Crossovers, Comebacks, and a Few Surprises on Set

Futurama Reaches Into a Canceled Universe

The biggest conversation piece of the week belongs to [/shows/futurama-1999](/shows/futurama-1999). Comicbook.com reports that a first look at a Futurama crossover with the canceled Netflix series Disenchantment has dropped, confirming that two of Matt Groening's animated worlds are finally colliding on screen. The event is listed as confirmed.

Futurama holds a catalog review score of 85, and critics have long praised it for layering genuinely sharp science-fiction writing beneath its slapstick exterior. If the Disenchantment crossover leans into that tradition rather than treating the reunion as pure fan service, it has the ingredients to be one of the more interesting animated events of the year. The series streams on Hulu, Disney Plus, and fuboTV, among other platforms. Viewers who haven't caught up on Futurama's recent run might also find Rick and Morty and Regular Show listed as similar starting points.

Stranger Things Names Its Year, Finally

Collider.com reports that Stranger Things is set to return in 2026, offering at least a calendar-year anchor for one of Netflix's most scrutinized productions. No specific date or season number is attached to the event, and the confidence level is listed as reported rather than confirmed, so the details remain loose.

[/shows/stranger-things-2016](/shows/stranger-things-2016) carries a catalog review score of 88, with critics consistently highlighting its meticulous 1980s aesthetic and its rare ability to braid mystery, horror, and science fiction without any single strand overwhelming the others. The series streams on Netflix. Anyone looking for something to fill the wait might consider FROM or Goosebumps, both noted as similar shows in the catalog.

Shangri-La Frontier Gets Its Third Season

Comicbook.com reports that Shangri-La Frontier has been renewed for a third season, with the announcement arriving alongside Crunchyroll's confirmation of its fall 2026 anime slate. The renewal is listed as reported. The series earns a catalog score of 90, one of the higher marks in this week's news, with critics calling out its ability to bring something genuinely fresh to the VRMMO genre rather than recycling familiar isekai beats.

The show streams across Crunchyroll, Netflix, and Hulu, among other platforms. The catalog lists A Playthrough of a Certain Dude's VRMMO Life and HELL MODE: The Hardcore Gamer Dominates in Another World with Garbage Balancing as comparable titles for genre completionists.

Last Week Tonight and Late Night Both Make Scheduling Moves

Two late-night staples made news on July 31. The A.V. Club reports that Last Week Tonight with John Oliver has been renewed through 2027, a confirmed extension that keeps the HBO program in production well past its current run. The show holds a catalog score of 75 and streams on HBO Max, with The Daily Show and The Colbert Report listed as similar programming.

On the same day, TVLine.com reports that Late Night with Seth Meyers has set a return date, a confirmed event with no specific air date published in the source. The show streams on Peacock and NBC, and carries a catalog score of 62. The two announcements together suggest the broader late-night landscape is settling into its fall configuration earlier than usual.

First-Look Season: Dead City, Doc, Paradise, Lioness, and The Gilded Age

July 31 was unusually busy for production previews. Comicbook.com reports that an exclusive clip from The Walking Dead: Dead City has been released, teasing what the source describes as a strange dynamic around Negan's new acquaintance. The series scores a 62 in the catalog and streams on AMC+, Netflix, and Philo. Fox released first-look photos for Doc Season 3, per TVInsider.com; the medical drama holds a catalog score of 60 and streams on Hulu and Fox One, among others. Digital Spy reports that James Marsden has been spotted back on set for [/shows/paradise-2025](/shows/paradise-2025) Season 2, a reported sighting that suggests production is active. Paradise scores an 82 in the catalog and streams on Hulu and Disney Plus.

TVInsider.com reports that Lioness Season 3 episode titles and photos have been revealed. The action drama holds a catalog score of 50 and is available on Paramount Plus and several of its affiliated channels, as well as Netflix. Finally, TVInsider.com reports that behind-the-scenes photos from The Gilded Age Season 4 have surfaced, revealing new characters. The period drama scores a 60 and streams on HBO Max and Now TV. Taken together, the volume of first-look material in a single day points to a fall premiere corridor that is crowding up fast.

Dancing with the Stars Adds a New Troupe Member

Deadline and TVLine both report that Kamri Peterson is joining the Season 35 dance troupe on Dancing with the Stars, a confirmed casting addition. The series holds a catalog score of 75, streams on Disney Plus, and has maintained its reputation as a reliably lighthearted competition format since its 2005 debut. Those drawn to the show's competitive-performance format might also look at The Masked Singer or RuPaul's Drag Race, both listed as similar titles in the catalog.

It's a quieter item in a week otherwise dominated by renewal announcements and set-photo drops, but troupe casting tends to signal that production is well underway — worth noting for anyone tracking the fall reality calendar.

S.W.A.T. Exiles Gets a Trailer

TV Insider reports that a trailer for S.W.A.T. Exiles has been released, featuring Shemar Moore. The event is listed as reported. The parent series holds a catalog score of 45, reflecting the divided critical response it has received across its run as a procedural that prioritizes action momentum over narrative depth. The show and its extensions are available on Netflix, Tubi TV, fuboTV, and Philo, among other platforms. We can tell you our own take: if the trailer lands closer to the franchise's better episodes than its weaker ones, this spinoff project has a real audience waiting for it.