2018 could be the year of Amazon, with lots of exciting shows coming in the next twelve months (and beyond). In the Peak TV wars, Amazon have stood as a respectable opponent to the likes of network TV, cable and streaming services, but their offerings have never quite set the town on fire like their competition at Netflix. Whereas they have made waves with Emmy winning critical and commercial darlings like Stranger Things, The Crown and House of Cards, Amazon's success has been more muted, with shows that delight the critics but never storm ahead of the zeitgeist. Content like Transparent and Mozart in the Jungle have their fans and the awards to back it up but it's clear that their strategy could use a shift.This year, they made the surprise move of rejecting all of their comedy pilots and have moved into commissioning series by big name talents like Wong Kar-wai, Matthew Weiner and Amy Sherman-Palladino. In an effort to keep up with the major budgets and high-concept hooks of Netflix and HBO, Amazon have even gone so far as to greenlight a new take on Lord of the Rings, although that won't happen for a few years.Related: Is the Lord of the Rings Prequel TV Series Secretly The Silmarillion?As it is, 2018 looks set to be a fascinating one for Amazon's television division. They've tightened up their slate, canceling a massive amount of shows like The Last Tycoon and Z: The Beginning of Everything, and have some major names in the pipeline that could potentially make them a must-subscribe service. We've compiled a list of the biggest, most exciting shows to check out in the coming year.These shows are ones that are set to or expected to premiere in 2018. All dates are subject to change and are accurate at the time of writing. Some of these shows are probably more likely to air in 2019, but we're nothing if not hopeful for an earlier premiere. We also haven't included shows that are still in the very early developmental stages, although Amazon certainly have a fascinating array of series in the pipeline there.Homecoming and Jack Ryan (This Page)

Homecoming

Julia Roberts guesy-starring in Law & Order.

Sam Esmail made a splash with USA's Mr. Robot, making a star of its leading man Rami Malek, but now he's moving to Amazon with a show that will see none other than Julia Roberts make the jump to TV (something that's worked out pretty well for her movie star counterparts Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon). Homecoming, based on the Gimlet Media podcast that starred Oscar Isaac and Catherine Keener, is described as "a psychological and political thriller that centers on a caseworker at a secret government facility (Roberts) and a soldier eager to rejoin civilian life." The show will also star Bobby Cannavale (Boardwalk Empire) and Stephan James (Selma).

Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan

John Krasinski Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan 13 Hours

Clancy's most iconic character has been played by everyone, from Alec Baldwin to Harrison Ford, Ben Affleck and Chris Pine, but the latest actor to pick up the mantle of the CIA analyst is The Office star John Krasinski. This series has been in development since 2015, with Lost showrunner Carlton Cuse at the helm. With multiple novels and spin-offs to mine for material, there's no danger of this iteration of the franchise running out of ideas.

Related: Streaming Services Projected To Top Box Office In U.K. By 2020

This could be the big action hit Amazon's TV division needs, and is a notable step away from their more traditional comedy and prestige drama efforts. The pilot is being directed by Morten Tyldum (Passengers) and the show will co-star Abbie Cornish and Peter Fonda.

John Slattery and Matthew Weiner Mad Men

The Romanoffs

Originally a production by The Weinstein Company, Amazon decided to keep a hold on the latest offering from Mad Men creator Matthew Weiner after distancing themselves from the disgraced distributors following Harvey Weinstein's sexual abuse allegations (notably, they've decided to stick by Weiner after he faced his own accusations of sexual harassment from former colleagues). This is a Weiner show through and through, with him set to write, direct and produce the series that will see him reunite with former Mad Men stars John Slattery and Christina Hendricks.

With an enigmatic synopsis that describes the show as "centring on separate stories about people who believe themselves to be descendants of the Russian royal family", The Romanoffs will also star Aaron Eckhart (The Dark Knight), Corey Stoll (The Strain) and Isabelle Huppert (Elle). It could also prove to be the priciest of Amazon's TV offerings, with an eight-episode first season budget set at $70m.

Vanity Fair

Olivia Cooke in Bates Motel

In a team-up with the British network ITV, Amazon are set to bring to life another adaptation of the classic William Makepeace Thackery novel. The most recent adaptation from 2004, starring Reese Witherspoon and directed by Mira Nair, was a disappointment, so there's certainly room for ITV and Amazon to improve, and as proven by the success of Netflix's The Crown and ITV's own Victoria, lavish period dramas never go out of fashion. Vanity Fair will star Olivia Cooke, soon to be seen in Ready Player One, as Becky Sharp.

