Disney+ is starting the new year strong, with a combination of returning favourites and brand new series, movies and documentary attractions.
On the comeback front, look out for Season 2 of period British gang tale A Thousand Blows (from 9 January); quirky cleaning lady detective series High Potential Season 2 Part 2 (from 7 January); and Season 3 of secret-laden Tell Me Lies (from 13 January). Then there are those perennial favourites, acclaimed school comedy Abbott Elementary (watch S5 Part 1 from 7 January) and Grey’s Anatomy S22 Part 2 (from 9 January). Now onto the new entertainment.
Tron: Ares (Film)
If you missed it on the big screen, now’s your chance to catch sci-fi actioner Tron: Ares, the third film in the cult Tron film series, where humans and anthropomorphic computer programs interact. This time, though, highly sophisticated AI entity Ares (Jared Leto) has entered our world on a dangerous mission. Also starring are Greta Lee, Evan Peters, Jodie Turner-Smith, and Gillian Anderson, with original star Jeff Bridges making an appearance too.
In his review, Sam said that Tron: Ares delivers on the visual spectacle and pumping audio front, but is weaker elsewhere… so moderate your expectations.
You can watch Tron: Ares on Disney+ from today, 7 January.
Pole to Pole with Will Smith (Documentary Series)
If you love a globe-trotting adventure documentary, National Geographic has a treat for you. Five years in the making, Pole to Pole sees actor Will Smith throw himself into incredible challenges as he strives to explore life’s big questions. The endeavour takes the star to all seven continents, including the icefields of Antartica, the jungles of the Amazon and the deserts of Africa. He’s guided by scientists, fellow explorers and the local communities of these far-flung locations.
Watch seven-part Pole to Pole with Will Smith from 14 January.
FX’s The Beauty (Series)
American Horror Story, and Nip/Tuck creator Ryan Murphy has a raunchy new eleven-part series kicking off this month. Based on the novel of the same name, FX’s The Beauty is a mix of science fiction, body horror and mystery, as FBI Agents Cooper Madsen (Evan Peters) and Jordan Bennett (Rebecca Hall) investigate the spread of a sexually transmitted virus that transforms people into visions of physical perfection, but with deadly consequences. Standing in their way is Ashton Kutcher’s tech billionaire.
Watch FX’s The Beauty from 22 January.
Wonder Man (Miniseries)
Wrapping up the month is a MCU series with a difference. The standalone Wonder Man is a meta exploration of superhero fatigue as struggling actor Simon Williams (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) makes it his mission to land the starring role in a superhero movie remake. In the process he strikes up a friendship with ex-Mandarin performer Trevor Slattery (Ben Kingsley), who is also desperate for a career revival. The problem is that Simon has a secret that puts him the crosshairs of a covert government organisation.
The eight-part Wonder Man premieres on 28 January with all episodes available.
Look out for our review soon.