Star Trek brings back iconic Deep Space Nine character for new "canon-adjacent" adventure
Star Trek legend Nana Visitor has brought back her Deep Space Nine character Kira Nerys for a short but sweet new adventure. In Lost and Found, the latest animated short from Scopely, the team behind the game Star Trek Fleet Command, the crew of the Realta joins forces with Major Kira Nerys (who's on board the USS Defiant). They're tasked with investigating the disappearance of a Starfleet training vessel along the edge of Federation Space - but they discover the ship is far from empty, with Major Kira and co encountering an old enemy. Major Kira is forced to grapple with the loss of the crew of the Adelphi and report back to Captain Sisko before salvaging the remains of the ship. But she points out to the crew of the Realta: "I can't shake the feeling that this is the beginning of something terrible" - leaving the short on a very settling note indeed. View oEmbed on the source website It's not the first time these shorts have seen a Star Trek legend return, with previous instalments featuring LeVar Burton as Geordi La Forge, Christina Chong as La’an Noonien-Singh, and Jeffrey Combs as Weyoun. TrekMovie reports that the Scopely has previously described these shorts as "canon-adjacent". Visitor first played Bajoran military liaison Kira Nerys in Deep Space Nine from 1993 to 1999. She later returned to voice the character in the animates series Lower Decks. Previously speaking to SlashFilm about playing Kira for all those years, Visitor said: "Those seven years were like dog years. One year equals seven years. So I was Kira for 49 years, and she is so ingrained in me. "Really, she actually shifted who I was... I was shifted by this character in really good ways, in having to accept foibles and having to self-examine. She did a lot of good for me. So it's joyful for me to step into who she is." Star Trek: Fleet Command is available to download now. Star Trek is available to watch on Paramount+. <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/video/offers/?benefitId=paramountplusgb&ref_=DVM_PDS_CHN_UK_mi_C_mkw_sNynrT7ZC-dc_pcrid_637893181401&mrntrk=slid__pgrid_143491579803_pgeo_9045946_x__adext__ptid_kwd-1210995054370&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAs5i8BhDmARIsAGE4xHwTfGgy5aYKkYxNQV68UYUZhVWUr2bVS4o-EfnvpowOvplyXMbKqXAaArmvEALw_wcB&tag=radtim0b-21&ascsubtag=radiotimes-2191954" target="_blank" rel="noopener sponsored">Sign up to your seven-day Paramount+ free trial. Check out more of our Sci-fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Stranger Things: Tales From ‘85 star reveals why and how her Eleven is different to Millie Bobby Brown’s
While Eleven's fate was left up in the air at the end of Stranger Things season 5, the character is returning to us in a new form in new spin-off Tales from '85. An all-new cast is taking over in the animated series, which is set in between seasons 2 and 3 of the original show, with Brooklyn Davey Norstedt set to play Eleven after Millie Bobby Brown originated the role. Speaking exclusively to Radio Times about taking on the role and how her Eleven is set to be different, Norstedt explained: "I didn't want to do a complete imitation of Millie’s performance, because that kind of takes all of the heart and humanity out of it. I don't want to be a robot! "It was definitely an interesting balance. I know I don't have powers, and I wasn't raised in a lab, but there are a lot of ways that I personally relate to Eleven and her journey, and I felt like I was really able to connect to her. "She feels everything so deeply and extremely and I felt like I was really able to bring that vulnerability to the character. That that was a big part of who I am, that I infused into the role." "Eleven is learning who she is, and she's learning to speak up for herself," Norstedt added. "So we talked a lot about having that assertiveness and firmness. She wants to make choices for herself, so we leaned a lot into that specific part of her character." Part of Norstedt's performance also included spontaneous moments and improvised lines, which showrunner Eric Robles was eager to keep in the show to emphasise how young the characters are in Tales from '85 compared to when we last saw them in season 5. "I always felt so free to try whatever I wanted to try on a line. Sometimes I would add little parts just just to see where it lands," she said. "Sometimes it gets used and sometimes it doesn't, but a lot of the times I would look back and be like, 'Oh my gosh, they used this improv that I added.'" Plus, as a Stranger Things superfan, Norstedt was very happy to do her research. View Green Video on the source website "I really did heavy research, just watching the show over and over again and learning who Eleven is at her core," Norstedt said. "I wanted to honour Millie Bobby Brown's portrayal of the character, but also just learn who Eleven is and bring her to life." "The little things are very important to me," she added. "I watched season 2 the most because that's the closest to where she is in the series. I really wanted to make sure I nailed where she is, because she's learning her place in the world, she's learning who she is, she's learning how to speak. I wanted to make sure I kind of captured that moment in time." As for how Norstedt views Brown and her performance? "She's been such a big inspiration to me for a long time, not just her portrayal of Eleven, but also as a person," she said. "I love her so much, and I know the fans do too. I really wanted to honour that portrayal and all that she put into the character, because I know that she cares about Eleven just as much as I do." Stranger Things: Tales from '85 will air on Netflix on Thursday 23 April. All Stranger Things seasons are available to stream on Netflix now. Add Stranger Things: Tales from '85 to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Sci-fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Silo season 3 release date officially confirmed as hit Rebecca Ferguson series returns with chilling first look
This is not a drill! Silo season 3 officially has a release date – and there's not too long to wait. The news has been a long time coming for fans of the sci-fi, which follows the inhabitants of an underground silo who have no idea how they came to be there, or what they survived in the outside world. After seasons 1 and 2 thrilled audiences, Apple TV has confirmed season 3 is coming our way on 3 July. New episodes of the 10-part season will then drop weekly, until the finale on 4 September. Alongside the release date announcement, the streamer has dropped a chilling teaser heralding the return of Rebecca Ferguson's Juliette, the engineer determined to find out the truth. In the dramatic clip, we hear her say: "Before we can know why we're here, before we can know why everything is as it is, before we can know how it all will end, we need to understand how it all began." View oEmbed on the source website Oh yes, we're going right back to the beginning, with season 3 being based on Shift, the second of Hugh Howey's Wool novels. The teaser goes on to show scenes from Silo 18 in reverse (as if we're rewinding) with a shot of the bleak wasteland above the siloes flickering and turning back to a lush green landscape. Meanwhile, a whole host of first-look images have been released by Apple TV, which you can check out below. View Gallery on the source website It set to follow two different timelines, with Apple sharing the official synopsis: "In the present, Juliette Nichols (Ferguson) survives her forced 'cleaning' but returns with memory loss as the silo recovers from rebellion and faces a dangerous new threat. "Meanwhile, in the 'Before Times,' journalist Helen Drew (Jessica Henwick) and Congressman Daniel Keene (Ashley Zukerman) uncover a conspiracy that pulls them into a chain of events with catastrophic, irreversible consequences." View Green Video on the source website Alongside Ferguson, Common, Harriet Walter, Chinaza Uche, Avi Nash, Alexandria Riley, Shane McRae, Remmie Milner, Rick Gomez, Billy Postlethwaite, and Clare Perkins are set to return. Interestingly, Steve Zahn, who made his debut as Solo in season 2, will also return. Meanwhile, alongside Henwick and Zukerman, who were seen in the season 2 finale, Laura Innes, Jessica Brown Findlay, Morven Christie, Reed Birney and Matt Craven will join the cast. Silo season 3 will begin on 3 July on Apple TV - sign up to Apple TV now. Add Silo to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Sci-Fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Wednesday season 3 confirms major location change in first look at Jenna Ortega in new episodes
Wednesday season 3 is headed to the city of love! While the new instalment of the beloved fantasy series is a way off yet, Netflix has already shared a first-look snap of Jenna Ortega's woeful character in a rather iconic location, with the caption: "From Paris, with dread." As production heads to the French capital, Ortega can be seen filming with the Eiffel Tower in the background, alongside trusty companion Thing. She's holding a piece of paper in her hand – perhaps a letter from someone summoning her there? As it stands, fans are in the dark about exactly why Wednesday is heading to Paris in season 3, but some fans have speculated that it may be related to Enid (Emma Myers) potentially fleeing Nevermore after her seemingly-permanent werewolf transformation in season 2. While plot details are still yet to be confirmed, the cast for season 3 is shaping up to be, well, très bien. New stars joining the fray include: Eva Green (who's playing Aunt Ophelia), Winona Ryder (Tabitha), Chris Sarandon (Balthazar), Noah Taylor (Cyrus), Oscar Morgan (Atticus), and Kennedy Moyer (Daisy). Plus, Lena Headey, Andrew McCarthy and James Lance were recently announced in yet to be confirmed roles. Season 3 began production in February this year in Ireland, with key cast members including Ortega (Wednesday), Myers (Enid), Catherine Zeta-Jones (Morticia), Luis Guzmán (Gomez), Hunter Doohan (Tyler), Fred Armisen (Fester) and more returning. Co-creator and showrunner Alfred Gough previously told Tudum of season 3: "Our goal for season 3 is the same as it is for every season: to make it the best season of Wednesday we possibly can." Co-creator and showrunner Miles Millar added: "We want to continue digging deeper into our characters while expanding the world of Nevermore and Wednesday. We will be seeing more Addams family members and learning more family secrets in season 3!" Meanwhile, the legendary Tim Burton, who works as an executive producer on the show, stated: "I’m so excited to be back for season 3, and it’s great to be reunited with all of the original cast. The addition of some dear friends and past collaborators of mine — Winona, Eva, Chris, Noah … makes this season extra special. I feel very lucky." We'll be (not so) patiently waiting over here! Wednesday seasons 1 and 2 are available to stream on Netflix. Sign up for Netflix from £5.99 a month. Netflix is also available on Sky Glass and Virgin Media Stream. Add Wednesday to your watchlist on the <a id="OWA8b702c45-bee9-94e4-f018-57518e78041b" title="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" href="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-outlook-id="449c28d9-909e-4aab-b6b8-153454f55d5e" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Fantasy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
When will From season 4 be released in the UK and how to watch?
UK fans will have to wait a little longer.
