In the second edition of the streamer's virtual event, Netflix Geeked Week unveiled a host of projects ranging from TV, movies, and video game for fans to indulge their inner geek. It's a fun way to spotlight the streaming giant's endeavors in nerd culture, and plenty of the announcements made came from Netflix's TV front.
A variety of IPs have big things coming up, with fans on Reddit excitedly discussing the TV shows to come. Upcoming heavy hitters include the long-awaited trailer and premiere date for The Sandman, a trailer for Stranger Things season 4 Volume 2, and more.
The Sandman Trailer & Release Date
Though it's strangely not a series premiering for HBO Max, Netflix's The Sandman has been one of the most highly-anticipated originals for Netflix. It's been a long time coming, but writer Neil Gaiman's tantalizing, surreal, and darkly fantastical acclaimed DC comic book series is just around the corner with an August 5th release date.
Redditor Sleepy_Azathoth was optimistic over the new look and announcement, saying "It's so exciting that Neil Gaiman is behind the creative team of the show. Looks so promising." Gaiman's brainchild The Sandman follows Dream/Morpheus -- one of the seven Endless -- as he finds himself kidnapped by cultists and forced to adopt a new outlook on the world and embrace its changes.
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners Teaser Trailer & Clip
Publisher and developer CD Projekt Red's Cyberpunk 2077 launched as one of the biggest disasters in gaming history, but it's come a long way toward being a stable experience. A DLC expansion is on the way, but the franchise is expanding beyond even gaming with Netflix and Studio Trigger's Cyberpunk: Edgerunners anime series.
Redditor Moonlitekilla was thrilled about the glimpse at Trigger's work so far, exclaiming "Looks visually stunning as is expected from Trigger at this point. Fingers crossed the story lives up to them!" Studio Trigger has a strong resume built over the last decade, with colorfully vibrant and pulse-pounding anime like Kill la Kill and Promare earning them goodwill among the community. Cyberpunk: Edgerunners tells an original story set within the game's canon about a young street kid aspiring to become an outlaw mercenary.
Castlevania: Nocturne Teaser
Powerhouse Animation Studios' spin of Konami's neglected, yet beloved Castlevania franchise quickly became one of the best Netflix animated originals and gaming adaptations overall. A cocktail of excellent voice acting, anime-inspired character designs, jaw-dropping animation, and sprawling dark-fantasy storytelling, Castlevania arguably made a case for games doing best as animated adaptations after languishing for years as live-action movies.
Season 4 wrapped up the initial series last year in an overall satisfying package, with an announcement that a sequel series would follow with Richter Belmont as the new lead in Castlevania: Nocturne. Redditor BrandenBegins expressed excitement over Geeked Week revealing Richter's design, saying "Yay! Season 4 of Castlevania had some of the best and most consistent animations I've seen in a show. The side characters also reached a great point like Issac."
Stranger Things Season 4 Volume 2
Fans of Stranger Things are being fed well as of late, with the first volume of season 4 having recently been released on Netflix to emphatic acclaim and confirmation that a fifth season (or, rather, a Season 4 Vo will follow. However, it didn't stop there, as Netflix's Geeked Week gave fans an exclusive look at what's in store for the second volume of Stranger Things season 4.
Redditor thedudeabides____ is thrilled for the high stakes to come, saying "Regardless, volume 2 looks f****** INSANE. 4 hours of straight-up calamity. I was speechless and jaw on the floor by episode 4 and on … this season has been so well done so far, and the ending looks even more intense." Stranger Things has consistently been one of Netflix's greatest originals, and season 4 has so far been praised for its incredible tension and darker atmosphere, paving the way for a climactic fifth and final season.
The Umbrella Academy Season 3 Panel
My Chemical Romance frontman Gerard Way and Dark Horse Comics' The Umbrella Academy has seen a consistently well-received run in live-action on Netflix, with its third season coming later this month. There's not much time left to wait before its premiere, but Geeked Week had something special and spoiler-free to promote to fans in the form of a cast panel and exclusive season 3 clips.
Redditor TheBlueSlipper enjoyed the tone of a scene shown, commenting that "That clip has a Wes Anderson-ish feel. Nice!" The Umbrella Academy follows a dysfunctional family of superhero siblings attempting to solve the murder of their father, complemented by a creative time-traveling narrative device. The series has been well-received as a whole for the whacky and charismatic cast of characters anchored by an equal parts fun and heartfelt story of personal growth.
The Dragon Prince Season 4 Clip
When it comes to animation, Netflix's The Dragon Prince is one of the most critically acclaimed series on the streaming platform. It's been resoundingly well-received across its four seasons thus far, and Netflix Geeked Week finally gave fans a clip for the upcoming fourth season, subtitled Mystery of Aaravos. The Dragon Prince follows the titular prince trying to quell an age-old conflict between mankind and the magical land of Xadia. The series has been praised for its endearing and emotional cast while being unafraid to tackle darker, more grounded subject matters.
It's been a long wait for fans, as season 3 premiered on Netflix in November 2019. Redditor Kennedy-LC-39A said "I have to say I somewhat disagree with all the people saying this sneak peek had nothing to offer. Sure, we didn't get an exact release date (just 2022), or a lot of new clips, but this still offers speculation/theory potential." The clip was admittedly brief and vague, but the 2022 release window and the show's enduring quality so far should be encouraging.
Shadow & Bone Season 2 Production Wrap
Shadow and Bone premiered in 2021 as one of Netflix's most recent sensations, reviving the YA genre in the modern age. The first season received a positive critical reception for its impressively dense lore and worldbuilding as well as its well-rounded cast of actors. In addition to Ben Barnes' suave portrayal of the sympathetic villain General Kirigan, Jessie Mei Li's debut performance as the protagonist Alina Starkov was particularly praised.
Geeked Week admittedly didn't have much to say on season 2, but it did show a fun video featuring the cast talking about filming wrapping up. Redditor CarrotChrist1203 responded to a user speculating over Kaz's possible story arc for season 2, saying "That's what I thought. I'm really hoping we see the origin of Kaz." Nevertheless, season 1 built up plenty of goodwill with fans, giving them more than enough reason to dive back into this world's enticing blend of steampunk and high fantasy.