Titles We’re Excited for in 2022.
It’s a whole new year! We’re out of our homes, mingling with friends and colleagues, embarking on those far-flung vacations, and generally embracing everything that this super-healthy planet has to offer. JK!
Sure, we may not have a calendar year of overflowing plans, but on Netflix there’s no shortage of dream destinations. Original series will take us from New York City to the Greek islands to outer space. Films and documentaries will delve into the stories of an undercelebrated gay civil rights activist, a self-described genius, a singing schoolteacher, and the dark side of a puppet you thought you knew everything about. As far as behind-the-scenes clout goes, five words for you: Former President. Oscar winners. Shonda.
All that to say, don’t even think of giving up on this year. Netflix’s 2022 slate is a much-needed booster injection of joy. And you don’t even need to come face to face with a needle . . . though we can’t make any promises about knives that may be out or daggers shooting from the eyes of a certain Queen.
Jason Bateman and Laura Linney
Ozark
It’s cold out there in January, but nothing sends ice into our bloodstream like hearing Omar (Felix Solis) tell Marty (Jason Bateman) that “Your greatest threat will always come from the inside, Marty.” Likewise, nothing warms our hearts more than knowing that even after we finish the first seven episodes of this award-winning drug drama’s final season, there are seven more waiting for us by year’s end.
Julia Garner
Inventing Anna
Shonda Rhimes knows a good scandal when she sees one, which must be why she was drawn to the true story of a young woman in New York City who dropped hundred dollar bills like a socialite and claimed to be a German heiress. Anna Chlumsky plays the journalist chasing the story of aforementioned con artist Anna Delvey (Ozark’s Julia Garner) who scammed her way into money and status. Will it be handled? You’ll have to wait and see.
The Sandman
Don’t worry if you’ve never read the graphic novel source material by Neil Gaiman, though you probably shouldn’t divulge that info to the legion of obsessive superfans. Here’s what you need to know: Tom Sturridge plays the Sandman, also known as Dream, who was held captive for over 100 years after an occult ritual went awry. We could wax poetic about the themes of time, space, and shape-shifting, but the fact that Gwendoline Christie (Game of Thrones) will be playing Lucifer should be enough to draw you in.
Kanye West
jeen-yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy
Did anyone really think a documentary about the artist formerly known as Kanye West could be contained to just one sitting? It’ll take three docs (released over three consecutive weeks) for directors Coodie Simmons and Chike Ozah to show twenty one years worth of footage and tell the story of how Ye became the rapper, producer, designer, tastemaker, and self-proclaimed genius he is today.
Rustin
Colman Domingo (Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom) portrays Bayard Rustin, the gay civil rights activist who helped organize the 1963 March on Washington. History-changing icons onscreen deserve history-making icons behind the scenes, which is why this film comes from Oscar-winning writer Dustin Lance Black (Milk), Tony-winning director George C. Wolfe, and a production company founded by none other than former President Barack Obama.
Ben Schwartz, Tawny Newsome, Steve Carell, Jimmy O. Yang, Don Lake, Diana Silvers, and John Malkovich
Space Force
Mark Naird (Steve Carell) did not really want the job as the head of the government’s Space Force in Season One, and it’s not clear if he can hold onto the job in Season Two. Employable or not, we can promise you that under Naird and his motley crew of colleagues (including John Malkovich, Jimmy O. Yang, Ben Schwartz, and Tawny Newsome), the final frontier has never been in more questionable hands.
Knives Out 2
Daniel Craig may have abandoned those shaken-not-stirred martinis, but he’s back as suave and Southern superdetective Benoit Blanc to solve a new murder case. Not too shabby a gig, getting to travel to a Greek island and interrogate the likes of Janelle Monáe, Kathryn Hahn, Dave Bautista, Edward Norton, Ethan Hawke, and Kate Hudson. The biggest mystery of all: Will anyone’s outfit make us swoon like Chris Evans’s cream-colored chunky sweater?
Nick Kroll and Maya Rudolph
Human Resources
The B.M.U. (Big Mouth universe) expands far beyond animated hormone monsters to include a Shame Wizard, a Logic Rock, a Hate Worm, a Depression Kitty, and a Lovebug named Walter. If those words mean nothing to you, how about these: The voice cast includes Maya Rudolph, Nick Kroll, Aidy Bryant, Keke Palmer, and Randall Park. Anyone else can’t stop thinking about the Lovebug named Walter?
Wendell & Wild
From the wonderfully warped mind of Henry Selick (Coraline) comes this stop-motion animation film about demon brothers who escape the underworld and take up residence in the boombox of a goth teenager named Kat. Not far enough out there for you? Kat teams up with another teenager, Raoul, and demon-dusting nun Sister Helen to get them out. Still not sold? Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele voice the demon brothers. We’ll wait while you cancel all plans for that day.
