Get ready for a thrilling summer of television! July brings a diverse lineup of new shows and the final season of a fan favorite, all ready to keep you entertained during those warm summer nights. From mysteries and sci-fi adventures to historical dramas and post-apocalyptic thrillers, there’s something for everyone. Discover the must-watch premieres featuring talented actors like Rashida Jones, Anthony Hopkins, Natalie Portman, Seth Rogen, and Jennifer Connelly.
Sunny (July 10)
Rashida Jones stars in this mystery thriller as Suzie, an American living in Japan and grieving the disappearance of her husband and son in a mysterious plane crash. To help her through the sadness, she is given Sunny (Joanna Sotomura), a domestic robot made by her husband’s electronics company. Naturally, Sunny can’t replace Suzie’s family, but as time goes on, the two develop a friendship. They also work together to find out what really happened to her loved ones, uncovering secrets and a dangerous and dark world Suzie never expected to unearth.
With 10 episodes in the first season, Sunny has a dark comedic tone. Based on the novel The Dark Manual by Colin O’Sullivan, Sunny has the potential to become another big hit show for Apple TV+, with a sci-fi-angle like Silo (in which Jones also stars) and Severance. If you like those two series, in fact, Sunny might be one worth watching, too. Stream Sunny on Apple TV+.
Sausage Party: Foodtopia (July 11)
If you loved the adult animated movie Sausage Party and the typical raunchy, potty humor that comes from a Seth Rogen project, you’ll want to keep your eye on Sausage Party: Foodtopia. The show turns the concept into an adult animated miniseries. Serving as a sequel to the 2016 movie, it continues the story of anthropomorphic food items in a grocery store that wonder about the “Great Beyond,” that mysterious place they go to once purchased. Some of the foods initially believed humans were gods and take ingredients to the utopia, while others suspected the darker truth. The movie ends in a revolt against humans, and the series picks up from there.
Food has taken over the world, but Foodtopia isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. When devastation hits, the group seeks out a human for help on how to rebuild, to hilarious results. Featuring the voice talents of Rogen himself as a sausage named Frank along with Kristen Wiig (his hot dog bun love interest), Michael Cera (a deformed sausage named Barry), Edward Norton (Sammy Bagel Jr., a neurotic Jewish bagel), Will Forte (a human), and Sam Richardson as an orange (of course, named Julius), Sausage Party: Foodtopia is sure to be pure, ridiculous fun. Stream Sausage Party: Foodtopia on Amazon Prime Video.
Those About to Die (July 18)
Covering the exciting world of gladiators in ancient Rome and with a talented cast led by Sir Anthony Hopkins, Those About to Die is an epic sword-and-sandal series from Roland Emmerich, director of The Day After Tomorrow and Independence Day, and writer Robert Rodat (Saving Private Ryan). Based on the book of the same name by Gianni Nunnari and Harald Kloser, Those About to Die highlights the ancient spectacle of two men in an arena, fighting to a bloody end for the entertainment of those watching. The series sets out to explore some of the darker elements, including the business aspect of creating vicious games that entertain, sometimes at devastating costs.
Hopkins plays Vespasian, a Roman Emperor who served from 69 to 79, while other actors play real historical figures like Dimitri Leonidas (Rosewater and Riviera) as famous charioteer Scorpus and Jojo Macari (Sex Education) and Tom Hughes (The English) as Roman Emperors Domitian and Titus Flavius, respectively. There are several other fictional characters within this action-packed Roman Empire series, which is poised to be a fascinating spectacle and homage to ancient Roman times. Stream Those About to Die on Peacock.
Lady in the Lake (July 19)
Natalie Portman stars in this limited series set in 1960s Baltimore and based on the Laura Lippman novel of the same name. She’s Maddie Schwartz, a Jewish housewife looking to reinvent herself as an investigative journalist. Maddie becomes obsessed with solving two murders: one of Tessie Fine, an 11-year-old Jewish girl, and the other of Cleo Sherwood (Moses Ingram), a Black mom and bartender who was also heavily invested in furthering the Black progressive agenda. Dubbed a noir thriller, the story in Lady in the Lake was inspired by two real-life murders that occurred when Lippman was growing up, one of which was heavily publicized and the other not, highlighting the racial divide and prejudice within the city.
Examining the complicated relationship between Blacks and Jews in Baltimore during that time and with a twist that remains faithful to, but also expands on, the one featured in the book, Lady of the Lake is an enthralling watch. Stream Lady in the Lake on Apple TV+.
Snowpiercer, season 4 (July 21)
Returning for its fourth and final season, Snowpiercer continues the journey within a future postapocalyptic world where Earth has become a frozen wasteland. The only survivors reside on a moving luxury train built by a billionaire that continuously circles the globe, keeping everyone aboard alive. But class disparity continues to exist as it did in the world before, and the social hierarchy along with depleting resources cause increasing tensions.
Starring Jennifer Connelly and Daveed Diggs, Snowpiercer’s third season saw one faction shift to a place called Big Alice where they face new challenges. Set nine months following that season finale, season 4 adds new cast members, including Clark Gregg and Michael Aronov. The story is based on the Jacques Lob, Benjamin Legrand, and Jean-Marc Rochette graphic novel Le Transperceneige as well as Bong Joon-ho’s 2013 movie starring Chris Evans and Tilda Swinton.
For its final season, Snowpiercer moved from TNT to AMC, with all three previous seasons now available for streaming there as well. Stream Snowpiercer on AMC+.
