In a last-ditch attempt to save summer, we’re hoping we’ll be too busy sipping chilled rose on the beach to catch any of this month’s biggest new releases. But should this soggy, shameful summer continue to disappoint, then at least we can rely on the sofa for support. Alongside a slew of follow up seasons on the cards, from the fashion-crowd favourite Emily in Paris to the quirky Only Murders in the Building, Hollywood heavyweights Mark Wahlberg and Vince Vaughn will also be hitting our screens in a new spy movie and detective comedy respectively. So sit back, relax, and whatever you do… do not put that heating on yet.

Bad Monkey, Apple TV+

With Hollywood heavyweight Vince Vaughn directing and starring, new comedy Bad Monkey follows the story of Andrew Yancy, a former cop who, after being dropped from the Miami Police Department, becomes a health inspector in the Florida Keys. When a human arm is discovered in the water, he seizes the opportunity to prove his worth and sets about trying to discover the truth behind the gruesome murder. Prepare to meet an ensemble of great characters, as well as one very bad monkey…

Release date: 14 August 2024

Bel-Air Season 3, Now TV

A contemporary reboot of ’90s classic The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, this is a story all about how… a modern-day Will and Carlton took on Bel-Air. Jabari Banks leads as a fictional version of Will Smith, while his once jaunty cousin, now played by Olly Sholotan, tackles a more serious side to the role. The official synopsis finds Will ‘doing Bel-Air his way’ while school is out for the summer. Being a part of the Banks family has given Will a new perspective, as well as the privilege to dream outside the box and as he tackles exciting opportunities, he finds a partner in Carlton, who yearns to break away from a life of addiction and focus on his future.

Release date: 15 August 2024

Daughters, Netflix

Eight years in the making, this incredibly moving and important documentary brings the familial effects of prison into the spotlight. It follows the stories of Aubrey, Santana, Raziah, and Ja’Ana who are preparing for the big Daddy Daughter Dance with their incarcerated fathers. The film also centre around Angela Patton, an aspirational figure who has dedicated her life to the empowerment of black girls as the CEO of the nonprofit organisation Girls for a Change. Follow each family as the fathers in the programme take part in therapy sessions before the final event: a daddy-daughter dance.

Release date: 15 August 2024

Emily in Paris Season 4 – Part 1, Netflix

Love or hate her quirky outfit choices, Emily is back with a whole new season – and a whole new wardrobe. The first five episodes will see Lily Collins reprise the role of the sassy marketing whizz Emily Cooper, who crossed the pond from Chicago to Paris, making friends, frenemies, and a few lovers along the way. This season will see Emily torn between her feelings for two men: the gorgeous Gabriel, who is about to become a dad, and former flame Alfie, whose worst fears about Emily’s conflicted emotions are confirmed. As she and Gabriel work together toward a Michelin star, past secrets and undeniable passion threaten to undo it all.

Release date: 16 August 2024

Only Murders in the Building Season 4: Disney+

Promising to be the starriest season yet, the fourth instalment of this spoof sleuth show will see podcasters Charles, Oliver and Mabel (played by Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez) grapple with the surprising events at the end of season three surrounding Charles’ stunt double and friend Sazz Pataki. The trailer teases that the Arconia residents are ‘going to the movies’ with a Hollywood studio approaching the group about making a movie based on the podcast. As the trio seek to discover the details of the crime, as well as the real intended victim, they travel to LA and back before delving once again into the secret lives of the Arconia’s West Tower residents.

Release date: 27 August 2024

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2, Prime Video

You heard it here first: Sauron is back. Banished by Galadriel, without an army or any allies, the rising Dark Lord must now rely on his own wily creativity and cunning to get back his strength and direct the creation of the Rings of Power in order to control the people of Middle Earth and bend them to his ominous will. Building on season one’s huge range and ambition, no character is safe amidst the rising tide of darkness. Elves and dwarves, orcs and men, wizards and harfoots come together in this primal struggle of good versus evil.

Release date: 29 August 2024

The Union, Netflix

When Mark Wahlberg’s high school ex-girlfriend, Roxanne (played by Halle Berry), comes back into his life, she whisks him off on a life-changing adventure, turning his world upside down. A Netflix original, this action-packed comedy drama will see you swept up in a web of intrigue as you become one with The Union, a top secret and slightly unorthodox US government spy agency. It’s a mission you’ll never forget.

Release date: 30 August 2024

The Deliverance, Netflix

Oscar-nominated film maker Lee Daniels directs this new original horror starring Andra Day, Glenn Close, Mo’Nique, and Caleb McLaughlin. After moving to a new home, struggling single mother Ebony Jackson finds herself fighting for her life against ominous forces that threaten her family. As she fights her own personal demons, strange occurrences start to arise, which raise the suspicions of Child Protective Services. Inspired by a true story, this unique new film explores the all too real themes of darkness, power and possession.

Release date: 30 August 2024

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