11 New TV Shows Of 2016 We Are Really Excited About!

#1 The X-Files Revival

Ok, so technically I'm cheating right out of the gate, but it's been so long since there were new episodes of The X-Files on TV that this does basically count as a new show.

Fox are bringing back Mulder and Scully, with David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson reprising their iconic roles, for a limited run of six episodes starting in January. Given it's been 13 years since the original show ended, and even longer since Duchovny was on the small screen as Mulder, it's fair to say there's a lot of hype and expectation around this one, which will be tackling similar supernatural cases, and adding the likes of Joel McHale to the cast.

#2 Divorce

There's no confirmed release date for Divorce about a couple going through, well, a divorce but it is expected to air sometime in 2016, and given there's already been an image released, it might not be too long a wait.

The reason that Divorce is worthy of the hype is that it marks Sarah Jessica Parker's return to TV and HBO, the place she made her name on Sex and the City.

However, the reason to be excited and optimistic about it is the fact that it has been created by Sharon Horgan, who this year co-created the fantastic sitcom Catastrophe with Rob Delaney. If she can bring that sense of humour and real-world feel to mix with HBO's general sheen of quality, then this could be another hit for all those involved.

#3 American Crime Story: The People V. OJ Simpson

Ryan Murphy is at it again. Not content with ruling the TV landscape with the likes of Glee, American Horror Story, and Scream Queens in the last few years, he's tackling yet another subject matter in what is set up to be one more anthology series to add to his resume.

American Crime Story will chronicle a different true life crime from American history each year, and the first is taking on one of the biggest scandals of the last 20 years: the trial of O.J. Simpson.

Similarly exciting behind-the-scenes talent includes the creators of the show, Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski, aka the duo who wrote Tim Burton's Ed Wood.

There's a star-studded cast for this one as well, including John Travolta as Robert Shapiro, David Schwimmer as Robert Kardashian, and Cuba Gooding Jr. as O.J. himself. Murphy's series have been a bit of a mixed bag, but with some real talent to this one, and a fairly well-known, popular story, there is a lot of promise. It premieres on FX on February 2.

#4 Shadowhunters

The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones may have been panned by critics when it was released at cinemas in 2013, but hopes are still high for the TV adaptation, which will air on ABC's newly relaunched Freeform channel.

Director McG is one of the people behind Shadowhunters, bringing a lot of TV experience having worked on the likes of The O.C. and Chuck, with the cast including Katherine McNamara and Harry Shum Jr.

While the film failed, the fact that Freeform will be using this to kick start their ‘new' channel suggests that they're throwing a lot behind it, and there is certainly scope for greater character development and storytelling over a series than was possible in the movie.

#5 Marvel’s Most Wanted

2016 will see Marvel continue their quest to conquer screens big and small. As well as films Captain America: Civil War and Doctor Strange, there'll be second series of Agent Carter and Daredevil, the continuation of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., and the next show from their deal with Netflix, Luke Cage.

In amongst all that is Marvel's Most Wanted, an Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. spin-off (of sorts) focusing on Adrianne Palicki's Bobbi Morse and Nick Blood's Lance Hunter. Not an awful lot is known about what form the show will take at the moment, and whether it'll be a prequel or follow on from S.H.I.E.L.D., but given how the two are among the best things on that show, with great chemistry and some excellent action scenes, there is a lot of cause for optimism whatever they decide to do with it.

Maybe do something about the name, though, which at the minute sounds too much like a disappointing Muppet sequel.

#6 Untitled Woody Allen Amazon Series

Not an awful lot is known about Woody Allen's Amazon series at present, but then it doesn't need to be. All you really need to know is that it's Woody Allen, and he'll be writing and directing the series of half-hour episodes, marking the first time he has done so for television. While his output may be very hit-and-miss these days, that's still an extremely exciting event for television.

