With 2019 upon us, many fans of The CW are eager to learn more about any returning television shows— and to discover any new projects in the works. With many of these television shows in the early stages of development, official details have yet to be released. Be sure to stay tuned for more updates regarding casting announcements and official release dates.
As always, comic book themed television shows continue to be a wildly successful domain. Fresh off of the recent Arrowverse crossover, Elseworlds, The CW plans to feature actress Ruby Rose in a television series of her own. The actress has been extremely grateful for the opportunity, and her role as Batwoman allows for more light to be cast on the underrepresented LGBT community on screen.
At San Diego Comic-Con International, audience members received a closer look at the upcoming reboot, Roswell, New Mexico, and successful shows such as iZombie and The 100 are already confirmed to return. However, The CW isn’t just planning to feature remakes and returning shows, but also will debut several original television series. Fans of the sci-fi series The 4400 will be excited to hear about a new reboot currently in development. The original series was featured on USA Network, and fans have been clamoring for a new look at the series for some time. If everything goes accoding to plan, these shows will join the ranks of iconic CW series like Supernatural, Arrow, Supergirl, Riverdale, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, and Legacies.
Here are 6 CW Shows Coming in 2019 (And 14 Possibilities).
Possibility: Strong Girl
Writer Melissa Scrivner-Love, who also worked extensively on Fear the Walking Dead, is set to develop a new project for The CW. Described as a one-hour action series, Strong Girl is loosely adapted from a Korean series, Strong Girl Bong-soon.
Strong Girl will center on a character named Rayna, who experienced intense war zones as a photographer. When she finds out that she has indestructible properties, Rayna realized that she may be the strongest woman in the world. Fans of the former UFC champ, Rhonda Rousey, will be excited to note her role as executive producer for the upcoming series.
Roswell, New Mexico - January 15, 2019
Back in July, The CW revealed a brand new look at the Roswell, New Mexico reboot in the works. The official trailer made its debut at San Diego Comic-Con International. The show is a fresh take on the beloved series Roswell, which first hit televisions on the WB and later through UPN.
The series follows Max, a hybrid of an alien and a human, and his relationship with Liz, who is a human. Unlike the high school setting from the original series, the reboot will focus on the characters as older adults. Both the original series and the reboot are loosely based on a book series, Roswell High, written by Melinda Metz.
Possibility: The Cove
Chad Fiveash and James Stoteraux, who also were the executive producers for The Vampire Diaries, are set to work on a new drama series for The CW next year. The Cove is described as an upcoming family adventure series, following the story of two estranged sisters who become reunited after their father’s death. After the pair travel to a Caribbean resort that they once visited as children, they soon discover that there is certainly more to the island than meets the eye. TV Insider reports that the series will be a one-hour long family drama, and as of yet there’s no official word on the series premiere date.
Check back soon for any further updates regarding the upcoming CW series.
Possibility: Dorian
Variety reports that a modern interpretation of the story of the classic novel The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde is currently in the works. Renamed to simply Dorian, the series will follow “…a woman who made a deal with the devil 50 years ago to remain young and has spent the subsequent decades living selfishly and without consequences. As the downsides of eternal youth finally land on her, Dorian is ready to grow up and age gracefully, but, to do so, she’ll have to make amends for half a century of bad behavior.”
The series will also feature Marisa Coughlan and Len Goldstein as executive producer.
In the Dark - Spring 2019
Directed by Michael Showalter, In the Dark is an upcoming drama series featuring Perry Mattfeld and Rich Sommer. Showalter is known for his work on Wet Hot American Summer and directing The Big Sick last year. Written by Corinne Kingsbury, the story follows Perry Mattfeld as Murphy, who is hellbent on solving a mystery relating to her friend’s elimination.
According to Deadline, Murphy’s character is described as, “a flawed and irreverent young woman who just happens to be blind’, who is the only witness to the murder of her drug-dealing friend, Tyson, however, when the police dismiss her story, she sets out with her dog, Pretzel.” The series will also feature Brooke Markham as Jess, and Keston John as Darnell.
Possibility: The 4400
Not only are there plenty of new shows joining the fray, but The CW also has a list of reboots coming soon. As first reported by Deadline, The CW is currently developing a reboot of The 4400. Originally created by René Echevarria and Scott Peters, the series follows the mysterious disappearance of approximately four thousand four hundred young adults, who have simply vanished all across the globe. In 2019, all of the missing people return to their original locations, without any memory of where they went.
