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2018's hottest new sci-fi and geeky TV shows

Check out these hotly anticipated new shows coming to your small screen, thanks to Netflix, Amazon, Hulu and your favourite TV channels.

Richard Trenholm
Richard Trenholm was CNET's film and TV editor, covering the big screen, small screen and streaming. A member of the Film Critic's Circle, he's covered technology and culture from London's tech scene to Europe's refugee camps to the Sundance film festival.
Richard Trenholm
good-omens-tennant-sheen
1 of 50 Neil Gaiman

'Good Omens'

The year 2018 will be another big one for TV, as streaming services ramp up their original series and traditional channels up their game. Click through the gallery to see the new sci-fi, fantasy and geeky shows you can look forward to on your small screen.

Let's start with the unholy partnership of Michael Sheen and David Tennant in a hotly anticipated adaptation of Neil Gaiman and the late Terry Pratchett's horrifyingly funny novel, "Good Omens", for Amazon and the BBC.

altered-carbon-netflix-1
2 of 50 Netflix

'Altered Carbon'

Slick sci-fi is the order of the day in "Altered Carbon", a neon-drenched Netflix adaptation of the novel by Richard K. Morgan.

black-lightning-cw-cress-williams
3 of 50 CW

'Black Lightning'

Cress Williams is Black Lightning, a superhero forced to return to his crimefighting ways in this CW show based on a DC comic.

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4 of 50 BBC/Euston Films/Nicky Johnston

'Hard Sun'

Jim Sturgess and Agyness Deyn are hard-boiled cops in this pre-apocalyptic drama. "Luther" creator Neil Cross is behind this intriguing show on the BBC and Hulu.

jack-ryan-john-krasinski
5 of 50 Amazon

'Jack Ryan'

John Krasinski plays title character Jack Ryan in Amazon's update of the hero in Tom Clancy's geopolitical thrillers.  

Celebrity Sightings in New York City - October 20, 2017
6 of 50 Gotham

'Maniac'

Jonah Hill and Emma Stone are committed to Netflix's dark comedy "Maniac" about the fantasy worlds of two patients in a mental institute. It's based on a 2014 Norwegian series.

cloak-and-dagger-marvel-freeform
7 of 50 Freeform

'Cloak and Dagger'

It's young love, Marvel-style, as superpowered teenagers Cloak and Dagger fall in love in this Freeform show.

Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams
8 of 50 Parrish Lewis

'Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams'

Shown on Channel 4 in the UK in 2017, this star-studded anthology series of "Black Mirror"-esque sci-fi tales comes to Amazon in 2018.

STEVE ZAHN
9 of 50 Eike Schroter/ABC

'The Crossing'

Steve Zahn is the small-town sherif shocked to discover newly arrived refugees are seeking asylum from a deadly war ... in America's own future. 

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10 of 50 Kurt Iswarienko

'The Alienist'

Dakota Fanning, Daniel Brühl and Luke Evans star in TNT's "The Alienist", a tale of an early criminal psychologist investigating gruesome murders in 1896 New York. It's based on the book by Caleb Carr. 

troy-fall-city-bbc-netflix.jpg
11 of 50 Graham Bartholomew

'Troy: Fall of a City'

Beware of Greeks bearing gifts in this sexy new take on the legendary Trojan war, courtesy of the BBC and Netflix.

siren-eline-powell-freeform
12 of 50 Freeform

'Siren'

Freeform makes a splash with "Siren", which sees haunting mermaids reclaim the sea.

61st Berlin Film Festival - True Grit - Photocall
13 of 50 Pascal Le Segretain / Getty Images

'The Ballad of Buster Scruggs'

This Western anthology written, directed and produced by the Coen brothers -- their first foray into TV -- stars James Franco, Zoe Kazan, Tyne Daly and Tim Blake Nelson.

McMafia
14 of 50 BBC

'McMafia'

Taut global crime thriller "McMafia" from the BBC follows the scion of a family of Russian exiles spiralling into global crime and terror. 

