June is set to be an exciting month for television fans, with every major streaming platform premiering at least one highly anticipated series. Viewers can expect the return of long-awaited fan-favorite shows, as well as the introduction of brand new programming across various platforms. The 2023 SAG and WGA strikes altered premiere dates for many series, which explains why so many popular shows are going to be competing for viewership in the coming month. Although the number of shows premiering can seem overwhelming, it also makes June one of the most exciting times for television in recent memory.
The world of streaming is undergoing a lot of changes at the moment. Amid seemingly endless hiatuses between seasons and unexpected cancelations, viewers are finding comfort in older shows on streaming such as Suits, which broke the record for most streamed series last year. Streaming platforms are also changing their strategies, suggesting platform bundles to retain customers concerned about pricing. It’s an uncertain time for the future of streaming, but there’s still a lot for viewers to feel excited about. These upcoming seasons are going to be must-watch television, and their success may determine the future of the platforms.
After an impressive run at this year’s Emmy awards, Hulu is premiering season 3 of The Bear in June. The culinary dramedy series, which currently holds a 99% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, follows fine dining chef Carmy as he returns to Chicago to take over his family’s struggling restaurant and attempts to balance his love of cooking with his personal and professional struggles. Season 2 followed Carmy and his sous-chef Sydney as they reinvented his family restaurant, and while The Bear may finally be ready to open, the season finale saw the characters at their lowest points yet.
Season 3 has a lot of ground to cover as Carmy, Sydney, and the rest of the staff at The Bear navigate this new stage. In addition to the uncertainty of the restaurant world, they have a host of personal problems to contend with as well. Sydney’s wavering trust in Carmy’s professional capabilities, the fate of Marcus’ mother, and Carmy’s disastrous (and divisive) relationship with Claire are all sure to be explored in the upcoming season. All episodes in season 3 will be available to stream on June 27th on Hulu.
As part of Disney’s expanded Star Wars universe, The Acolyte will serve as a prequel to 1999’s The Phantom Menace, filling in several gaps that have left viewers speculating for years. The series, set during Star Wars’ High Republic Era, will provide a look into the dynamics of the Jedi Council that have previously gone unexplored. The unique setting makes it the first live-action Star Wars property to deviate from the Skywalker saga. This means that the series won’t be bound to preexisting storylines and can take big creative swings without worrying about contradicting the established canon.
The series follows the Jedi Council as it investigates a series of crimes. The mystery-thriller genre is already a departure for Star Wars, so it will be interesting to see how the story will fit into the franchise as a whole. The Acolyte stars Amandla Stenberg as Mae, a former padawan student who has become a dangerous warrior. It also features famed South Korean actor and Squid Game star Lee Jung-Jae as the Jedi master Sol. The first two episodes of The Acolyte will premiere on Disney+ on June 4th. The following six episodes will be released weekly.
House of the Dragon is a prequel to HBO’s massively popular series Game of Thrones, taking place nearly 200 years before the events of the original show. The series focuses on the political and personal turmoil affecting the doomed House Targaryen as family members struggle for power against one another. House of the Dragon was an instant success after it premiered in 2022. The first episode was watched by over 10 million viewers, making it the most successful premier in HBO history. Season 1 went on to earn nine Emmy awards and won for Best Television Series – Drama.
Season 2 of the acclaimed series will pick up where season 1 left off, with House Targaryen spiraling towards a brutal civil war. Following the murder of Lucerys Velaryon, the House of the Dragon’s characters are fully divided into two rival factions, both intent on exacting revenge against the other. Season 2 promises to be even more brutal than season 1, with harrowing twists that will test viewers’ loyalties. Season 2 of House of the Dragon will premiere on Max June 19th.
Taylor Sheridan’s crime thriller Mayor of Kingstown is set to return this June as well. The show has been a massive hit on streaming, continuing Sheridan’s hot streak on Paramount+ after the success of his Yellowstone series. The show centers around the powerful McLusky family who rule over the prison town of Kingstown, Michigan and attempt to keep the peace between criminals, cops, and outside threats. Amid rising tensions and a series of massive explosions, season 3 of Mayor of Kingstown will see the Russian mob attempt to take over power from the McLuskys.
Filming was initially delayed while star Jeremy Renner recovered from life-threatening injuries sustained in a snowplow accident, but he has since made a full recovery. Although Renner is returning as Mike McLusky, the series is losing one major star. It was announced that Diane Wiest, who plays Mike’s mother, Mariam McLusky, will not be returning for the third season. While reports say that her exit from the show is “story-driven,” it remains to be seen how her absence will affect the plot moving forward. The series will premiere on Paramount+ on June 2nd, with new episodes released weekly.
Although season 3 of Bridgerton begins in May, viewers will have to wait until June to see the second half of the story. The hit romantic drama is produced by Shonda Rhimes and based on the best-selling book series by Julia Quinn. Since its debut in 2020, it has become one of Netflix’s most popular series. The show follows the eponymous Bridgerton family in Regency Era London as they navigate social responsibilities, tumultuous love lives, and town gossip. Although the cast has remained largely consistent throughout the show, each season centers on a new romantic pairing.
Season 3 is set to focus on the budding relationship between Colin Bridgerton and Penelope Featherington. In addition to the sizzling chemistry between the two leads, the new episodes will also explore the fallout of last season’s fight between Penelope and her best friend Eloise Bridgerton after Eloise’s discovery that Penelope had been publishing the town’s gossip under the pseudonym Lady Whistledown. The first half of Bridgerton season three will premiere on May 16th, and the second half will be available to stream on June 13th.
Eric Kripke’s satirical superhero series The Boys is one of Amazon Prime’s most popular series. Based on the comic book series by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson, it takes place in a world where superheroes are seen as celebrities and follows a team of vigilantes who set out to keep them from abusing their powers. The show has been praised for its intense, bloody action as well as its biting social commentary. Since premiering in 2019, it’s been nominated for eight Emmys, including Outstanding Drama Series, and became the first non-Netflix show to reach the Nielsen Top 10 list.
The Boys season 4 will pick up where season 3 left off, with Homelander seemingly more powerful than ever as the public cheers on his increasingly violent outbursts. He’s not the only threat to the team, as Neuman moves forward with her political aspirations and Butcher contends with his impending death due to his use of Temp-V. The new season will also presumably tie into Gen V, The Boys‘ spin-off series that premiered in 2023. New episodes of The Boys will be released weekly, starting on June 13th.
Presumed Innocent is one of Apple TV+’s most highly anticipated releases of the year. The legal thriller follows an attorney who is thrown under suspicion when the colleague he was having an affair with is murdered. The story originates from a best-selling 1987 novel by Scott Turow. It was later adapted into a film of the same name starring Harrison Ford, which went on to become one of the highest-grossing films of 1990. The previous success of the story makes a new adaptation even more exciting, especially considering the team behind it.
The series stars Jake Gyllenhaal as Rusty Sabich, the attorney at the center of the case. Presumed Innocent will also feature Ruth Negga, Bill Camp, and Renate Reinsve, who recently had her breakout role in the Oscar-nominated film The Worst Person in the World. The series is being produced by prestige TV veteran J.J. Abrams and was created by David E. Kelley, who has had massive success with other crime dramas such as The Practice and Big Little Lies. The miniseries will span eight episodes, beginning June 12th on Apple TV+.