The upcoming reboot will be written and produced by Craig Sweeny and Taylor Elmore. We look forward to reporting more developments regarding The 4400 as they are announced.
Possibility: Untitled Jane the Virgin spin-off
Although the hit CW series Jane the Virgin will be officially concluding with its final season next year, many fans of the show shouldn’t lose hope completely. The CW is planning to produce a spin-off series based on the well-loved show.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the new series plans to recruit a fresh new cast, and possibly explore a storyline from the original show. There is still no confirmation if star Gina Rodriguez will return as Jane Villanueva, or make a guest appearance of some sort. While there are still many unannounced details to speculate about, we look forward to reporting any new developments.
Bulletproof - Summer 2019
Next summer, a British drama is set to arrive at The CW. Originally from Vertigo Films and Company Pictures, Bulletproof centers on a pair of undercover cops and their work fighting crime in London’s East End. Noel Clarke, of Star Trek Into Darkness, will star as Bishop, while Pike will be played by Ashley Walters from Top Boy.
Although the two cops couldn’t be more different, they share a like-minded bond of searching for justice. Pike, who is the son of a lauded police officer, strives to live up to his family’s reputation, while Bishop lived a tough life on the streets, and never had a relationship with his own father.
Possibility: Glamorous
According to Deadline, actor and comedian Damon Wayans Jr. has recently launched his very own production company, Two Shakes Entertainment. The production company has been named after the popular phrase, “two shakes of a lamb’s tail” and emphasizes a strong commitment to diversity in the entertainment industry. Wayans just sold a new project to The CW entitled, Glamorous, and aims to be a heartfelt comedy.
Written by Jordon Nardino, of Star Trek: Discovery, the show will feature, “…a recent gender non-conforming high school graduate who lands the gig of a lifetime interning at the Manhattan cosmetics company whose products he panned on YouTube. But not everyone is happy to have him there, and they are doing everything they can to take him down.”
Possibility: Untitled Riverdale spin-off
The popular series Riverdale has taken the world by storm, and fans can’t seem to get enough of the adventures of Archie, Veronica, Jughead, and Betty. Inspired by the classic comic books, The CW series has created a darker iteration of the tale.
Based on the wild level of popularity of the Riverdale series and its Netflix spinoff Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, another spinoff seems ineviatble. Over the summer, ET Online revealed that showrunner Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa has ideas for a companion television series. Although Aguirre-Sacasa mentioned that it’s still early on in the process, he confirmed that it will be “very different” from Riverdale.
The 100 Season 6 - Spring 2019
As some fans might be desperate for any news about season six of The 100, actress Eliza Taylor reprising her leading role as Clarke Griffin, while Marie Avgeropoulos (Octavia Blake), Bob Morley (Bellamy Blake), and Christopher Larkin (Monty Green) will also make their return. In addition, Henry Ian Cusick will reprise his role as Marcus Kane, along with Isaiah Washington as Thelonious Jaha.
The series was inspired by the young adult books, also named The 100, which were written by Kass Morgan. According to TV Guide, The 100 may be making its way back on screens in January or April 2019.
Possibility: Batwoman
In October, The CW first revealed a closer look at what actress Ruby Rose looks like in her full Batwoman costume. With her tough-looking bat suit, bright red hair, and signature mask, Rose looks like she stepped straight out of the pages of a comic book. This year’s Arrowverse crossover, entitled Elseworlds, featured the Flash, Supergirl, Arrow, and the introduction of Batwoman on screen.
Rose has written on social media that the role is her childhood dream come true: “When I was a young member of the LGBT community who never felt represented on TV and felt alone and different.”
Possibility: The L.A. Complex reboot
According to Deadline, The CW is officially working on a reboot of the Canadian drama series known as The L.A. Complex. Written by Martin Gero and Brendan Gall, the series will act as a sequel to the 2012 show. The synopsis reads, “…the sequel will revolve around a new crop of tenants who move into the Luxe hotel in the heart of Hollywood — a ragtag commune of twentysomethings all hustling to make it as actors, dancers, producers or comedians.”