With From season 4 arriving in the US and across the world, there's set to be a hint of jealousy from UK fans, who will have to wait a little longer to watch the new instalment of the MGM+ horror series. Harold Perrineau returns to lead an ensemble cast as Sheriff Boyd Stevens, with the series following the a group of people who get stuck in a nightmarish small town, and are haunted by monsters. Speaking exclusively to Radio Times, Perrineau teased that the return of the Smiley monster at the end of season 3 has placed Boyd in a dark mindset. “It really places him in this, in the space of ‘I can do everything I can, and I still might not be able to protect them,” he told us. “I could kill a motherf**ker, like I could kill a dude, and that still might not be enough to protect them.” But when can we expect to see the new episodes in the UK? When will From season 4 be released in the UK? Season 4 of From won’t start streaming until Thursday 14 May 2026 (presumably a weekly rollout from episode 1 onwards), as confirmed by Sky. This means viewers England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales will be almost a month behind the United States. How to watch From season 4 in the UK Like the last three seasons, From season 4 will be available on Sky and NOW in the UK. That's a marked difference to the US, where the show can be viewed on MGM+, and internationally, where it can be found on Prime Video. View Green Video on the source website From season 4 will arrive in the UK on 14 May. From seasons 1-3 are available to stream on NOW. Check out more of our Sci-fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Jessica Chastain offers release update on postponed Apple TV thriller The Savant
Apple TV previously postponed the thriller, with no new release date being confirmed.
Jessica Chastain has shared a welcome update on her Apple TV thriller The Savant after it was postponed last year. The drama, which will follow an undercover investigator known as The Savant as she infiltrates online hate groups in an effort to stop domestic extremists, was due to begin last September, with the streamer confirming that the release had been pushed back. No new release date was confirmed at the time but now Chastain has confirmed, after some uncertainty, that the show will definitely still be coming to screens. She told Variety: “Before it was like, ‘I don’t know if we’re going to see it,’ but now I can say, ‘We’re going to see it.'" The outlet also cites sources as saying the thriller will likely be released this July. Radio Times has contacted Apple TV for comment. In September, Apple TV confirmed the release date for The Savant had been postponed, with a spokesperson saying in a statement: "After careful consideration, we have made the decision to postpone The Savant. We appreciate your understanding and look forward to releasing the series at a future date." While a reason for the postponement was not confirmed, Deadline reported that it was said to be related to the show's subject matter. Chastain later criticised the decision to postpone the series, saying in a statement that she and Apple TV weren't "aligned" on it. She added: "In the last five years since we’ve been making the show, we’ve seen an unfortunate amount of violence in the United States: the kidnapping attempt on Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer; the January 6th attack on the Capitol; the assassination attempts on President Trump; the political assassinations of Democratic representatives in Minnesota; the attack on Speaker Pelosi’s husband; the assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk; the recent shooting at an ABC affiliate station in California; and over 300 school shootings across this country. View Green Video on the source website "These incidents, though far from encompassing the full range of violence witnessed in the United States, illustrate a broader mindset that crosses the political spectrum and must be confronted. I’ve never shied away from difficult subjects, and while I wish this show wasn’t so relevant, unfortunately it is. "The Savant is about the heroes who work every day to stop violence before it happens, and honouring their courage feels more urgent than ever. While I respect Apple’s decision to pause the release for now, I remain hopeful the show will reach audiences soon. "Until then, I’m wishing safety and strength for everyone, and I’ll let you know if and when The Savant is released." Chastain also previously told Radio Times that, despite the show's subject matter, the series still made her feel "hopeful", because she always chooses "to live from a place of hope". "I hate that this show is relevant," she said. "I hate it. I hate that there are mass acts of violence. But maybe through this conversation and through unearthing this darkness in society, then we're gonna work together to fix it. "We're gonna work together to protect our children, to create some legislations, to put some guardrails on the things that they're seeing. "I'm always going to navigate from a place of hope because I do think that at our core, humanity and people are good. And the ones who aren't are the ones who make the loudest noise. But there's more power in goodness." The Savant is expected to premiere on Apple TV+ in future – sign up to Apple TV+ now. Add The Savant to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
What time will From season 4 be released on MGM+?
After a long old wait, From season 4 is officially almost here - but what time is it set to hit screens? While UK fans will have to wait a few more weeks for the MGM+ horror series, starring Harold Perrineau, to return, US and international fans are set to be tuning in very soon to find out exactly what's going on with the residents of Fromville after season 3's big reveals. We're expecting some answers about the Man in Yellow, Tabitha and Jade, and Fatima's horrific baby, with Perrineau teasing big things ahead after Smiley's return during a recent chat with Radio Times. So, here's everything you need to know about what time From season 4 will hit screens. Buckle in! What time will From season 4 be released on MGM+ and Prime Video? In the US, From season 4 is expected to be released on MGM+ at the following times: 9pm ET on 19th April 8pm CT on 19th April 7pm MT on 19th April 6pm PT on 19th April However, this is subject to change. Internationally, From season 4 will be released on Prime Video - and the episodes should drop simultaneously across the world. In Australia, the new season will be released on Stan on 20 April. View Green Video on the source website From season 4 will arrive in the US on 19 April. From seasons 1-3 are available to stream on NOW. Check out more of our Sci-fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
The Last of Us season 3 casts Sinners breakout star in key role
Season 3 is set to focus on Kaitlyn Dever's Abby.
The Last of Us season 3 has added even more stars to its cast, with Sinners actress Li Jun Li joining the fray. The post-apocalyptic drama, which will focus its third season on Kaitlyn Dever's Abby, will see Li play Miriam, a Seraphite and the mother of Lev and Yara, according to Variety. The actress is best known for her role as Grace Chow in Ryan Coogler's Oscar-winning movie sinners, and she's set to appear in Marvel's Spider-Noir alongside Nicolas Cage. It was previously confirmed that Michelle Mao will play Yara and Kyriana Kratter will play Lev, a pair of siblings who encounter Abby at a key moment in their lives. The Last of Us season 3 will show Abby's experience as a soldier in Seattle, with the character having her perspective changed after seeking revenge against Joel (Pedro Pascal) for her father's death. Alongside Dever, cast members Bella Ramsey (Ellie), Isabella Merced (Dina), Gabriel Luna (Tommy) and Jeffrey Wright (Isaac) will return. They'll be joined by Clea DuVall, who's playing another member of the Seraphites, and Jorge Lendeborg Jr, who will be taking over the role of Manny, as well as Patrick Wilson, who will play Jerry Anderson, Abby's father, and Jason Ritter, who will take on an original role, Washington Liberation Front soldier Hanley. Alongside these new additions, three returning faces have been promoted to regular roles. <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2025/05/0401TheLastofUsS02-13f8285-e1746187467646.jpg" width="3245" height="2160" alt="Ellie (Bella Ramsey) and Dina (Isabela Merced) in The Last of Us season 2, standing side by side outdoors in a post-apocalyptic setting. Both have tense, concerned expressions as they look offscreen. Ellie wears a dark purple t-shirt, revealing a fern tattoo on her right forearm, while Dina wears a rust-colored button-up shirt over a light tank top. The background includes weathered brick and concrete walls overgrown with greenery." title="Ellie (Bella Ramsey) and Dina (Isabela Merced) in The Last of Us season 2" /> Mel (Ariela Barer), Nora (Tati Gabrielle) and Owen (Spencer Lord), who were introduced as part of season 2, will all be core characters of season 3. Season 3 is also set to have a big creative shake-up behind-the-scenes. Co-creator and co-showrunner Neil Druckmann exited the series after season 2, with Craig Mazin going solo as showrunner on what looks set to be the show's final season. View Green Video on the source website Mazin said at the time: “It’s been a creative dream to work with Neil and bring an adaptation of his brilliant work to life on HBO. I couldn’t have asked for a more generous creative partner. As a true fan of Naughty Dog and Neil’s work in video games, I’m beyond excited to play his next game. "While he focuses on that, I’ll continue to work with our brilliant cast and crew to deliver the show our audience has come to expect. We are so grateful to Neil and Halley Gross for entrusting the incredible story of The Last of Us Part II to us, and we’re just as grateful to the millions of people around the world who tune in.” The Last of Us seasons 1-2 are available to watch on HBO Max. Add The Last of Us to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Sci-fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Heartstopper movie confirms British TV favourite in recast for Nick's mum after Olivia Colman drops out of film
As we gear up for Charlie (Joe Locke) and Nick's (Kit Connor) final outing in movie Heartstopper Forever, Netflix has confirmed two British acting legends are joining the cast. Motherland legend Anna Maxwell Martin is taking over from Olivia Colman as Nick's mother, Sarah. Colman wasn't in season 3 of Heartstopper due to scheduling conflicts, and won't be returning for the film either. Meanwhile, Derek Jacobi is set to appear in a cameo role, with the details yet to be announced. Author Alice Oseman has opened up about Sarah's recasting, telling Tudum: "While in Season 3, we were able to tweak the story to avoid any appearance of Sarah, it felt nonsensical for her to be absent from this final chapter, given some of the emotional struggles Nick faces. "Sadly, Olivia Colman was not able to join us for the film, so we made the very difficult decision to recast the role, rather than exclude the character. We are deeply grateful for Olivia's beautiful performance as Sarah in Seasons 1 and 2 of Heartstopper, through such iconic moments as Nick coming out as bisexual, and we know that her performance will live on in the hearts of every Heartstopper fan." She added: "We are overjoyed to welcome the incredible Anna Maxwell Martin into the role of Sarah for Heartstopper Forever. "Anna perfectly embodies Sarah’s gentle, down-to-earth energy, and it was magical to witness her scenes with Kit Connor during the film shoot. I can’t wait for Heartstopper fans to experience her interpretation of Sarah Nelson.” Martin is known for roles including DCS Patricia Carmichael in Line of Duty, Julia Johnstone in Motherland, Beelzebub in Good Omens, and she's set to lead the upcoming For All Mankind spin-off Star City as Lyudmilla Raskova. Jacobi, meanwhile, has had a varied career across screen and stage, in the likes of I, Claudius, Cadfael, Gladiator, and The King's Speech. Heartstopper Forever will conclude the beloved Netflix series based on Oseman's graphic novels, following the romance between teens Nick and Charlie. The movie is set to follow the couple as they navigate a long-distance relationship, with Nick preparing for university and Charlie finding new independence at school. Hearstopper Forever is set to be released this year. Heartstopper seasons 1-3 are available to stream on Netflix. Sign up for Netflix from £4.99 a month. Netflix is also available on Sky Glassand Virgin Media Stream. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Prepare to venture back into the Upside Down with the return of Stranger Things
Add Stranger Things: Tales from '85 to your watchlist Netflix’s Stranger Things may have ended only recently, but it’s already back in an animated spin-off, Tales from ’85, which swaps the horror of Hawkins with a more family-friendly feel. “We wanted to focus on kids being kids, riding bikes, solving mysteries with their walkie-talkies and flashlights,” says showrunner Eric Robles, though he notes the series still promises plenty of monsters and mysteries. View Green Video on the source website The team behind the animated show, which is set between seasons 2 and 3 of Stranger Things, wanted to honour the original by using the show’s posters as the basis for the animation style. “We have a very stylised look to our show,” Robles says. “We brought this very illustrative feel.” The animation allows for more freedom compared to live-action. “We can really crank up the kinds of visuals that you wouldn’t get in the flagship series. We can push our cameras in a certain way and get the characters to do dynamic things that they normally wouldn’t be able to do.” Capturing the specifics of Hawkins was essential, with Robles working with Stranger Things writers as well as the show’s creators, the Duffer Brothers, and studying the live-action sets to replicate every detail. But while our heroes may look familiar, they’re going to sound a little different. Brooklyn Davey Norstedt is voicing telekinetic teen Eleven, taking over from Millie Bobby Brown. “I didn’t want to do a complete imitation of Millie’s performance because that would take the heart out of it,” she says. “But I did do a lot of heavy research by rewatching the show. I wanted to honour Millie’s portrayal of the character but also bring Eleven to life. I know Eleven means so much to the fans and to me.” Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 is available from Thursday on Netflix
Game of Thrones has miraculously thrived for 15 years – here's how it could survive the next 15
When you play the game of franchises, you win or you die.