Juventus v FC Crotone - Serie A
15 of 50 NurPhoto

'Juventus'

Netflix kicks off with a docuseries looking inside the legendary Italian football club.

The Late Show with David Letterman
16 of 50 CBS

David Letterman

David Letterman talks back with a new chat show streaming on Netflix.

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17 of 50 Stanislav Honzik/Film United

'Britannia'

Kelly Reilly (pictured), David Morrissey and Mackenzie Crook lead the warriors and druids resisting Roman invasion in A.D. 43 in this Sky and Amazon drama.

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18 of 50 SyFy

'Krypton'

Go back to Superman's roots with this SyFy show that follows the Man of Steel's grandfather on their doomed home planet Krypton.

ZACH BRAFF
19 of 50 Elizabeth Fischer/ABC

'Alex Inc.'

Based on the podcast StartUp, this ABC comedy sees "Scrubs" star Zach Braff playing a radio journalist who takes a chance and founds his own company, with the help of "Sopranos" star Michael Imperioli.

FOZZY BEAR, KERMIT THE FROG, PIGGY
20 of 50 Disney Junior

'Muppet Babies'

Return to the playroom for a new computer-animated adventure starring the young Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Animal and the gang. Yes, Nanny!

"Id Isn't Always Pretty: An Evening With Broad City" Panel Discussion
21 of 50 Mike Pont

'Disenchantment'

"Simpsons" and "Futurama" creator Matt Groening crowns "Broad City" star Abbi Jacobson (centre) as an alcoholic princess in this medieval fantasy comedy cartoon. "Mighty Boosh" alumni Matt Berry, Rich Fulcher and Noel Fielding also star.

2016 ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood Awards Luncheon - Red Carpet
22 of 50 Earl Gibson III

Chris Rock special

Chris Rock is among the huge comedy names recording specials for Netflix in 2018.

Tim Robbins In 'The Shawshank Redemption'
23 of 50 Getty Images

'Castle Rock'

Set in the universe of author Stephen King's stories, Hulu's creepy anthology series "Castle Rock" draws on several of the author's works -- including a return to the infamous Shawshank prison.

umbrella-academy-dark-horse-netflix
24 of 50 Dark Horse

'The Umbrella Academy'

Ellen Page leads this quirky superhero series based on the comic created by My Chemical Romance frontman Gerard Way and artist Gabriel Bá.

The Carol Burnett Show
25 of 50 / Getty Images

'A Little Help With Carol Burnett'

Comedy legend Carol Burnett helps kids dish out advice to celebrities and a live audience in this Netflix show.

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26 of 50 DreamWorks

'Galaxy Quest'

By Grabthar's hammer! Amazon is rebooting the much-loved sci-fi spoof "Galaxy Quest".

looming-tower
27 of 50 Hulu

'The Looming Tower'

Alec Baldwin is real-life former CIA director George Tenet, and stars alongside Jeff Daniels and Peter Sarsgaard, in this Hulu political docu-thriller. It's based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning book "The Looming Tower: Al-Qaeda and the Road to 9/11" by Lawrence Wright.

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28 of 50 Alex Crick/Netflix

Ali Wong special

Comedian Ali Wong follows up "Baby Cobra" with a new Netflix special in 2018. 

pete-the-cat
29 of 50 Pete the Cat

'Pete the Cat'

Based on the children's book series, this Amazon cartoon features the voices of Elvis Costello and Diana Krall.

Screening Of "How To Survive High School"
30 of 50 David Livingston / Getty Images

'All Night'

YouTube stars Teala Dunn and Eva Gutowski stay up "All Night" in Hulu's ensemble comedy about a bunch of kids making their last night at school one to remember.

monkey-1970s
31 of 50 Nippon TV

'Monkey'

Netflix goes ape for a new take on the ancient Chinese myth of "Monkey", a tale retold many times over the centuries -- including the 1970s martial arts extravaganza.

Dexter
32 of 50 CBS Photo Archive

'Safe'

This thriller, created by crime author Harlan Coben, stars Michael C. Hall from "Dexter" and is co-produced by Canal+ with Netflix.