The original series featured Cassie Steele from Degrassi: The Next Generation, Jewel Staite of Firefly, and Joe Dinicol from Arrow. Although the new series of The L.A. Complex is still quite early in development, we can’t wait to find out who has been cast in this upcoming series.
iZombie Season 5 - Spring 2019
While there are certainly plenty of reboots and new series on this list, some fan favorites are also set to return in the near future. In April, we reported that iZombie has officially been renewed for season five at The CW.
Developed by Rob Thomas and Diane Ruggiero-Wright, iZombie is loosely based on series of comic books with the same title. Since 2015, the show has garnered a strong fan base. New Zealand actress Rose McIver takes the lead as Olivia “Liv” Moore, while Malcolm Goodwin stars as Clive Babineaux. With a 92% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, the show certainly has fans wanting more. Be on the lookout for the return of iZombie next spring.
Possibility: Lean On Me
Varietyreports that LeBron James and singer John Legend are set to produce a new drama series inspired by the movie Lean on Me. The series is set to follow young Amarie Baldwin, a teacher who joins the staff at a public high school in Akron, Ohio. When faced with seemingly insurmountable challenges, Baldwin sets out to face a broken educational system.
The series will also feature Wendy Calhoun as executive producer and writer of the series. The promising series sounds like a hit, and we look forward to sharing more details as they arise. LeBron James is also set to help executive produce a female-led basketball drama series for NBC.
Possibility: Ruthless
Next up, The CW plans to dive in with a new drama called Ruthless. Produced by actor Michael Weatherly, the action-packed series will follow the struggles of a former CIA operative who tries to adjust to normal life. Right now, there is no word on additional casting for the series at this time.
Weatherly, who is known for his work in the CBS series Bull, also played Tony DiNozzo for thirteen seasons on NCIS. Recently, our site reported that actress Eliza Dushku received a settlement of $9.5 million from CBS, due to being fired after reporting her harassment by Weatherly.
Jane the Virgin Season 5 - Spring 2019
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the fifth and final season of Jane the Virgin will air in the spring of 2019. Originally developed by Jennie Snyder Urman, the show was first inspired by a telenovela from Venezuela called Juana la Virgen by Perla Farías. In the series, actress Gina Rodriguez takes the helm as the laugh-out-loud leading role, Jane Villanueva.
Since the show debuted in 2014, it has been nominated for several Golden Globe Awards, including Best Musical or Comedy Television Series. Rodriguez also took home the award for Best Actress in a Television Series, Musical or Comedy in 2015.
Possibility: Untitled Nancy Drew drama
The Nancy Drew mystery series have captivated voracious readers for decades. Originally created by Edward Stratemeyer, Nancy Drew was first published in 1930 and released under a Carolyn Keene. Since the character’s appearance, there have been five films and two television shows to date, along with video games.
As reported by Deadline, the upcoming series on The CW will employ writer Noga Landau, of The Magicians, and follow an eighteen-year-old Nancy Drew. After graduating from high school, Drew becomes intertwined in a ghostly mystery. Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage, who have also had success with The O.C. and Gossip Girl, are slated to be executive producers for the new series.
Possibility: Super Clean
Co-executive producer Sascha Rothchild is fresh off her successful series GLOW, and has a fresh and exciting project in the works. According to Deadline, Rothchild will be working on a new series called Super Clean, described as a dramedy with a superhero theme. The series will be based on a comic book series called SuperCLEAN, from Heath Amodio and Cullen Bunn.
The new project will focus on the super smart Becky Masters, and her mission to clean up after a slew of superheroes and villains. In addition to all of the drama, Masters will also fight to prove the innocence of her boyfriend— a superhero who is accused of a major crime.
Possibility: Survivors’ Club
Super Clean isn’t the only superhero series aimed to hit The CWnext year. As first reported by Deadline, The CWis also planning to create a new drama series called Survivors’ Club. The series will be inspired by a comic book series from DC’s Vertigo company.
Penned by Jared Frieder, of MTV’s Sweet/Vicious, the new television series will be set in a world where “horror franchise monsters are real” and follow the story of twins, Jason and Jennifer. After a demonic event eliminated their mother, the twins become distant but are forced to join together a decade later. Both Jason and Jennifer must team up with other teenaged survivors to fight a new evil threat that threatens the destruction of the world.
Which shows from The CW are you most excited for? Let us know in the comments!