It's been 15 years since Game of Thrones aired its first episode and, in that time, the beloved fantasy series has pulled off what may have once seemed impossible – but now, it has an even bigger challenge ahead of it. Based on the novels by George RR Martin, Thrones went from a cult hit in season 1 to a global phenomenon by season 3, receiving worldwide acclaim for its masterfully crafted story, its wealth of well-written and well-acted characters, and its incredible production value. Miraculously, after it took a dive in its final season, Thrones has also managed to pull a Jon Snow and come back from certain death for two highly-acclaimed spin-offs which have been (mostly) beloved by the fanbase: House of the Dragon and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, becoming a masterclass in how to make a franchise. But the 2020s haven't been all that kind to well-established TV and film franchises. While the Marvel Cinematic Universe, for instance, once seemed bulletproof, the 2020s have seen it face struggles like box office revenue declines (with 2023's The Marvels ending its box office run as the lowest-grossing MCU movie in history) and well-documented audience fatigue – something that could very well impact other franchises too. View Green Video on the source website So, while it's thrived over the past 15 years, how does Game of Thrones survive the next 15? In many ways, it's on the right track. A big part of Marvel's audience fatigue came from fans feeling like they had to do their homework to understand everything, with new releases failing to stand on their own. In contrast, Thrones has already gone in the complete opposite direction with its spin-offs, which (while still serving as prequels to the original series) also stand on their own as original stories. Although fans who have seen all of Thrones and House of the Dragon will, of course, get a richer experience from watching A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, it's in no way essential. Both spin-offs have also, crucially, offered up something different to Game of Thrones. With all-new casts, showrunners, and tones, it doesn't feel like we're watching the same show over and over again, particularly proven by A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. Who could have expected a Game of Thrones spin-off would result in a sort of medieval buddy comedy show? But the franchise is all the better for it. Now, with so many series in development, HBO needs to keep it fresh once again by diversifying its stories even further. One way to do this could be to embrace animation and go full speed ahead with its animated series 9 Voyages, which is in active development, but has not yet been greenlit. 9 Voyages was originally meant to be a live-action series, with Martin revealing in 2024 that it was moved to animation due to budget concerns. But that's not the only reason Thrones should look to animation. Adult animation has experienced a massive rise in popularity in recent years, with shows like Invincible, Arcane, Hazbin Hotel, The Legend of Vox Machina and more bringing in huge audiences, and anime becoming a mainstream staple with approximately 50 per cent of Gen Z (13 to 28-year-olds) watching it. Both The Witcher and Stranger Things have also tested out animated spin-offs, with Sirens of the Deep and Tales from '85. That's not to say a Game of Thrones story in animation wouldn't be risky, as you could certainly expect those uninterested in animation to give it a miss. But it also could be an opportunity to reach new (and potentially younger) audiences and to tell a story in a way that live-action just doesn't allow. The next Game of Thrones project, however, will be away from screens entirely, with stage show The Mad King opening this July at the Royal Shakespeare Company. Again, it's a completely new story with a new creative team and an entirely new cast, exploring a new period of Westeros history, told in an fresh way. It's a brilliant move for the franchise, not least because stage shows have, of late, had a huge role in rejuvenating franchises, from Stranger Things: The First Shadow (which broke a record for Broadway's Marquis Theatre last year by bringing in $2,510,948 in a single week) to Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (which has grossed over $1 billion globally). Again, the medium of stage can also do things that TV and film just can't. The Stranger Things stage show, in particular, employs incredible visual effects to immerse the audience in the world of Hawkins, and team behind The Mad King has this same opportunity for the world of Westeros. The RSC is also a perfect setting for a Thrones play, with the production surely set to go all-out Shakespearean and really make the most of the theatre experience. But, while it's on the right track in a couple of ways, there are also some things that Thrones needs to be very cautious of. If superhero fatigue has taught us one thing, it's also that franchises need to take their time, something that resulted in Disney intentionally reducing Marvel's output to no more than three films and two TV shows per year. For a TV or movie franchise, over-saturation is the kiss of death. If an audience gets bored of what you produce, how do you ever lure them back in? The best way for Thrones to avoid it is just to prevent it and give us some time between each new release. Thankfully, despite the amount of spin-offs in development making fans a little twitchy, HBO CEO Casey Bloys has reminded everyone that not all of them will be made. "I think one of the challenges with a show or a franchise that’s as popular as Game of Thrones is kind of anything we develop will get speculated about, talked about, and some people will think it’s an actual show," he recently told Radio Times. "And I always do like to remind people we’ve had exactly two spin-offs... and a lot of speculation elsewhere." Bloys added: "You really just have to give yourself that ability to try a lot of different things without committing to a show. That process of development works for us." But the most important thing is something that perhaps any Game of Thrones fan could tell you – we can never, ever see those original characters on screen again. HBO came perilously close to a Jon Snow sequel series before it was shelved, with reports that an Arya Stark spin-off is now in development. If we were to see a sequel or prequel with the original cast reprising their roles, it would undermine everything the Thrones franchise has done so far to keep its spin-offs fresh and keep the audience excited. It would seem like a desperate money-grab and send a message that there are no new stories to tell. And the reality of Thrones is quite the opposite. Thanks to Martin's seemingly endless imagination, there are so many stories left to tell in the world of Westeros, and whether Thrones sinks or swims over the next couple of decades ultimately rests on which ones HBO decides to tell, and how well they're told. After all, when you play the game of franchises, you win or you die. House of the Dragon season 3 will arrive on HBO Max in June. Seasons 1 and 2 are available to stream on Sky and NOW, along with Game of Thrones and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms – find out more about how to sign up for Sky TV. Add House of the Dragon, Game of Thrones and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms to your watchlist on the <a id="OWA8b702c45-bee9-94e4-f018-57518e78041b" title="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" href="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-outlook-id="449c28d9-909e-4aab-b6b8-153454f55d5e" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Fantasy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Stranger Things: Tales from ‘85 showrunner reveals why original cast aren't reprising their roles
While our heroes look very familiar, they're going to sound a little different.
Stranger Things may have come to an end, but our adventures in Hawkins certainly haven't, as the animated series Tales from '85 is nearly here - but, while they may look familiar, our heroes are going to sound a little different. Set between seasons 2 and 3 of the original show, the spin-off has brought on board an entirely new cast to voice the characters, with Brooklyn Davey Norstedt as Eleven, Luca Diaz as Mike Wheeler, Ben Plessala as Will Byers and more. With the cast of the original show becoming so intertwined with their characters by the end of the five seasons, it may seem a strange decision to recast them for the animated spin-off, which is executive produced by Stranger Things creators the Duffer Brothers. Explaining the decision, showrunner Eric Robles exclusively told Radio Times that it came down to making sure the kids sounded authentically like kids. "Bringing in anybody from the original cast, you're now talking about older voices. Everybody's going to mature. So having these designs that take place in season 2, having these dark, deep voices, it would really throw it off," he said. "We wanted to capture the youthfulness, which is what the Duffer Brothers really enjoyed about those early seasons. They wanted the spontaneous words and sentences that would come out of these kids' mouths." He added: "We wanted to capture the innocence of kids being kids. There are things that kids say, that they do, that, as an adult, you almost forget that you talk that way, and so we made sure that we wanted to capture that purity of being a kid. "So we went out and we found these fantastic actors for the show that really captured that youthfulness. And they play - some of the spontaneous words that they say, it's them just playing in the booth. Then we capture that and we incorporate that into the show. "And every once in a while, you'll hear a voice crack, right? That kind of voice crack, you can't get with a 24-year-old! It's such a pure, natural thing, and we wanted to make sure that we caught these kids at an age that really felt authentic to the show itself, and during that timeline." The voice cast also initially had no idea what they were auditioning for, with the team behind the show sorting through thousands of tapes. View Green Video on the source website "They might be young, but they emote these beautiful performances within the show, and we're able to capture that, and we actually captured the reality of their emotions," Robles added. "So even though that was a lengthy process, we feel so proud that we were able to find these characters, that are these kids that really sound like the characters. They're able to explore new ways of approaching these stories and ways of thinking that probably we wouldn't have done in the live action, but now we're able to explore in this animated series." The spin-off is set to follow the Hawkins gang during a snowy winter, as they're faced with saving the town from a new supernatural threat. But isn't the gate to the Upside Down closed and all the monsters locked away? You might want to think again... Stranger Things: Tales from '85 will air on Netflix on Thursday 23 April. All Stranger Things seasons are available to stream on Netflix now. Add Stranger Things: Tales from '85 to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Sci-fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
The Americans star Matthew Rhys deals with demons in teaser for Apple TV comedy-horror Widow's Bay
Matthew Rhys is swapping spy drama for small town thrills in his surreal new Apple TV series Widow's Bay. The Americans actor plays Tom Loftis, the mayor of a small town, who is faced with residents convinced that their town is haunted. But as the evidence stacks up, can he continue to deny what he views as nothing but superstition? A new teaser for the show, which has been exclusively shared with Radio Times, introduces us to Rhys's mayor, Tom Loftis, who accidentally puts his foot in his mouth when colleague Patricia (Kate O'Flynn) tells him a story about a spirit supposedly haunting the town, the boogeyman. "Have I told you about the boogeyman?" she asks him, her voice beginning to shake. "I was home alone and it started with the calls. Weird breathing, hang-ups, and then I heard someone downstairs and I hid under the bed." As she recounts the story, increasingly haunting scenes from the town start to play out - before abruptly stopping when Tom says: "I think you did tell me that story. You asked me if I'd heard it before." Causing Patricia to storm out, he unhelpfully adds: "He murdered teenage girls. You're in your forties. You'll be fine." The new series will see Rhys's Mayor Loftis attempt to transform the town of Widow's Bay into a tourist haven – despite the constant warnings from the population that the place is haunted. So, what is he to do if they're proven right? Rhys is best known for his role as Philip Jennings in The Americans, Kevin Walker in Brothers & Sisters, and leading HBO's Perry Mason. He and Flynn will star in Widow's Bay alongside Stephen Root, Kingston Rumi, Kevin Carroll and Dale Dickey. Ready for a visit? Widow's Bay will arrive on Apple TV – sign up now with a 7-day free trial. Add Widow's Bay to your watchlist on the <a id="OWA8b702c45-bee9-94e4-f018-57518e78041b" title="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" href="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-outlook-id="449c28d9-909e-4aab-b6b8-153454f55d5e" data-linkindex="0">Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Fantasy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
From's future officially confirmed beyond season 4 – and it's bittersweet news for fans
We're not ready to say goodbye to Fromville!