Related: Watch Olivia Cooke in the Trailer For Thoroughbreds

Costume Quest

One oft-undiscussed area of television where Amazon are doing exceptionally well is children's programming, and their latest offering, Costume Quest, comes with some serious geek cred. It's the first animated adaptation of a video game from the studio Double Fine Productions, headed up by Lucasarts legend Tim Schafer. Created by Tasha Harris, who now works for Pixar, the game follows a group of kids on Halloween who harness the powers of their respective costumes to battle evil and save the local children. Frederator Studios, the team behind Fairly Odd Parents and the Netflix adaptation of Castlevania, are in charge, with Pat McHale (Over the Garden Wall) directing.

Carnival Row

Orlando Bloom as Will Turner in Pirates of the Caribbean

In 2015, Amazon signed a development deal for a series based on a much-hyped movie script, A Killing on Carnival Row, with Guillermo del Toro set to direct the first episode. While the creative team has changed since then, it's clear that Carnival Row is a project that Amazon are very keen to invest in.

The show will follow "mythical creatures who have fled their war-torn homeland and gathered in the city as tensions are simmering between citizens and the growing immigrant population. At the center of the drama is the investigation into a string of unsolved murders, which are eating away at whatever uneasy peace still exists." Lofty stuff indeed. Orlando Bloom will headline the cast, playing the wonderfully named Rycroft Philostrate, and his co-stars include Cara Delevingne (Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets) and David Gyasi (Annihilation).

Good Omens

The classic comedy-fantasy, written by Neil Gaiman and the late, great Terry Pratchett, has been a long time coming. Ask any fan of either writer what adaptation they'd most like to see and the chances are it's this (well, aside from Sandman, obviously). This co-production with BBC Studios features a murderer's row of talent. David Tennant and Michael Sheen will play Crowley and Aziraphale, the representatives of Hell and Heaven on Earth who must seek a way to stop the coming of the antichrist. Other cast members include Jon Hamm as the Archangel Gabriel, Reese Shearsmith as William Shakespeare, and British comedy legend Nicholas Parsons as the voice of God. Expect witches, prophecies, aliens, the four horsemen of the apocalypse, and Bohemian Rhapsody.

Related: Good Omens First Look: Jon Hamm is Archangel Gabriel

Tong Wars

dont-miss-new-criterion-collection-releases

There was no greater sign of Amazon's desire to compete with the prestige TV of its competitors than the news that they'd recruited none other than the legendary Wong Kar-wai to direct a historical drama named Tong Wars. Set in 19th century San Francisco, the series will focus on the gang wars between the Chinese immigrant community and is said to span "a significant period of time". Little else is known about this show, which will be written by Paul Attanasio (Quiz Show), and no casting has been announced, but with a beloved auteur like Wong Kar-wai in charge, it's hard not to be immensely excited by the potential.

The Boys

It was inevitable that Amazon would get in on the superhero business. It's the biggest game in town, after all. With Netflix getting Mark Millar on board, Amazon decided to go to Garth Ennis, commissioning an adaptation of The Boys, "set in a world where superheroes embrace the darker side of their massive celebrity and fame. It revolves around a group of vigilantes known informally as œthe boys, who set out to take down corrupt superheroes with no more than blue-collar grit and a willingness to fight dirty." Supernatural creator Eric Kripke will be the showrunner, and Erin Moriarty (Jessica Jones) will play a part.

Too Old To Die Young

The Neon Demon - Nicolas Winding Refn and Elle Fanning on set

TV has proven to be a fascinating breeding ground for established film directors to flex their muscles. Coming soon is Drive director Nicolas Winding Refn's series, Too Old To Die Young, which is set to star Miles Teller (Whiplash) and Jena Malone (who previously worked with Refn on The Neon Demon). Ed Brubaker, the comic book writer behind series like Catwoman and Uncanny X-Men, will co-write the crime thriller with Refn. Little is known about the plot but it is said to be similar to Refn's earlier work, centering on the criminal underbelly of Los Angeles.

Hanna

hanna aiming a gun wearing a fur hat

Joe Wright's assassin drama, starring Saoirse Ronan and Cate Blanchett, has been somewhat cult hit since its release, but it's still an odd choice for a TV adaptation. Amazon gave this one a straight-to-series order, with David Farr, who co-wrote the film, in charge. Farr said in the press release, "Joe Wright's movie was dazzling but inevitably there were certain elements that a feature length film wasn't able fully to explore. It's a pleasure therefore to be able to revisit the material in a longer format and take Hanna into whole new physical and emotional worlds. Amazon have shown such passion for the project and is the perfect home for Hanna." No casting has been announced, although it is unlikely that Ronan or any of the film's ensemble will return.

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