaren teammate Alain Prost promises to be a central theme, illustrating how their rivalry captivated fans and defined an era in F1 racing.
According to a Netflix statement, “The project will give fans the opportunity to cross the finish line not with Senna, but with Beco or Becão, the driver’s affectionate nicknames among friends and family.”