In what's sure to be bittersweet news for viewers, horror series From has been renewed for a fifth and final season. The MGM+ series, which sees Harold Perrineau lead an ensemble cast as Sheriff Boyd Stevens, and follows a group of people stuck in a nightmarish small town which monsters haunt at night, had its future confirmed in a statement from the show's executive producers, John Griffin, Jeff Pinker and Jack Bender. The message, posted on From's social media channels, reads: "Season 5 is a go! We are wildly excited to announce that we've officially begun work on season 5. "Which means we will get the chance to see our story to its conclusion. Which means questions will be answered. Answers will be questioned. And there will surely be a cascade of tears and terrors in-between." The message continues: "We are thankful for the support of our friends and partners at MGM+. And we are grateful beyond measure for the mad passion of our entire Fromily. We're excited to share season 4 with you, and hope it whets your appetite for what's to come." View oEmbed on the source website Season 5 is expected to begin production in Halifax, Nova Scotia later this year, and premiere in 2027. Creator Griffin spoke to The Hollywood Reporter about the decision to end the series after its fifth season, explaining: "In full transparency, five seasons was always the goal, but we always wanted to let the story tell us when it was time to end. "When we reached the end of season three and the death of Jim (Eion Bailey), it felt like we reached the end of the beginning. "Similarly, season 4 very naturally feels like the beginning of the end. We’ve had the opportunity to tell this story from the beginning the way we really wanted to tell it, with the full support of Michael Wright and everybody over at MGM. It’s rare you get to tell this type of story and give it the life you feel it needs, to let the story decide when it’s time to end." Speaking exclusively to Radio Times ahead of the new season, star Perrineau opened up about his hopes for a season 5. "When I first got the job, it was explained to me that they had a five-year arc. They could end it in four, or they could end it in five, or six, even if they had to extend it. "And since it hasn't ended in four, I'm thinking there'll be a fifth, I'm hoping there'll be a fifth, and then it'll wrap up." View Green Video on the source website He added: "I'm hopeful that we have that – and not because I don't want to do the show anymore. I just want it to be succinct. I want it to wrap up. I don't want to go on forever. I don't want it to go on until we're just tired of it. I want it to be like a great book, where you're like 'I want to read that book again!'" Season 3 left us on a big cliffhanger, as the big bad of the season, The Man in Yellow, was finally revealed, with the villain appearing to kill off Eion Bailey's Jim Matthews in a brutal way. The Man in Yellow also left us with a stark warning: "Knowledge comes at a cost." With the residents of Fromville still fighting for answers, that certainly doesn't bode well for them. From season 4 will arrive in the US on 19 April. From seasons 1-3 are available to stream on NOW. Check out more of our Sci-Fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to see what's on tonight. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Doctor Who legend Tom Baker, 92, steps back inside the TARDIS in charming new pictures
The Fourth Doctor star emerges through the famous blue doors in these wonderful photos.
Doctor Who legend Tom Baker has delighted fans by stepping back into the TARDIS for some incredible new photos. Baker, now 92, famously played the Fourth Doctor, remaining many fans' favourite incarnation of the Time Lord after his run from 1974 to 1981. Now, new photos of the actor show him in a very familiar situation – peeping out of the doors of the TARDIS. Sid's Emporium in Tenterden shared the photos, telling Radio Times that the actor was seen passing by the shop, with owners Simon and Donna inviting him in for the snaps. "Ahhh.. the dear Tom Baker has just made our day again!" they wrote on Instagram. "Tom absolutely loved the @sidsemporium Tardis doors - skilfully made by Simon last year! "He was such a good sport this morning, peering out behind the doors and acting away.. always with such humour! I think these pictures will definitely be cherished ..so here’s one for all you Dr.Who fans! Thank you Tom." Baker is still clearly incredibly fond of his time as the Doctor, recently celebrating the anniversary of his last episode, which aired on 21 March 1981, with a video. The short video began: "45 years ago, the following words were spoken: 'It's the end, but the moment has been prepared for,'" followed by a clip of Baker himself dressed in his iconic oversized striped scarf from his Doctor Who days. Holding a sonic screwdriver, he said: "Oh that's right, this is my sonic screwdriver – the key to all my great success. And, of course, you people who have watched me and clapped and kept clapping and sending me presents. It's been exciting actually." He then signed off with a trademark laugh, thanking his fans, followed by an end screen that read: "Tom Baker will always be the Doctor!" Last year, the actor also received an MBE for for services to television, telling Radio Times at the time: "It never ceases to amaze me how fondly people remember me 34 years after my last adventure in the TARDIS and I found it hard to believe it was so long ago when I found myself back in the TARDIS last week, with my beloved scarf around my neck!” Add Radio Times as a Preferred Source on Google Keep up to date on what’s worth watching with your favourite entertainment news from Radio Times – see more of our exclusive news and interviews featured prominently in Top Stories when using Google. Doctor Who will return this Christmas on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Add Doctor Who to your watchlist on the <a id="OWA8b702c45-bee9-94e4-f018-57518e78041b" class="x_OWAAutoLink" title="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" href="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-outlook-id="449c28d9-909e-4aab-b6b8-153454f55d5e" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Sci-fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Doctor Who star Ncuti Gatwa will officially become a doctor in real life as he receives special honour
Not long after departing his role in Doctor Who, Ncuti Gatwa is officially becoming a doctor! The Scottish actor, who played the Fifteenth incarnation of the Time Lord, will receive an honorary doctorate from the University of Glasgow later this year. Gatwa will be made a Doctor of the University at a ceremony in June, with other recipients including BBC journalist Sarah Smith, and the Advocate General for Scotland, Baroness Catherine Smith. Musicians Deacon Blue and Eddi Reader will also receive honours. The university said the individuals selected have had "a profound and positive impact within their professions and wider society." Prof Andy Schofield, the principal and vice chancellor at the university, said: "Honorary degrees give us the opportunity to recognise individuals whose achievements have had a profound and positive impact within their professions and wider society. "Their work embodies values that continue to inspire our community. I am delighted to welcome our honorary graduates into the University of Glasgow community at such a significant milestone, and to celebrate them alongside our graduating students." Gatwa starred as the Doctor for two seasons, alongside companions Millie Gibson and Varada Sethu, exiting the series in The Reality War, shortly after regenerating into returning star Billie Piper. After his departure, he told The Telegraph about leaving Doctor Who: "I was tired and burnt out at the end of [season 2]. It was exhausting. But it was a magical time, magical. "There was never an opportunity to recoup the energy – it’s just go, go, go. I was doing seven-day weeks for eight months, and I found it hard being away from home and family. I’d already been shooting in Cardiff for five years (on and off) prior to that with Sex Education, and we started shooting Doctor Who while I was still doing Season four of Sex Ed." Add Radio Times as a Preferred Source on Google Keep up to date on what’s worth watching with your favourite entertainment news from Radio Times – see more of our exclusive news and interviews featured prominently in Top Stories when using Google. He added of his decision to leave: "I had to wrestle with myself – I fell in love with that show. I’ll miss it, but I was ready to move on." Outside of his work on Doctor Who, Gatwa has also appeared in films including Barbie, The Roses, as well as series including Masters of the Air and Sex Education. He's also an accomplished stage actor, appearing as Christopher Marlowe in the Royal Shakespeare Company's Born with Teeth, and in the National Theatre’s The Importance of Being Earnest. Doctor Who will return this Christmas on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Add Doctor Who to your watchlist on the <a id="OWA8b702c45-bee9-94e4-f018-57518e78041b" class="x_OWAAutoLink" title="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" href="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-outlook-id="449c28d9-909e-4aab-b6b8-153454f55d5e" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Sci-fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Stranger Things meets The Thursday Murder Club in trailer for Duffer Brothers' starry new sci-fi The Boroughs
A group of retirees must band together to defeat an otherworldly threat in Netflix's new sci-fi The Boroughs (executive produced by the Duffer Brothers), with the first trailer showing the unlikely heroes in action. The action-packed teaser shows Alfred Molina's Sam reluctantly moving into The Boroughs, a seemingly picturesque retirement community. But while we're told the place is a "new beginning", there seem to be mysterious supernatural forces at play, as the unlikely group o of heroes, played by a starry cast including Molina, Geena Davis, Alfre Woodard, Bill Pullman, Clarke Peters and Denis O’Hare, arm themselves and decide to take on the threat themselves. We're shown teases of the forces at play – a tentacle here and a mysterious orb at light there – but it seems they're a mix of terrifying and wondrous encounters for our golden oldies. View oEmbed on the source website There are plenty of fun moments in the trailer that haven't passed fans by, including a nod to the end scene of Davis's iconic movie Thelma and Louise. Meanwhile, plenty of viewers are also seeing parallels to Stranger Things, and noticing the series may be inspired by 1985 movie Cocoon, which follows elderly residents at a retirement home who regain the vigour of their youth after swimming in a pool containing alien cocoons. The Duffer Brothers recently told Tudum of the new show: "While the heroes in The Boroughs have a few more years on them than the kids from Stranger Things, they are a similarly lovable bunch of misfits, and we can’t wait for you to join them on an adventure that is at turns scary, funny, and deeply touching." Jeffrey Addiss and Will Matthews created the eight-episode series and will act as the showrunners, with the pair explaining to Tudum: "From the beginning, we knew we wanted The Boroughs to feel equal parts scary, mysterious, exciting and emotional. "The challenge was to create a world that could hold all of these different tones at once. Which is why it was so fun to work with the Duffer Brothers — the masters of balancing heart and horror." The Boroughs will arrive on Netflix on 21 May 2026. Check out more of our Fantasy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Peter Capaldi explains why he has "a little regret" about his Doctor Who stint
"You can't be miserable if you're Doctor Who."
