We noted this last month, but we really mean it in May: Things are starting to wrap up big-time on TV in preparation for the deadline for Emmy submission (which is the end of this month). That means some big finales to long-running standout series are all dropping in May, but don’t worry – there are plenty of other things to intrigue you this month, as well as Big Prestige Series Finales.
In fact, if you’re a superhero fan, this might be one of the most packed months for TV since… well, since the last one. Last month we had Daredevil, The Boys, and Invincible. Invincible is now done; the other two, not so much. And there’s at least one more hero on TV ready to punch some bad guys and romance some dames in one of the biggest TV superhero events in the past several decades (we’ll get to why in a second), as well as an anti-hero, guns out, in his own special episode.
Not a big superhero fan? That’s okay. There’s plenty more to stream in addition to the costumed wonders, from action heroes and spin-offs to Stranger Things creators, the Duffer Brothers, producing an all-star sci-fi spectacle that’s best described as “Older Things.”
So without further delay, let’s get into our 10 most anticipated TV shows to stream in May 2026. And there’s so much we’re anticipating, we fudged it a little to get past 10.
(Note: This list is presented in release date order.)
Daredevil: Born Again, Season 2 Finale (May 5)
Whatever you’ve thought about the rest of the season, the Daredevil: Born Again finale on Disney+ is a certified mic drop banger, no joke. Without getting into spoilers, the thrilling episode concludes the Mayor Kingpin storyline with Wilson Fisk (Vincent D’Onofrio) and Daredevil (Charlie Cox) facing off in a game-changing hour of television that will likely find Marvel fans screaming so loud, you’ll be able to hear the noise from space.
High praise? Perhaps, but the hour delivers on a level many MCU productions haven’t quite hit over the past few years – killer action, a propulsive plot, excellent acting from the full ensemble, and the sort of moments that are made to break the internet. We’ve already seen the episode – in case you couldn’t tell – but can’t wait to watch it again. And trust us when we say that you should watch this one live. You do not want to be spoiled when everyone is absolutely losing their minds and rushing online immediately afterward.
Thankfully, a third season of Daredevil: Born Again is already in production. But even with that news, after what happens in this finale? It’s going to be a long, long wait until 2027.
Devil May Cry, Season 2 (May 12)
After a well-regarded first season of the Capcom adaptation, Devil May Cry is back on Netflix for Season 2, and showrunner Adi Shanker is extremely hyping up his own creation.
“Season 2 is just way, way, way bigger in terms of scope and scale,” Shankar told IGN. “So it’s the difference between Batman Begins and The Dark Knight. That’s the comp. Or Halo 1 and Halo 2, where in terms of just scale and scope – orders of magnitude bigger and larger. And the tone is just completely different on top of that. The tone is very, very different, so it cuts deeper.”
Go off, Shankar! While this sort of hubris could be off-putting, the creator has built a great rep on Netflix thanks to the also well-loved Castlevania adaptation. And with demon hunter Dante heading into a bigger world, there is every possibility that Season 2 will top Season 1 of the animated series. More like “Devil May Cry Hooray We Did It,” right? No? Okay.
The Punisher: One Last Kill (May 12)
It’s a little nuts to say something like “we may finally get the take on the Punisher we’ve always wanted” with the Marvel Special Presentation, The Punisher: One Last Kill, on Disney+. That’s because there have already been three whole movies, two seasons of a Netflix series, and multiple appearances on Daredevil and Daredevil: Born Again (not to mention his upcoming appearance in Spider-Man: Brand New Day). But One Last Kill has the potential to outdo them all.
Co-written by star Jon Bernthal and Reinaldo Marcus Green (who also directs), the team is taking their collab from the well-regarded HBO series, We Own This City, and the movie King Richard to delve deep into the psychology of Frank Castle. And Bernthal loves getting deep into the psychology of Marvel’s most damaged character; sorry, Moon Knight.
While we don’t know a ton about the plot of the thing, rumors point to it exploring the absolutely bonkers Ma Gnucci storyline from Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon’s run on The Punisher at Marvel Comics… and if so, stay away from the zoo. The special will feature the return of Jason R. Moore’s Curtis Hoyle from the original Netflix series, and it will possibly explain why Frank wasn’t tearing up the streets during the events of Daredevil: Born Again. Hey, as long as we get to hear Bernthal say “one batch, two batch,” this’ll be a winner in our books.