Amazon have made significant strides with their original content over the last year or so, with the likes of Transparent and Man in the High Castle winning a lot of acclaim and proving successful with audiences, and this could be the series that really helps them challenge for Netflix's crown.

Of the series, Allen said: "I don't know how I got into this. I have no ideas and I'm not sure where to begin. My guess is that Roy Price will regret this."

See, complete optimism.

#7 11.22.63

Not content with playing third-fiddle behind Netflix and Amazon, streaming service Hulu are set to make their biggest splash yet in 2016 with an adaptation of Stephen King's 11.22.63.

Starring James Franco, it chronicles the story of high-school teacher Jake Epping, who travels back in time to prevent the assassination of John F. Kennedy. However, his mission is threatened by Lee Harvey Oswald, while he also risks falling in love and becoming attached to his new life in the past.

King and J.J. Abrams are executive producing the series, which will consist of 8 episodes, and it'll premiere on Hulu on February 15.

#8 The Shannara Chronicles

Another book adaptation, this time of Terry Brooks' Shannara trilogy, which tells of the adventures, war, and evil that occurs throughout the history of the fictional setting the Four Lands.

It's being made by MTV, whose track record with original series isn't exactly the strongest, but there's still plenty of talent to make this interesting.

It has been developed by Alfred Gough and Miles Millar who, among various other works, were responsible for the story of Spider-Man 2. In front of the camera there's Manu Bennet, who was superb as Slade Wilson on Arrow; Ivana Baquero, who played Ofelia in Guillermo del Toro's stunning dark fairytale Pan's Labyrinth; and John Rhys-Davies, who was of course Gimli in the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

Whatever else happens, there'll be no dwarf-tossing in this one. The Shannara Chronicles premieres on MTV on January 5.

#9 Codes Of Conduct

Although initially expected to debut in 2015, it seems like 2016 will be the year we actually get HBO mini-series Codes of Conduct.

Created by Oscar-winner Steve McQueen (12 Years A Slave), the 6-episode series will focus on a young African-American man with a mysterious past, who becomes a player in New York's high society. McQueen has created and written the series alongside Matthew Michael Carnahan (World War Z), and will be directing all episodes himself.

Aside from the excitement of seeing what McQueen brings to HBO, especially with what could be an interesting and powerful story, there's also the acting talent, which includes Paul Dano, Helena Bonham Carter, and Rebecca Hall, while newcomer Devon Terrell has the lead role.

#10 The Get Down

Baz Luhrmann has spent over a decade developing this series, which is finally set to come to Netflix in 2016, with all 13 hour-long episodes expected to drop at some point next year (though there's no official release date just yet).

It'll chronicle the story of the burgeoning New York music scene of the 1970s, taking in famous venues such as the CBGB and a just-built World Trade Centre, and has been described as "a mythic saga of how New York at the brink of bankruptcy gave birth to hip-hop, punk and disco."

Given Luhrmann's generally excellent use of music in his movies, along with his visual style and the Netflix hallmark of quality, there's a lot of promise to this one. The likes of Jimmy Smits and Giancarlo Esposito are among the main cast, while Jaden Smith will be a recurring cast member (but don't let that put you off).

#11 DC’s Legends Of Tomorrow

Both Arrow and The Flash have devoted a lot of their 4th and 2nd seasons respectively to setting up DC's Legends of Tomorrow, so it better deliver given how much it has impacted the stories of both those shows.

Based on the cast and crew, you would have to think it cannot really fail. It's taking a lot of the same production staff from those shows, including Greg Berlanti and Andrew Kreisberg, as well as featuring a host of characters we already know and care about from those series: Ray Palmer, Firestorm, Captain Cold, Sara Lance and more, while there seems a strong likelihood of crossovers with both Arrow and The Flash.

The newcomers are Rip Hunter, a time-traveller played by Arthur Darvill (who knows a thing or two about travelling in time), and Vandal Savage, an immortal who already appeared in the Flash/Arrow crossover event recently, and has been set up as a major foe. This will debut on January 21.