Doctor Who legend Peter Capaldi has opened up on his one regret about starring as the Time Lord, admitting the show prompted a big change in his life. The beloved Scottish actor played the Twelfth incarnation of the Doctor from 2014 to 2017, after taking over from Matt Smith, and has said he was eager not to disappoint any fans. Speaking on the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Capaldi said: "I think I have a little regret about it. Because it's great fun being Doctor Who, but the pressure of it is quite intense. "You're sort of on all the time, and you don't want to disappoint anyone because, even though I'm not Doctor Who, if people are meeting me, they'd rather meet the version of me that is Doctor Who. So you try not to let them down. "That was one of the big changes in my life, I guess, which happened quite late. I'm quite miserable, really, but I thought, you can't be miserable if you're Doctor Who. You would disappoint people. So I had to become cheerful all the time!" He added: "It's nice to sit in the TARDIS, it's nice to go to work and blow up Daleks. That's fun!" Capaldi, who also revealed he turned down Celebrity Traitors, has been open about the fact that he wouldn't return to the role, but he clearly looks back on it fondly. He previously told Radio Times: "It was just an incredible experience. Suddenly, you're in the middle of this fantastical world, surrounded by people who love Doctor Who. "I was watching Tom Baker talking about something, and he said that when he was Doctor Who he would do tons and tons of publicity and stuff, because being Doctor Who was much more fun than being Tom Baker, and I would say the same, probably, being Doctor Who is much more fun than being me. View Green Video on the source website "Certainly, you're in a very privileged position, because you receive the affection for that character. It is a character, it's not me, and it's a delightful place to be. "It would be a hard part to sustain, I think, forever, but you do see the best of people, which is lovely." The sci-fi is set to return this Christmas, following Ncuti Gatwa's departure as the Doctor and the character's shock regeneration into Billie Piper, in a special written by returning showrunner Russell T Davies. Doctor Who will return this Christmas on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Add Doctor Who to your watchlist on the <a id="OWA8b702c45-bee9-94e4-f018-57518e78041b" class="x_OWAAutoLink" title="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" href="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-outlook-id="449c28d9-909e-4aab-b6b8-153454f55d5e" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Sci-fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
One Piece anime release date schedule: When is the next episode out?
There are three certainties in life: death, taxes and One Piece. The anime series just keeps going and going, with well over 1000 episodes under its belt and many more coming down the pipeline, including the current Elbaph arc being adapted for season 22. As a wider franchise, Eiichiro Oda's eccentric creation seems to only be growing in prominence after almost three decades, with a popular live-action series on Netflix and a hit card game among its recent expansions. Although Oda has hinted at plans to end the series in the not-too-distant future, it feels as if One Piece might well go on forever at this point – but whether you're looking for the latest episodes or to delve into the archive, Radio Times can help. Read on for details on when the next episode of One Piece will be released, plus the platforms hosting the long-running anime. (Also, if you're looking to save time, check out our guide to the show's skippable filler episodes.) One Piece release schedule: When is the next episode out? New episodes of One Piece episodes are released at 5pm on Sundays via streaming service Crunchyroll, which gets them at the earliest time. You can also find episodes on BBC iPlayer and Netflix – read on for more details on what each service has to offer. What time do One Piece episodes come out? According to Crunchyroll's release calendar, new One Piece episodes drop on the streaming service at the following times across different regions: Pacific Time – 5pm on Saturday Eastern Time – 12pm on Saturday UK Time – 5pm on Sunday Central European Summer Time – 6pm on Sunday India Standard Time – 9:30am pm Sunday Philippine Time – 12am on Monday (Midnight on Sunday evening) Australia Eastern Daylight Time – 2am Monday View oEmbed on the source website How to watch One Piece in the UK Like in the US and other territories, the best place to watch the latest episodes of One Piece in the UK is Crunchyroll, but episodes are also available on Netflix, whilst BBC iPlayer is home to a large number with the English dub. Crunchyroll is ideal to watch One Piece as soon as it drops, making it easier to avoid spoilers on the latest events, with Netflix getting new episodes one week later (although, as an added bonus, it has the live-action adaptation and its companion podcast). Alternatively, BBC iPlayer has exclusive streaming rights for the English dub of the first 1122 episodes, which some viewers may prefer. (Crunchyroll and Netflix only provide the Japanese version with subtitles.) You can catch One Piece on Crunchyroll and Netflix. Sign up for Netflix from £5.99 a month. Netflix is also available on Sky Glass and Virgin Media Stream. Check out more of our Fantasy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast. Add One Piece to your watchlist on the <a id="OWA8b702c45-bee9-94e4-f018-57518e78041b" title="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" href="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-outlook-id="449c28d9-909e-4aab-b6b8-153454f55d5e" data-linkindex="0">Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more.
Could sci-fi save us all? How the Ministry of Defence is working with sci-fi storytellers to brace Britain for crisis
Can sci-fi give the UK's defences a scientific edge?
From AI making life and death decisions, to quantum technology that can predict the future, and wars fought by autonomous machines, a group of sci-fi authors have been dreaming up what could happen over the next century for a very important reason. Since the very dawn of science fiction, the genre has looked to the future, applying scientific principles to imagine futuristic scenarios, technological advances, social and environmental changes, and life on other planets. But it's not just entertainment. Now, sci-fi is actually being used to brace Britain for a whole host of crises that could come our way in the next 100 years. That's thanks to The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), an Executive Agency of the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD), which provides expertise and insight used for "maintaining UK warfighting readiness" in the face of increasing technological advancements. Dstl uses processes like horizon-scanning (which identifies early warning signals, emerging trends, and potential future threats or opportunities) to prepare the country for the future. In Futures Programme Manager Sarah Herbert's words, "Dstl delivers the science that keeps the UK safe." "Our job is to give the UK a science and technology edge," she says. "That could be everything from providing expert advice to major defence programs, military operations, horizon-scanning for the future and acting as that bridge between government and industry and academia." So, Dstl has teamed up with author and researcher Dr Allen Stroud, from Coventry University's Research Centre for Peace and Security, and other sci-fi authors for the anthology Creative Futures, which imagines some of the future crises we may very well have to deal with, from AI to environmental threats and beyond. Stroud specialises in near science-fiction, stories that takes place about 100 years in the future, and was approached by Dstl in 2022 as then-Chair of the Science Fiction Association. "We put together discussion groups with science-fiction writers, with people from Dstl and people from MOD coming into those groups, talking with the science fiction writers, and then gradually shaping up a timeline, shaping what we thought would be the things that will happen in the next 100 years, and what they would mean. And so the writers then started to take those ideas and run with them." View oEmbed on the source website Herbert adds: "Futures work can be really, really hard to get your head around, because we're often talking about things that don't exist yet, things that are really high uncertainty. So sci-fi and storytelling are really great tools for Futures, because it really helps people picture what the world might look like and get into the right mindset and think about the actions we may need now and prepare for." But how did they even begin to think about what may happen in the future? "There were six discussions, based on five different subject areas," Stroud explains. "You had a selection of writers at each discussion - so you had three writers at the Energy discussion, three writers at the Human Development discussion, three writers at Law and Justice and so on. "We structured the topics into different subject areas, and we then had three writers, but everybody had access to all the information, and each of the discussions was begun with an introductory presentation. "Then there was a reading list [pulled from the publicly-available government document Global Strategic Trends], consisting of material that was based on everything that we had in the particular area that we were looking at. Then from the discussion, we built a timeline, and we built a geographical representation." And the result of these discussions? Some absolutely terrifying stories about what could happen in the next 100 years. As for which stories from the anthology he found most striking, Stroud says: "Probably 100 kilos of gold being loaded into an orbital weapons platform and fired into London, thereby destroying the city because somebody had the bright idea of doing orbital mining and firing said kilograms of gold into the Sahara Desert! "It's quite an obvious cautionary tale, but it was based on some discussions that weren't just happening in the project, they were happening elsewhere as well, so it was quite interesting to see Stewart Hotston dramatise that. "The first piece I wrote was Lay Down Your Burdens, which is the AI that brings peace to a war, that could be Ukraine and Russia but isn't, but by lying to both sides and scheming against both sides, because its priority was to bring peace, not to obey any kind of ethical framework... I just thought as a writer, it was something interesting to write about, to give people something to think about as an ethical dilemma of our use of AI." Stroud points out: "The science-fiction writers had to write within a parameter that was specific in terms of its time area, and that was accuracy adjacent. What we mean by that is that if you're going to write about a specific set of events, then write about them in such a way as that they are applicable in multiple contexts. "So the future may not happen exactly as you've specified in the story, but the lessons that are learned, the ideas that are communicated, the thoughts that are there, are applicable in a multitude of contexts." Herbert says: "I think what those stories do is raise the right questions about [things] like quantum technology - like what happens if both sides have the same technology advantage and you get cancelled out on creating new tactics? These stories really aren't there to try and predict the future, but explore those alternative futures to help us think beyond our limitations." There are already examples of these processes successfully predicting the future, too. "We were looking at Venezuela in 2022," Stroud explains. "If you look at the pattern of fossil fuel resources, it's quite obvious that Venezuela is an area of untapped oil and gas. We'd identified that, as resources become scarcer, maybe there will be issues there, and there could be an element of destabilisation. "We didn't predict [exactly] what would happen, but we'd identified that and we'd identified a few other things that were going on, because we had the time to sit and talk about them and think about them." However, he emphasises: "The methods that we've used in Creative Futures are not designed to replace any statistical methods. They are designed to support statistical methods. You take decisions based on probability and based on data. "But then, if you want to understand some of the ramifications around taking those decisions, you ask a science-fiction writer to think about it, and then they will invent characters and write a story about somebody caught up in the consequences of that decision." He warns: "What I don't want people to do is go and read a load of fiction books and decide that's how we need to [proceed]. Don't go off and read 1984 and decide that that's how security policy needs to be implemented for the next few decades!" Stroud also points out that sci-fi writers have a responsibility to their audiences in how they write about potential future crises - for example, resisting the urge to lazily paint AI as a global, sentient entity that's going to destroy our society. Sharing some on-screen sci-fi stories he's inspired by, he said: "The Expanse paints an interesting picture of the near future exploration of the solar system. Foundation is a great re-imagination of Isaac Asimov's writings with a modern aesthetic. For All Mankind is an interesting alternative timeline which is echoing current events. "A slightly controversial view - I like HBO's Westworld when it leaves Westworld and becomes more about the society people live in. There are uses of AI for future prediction in that as well." So, with all this in mind, could sci-fi actually save us from future threats? It's not completely out of the realms of possibility. Herbert says: "If someone found something, and they created a really good story and they got a senior decision maker's attention to do something now, then there's a possibility." Stroud adds: "If you're a policy maker, if you're in an active moment of responsibility where you're making decisions that affect lots of people's lives, if you have information that gives you stats about the impact of what you're going to do, and then you also have something that describes a person who will be in that moment and how they will be affected.... "Say it's flooding. If you've got the statistics about what the intervention would do to preserve a particular town, and then you have a kind of a story illustration of it, at the end of the day, when you make that decision, what empowers your decision-making is going to be whatever information you have to hand. If it's a story that gives you a sense of the difference you're going to make to people's lives, or it's the numbers, it doesn't matter, as long as they support each other." So, as global politics becomes increasingly turbulent and the natural environment continues to degrade, especially when we look towards the future, is there room for optimism? Stroud thinks so, for one crucial reason. "In general, we're all on the side of trying to make humanity better, and that's certainly in the Creative Futures project," he says. "That was something that we all agreed on, no matter what background we came from, whether it was military, whether it wasn't military, whether it was one political side, another political side. We were all on the side of trying to make humanity better." Creative Futures (Beyond and Within) is available to buy now.
