It’s been an eventful year for pop culture. From the royal wedding to a major outbreak of COVID-19, 2020 has seen more major moments.
But as the world comes back online, it’s important to look ahead to the major events and projects that will shape the next year of pop culture. Here’s a look at some of the most exciting projects set for release in the coming months.
The Mandalorian
It’s been a while since we’ve had a fresh installment of the Star Wars saga. And although Disney+’s The Mandalorian is set several years after the events of Return of the Jedi, it’s the closest we’ve gotten to a mainline Star Wars movie since 2022.
The show follows the adventures of a bounty hunter in the Outer Rim Territories. Named The Mandalorian, he hunts for bounty hunters called Imperial Veterans who have fled Hoth after the Empire’s fall. Star Wars legend Paul Hammil plays the titular character, while Emily Swallow plays his mentor and employer, The bounty hunter’s director, The Director (also played by Hammil).
The Mandalorian premieres on Disney+ on April 16th. It was developed by The Mandalorian creator Jon Favreau and The Empire Strikes Back director Irvin Kershner, and features music by John Williams. Despite its age, the show still enjoys major popularity, regularly ranking among the highest-rated shows on its streaming service. If you’re a Star Wars fan, this is one show you need to be watching.
Westworld
As we’ve established, the year was rife with major events, from the royal wedding to the pandemic. But it wasn’t just the anniversaries and birthdays that made an impact, but the TV shows that came out of it. One of the most talked-about shows of last year was HBO’s Westworld, based on the 1973 film of the same name. It’s the story of an artificial intelligence experiment gone wrong, and the people who must contain it. Starring Emmy-winner Evan Rachel Wood, the series is part sci-fi thriller, part philosophical treatise on the nature of reality and the line between man and machine. Westworld will premiere its third season on April 21st.
It seems like just yesterday that we were all talking about the first two seasons of Westworld, thanks to their intense level of immersive storytelling and fantastic cast. Based on the early buzz, the third season won’t disappoint. Besides, with a fourth season set for release next year, we’ll get to see more about what happens after the hosts start rebelling against their creators. If you’re looking for a new show to binge-watch, Westworld is certainly at the top of the list.
The Grand Tour
In March of this year, it was announced that the third season of Amazon Prime’s The Grand Tour will premiere on April 24th. Taking a break from his usual solo traveling, Graham Norton will once again set out with a small group of journalists and celebrities to visit historic landmarks and indulge in some sightseeing. The one-of-a-kind series will document their adventures, both on the road and in the destinations they visit. As well as serving as an excuse to get away from our desks and out of our homes, The Grand Tour is a fantastic vehicle for exploring the world. Amazon Prime members will have access to the entire third season as soon as it premieres on April 24th.
Although our list of exciting upcoming shows is rather short, it doesn’t mean there aren’t any other major projects we’re eagerly anticipating. From the world’s most expensive apartments to the future of VR gaming, 2021 is sure to be as exciting a year as 2020. Stay tuned!