July is coming and with it arrives an avalanche of premieres and renewed series brought by TV networks and streaming platforms. Among Netflix’s most anticipated releases are the third season finale of The Witcher and the return of the magnetic legal drama The Lincoln Lawyer.
Likewise, Taylor Sheridan’s universe continues to expand on Paramount+. Now it is the turn of his latest production Special Ops: Lioness starring Zoe Saldana, Nicole Kidman and Morgan Freeman. The FX network, meanwhile, brings back Timothy Olyphant as U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens in the sequel series Justified: City Primeval.
This month, there is certainly an eclectic mix of titles to satisfy all tastes.
If you want to make your TV and streaming plans for July 2023, we have selected the must-see TV drama for you:
The Lincoln Lawyer
Netflix | Season 2 Part 1 | Release date: Thursday, July 06
Based on the novel of the same name by Michael Connelly, The Lincoln Lawyer follows the thrilling journey of defense attorney Mickey Haller (Manuel Garcia-Rulfo) as he explores the gray areas of the law and the blurred lines between right and wrong. The first installment of the show examined Haller’s return to the law after a long absence due to his addiction to painkillers.
The Lincoln Lawyer demonstrates the complexities of the legal profession, reflecting deeply on the nature of justice.
Since its premiere, the adaptation has proven to be a success, prompting the return of a new season. This time, the season will be divided into two parts: the first half will premiere on July 6, and the second part will debut on August 3. Each batch will consist of five episodes.
The second season is expected to delve the events of The Fifth Witness, which is the fourth book in Connelly’s series. This time, Mickey takes on a new case, legally representing a Lisa Trammel, a woman accused of the murder of Mitchell Bondurant, a prominent member of society.
Manuel Garcia-Rulfo will reprise his role as Mickey Haller. The actor will be accompanied by Neve Campbell, Jazz Raycole, Angus Sampson, Becki Newton.
Django
SkyShowtime | Season 1 | Release date: Monday, July 10
The classic Western character Django returns to screens as part of a co-production between Sky Atlantic and Canal+.
Django is an Italian-French television series created by Leonardo Fasoli and Maddalena Ravagli. Django has been described as a “reimagining” of the 1966 film of the same name directed by Sergio Corbucci.
The story takes place in the wild and arid landscape of Texas at the end of the 19th century, specifically in New Babylon, a mysterious town located at the bottom of a crater.
Django (Matthias Schoenaerts), a man thirsty for justice, searches for those responsible for the cruel murder of his family.
But things are not as simple as they seem. Soon, he discovers that his daughter, Sarah (Lisa Vicari), has managed to survive the tragedy and now resides in New Babylon.
At 20 years old, Sarah is engaged to John Ellis (Nicholas Pinnock), the charismatic founder of this town who has emerged in the midst of adversity. However, Django’s presence is not welcome in Sarah’s life, as she harbors a deep resentment towards her father. Now, Django faces a double challenge: to find the killers and win back his daughter’s heart.
Directed by Francesca Comencini, best known for her work on Gomorrah, the show tells the story of a man who seeks revenge and ends up fighting for a greater cause.
Along with Schoenaerts and Pinnock, Django features a formidable cast that includes Lisa Vicari, Noomi Rapace, Benny O. Arthur, Antal Edgar Miklos, Maya Kelly, Jyuddah Jaymes, Eric Kolelas and Slavko Sobin.
Justified: City Primeval
FX | Limited Series | Release date: Tuesday, July 18
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6KEgWSFfaE
Justified: City Primeval is an American western crime drama developed by showrunners Michael Dinner and Dave Andron. The television miniseries is derived from the critically acclaimed fiction Justified, which aired on FX from 2010 to 2015.
Timothy Olyphant returns to his starring role as U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens. The show also reunites the producers of the original series, including project creator Graham Yost. The plot will be based on the novel City Primeval: High Noon in Detroit by Elmore Leonard.
According to the official synopsis: City Primeval picks up the story 10 years after the end of the original series. Raylan Givens now lives in Miami, and combines his life as a U.S. Marshal with that of a part-time father. However, a chance encounter in Florida pushes him to Detroit, where he crosses paths with Clement Mansell (Boyd Holbrook), aka “the Oklahoma Wildman”, a sociopathic outlaw who has escaped justice in the past. Once again, Raylan Givens will have to navigate a complicated web of crime and murder.
“This story is really going to be about Raylan and his demons and his past and trying to move forward at this point in his life,” said showrunner Dave Andron.
The first two episodes of Justified: City Primeval premiere July 18, with subsequent chapters airing one at a time in the following weeks.
Sweet Magnolias
Netflix | Season 3 | Release date: Thursday, July 20
The time has come to prepare a pitcher of margaritas as the third season of Sweet Magnolias is just around the corner. As we know, this romantic show became an instant hit on Netflix after its premiere in May 2020.
Based on the book series of the same name by Sherryl Woods, the drama follows three lifelong friends: newly divorced Maddie (JoAnna Garcia Swisher), lawyer Helen (Heather Headley) and Chef Dana Sue (Brooke Elliott), who reside in Serenity, South Carolina. The trio supports each other unconditionally as they juggle their relationships, families and careers.
Season three is set in the aftermath of the fight at Sullivan’s. Maddie struggles with how best to help Cal and works to clarify her own emotional path. Helen faces difficult decisions about the men in her life. And Dana Sue looks for ways to use an unexpected check to help the community.
“Throughout the season, the ladies tackle these problems – and all the complications they cause – with their trademark warmth, humor, and devotion to each other and those they love. And margaritas,” a press release reads.
All 10 hour-long episodes of the third season will be available on streaming on Thursday, July 20.
Special Ops: Lioness
Paramount+ | Season 1 | Release date: Sunday, July 23
The Taylor Sheridan universe (Yellowstone, Mayor of Kingstown and Tulsa King) continues to grow at an accelerated pace. One of his latest projects is Special Ops: Lioness, a thriller, espionage and action series starring Zoe Saldana, Nicole Kidman and Morgan Freeman.
Inspired by a real-life covert CIA program, Special Ops: Lioness promises to follow a team of agents as they attempt to take down a terrorist organization from the inside. To accomplish this mission, they use a female agent to infiltrate and get close to the wives and daughters of the terrorists.
Per the official synopsis, the show “follows the life of Joe (Saldaña) while she attempts to balance her personal and professional life as the tip of the CIA’s spear in the war on terror. The Lioness Program, overseen by Kaitlyn Meade (Kidman) and Donald Westfield (Kelly), enlists an aggressive Marine Raider named Cruz (De Oliveira) to operate undercover alongside Joe among the power brokers of State terrorism in the CIA’s efforts to thwart the next 9/11.”
Although Kidman and Saldana head up the covert CIA program, neither plays the show’s lead character. The role of Cruz Manuelos is played by Laysla De Oliveira, best known for her appearance on the Netflix series Locke & Key,
The Witcher
Netflix | Season 3 Part 2 | Release date: Thursday, July 27
The Witcher is a Netflix fantasy series based on the books by Polish writer Andrzej Sapkowski. The show follows Geralt of Rivia, who is part of a group of magically enhanced monster hunters known as “Witchers”.
The streamer has split the new season into two parts: the first volume premiered on June 29 with five new episodes and the second volume will debut on July 27 with three episodes. Similar to Stranger Things 4, The Witcher opts to have two halves compared to its previous seasons.
This will be the last installment starring Henry Cavill as Geralt. The actor has left the fiction due to creative differences and will be replaced by Liam Hemsworth.