Welcome Back: The Franchise Returns and New Seasons To Watch

Brand new shows or movies are like introductions to new worlds – exciting, unfamiliar and full of possibility. But when a series returns or a new film joins an ever-expanding cinematic universe, it feels more like catching up with old friends. You already know the characters, the lore and the rules of the world, and there’s something comforting about slipping back into the story you love.

Fortunately for those of us who can’t help getting attached to the characters and worlds of our favourite shows and movies, there are a host of new seasons and franchise entries just around the corner. Below, we’ve listed a few of our upcoming favourites, all streaming on Disney+.

Tron: Ares

Sci-fi fans have likely been visiting Tron’s digital world for decades, with the groundbreaking original hitting cinemas in 1982. Historically, the franchise has unfolded almost entirely within a virtual universe, but Tron: Ares shifts the focus into the physical world.

This instalment follows Ares (Jared Leto), a powerful digital program that crosses over into reality, blurring the line between technology and humanity. While Tron: Ares remains visually striking – showcasing the franchise’s signature neon-soaked aesthetic – this is more grounded than its predecessors, engaging with contemporary themes such as AI and the potential consequences of unchecked technological advancement.

Now streaming.

Predator: Badlands

Predator fans, how do you feel about the titular villain? Considering the bloody battles of the film series so far, there’s probably not a lot of empathy for the camouflaging killers – but that might change with Predator: Badlands.

The latest entry introduces Dek (Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi), an exiled Yautja – the species known as Predators – who embarks on a dangerous hunt across a hostile “death planet”. With the help of android Thia (Elle Fanning), Dek turns the Predator into an unlikely hero, seeking glory and, ultimately, acceptance.

Now streaming.

Marvel Television’s Daredevil: Born Again

If justice is blind, then Matt Murdock (aka Daredevil) is uniquely equipped to serve it. Played by Charlie Cox, Murdock is a blind lawyer fighting to save New York City by day, and a masked vigilante with the same goals by night – though he uses some quite different techniques when the sun goes down.

In Daredevil: Born Again, Murdock faces his most formidable opponent yet: Wilson Fisk, aka Kingpin (Vincent D’Onofrio), who has risen to power as New York’s mayor. By the end of season one, Fisk had taken over New York, outlawed vigilantism and put a target on Murdock’s back, setting the stage for a thrilling second season.

Streaming from March 25.

Zootopia 2

Buddy cop pairings have a knack for becoming crowd favourites – just ask Starsky and Hutch, or Turner and Hooch. With Zootopia, the dynamic duo of Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde (a rabbit and a fox, naturally) join up to fight crime – albeit with some bumps in the road along the way.

The first Zootopia offered a charming reimagining of the buddy cop genre, set within a world filled with anthropomorphic animals. The sequel delivers more of that winning formula, this time fighting organised crime and the ominous return of snakes to the city. As ever, it’s a Disney animation that entertains adults just as much as kids.

Streaming from March 11.

The Artful Dodger Season 2

Charles Dickens’s Oliver Twist introduced us to some of literature’s greatest characters, including the cunning Artful Dodger and the infamous Fagin. While Dickens’s original takes place in the grimy streets of industrial London, the Artful Dodger series packs those iconic characters off to 1850s Australia.

Season one followed a grown-up Dodger (Thomas Brodie-Sangster), now a war-weary surgeon, as he’s drawn back into a life of crime after reuniting with Fagin (David Thewlis). The upcoming season raises the stakes further, as Dodger attempts to balance forbidden romance, high society, surgery and his old pickpocketing instincts – a juggling act that promises plenty of drama.

Now streaming.

This article is produced by Broadsheet in partnership with Disney+.