Jonathan Bailey and Simone Ashley
Bridgerton
Now that Daphne and Simon are off being beautiful somewhere, it’s time to turn our attention to Anthony (Jonathan Bailey), the eldest of the eight Bridgerton siblings, and his search for a suitable bride. If Julia Quinn’s source material (The Viscount Who Loved Me) is any indication, all eyes should be on Kate Sharma (Simone Ashley), a whip-smart newcomer to England. Netflix fans may recognize her as Olivia Hanan from Sex Education, but it looks like she’ll be schooling someone else soon.
Wednesday
Remember Wednesday Addams, with her long braids and general avoidance of smiling? In this Tim Burton adaptation, she goes by Willa and navigates having psychic abilities, stopping a killing spree, and being a student at Nevermore Academy (where we’re guessing they read a lot of Edgar Allan Poe). That’s a lot to juggle, so we’re hoping for frequent visits from parents Gomez and Morticia, played in A+ casting by Luis Guzmán and Catherine Zeta-Jones.
Natasha Lyonne
Russian Doll
We’ve all been in our version of a time loop since we watched Nadia (Natasha Lyonne) realize she’d entered hers back in February 2019, so the timing couldn’t be better for a second season. Schitt’s Creek’s Annie Murphy and District 9’s Sharlto Copley join the cast this season, though the circumstances surrounding their characters are still as mysterious as Nadia’s predicament.
Matilda
We’re all just going to erase the memory of a certain feline-centric musical adaptation, k? Now that that’s handled, we can unleash our most theatrical and on-key shrieks about this cinematic take on the Tony-winning musical (not to be confused with the Danny DeVito and Mara Wilson movie, though both are based on the Roald Dahl book). Lashana Lynch brings the heart as Miss Honey, while Emma Thompson does her best to traumatize the “revolting children” of Crunchem Hall Primary School.
Dakota Johnson
Persuasion
Anne Elliot is often referred to as Jane Austen’s most “mature” heroine which, in 19th century England, essentially means, she’s ancient at the age of 27. Theater director Carrie Cracknell takes the helm of this literary adaptation, starring Dakota Johnson as that old maid Anne, who’s still in love with her ex-fiance CaptainWentworth (Cosmo Jarvis), despite the wealth of a more suitable Mr. Elliott, deliciously described by Henry Golding, who plays him as a “period f — boy.”
Pinocchio
Oscar-winning director Guillermo del Toro has always said the story of Pinocchio deeply influenced him as a filmmaker. So expect this stop-motion animation adaptation of the 19th century fairy tale to be infused with del Toro’s signature mix of horror and magical realism. Newcomer Gregory Mann voices the puppet with dreams of becoming a real boy in 1930s fascist Italy, while Ewan McGregor gives life to a certain talking cricket. Rounding out the cast will be Tilda Swinton, Cate Blanchett, Ron Perlman, and Christoph Waltz, not one of whom will be singing “I’ve got no strings.”
Maitreyi Ramakrishnan
Never Have I Ever
There are plenty of reasons why Never Have I Ever has been in the top 10 most-viewed shows in 70 countries, but the main one has to be the equal-parts joyous and cringey relatability of high schooler Devi Vishwakumar (Maitreyi Ramakrishnan). Which is not to say we don’t want great things for her in Season 3. As series creator Mindy Kaling recently said, “I’ve watched enough romantic comedies to know that it’s not interesting unless it’s constantly shifting.” So . . . you may not want to doodle Devi + Paxton 4-eva in Sharpie just yet.
Lady Chatterley’s Lover
To put it in Netflixian terms, Lady Chatterley’s Lover walked so Bridgerton could fly. So get ready to get steamy with this new adaptation of D.H. Lawrence’s classic story of love and lust that was once banned around the world for obscenity. Emma Corrin, who played Lady Diana on The Crown, will play Lady Chatterley and Skins’ Jack O’Connell, her lover. Might want to watch this one while the kids are out of the house.
Elizabeth Debicki
The Crown
The royal cast time jumps and turns over once again this season, with Imelda Staunton wearing the crown as Queen Elizabeth, Jonathan Pryce as Prince Philip, Dominic West as Prince Charles, and Elizabeth Debicki as Princess Diana. (The family affair extends to the next generation with West’s actual son Senan playing Prince William.) But look out for every member of this extraordinary cast to be upstaged the second Diana steps out in her legendary “revenge dress.”
The Sea Beast
Oscar-winning director Chris Williams (Moana, Big Hero 6) directs this epic, animated story of a young girl who stows away on a famous sea monster hunter’s ship, only to befriend one of the fiercest monsters of all. Sort of like Leonardo DiCaprio stowed away on the Titanic, but with monsters instead of icebergs. And we’re pretty sure this girl would share a floating door with any one of them.