US First Lady Michelle Obama reads the c
33 of 50 Tim Sloan / AFP/Getty Images

'Green Eggs and Ham'

Ellen DeGeneres produces a new take on the Dr. Seuss classic for Netflix.

Barbie Doll Exhibition At Musee des Arts Decoratifs  - Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Fall/Winter 2016/2017
34 of 50 Thierry Chesnot / Getty Images

Barbie documentary

Hulu gets dolled up for a documentary about Mattel's iconic and often controversial fashion toy.

Photo of Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
35 of 50 Michael Ochs Archives

'Motown Magic'

Smokey Robinson is the executive music producer of this animated kids' series set in the city of Motown.

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36 of 50 NoBrow Press

'Hilda'

Luke Pearson's blue-haired adventurer Hilda explores the lands of elves, trolls and giants on Netflix.

2014 Families Matter Benefit & Celebration
37 of 50 Rachel Murray

Justin Willman magic reality series

Magician Justin Willman pulls a rabbit out of a hat with a new show on Netflix.

Jonathan Harris and Bill Mumy in Lost in Space
38 of 50 Bettmann

'Lost in Space'

Toby Stephens and Molly Parker lead the Robinson clan into space in this Netflix reboot of the much-loved 1960s sci-fi series "Lost in Space".

mega-man
39 of 50 Capcom

'Mega Man'

He's just a regular schoolboy -- until he's required to turn into Mega Man and save the day. Cartoon Network brings us this new cartoon based on the classic Capcom game.

Queer Eye For The Straight Guy - Season 1
40 of 50 Bravo

'Queer Eye'

Netflix gives "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" a makeover with a new panel of fashion experts on a mission to travel the US and turn red states pink.

Chernobyl - The Aftermath
41 of 50 Igor Kostin

'Chernobyl'

Jared Harris leads the cast of "Chernobyl", a drama from Sky and HBO exploring the tragic 1986 nuclear disaster.

spaceship-tallulah-haddon
42 of 50 Spaceship

'Kiss Me First'

"Kiss Me First" weaves the tale of Leila, a lonely 17-year-old addicted to a fictional online gaming site called Agora. Tallulah Haddon, enigmatic breakout star of "Taboo" and indie movie "Spaceship", takes the lead in this live action and CG adaptation of the novel by Lottie Moggach. It's produced by E4 and Netflix. 

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43 of 50 Bloomsbury

'Queen of Shadows'

Hulu looks to take the throne from "Game of Thrones" with "Queen of Shadows", an adaptation of the best-selling "Throne of Glass" series of fantasy novels by Sarah J. Maas. 

costume-quest
44 of 50 Costume Quest

'Costume Quest'

Amazon bases this cartoon on the popular trick-or-treat game "Costume Quest".

69th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards - Show
45 of 50 Kevin Winter / Getty Images

'The Awesome Show'

Chris Hardwick takes a break from talking about "The Walking Dead" to highlight the latest exciting scientific and technological innovations.

'Che Netflix' Buenos Aires Red Carpet
46 of 50 Getty Images

'Edha'

Netflix sends its first Argentinian show down the catwalk: "Edha", a drama set in the fashion world of Buenos Aires, starring Juana Viale.

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47 of 50 Juan Pablo Gutierrez/NETFLIX

'O Mecanismo'

Netflix gears up for this Portuguese-language drama from the people behind "Narcos" (pictured), exploring corruption and intrigue in Brazil's oil and construction industries.

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48 of 50 Dimension

'Spy Kids: Mission Critical'

Robert Rodriguez's junior espionage action series gets animated in a new cartoon from Netflix.

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49 of 50 Aidan Monaghan/AMC

'The Terror'

Jared Harris from "The Crown" ships out with Ciaran Hinds from "Game of Thrones" and "Justice League" in AMC's "The Terror", based on the true-life story of a doomed naval expedition to the Arctic.

The City and the City
50 of 50 Des Willie

The City and the City

David Morrissey stars in BBC2's adaptation of China Miéville's award-winning weird sci-fi novel "The City & The City".

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