In order for streaming services to retain subscribers and hopefully lasso new ones to sign up, they have to release new titles every month, so our viewing options remain constantly refreshed. Disney+ has proven itself to be a juggernaut in the streaming space by continuously producing and releasing original shows and movies that keep their subscribers engaging with the platform.
Whether it's tent pole franchises like Star Wars and Marvel or brand-new titles independent of decades’ worth of fandom, Disney+ continues to push out new content with trusted regularity. As we enter the new year, the following shows will either continue on from December or premiere for the very first time. Here are the best TV shows coming to the streamer in January 2023.
Willow Season 1 Cont'd — January 4
Although the 1988 high fantasy film Willow was by no means a blockbuster, it has maintained a loyal fanbase since its initial release almost 40 years ago. Now, Willow is back in a brand-new sequel series that sees Warwick Davis return to the role he originated. This time he is older and wiser, now a full sorcerer leading his people against the evil rising again. A new cast of characters, and a few returning faces, join him on his quest to once again save the world from Darkness. The first episode premiered in November 2022, and the final two episodes will drop in the new year, beginning January 4.
National Treasure: Edge of History Season 1 Cont'd — January 4
Much like Willow, the National Treasure movies have not largely been considered classics, but they’re perfectly fun, entertaining movies with plots that just keep moving. That’s enough to have garnered an audience who fondly remembers the adventuring antics revealing hidden truths about America’s past and justify a sequel series titled National Treasure: Edge of History. Starring Lisette Olivera and Catherine Zeta-Jones, the series sees young adventurer Jess Valenzuela finding treasure and answers to her family’s mysterious past. The series began in December 2022, and continues with weekly episodes on January 4.
Magic of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Season 2 — January 4
Disney’s big animated movies, franchises, and theme parks get most of the attention when it comes to acknowledging the legacy of the company. However, Disney also has a long history of high-quality nature documentaries as well. Magic of Disney’s Animal Kingdom carries on that legacy with a twist by revealing how Disney’s Animal Kingdom attraction operates. The first season streamed in 2020, and the new season begins at the start of 2023, with all episodes releasing on January 4 (via The Disney Blog).
Star Wars: The Bad Batch Season 2 Premiere — January 4
The Star Wars animated series, The Clone Wars, has gone on to have far more influence on the entirety of the Star Wars universe than perhaps anyone could have imagined. Not only did it get a sequel series (of sorts) with Star Wars Rebels, but characters and concepts first introduced in the series have gone on to appear in live-action as well. The latest animated hit picking up where Clone Wars left off is Star Wars: The Bad Batch, chronicling the adventures of rogue clone troopers following the massacre of Order 66 and the end of the Clone Wars. That sounds like it might be bogged down in mythology and be pretty depressing, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. It’s a fun series that ties into what came before while standing on its own. The second season begins on January 4, 2023.
Chasing Waves Series Premiere — January 11
When Disney+ first launched, everyone knew there would be new Star Wars and Marvel shows in addition to the ridiculous amount of movies and shows since the first Mickey Mouse short in 1928. What may continue to surprise people is the number of documentary shows being produced for the platform. Not just nature or wildlife docs, either. There are plenty of titles that explore interests and communities that don’t often get time in the spotlight. For instance, Chasing Waves profiles the rising surfing culture in Japan and all the hard work and sacrifices that go into being the best. The series drops on January 11, 2023.