7. The Umbrella Academy
Based on the Dark Horse Comics series of the same name by Gerard Way and Gabriel Ba, The Umbrella Academy is a live-action TV show that follows a dysfunctional family of superheroes. The main cast includes Ellen Page as The White Violin, Tom Hopper as Spaceboy, Robert Sheehan as The Séance, David Castañeda as The Kraken, Emmy Raver-Lampman as The Rumor, Aidan Gallagher as Number Five, and Mary J. Blige as Cha-Cha.
The story will focus on the family coming together to solve their father’s mysterious death, though there bonds will be tested by their divergent personalities and abilities. Originally planned as a 2018 release, it now looks like The Umbrella Academy won’t be out until February 2019 at the earliest.
Netflix
6. Raising Dion
Based on Dennis Liu’s ambitious 2015 comic book series and accompanying short film/trailer of the same name, Raising Dion follows a single mother who discovers that her 7-year-old son possesses superpowers, and her subsequent efforts to keep Dion’s powers secret from those who would exploit him. Alisha Wainwright stars as Nicole Reese and Jas’Sia Young as Dion, while Black Panther’s Michael B. Jordan plays Nicole’s deceased husband Mark. The 10-episode series will see Liu serving as executive producer and promises to put a decidedly different spin on the superhero genre.
Dennis Liu
5. The Central Park Five
Having previously directed the award-winning documentary 13th about injustice in America’s prison system, Ava DuVernay’s second Netflix-produced filmis at the top of the must-watch pile for 2019. As the title alludes, The Central Park Five will cover one of the most infamous crime of the 1980s, and the subsequent racially-charged trial that saw five teenagers wrongfully convicted of sexual assault.
Unlike 13th, The Central Park Five is a scripted drama series focusing on the 1989 attack and sexual assault of Trisha Meili in New York City’s Central Park, the media firestorm surrounding the trial, and the eventual exoneration of the convicted men following the 2002 confession of convicted murderer and serial rapist Matias Reyes. All the main roles have been cast, with notable stars such as Michael K. Williams, Vera Farmiga, John Leguizamo, and Felicity Huffman in supporting roles. DuVernay will write and direct all four episodes, while also serving as executive producer.
PBS