Good Omens season 3 plot details teased with devastating clues and Easter eggs
The season 3 poster has plenty of Easter eggs and clues hidden in its depths.
Good Omens season 3 is set to take the storyline way beyond the events of the book – and now we have some clues about what that might entail. Season 2 left us on a heartbreaking cliffhanger, with David Tennant's Crowley and Michael Sheen's Aziraphale reluctantly going their separate ways after confessing their feelings to each other and sharing a kiss. Now, a poster for season 3, which will consist of one 90-minute finale, has teased how that thread may continue – and it doesn't look good. Crowley and Aziraphale are seen standing separately, on two precipices. Crowley's side is clearly meant to be reflective of hell, with fiery threads seeping out, while Aziraphale's features a heavenly scroll overhanging the edge. View oEmbed on the source website It's the first time in a Good Omens poster that the pair have been seen standing separately, with the chasm in the middle of them indicating a potentially impassable distance between them. In the middle, there's Crowley's Bentley. We can also see plenty of props from the show making an appearance. On Crowley's side, there's a sign for Whickber Street (where Aziraphale's bookshop is located), a snow globe, and stacks of books. There's also a drooping plant, a half-eaten pizza, and what looks like a sleeping bag. It seems the pair's split isn't going well for the demon. View Green Video on the source website Perhaps more significantly, on Aziraphale's side, there's pretty much nothing – a strange and sad state of affairs for an angel who is so attached to his possessions. All in all, the pair seem surrounded by destruction. In the middle of them, though, is a strong beam of light – hopefully indicating that there's light at the end of the tunnel. Fans have also noticed the pair's wings. Aziraphale's no longer look pristinely white, while Crowley's are lighter than normal, with hints of white in there – presumably a visual reminder that nothing is black and white, even the forces of Heaven and Hell. Few plot details have been confirmed about the finale, although Sheen previously teased: "There’ll be bits you absolutely love and there’ll be things you’ll argue about of course. It should have been 6 episodes but it’s not. "Thank God for what it is. Brilliantly directed, beautiful performances, fantastic new looks, incredible work all round. And there’s nightingales." Neil Gaiman, co-author of Good Omens, exited the TV series after he was accused of sexual assault, which he has strongly denied. He contributed to writing the Good Omens finale but he did not work on the production and his production company Blank Corporation was not involved. A total of nine women have spoken out against the writer, with their accusations being detailed in a Vulture article published in January 2025, and in a Tortoise Media podcast released in July 2024. Allegations included claims that Gaiman engaged them in "rough" sex and BDSM without their consent. The novelist has firmly denied any non-consensual or illegal conduct in a statement. He said: "As I read through this latest collection of accounts, there are moments I half-recognise and moments I don't, descriptions of things that happened sitting beside things that emphatically did not happen. "I'm far from a perfect person, but I have never engaged in non-consensual sexual activity with anyone. Ever." Good Omens season 3 will arrive on Prime Video on 13 May 2026. Check out more of our Fantasy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
For All Mankind star reacts to season 5’s game-changing moment: "It’s the turning point of everything"
Warning: Major spoilers ahead for For All Mankind season 5 episode 3. The moment we've all been expecting has finally come in For All Mankind season 5. After being the grounding force in the show since season 1, Joel Kinnaman's Ed Baldwin is no more. The latest episode of the alt-history space epic saw the character in a hospice, saying his final goodbyes to his family before taking his last breath. Of course, with Ed being 80 in the latest season, suffering health problems and disobeying his doctor's orders, it's not going to come as the biggest surprise to fans. But it still packs a huge emotional punch - and will change the show for good - including placing more of a focus on the younger generation. Speaking exclusively to Radio Times about how this impacts everything, Sean Kaufman, who plays Baldwin's grandson Alex, said: "I think it's the turning point of everything. As much as it's an ensemble show, it is Ed and Margo [Madison, played by Wrenn Schmidt]'s show to me. And I think that episode 3 is a real passing of the guard. View Green Video on the source website "It's this older generation that had their time and did so much... [Ed] got humanity and civilisation to Mars and to eventually look past Mars and go for the rest of the stars. And to think that that's just over, and now there's a new generation coming in and taking over, it was surreal to really think about." Kaufman added of actor Kinnaman: "Joel is amazing and this show has meant a lot to him. <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2026/03/ForAllMankindPhoto050114-2a13d33-e1775740457440.jpg" width="2880" height="1920" alt="Joel Kinnaman as Ed Baldwin stands beside Sean Kaufman as Alex Poletov, resting a hand on his shoulder, both in suits inside a softly lit spacecraft interior in For All Mankind season 5" title="Joel Kinnaman as Ed Baldwin and Sean Kaufman as Alex Poletov in For All Mankind season 5." /> "I remember on the last day - I'm not gonna tell his story for him - but he was very emotional. This is a chapter of his life that I think he cares a lot about. On the last day, we had a nice chat and we talked about handing the show over, and it was very nice of him and very beautiful of him to, to say stuff like that. "It was a very emotional day, and I just felt so lucky to be there." Perhaps at some point, Ed could return in flashbacks, particularly with upcoming spin-off Star City set to go back in time - but, for now at least, the show will have to survive without him. For All Mankind season 5 is streaming now on Apple TV - sign up now with a 7-day free trial. Add For All Mankind to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Sci-fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Could David Tennant return to Doctor Who at Christmas? All the clues and theories
It may still be a while away, but theories are already swirling about this year's Doctor Who Christmas special – including whether Tenth and Fourteenth Doctor star David Tennant could be back for more. Showrunner Russell T Davies is set to pen the festive special, which comes after the twist that saw Ncuti Gatwa's departing Doctor regenerate into none other than Billie Piper, who previously played companion Rose Tyler. But haven't Tennant and Davies both said the Fourteenth Doctor is retired and won't be back? Well, there are a few things making fans think otherwise. Of course, no details have been announced about the special and this is all speculation. Will David Tennant return to Doctor Who at Christmas? All the clues and theories The Doomsday tease A recent blogpost from UNIT on the Doctor Who website had fans wondering if the Christmas special might actually be a sequel to beloved episode Doomsday. The post reminded logged-in users of the "Rose Tyler (2006 Cold case)". It added: "As Rose Tyler is currently both missing from this universe and flagged as a complex space-time event, maybe keep an eye out. I've got the Vlinx scanning all media channels and the subwave network." It begs the question as to why Doomsday is being referenced now - unless there's a reason for it that hasn't been revealed yet. The Doctor Who socials have been celebrating David Tennant big time View oEmbed on the source website It hasn't passed fans by that the Doctor Who social media accounts have been sharing plenty of DT content including, most recently, a throwback to the trailer for his first season, complete with the old logo. Plus, BBC Three recently shared the love too with their own Tennant at Twenty night. There could be many reasons for this, of course. There's never a bad time to celebrate DT! It's also been 20 years this year since his first full season as the Doctor - so this could certainly explain it. But could it also be teeing us up for a return? Very possibly. The Fourteenth Doctor is still around The final 60th anniversary special, The Giggle, made it clear that the Fourteenth Doctor hasn't gone anywhere, and is still around on Earth, hanging out with Bonnie Langford's Mel Bush. So, in terms of what's possible within the world of Doctor Who, it would certainly make sense for the Fourteenth Doctor to meet the Sixteenth Doctor (if that's what Piper is going to be!). It would also be a huge treat for fans who loved Tennant and Piper's pairing the first time round – and the pair are still clearly good friends. What puts a slight spanner in the works is that Tennant has strongly implied that the Fourteenth Doctor is "retired" and that he has no plans to return to the show anytime soon. But if he's done it once before... Tennant is a huge Doctor Who fan Anyone who knows Tennant's love for Doctor Who surely wouldn't be surprised to see him return again. The actor, who recently raced to watch the recently recovered episodes of The Daleks' Master Plan, has made no secret of his life-long love for the show. Could that influence him to return again? Stranger things have happened! Doctor Who will return this Christmas on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Add Doctor Who to your watchlist on the <a id="OWA8b702c45-bee9-94e4-f018-57518e78041b" class="x_OWAAutoLink" title="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" href="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-outlook-id="449c28d9-909e-4aab-b6b8-153454f55d5e" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Sci-fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Classroom of the Elite season 4 release schedule: When are new episodes on Crunchyroll?
