In recent years, the science fiction genre has been reborn as if it were the 80s and 90s, when the film industry had a blast releasing dystopian and action-packed adventures. This 2024 promises to be memorable in that regard.
Apple TV+, Netflix and other streaming services have decided to produce Sci-Fi series that will be released throughout the year. And let’s not forget about the movies that will also hit the theaters in these 12 months.
Since the arrival of artificial intelligence, our vision of the future has slightly transformed. Fortunately, directors and screenwriters look beyond AI when imagining those dystopian worlds of tomorrow.
Without further ado, let’s go with the 2024 releases in science fiction, whether they are series or movies.
Murderbot (Apple TV)
By now we all know that Apple TV+ has a predilection for dystopias and science fiction. And here’s another bold series. Based on an award-winning series of novels titled The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells, the story follows a security android who is horrified and fascinated by human emotions.
Perhaps the most attractive aspect of this series is its cast. Alexander Skarsgård will be the protagonist of Murderbot, and we can’t think of a better actor to play a cold and calculating android who learns to understand human emotions.
Dune: Prophecy (Max)
Originally titled Sisterhood of Dune, this complementary television series to Denis Villeneuve’s Dune movies has undergone a troubled development process in recent years.
The series is set 10,000 years before the events of Frank Herbert’s Dune. It explores the origins of the legendary brotherhood of superhumans from the novels, the Bene Gesserit.
The series is co-produced by Frank Herbert’s son, Brian, and his granddaughter, Kim, along with experienced television writer Alison Schapker (Fringe, Lost, Westworld). Villeneuve was unable to direct due to scheduling conflicts, but the series’ style will surely follow the incredible scale and scope of the films.
Constellation (Apple TV+)
Someone at Apple is a big fan of science fiction, as the thriving streamer continues to produce ambitious and interesting genre shows (Foundation, For All Mankind, Silo, Invasion).
The latest one, which will be released in February, is Constellation. Starring Noomi Rapace, all we know so far is the brief synopsis that states that the series is about “an astronaut who returns to Earth after a space disaster, only to discover that key pieces of her life seem to have disappeared”.
If you’re into conspiracy thriller science fiction, this could be the winning movie.
Alien (FX)
The Alien franchise is about to explode with new movies and series this year, but the most promising title is a television prequel from writer Noah Hawley (Legion, Fargo).
The series will be the first Alien story set on Earth, exploring the origins of androids and the mysterious Weyland-Yutani corporation.
How do the “aliens” enter the story? Who knows, but Hawley has proven to be a surprising and creative writer, so this will undoubtedly be the most interesting entry in the franchise we have seen in a long time.
Civil War (A24)
From Ex Machina to Annihilation, through Devs, Alex Garland has been doing truly innovative and original things, but Civil War seems to be his biggest project to date.
Described as an action and war film, it is set in the near future where the United States has entered into a civil war after an authoritarian government takes power and half of the country decides to separate.
With a terrifyingly premonitory look, this movie will generate a lot of talk when it is released. Garland knows what he’s doing, we expect a great film.
The Electric State (Netflix)
Since the Russo brothers made Avengers: Endgame, the highest-grossing film of all time, they have been stumbling. Will this trend continue or have they found new inspiration in a 2018 graphic novel that has received good reviews?
The story is simple. It is an alternative post-apocalyptic timeline of 1997 and a teenager travels through dystopian USA with her toy robot.
There is no doubt that Netflix has spent a fortune on this movie, so it is sure to look impressive. Let’s hope there is a decent story to support it.
