Not so long ago, you used Netflix mostly just to rewatch some of your favorite old TV series. But thanks to its rapidly increasing amount of original content, you might end up watching more original Netflix series in 2017 than shows from any other network. Back in September, Netflix's CFO David Wells said that the goal was for Netflix to one day have 50 percent original programming — and thanks to these exciting new shows coming to Netflix in 2017, that goal seems like it will be a reality sooner than later.
While there is perhaps nothing as epic as the Gilmore Girls revival in Netflix's 2017 programming, you are still going to find something in this list that will more than pique your interest. I mean, with Netflix's plan to release 1,000 hours of original programming in 2017, how could there not be? Along with new takes on stories that have previously existed as movies, books, or TV shows, there are also brand new series with some majorly talented actors. And the types of shows that Netflix will release in 2017 range from sitcoms, psychological thrillers, animated miniseries, superhero stories, and everything in between.
Although most of these 21 shows coming to Netflix don't have release dates yet, here's what you have to look forward to in 2017. These series will definitely give you hope that 2017 is going to be a very good year — at least when it comes to TV.
1'One Day At A Time'
A reimagining of the sitcom from the '70s and '80s, Netflix's One Day at a Time features a Cuban-American family and stars Justina Machado and icon Rita Moreno. It's also the first new series to premiere in 2017 since it hits Netflix on Jan. 6.
2'Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events'
Neil Patrick Harris will be terrorizing Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire as Count Olaf in this adaptation of the book series. Jim Carrey was already Olaf on the big screen over a decade ago, but Harris should also slay in this villainous role when the series premieres on Jan. 13.
3'Frontier'
Jason Momoa has been gone from Game of Thrones for quite some time, but he'll be leading this bloody series about the North American fur trade in the 18th century that premieres on Jan. 20. You might as well get invested since the series, which premiered in Canada in November, was already renewed for a Season 2.
4'Santa Clarita Diet'
Drew Barrymore on a TV series? Yes please. Timothy Olyphant will play her husband and they portray married realtors living in — you guessed it — Santa Clarita, California, in this comedy series, which premieres on Feb. 3.
5'Marvel's Iron Fist'
Marvel's Netflix universe will add its fourth superhero with Danny Rand (portrayed by Game of Thrones' Finn Jones) as Iron Fist. Like the other Marvel Netflix superheroes, he'll be defending New York City — but with his kung fu skills — starting on March 17.
6'Anne'
The Canadian red-headed orphan Anne Shirley from Lucy Maud Montgomery's books has had many movies and TV series about her and Netflix has partnered with Canada's CBC to bring another adaptation of Anne of Green Gables into fans' homes. Sorry though, book lovers, the premiere date has yet to be announced.
7'Atypical'
Keir Gilchrist of It's Kind of a Funny Story and United States of Tara will star in this series as Sam, an 18-year-old with autism. The family comedy-drama will also feature Jennifer Jason Leigh and Michael Rapaport as his parents when it premieres eventually in 2017.
8'Bill Nye Saves The World'
Bill Nye the Science Guy is coming back to TV sometime this year, thanks to Netflix. The show will still have Nye conducting experiments, but each episode of the talk show will focus on tackling a specific topic from a scientific point of view. Netflix knows the world needs the science-minded Nye more than ever.
9'Dark'
Netflix's first German series sounds like it might appeal to Stranger Things fans. Set in present-day Germany, two children go missing and the town's history from the 1980s comes back to haunt the families involved. The synopsis of this supernatural drama, along with the fact that the series is from the producers behind the excellent German film The Lives of Others, means I'm already hooked even if no release date has been announced yet.
10'Dear White People'
If you were a fan of the 2014 satirical comedy-drama movie of the same name, get pumped since Dear White People will be a TV adaptation of the film. The 10 30-minute episodes, from writer and director Justin Simien, will be released at some point during the year.
11'Disjointed'
Sitcom mastermind Chuck Lorre is headed to Netflix with this pot comedy that stars Kathy Bates as the owner of a cannabis dispensary. Uh, sign me up for whenever this will premiere in 2017.
12'Friends From College'
From creator Nicholas Stoller of Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Neighbors fame, this comedy will feature Cobie Smulders, Keegan-Michael Key, and Fred Savage as friends who went to Harvard together and are now in their 40s. No premiere date has been announced, but that doesn't stop me from wishing I could be part of this fictional friend group.
13'Girlboss'
Based on her book of the same name, Sophia Amoruso is bringing her story of founding the clothing company Nasty Gal to Netflix at some point in 2017. Amoruso is a producer and Britt Robertson will play Sophia in this 13-episode comedy.
14'G.L.O.W.'
This series set in the 1980s about the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling — a female wrestling league — will star Allison Brie and Marc Maron. The 10-episode show may be destined for success whenever it hits Netflix in 2017 since the creator of Orange Is the New Black, Jenji Kohan, is a producer.
15'Gypsy'
Gypsy is about a therapist who gets too involved in her patients' lives and it will feature some serious A-listers when it premieres later this year since Naomi Watts and Billy Crudup will star in this psychological thriller that sounds more like a movie than a TV series.
16'Kiss Me First'
This thriller about Leila, a teenager who is addicted to an online gaming site, will use both live action and computer-generated virtual reality when it's released later in 2017. Simona Brown of Freeform's Guilt will play Tess, a girl who Leila meets in the online world and ends up disappearing. Color me intrigued.
17'Marvel's The Defenders'
All four of Netflix's Marvel's superheroes — Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and Iron Fist, will be combining forces in late 2017 for The Defenders. Despite what I said earlier, I admit that this is bound to be a bit more epic than the Gilmore Girls revival.
18'Mystery Science Theater 3000'
Get ready to mock science fiction B-movies with the best of them since Netflix is reviving the cult TV show Mystery Science Theater 3000 sometime in 2017 with the original series creator Joel Hodgson.
19'Watership Down'
Richard Adams' classic book was already adapted into a movie back in 1978, but Netflix is giving it a go with an animated four-part miniseries. Although the story is about rabbits, this series — with voice acting from Olivia Colman, Nicholas Hoult, Ben Kingsley, James McAvoy, and Star Wars: The Force Awakens' John Boyega — will show the horrors of human actions when it comes to Netflix this year.
20'Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later'
Rejoice Wet Hot American Summer fans! After Netflix brought the 2001 movie back to life with a prequel in 2015, there will finally be a sequel that advances 10 years in time. Make it your beeswax to watch this star-studded series even though a premiere date hasn't been confirmed yet.
21'The Worst Witch'
While this show will be more for children, The Worst Witch reboot is super exciting for adults who read the books or loved the 1986 TV movie (that starred Tim Curry!). Another bonus to this series? Game of Thrones' tiniest badass Lyanna Mormont, actress Bella Ramsey, is playing the titular witch Mildred Hubble in this series to be released later this year.
So while you'll continue streaming your favorite shows and movies, make sure to schedule time to marathon at least one of these new shows coming to Netflix in 2017.