Classroom of the Elite is back with season 4, and the latest batch of episodes is well underway, with the rest of those in the schedule dropping on Crunchyroll at certain dates and times. After the psychological school drama returned in early April 2026 with an extended 90-minute premiere, covering the first four episodes all at once, Classroom of the Elite (fully titled Classroom of the Elite 4th Season: Second Year, First Semester), the anime resumed with a weekly one-episode rollout — with the series adapting the titular first term of the Year 2 sequel novels. To find out exactly when to catch Ayanokoji and his classmates enter their second year, as soon as new instalments drop, here is Classroom of the Elite season 4’s full release schedule with every episode’s release date and time. Classroom of the Elite season 4 release schedule: When are new episodes out on Crunchyroll? After the four-episode premiere, new episodes of Classroom of the Elite 4th Season: Second Year, First Semester arrive on Wednesdays — with weekly release dates for the remaining episodes: Classroom of the Elite season 4 episode 1 – 1 April 2026 Classroom of the Elite season 4 episode 2 – 1 April 2026 Classroom of the Elite season 4 episode 3 – 1 April 2026 Classroom of the Elite season 4 episode 4 – 1 April 2026 Classroom of the Elite season 4 episode 5 – 8 April 2026 Classroom of the Elite season 4 episode 6 – 15 April 2026 Classroom of the Elite season 4 episode 7 – 22 April 2026 Classroom of the Elite season 4 episode 8 – 29 April 2026 Classroom of the Elite season 4 episode 9 – 6 May 2026 Classroom of the Elite season 4 episode 10 – 13 May 2026 Classroom of the Elite season 4 episode 11 – 20 May 2026 Classroom of the Elite season 4 episode 12 – 27 May 2026 Classroom of the Elite season 4 episode 13 – 3 June 2026 Classroom of the Elite season 4 episode 14 – 10 June 2026 Classroom of the Elite season 4 episode 15 – 17 June 2026 Classroom of the Elite season 4 episode 16 – 24 June 2026 What time are new episodes of Classroom of the Elite released on Crunchyroll? Each new episode of Classroom of the Elite season 4 on Wednesdays will appear on Crunchyroll at 1:30 pm BST, which means they will be available at the following times in other territories: 08:30 am EDT 5:30am PDT 2:30pm CEST 9:30pm JST 10:30pm AEST How many episodes are in Classroom of the Elite season 4? Confirmed on the Blu-Ray and DVD section of the anime’s website, Classroom of the Elite season 4 will have 16 episodes, spread among four volumes with four episodes each. What is Classroom of the Elite season 4 about? Classroom of the Elite 4th Season: Second Year, First Semester follows Kiyotaka Ayanokoji and his classmates as they begin their second year at the Advanced Nurturing High School, where a new special exam pairs returning students with incoming first-years and quickly throws the school into fresh chaos. As new alliances start to form, Ayanokoji also finds himself facing another threat tied to the White Room, setting up another round of psychological battles, shifting loyalties and high-stakes mind games. Classroom of the Elite season 4 trailer The trailer for Classroom of the Elite season 4 is below: View oEmbed on the source website Check out more of our Fantasy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Wednesday season 3 confirms beloved Game of Thrones and Ted Lasso stars for new roles for fresh "nightmare"
Wednesday season 3 is adding even more icons to its cast, with Game of Thrones and Ted Lasso stars now joining the fray. Lena Headey (known for her role as Cersei Lannister in the HBO fantasy), St. Elmo’s Fire icon Andrew McCarthy, and Ted Lasso star James Lance are joining the show as guest stars. No further details have been announced about their characters just yet. The trio is joining the previously-announced Eva Green (who's playing Aunt Ophelia), Winona Ryder (Tabitha), Chris Sarandon (Balthazar), Noah Taylor (Cyrus), Oscar Morgan (Atticus), and Kennedy Moyer (Daisy), making for an already-stacked cast list. Season 3 began production in February this year in Ireland, with key cast members including Jenna Ortega (Wednesday), Emma Myers (Enid), Catherine Zeta-Jones (Morticia), Luis Guzmán (Gomez), Hunter Doohan (Tyler), Fred Armisen (Fester) and more returning. Co-creator and showrunner Alfred Gough previously told Tudum of season 3: "Our goal for season 3 is the same as it is for every season: to make it the best season of Wednesday we possibly can." View Gallery on the source website Co-creator and showrunner Miles Millar added: "We want to continue digging deeper into our characters while expanding the world of Nevermore and Wednesday. We will be seeing more Addams family members and learning more family secrets in season 3!" Meanwhile, the legendary Tim Burton, who works as an executive producer on the show, stated: "I’m so excited to be back for Season 3, and it’s great to be reunited with all of the original cast. The addition of some dear friends and past collaborators of mine — Winona, Eva, Chris, Noah … makes this season extra special. I feel very lucky." Season 2 saw Wednesday return to Evermore as a reluctant celebrity, faced with a mysterious stalker, and deal with a new supernatural mystery - all while attempting to protect Enid, whose death she foresaw in a vision. Season 3 will presumably take us to even darker and more mysterious places - with more details to come in the future. Wednesday seasons 1 and 2 are available to stream on Netflix. Sign up for Netflix from £5.99 a month. Netflix is also available on Sky Glass and Virgin Media Stream. Add Wednesday to your watchlist on the <a id="OWA8b702c45-bee9-94e4-f018-57518e78041b" title="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" href="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-outlook-id="449c28d9-909e-4aab-b6b8-153454f55d5e" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Fantasy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Game of Thrones icon confirmed to be joining Alien: Earth season 2 in major role
He'll be a series regular in the second instalment.
After its widely-acclaimed season 1, Alien: Earth season 2 is shaping up, with Game of Thrones legend Peter Dinklage being the first major new cast member to join the fray. The actor, who starred as Tyrion Lannister in HBO's beloved fantasy series, will be a series regular in the second season of Noah Hawley's sci-fi drama. There are no further details about Dinklage's role, although production is set to begin next month at Pinewood Studios, so perhaps more details will emerge then. Set two years before Ridley Scott's iconic film Alien, the series revolves around a group of terminally ill children, including Sydney Chandler's Wendy, whose consciousnesses are transferred into adult synthetic bodies – and who have to face the planet's biggest threat. Alongside Chandler, the first season of Alien: Earth also starred Alex Lawther, Timothy Olyphant, Essie Davis, Samuel Blenkin, Babou Ceesay, David Rysdahl, Adrian Edmondson, Adarsh Gourav, Jonathan Ajayi, Erana James, Lily Newmark, Diem Camille and Moe Bar-El. When the series was officially renewed for season 2, FX Chairman John Landgraf said in a statement: "It has been our great privilege to work with Noah for more than a decade on some of FX’s best and biggest shows, and we are thrilled to extend our partnership well into the future. "Noah never stops surprising us with truly original stories – and his unique ability to bring them to vibrant life as a director and producer as well as writer makes him extraordinary. "We can’t wait to get to work on the next season of Alien: Earth, as well as some equally exciting future projects in advanced development." Alien: Earth is available to stream now on Disney+. You can sign up to Disney+ for £4.99 a month or £89.90 a year now. Add Alien: Earth to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Sci-Fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
From AI making life and death decisions, to quantum technology that can predict the future, and wars fought by autonomous machines, a group of sci-fi authors have been dreaming up what could happen over the next century for a very important reason. Since the very dawn of science fiction, the genre has looked to the future, applying scientific principles to imagine futuristic scenarios, technological advances, social and environmental changes, and life on other planets. But it's not just entertainment. Now, sci-fi is actually being used to brace Britain for a whole host of crises that could come our way in the next 100 years. That's thanks to The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), an Executive Agency of the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD), which provides expertise and insight used for "maintaining UK warfighting readiness" in the face of increasing technological advancements. Dstl uses processes like horizon-scanning (which identifies early warning signals, emerging trends, and potential future threats or opportunities) to prepare the country for the future. In Futures Programme Manager Sarah Herbert's words, "Dstl delivers the science that keeps the UK safe." "Our job is to give the UK a science and technology edge," she says. "That could be everything from providing expert advice to major defence programs, military operations, horizon-scanning for the future and acting as that bridge between government and industry and academia." So, Dstl has teamed up with author and researcher Dr Allen Stroud, from Coventry University's Research Centre for Peace and Security, and other sci-fi authors for the anthology Creative Futures, which imagines some of the future crises we may very well have to deal with, from AI to environmental threats and beyond. Stroud specialises in near science-fiction, stories that takes place about 100 years in the future, and was approached by Dstl in 2022 as then-Chair of the Science Fiction Association. "We put together discussion groups with science-fiction writers, with people from Dstl and people from MOD coming into those groups, talking with the science fiction writers, and then gradually shaping up a timeline, shaping what we thought would be the things that will happen in the next 100 years, and what they would mean. And so the writers then started to take those ideas and run with them." View oEmbed on the source website Herbert adds: "Futures work can be really, really hard to get your head around, because we're often talking about things that don't exist yet, things that are really high uncertainty. So sci-fi and storytelling are really great tools for Futures, because it really helps people picture what the world might look like and get into the right mindset and think about the actions we may need now and prepare for." But how did they even begin to think about what may happen in the future? "There were six discussions, based on five different subject areas," Stroud explains. "You had a selection of writers at each discussion - so you had three writers at the Energy discussion, three writers at the Human Development discussion, three writers at Law and Justice and so on. "We structured the topics into different subject areas, and we then had three writers, but everybody had access to all the information, and each of the discussions was begun with an introductory presentation. "Then there was a reading list [pulled from the publicly-available government document Global Strategic Trends], consisting of material that was based on everything that we had in the particular area that we were looking at. Then from the discussion, we built a timeline, and we built a geographical representation." And the result of these discussions? Some absolutely terrifying stories about what could happen in the next 100 years. As for which stories from the anthology he found most striking, Stroud says: "Probably 100 kilos of gold being loaded into an orbital weapons platform and fired into London, thereby destroying the city because somebody had the bright idea of doing orbital mining and firing said kilograms of gold into the Sahara Desert! "It's quite an obvious cautionary tale, but it was based on some discussions that weren't just happening in the project, they were happening elsewhere as well, so it was quite interesting to see Stewart Hotston dramatise that. "The first piece I wrote was Lay Down Your Burdens, which is the AI that brings peace to a war, that could be Ukraine and Russia but isn't, but by lying to both sides and scheming against both sides, because its priority was to bring peace, not to obey any kind of ethical framework... I just thought as a writer, it was something interesting to write about, to give people something to think about as an ethical dilemma of our use of AI." Stroud points out: "The science-fiction writers had to write within a parameter that was specific in terms of its time area, and that was accuracy adjacent. What we mean by that is that if you're going to write about a specific set of events, then write about them in such a way as that they are applicable in multiple contexts. "So the future may not happen exactly as you've specified in the story, but the lessons that are learned, the ideas that are communicated, the thoughts that are there, are applicable in a multitude of contexts." Herbert says: "I think what those stories do is raise the right questions about [things] like quantum technology - like what happens if both sides have the same technology advantage and you get cancelled out on creating new tactics? These stories really aren't there to try and predict the future, but explore those alternative futures to help us think beyond our limitations." There are already examples of these processes successfully predicting the future, too. "We were looking at Venezuela in 2022," Stroud explains. "If you look at the pattern of fossil fuel resources, it's quite obvious that Venezuela is an area of untapped oil and gas. We'd identified that, as resources become scarcer, maybe there will be issues there, and there could be an element of destabilisation. "We didn't predict [exactly] what would happen, but we'd identified that and we'd identified a few other things that were going on, because we had the time to sit and talk about them and think about them." However, he emphasises: "The methods that we've used in Creative Futures are not designed to replace any statistical methods. They are designed to support statistical methods. You take decisions based on probability and based on data. "But then, if you want to understand some of the ramifications around taking those decisions, you ask a science-fiction writer to think about it, and then they will invent characters and write a story about somebody caught up in the consequences of that decision." He warns: "What I don't want people to do is go and read a load of fiction books and decide that's how we need to [proceed]. Don't go off and read 1984 and decide that that's how security policy needs to be implemented for the next few decades!" Stroud also points out that sci-fi writers have a responsibility to their audiences in how they write about potential future crises - for example, resisting the urge to lazily paint AI as a global, sentient entity that's going to destroy our society. Sharing some on-screen sci-fi stories he's inspired by, he said: "The Expanse paints an interesting picture of the near future exploration of the solar system. Foundation is a great re-imagination of Isaac Asimov's writings with a modern aesthetic. For All Mankind is an interesting alternative timeline which is echoing current events. "A slightly controversial view - I like HBO's Westworld when it leaves Westworld and becomes more about the society people live in. There are uses of AI for future prediction in that as well." So, with all this in mind, could sci-fi actually save us from future threats? It's not completely out of the realms of possibility. Herbert says: "If someone found something, and they created a really good story and they got a senior decision maker's attention to do something now, then there's a possibility." Stroud adds: "If you're a policy maker, if you're in an active moment of responsibility where you're making decisions that affect lots of people's lives, if you have information that gives you stats about the impact of what you're going to do, and then you also have something that describes a person who will be in that moment and how they will be affected.... "Say it's flooding. If you've got the statistics about what the intervention would do to preserve a particular town, and then you have a kind of a story illustration of it, at the end of the day, when you make that decision, what empowers your decision-making is going to be whatever information you have to hand. If it's a story that gives you a sense of the difference you're going to make to people's lives, or it's the numbers, it doesn't matter, as long as they support each other." So, as global politics becomes increasingly turbulent and the natural environment continues to degrade, especially when we look towards the future, is there room for optimism? Stroud thinks so, for one crucial reason. "In general, we're all on the side of trying to make humanity better, and that's certainly in the Creative Futures project," he says. "That was something that we all agreed on, no matter what background we came from, whether it was military, whether it wasn't military, whether it was one political side, another political side. We were all on the side of trying to make humanity better." Creative Futures (Beyond and Within) is available to buy now. Check out more of our Sci-fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
The Boys fans devastated over early season 5 tragedy - as episode 1 proves no one is safe
Warning: Major spoilers ahead for The Boys season 5 episode 1. The Boys boss Eric Kripke has been teasing for some time that no one is safe in the long-awaited season 5 - but now that's been proven once and for all already in episode 1. The first two episodes of the final season are officially here and they've not held back, with the show's signature brutality taking centre stage and making Jessie T Usher's A-Train our first high-profile death. Despite being our very first example of a villainous supe in season 1, A-Train has been on a journey of redemption, with one season 5 scene showing him clearly avoiding the same devastating mistake he made in the very first episode (when he killed Hughie's girlfriend) and finally standing up to Antony Starr's Homelander. "You're just an empty f**king suit," he tells him. "Take away these powers and what are you? A pathetic, weak, snivelling f**king loser." As A-Train continues to laugh at him, Homelander takes action, brutally breaking his neck and killing him. Actor Usher previously teased that A-Train may meet his demise in season 5, reportedly telling ABS-CBN (in an interview that now appears to have been taken down): "I saw the end coming long before it came and I was glad that I had an aired-out, isolated moment with Antony." Usher reportedly added: "He’s like a person who I’ve built a lot of the driving force of what motivated this character or changed this character. I was happy that we were able to end it in a moment that was shared just between us." Fans are devastated by the loss of the character, however, with one writing on X (formerly Twitter): "This scene him saving the boys and dodging the woman not repeating his mistake and facing Homelander and dying a hero god i can’t take this RIP a-train i will miss you so much king." View Green Video on the source website "My heart f**king dropped man… Oh my God. A-Train…" another said, while one more added: "He had his speedster moment, saved the boys, rage baited Homelander and had the best redemption arc in the show… a-train he became the hero his family always wanted him to be." Kripke previously made it clear that he wouldn't be playing it safe this season, calling out other sci-fi shows that have ended without any major deaths. He told SFX: "It bums me out when you have a big, epic sci-fi show, and then at the end, it's like, 'Oh, everyone's fine.' I keep yelling at the screen, 'Things cost things, you can't just get away with this!' So yes, I wouldn't get too attached to any single character." Roger that, Eric. Roger that. The Boys season 5 continues on Prime Video on 15 April 2026 – try Amazon Prime Video for free for 30 days. Plus, read our guides to the best Amazon Prime series and the best movies on Amazon Prime. Add The Boys to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Sci-fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Who are Rock Hard, Sheline, Countess Crow and Jetstreak in The Boys season 5?
Warning: Spoilers ahead for The Boys season 5 episode 1 and 2. The Boys season 5 has officially introduced its rather insufferable group of young Supe influencers, Teenage Kix! The group, consisting of Countess Crow, Rock Hard, Sheline and Jetstream, encounter The Boys in season 5 episode 2 - where chaos ensues. Here's everything you need to know about the group. Who is Countess Crow in The Boys season 5? Countess Crow - Countess of the Crows, as she describes herself - is a member of Teenage Kix and a young Supe makeup influencer. She spends most of her time filming videos with her crows, Russell and Cameron. While she describes The Boys as terrorists to begin with, MM (Laz Alonso) gives her a talking to about how Vought is exploiting her, and she later admits she just wants to go home. Countess Crow is played by Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, who is best known for leading Netflix's Never Have I Ever. View oEmbed on the source website Who is Rock Hard in The Boys season 5? Rock Hard can only be described as a living mountain/volcano, who Frenchie says is made of 900 pounds of granite. Crucially, Rock Hard is almost indestructible and nearly as strong as Homelander, which makes the supe the perfect test subject for a plan the team are working on. As an aside, Frenchie also references Rock Hard's "unspeakable act at the Lincoln memorial" - which we won't repeat here (but suffice it to say that Rock Hard seems to enjoy performing certain sexual acts in public). Rock Hard is voiced by Andrew Iles. Who is Sheline in The Boys season 5? Sheline is a cat-inspired supe who we see filming various sponsored videos for social media - including one that features her marching an innocent mother out of her house. Sheline is played by Emma Elle Paterson, who's known for series including Bet, and has featured in films including X-Men: Apocalypse. Who is Jetstreak in The Boys season 5? Jetstreak is another member of Teenage Kix who has the power to levitate and propel himself through the air at high speeds. Jetstreak is played by Dylan Colton, who is known for TV shows including Dare Me, Stumptown, and 12 Monkeys. The Boys season 5 continues on Prime Video on 15 April 2026 – try Amazon Prime Video for free for 30 days. Plus, read our guides to the best Amazon Prime series and the best movies on Amazon Prime. Add The Boys to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Sci-fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Re:Zero - Starting Life in Another World season 4 release schedule: When are new episodes on Crunchyroll?
After more than a year, Re:Zero is officially back in action with season 4! Based on the light novel by Tappei Nagatsuki and Shinichirou Otsuka, Re:Zero − Starting Life in Another World, follows high school student Natsuki Subaru, who is suddenly transported to a fantasy world. Season 4 is set to adapt Arc 6 (volumes 21-25), with the first cour titled the Loss Arc and the second called the Recapture Arc. Here's everything we know so far about the release schedule! Re:Zero − Starting Life in Another World season 4 release schedule: When are new episodes on Crunchyroll? New episodes of Re:Zero − Starting Life in Another World arrive on Crunchyroll on Wednesdays. That means the release schedule currently looks like this - although it is subject to change: Cour 1 - Loss Arc Episode 1 – 8 April 2026 Episode 2 – 15 April 2026 Episode 3 – 22 April 2026 Episode 4 – 29 April 2026 Episode 5 – 6 May 2026 Episode 6 – 13 May 2026 Episode 7 – 20 May 2026 Episode 8 – 27 May 2026 Episode 9 – 3 June 2026 Episode 10 – 10 June 2026 Episode 11 – 17 June 2026 Cour 2 - Recapture Arc Episode 1 – 12 August 2026 Episode 2 – 19 August 2026 Episode 3 – 26 August 2026 Episode 4 – 2 September 2026 Episode 5 – 9 September 2026 Episode 6 – 16 September 2026 Episode 7 – 23 September 2026 Episode 8 – 30 September 2026 What time are new episodes of Re:Zero season 4 released? New episodes are released at 2pm BST, which works out to the following times around the world: 9:00am EDT 6:00am PDT 3:00pm CEST 6:30 PM IST 10pm JST 11:00 PM AEST View oEmbed on the source website What is the plot for Re:Zero? The official synopsis on Crunchyroll is: "Natsuki Subaru, an ordinary high school student, is on his way home from the convenience store when he finds himself transported to another world. "As he's lost and confused in a new world where he doesn't even know left from right, the only person to reach out to him was a beautiful girl with silver hair. Determined to repay her somehow for saving him from his own despair, Subaru agrees to help..." Re:Zero - Starting Life in Another World season 4 is streaming on Crunchyroll now. Check out more of our Fantasy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.