Full Breakdown
New TV Premieres Light Up the Week of July 12-18, 2026
7/13/2026, 11:51:57 AM
Major Series Launches
Apple TV+ debuts “Lucky,” a limited series starring Anya Taylor-Joy as con-artist Lucky Armstrong. Amazon Prime Video releases “Ride Or Die,” an action-adventure comedy about best friends Debbie Claybourne (Octavia Spencer) and Judith Burton (Hannah Waddingham), the latter secretly an international assassin. Netflix premieres “The Hawk,” a golf-centric comedy with Will Ferrell as former pro Lonnie “The Hawk” Hawkins. The same week Netflix adds the “Heartstopper Forever” movie, concluding the popular teen-romance series. ABC rolls out “Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro,” hosted by Robert Irwin and judged by Shirley Ballas, Mark Ballas, and rotating guests.
Background & Source Material
“Lucky” adapts Marissa Stapley’s best-selling novel of the same name. “Heartstopper Forever” is written by series creator and graphic novelist Alice Oseman, extending the narrative of the third season. “Ride Or Die” and “The Hawk” are original concepts developed for streaming platforms, drawing on the comedic pedigrees of their leads.
Key Cast & Creative Figures
- Anya Taylor-Joy (Lucky Armstrong) – Apple TV+
- Annette Bening, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Timothy Olyphant – supporting cast in “Lucky”
- Octavia Spencer (Debbie Claybourne) & Hannah Waddingham (Judith Burton) – “Ride Or Die”
- Bill Nighy, Ed Skrein, Sylvia Hoeks – ensemble in “Ride Or Die”
- Will Ferrell (Lonnie “Hawk” Hawkins), Molly Shannon, Jimmy Tatro, Fortune Feimster, Luke Wilson – “The Hawk”
- Kit Connor (Nick Nelson) & Joe Locke (Charlie Spring) – “Heartstopper Forever”
- Robert Irwin – host of “Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro”
Reese Witherspoon, who selected Stapley’s novel for her 2021 book club, serves as an executive producer on “Lucky.”
Release Schedule & Format
- “Lucky” – first two episodes drop Wednesday, July 13; full eight-episode run on Apple TV+.
- “Ride Or Die” – all eight episodes released simultaneously Wednesday, July 13, on Prime Video.
- “The Hawk” – series premiere Thursday, July 16, on Netflix.
- “Heartstopper Forever” – streaming movie premieres Friday, July 17, on Netflix.
- “Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro” – premieres Monday, July 13, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC (Hulu streaming follows).
Why It Matters for the Streaming Landscape
The clustered releases illustrate how major platforms are leveraging genre diversity—crime thriller, action-comedy, sports satire, teen romance, and reality competition—to capture overlapping audience segments. The simultaneous drop of “Ride Or Die” and “Lucky” pits Apple TV+ against Amazon Prime Video for binge-watch attention, while Netflix’s “The Hawk” and “Heartstopper Forever” aim to retain subscribers with both original comedy and a beloved franchise finale.
Official Statements & Production Details
- Apple TV+ confirms that “Lucky” is produced with executive oversight by Reese Witherspoon.
- Netflix notes that “The Hawk” features Will Ferrell’s “very Will Ferrell character” as a washed-up golfer seeking a final major title.
- ABC promotes “Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro” as a pathway for 12 dancers to earn a professional slot on the flagship series.
Criticism & Opposition
No critical commentary or opposition was reported in the available sources.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
All sources agree on release dates and episode counts; no discrepancies were identified.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Lucky (Apple TV, Wednesday, series premiere) In this Apple TV adaptation of the best-selling Marissa Stapley novel, Anya Taylor-Joy plays titular con artist Lucky Armstrong, who’s hoping to live up to her name by evading FBI agents and a ruthless crime boss (played by none other than Annette Bening).” — *The A.V. Club*
- “Ride Or Die (Prime Video, Wednesday, series premiere) The delightful duo of Octavia Spencer and Hannah Waddingham lead this Amazon action-adventure comedy as best friends Debbie Claybourne and Judith Burton, the latter of whom just happens to secretly be a highly trained international assassin.” — *The A.V. Club*
- “The comedy icon stars as Lonnie “The Hawk” Hawkins, a way-past-his-prime pro desperate for one final major title, much to the chagrin of his exasperated family.” — *The A.V. Club*
- “The film, written by “Heartstopper” creator and graphic novelist Alice Oseman, follows the Season 3 ending in which Nick Nelson (Kit Connor) and Charlie Spring (Joe Locke) take their relationship to a new level.” — *Associated Press (SRN News)*
- “— AP Music Writer Maria Sherman — Robert Irwin won Season 34 of “Dancing with the Stars,” and now he’s the host of “The Next Pro,” where 12 dancers compete to be a pro in its next season.” — *Boston Globe*
- “Reese Witherspoon, who chose the novel for her book club in 2021, is an executive producer.” — *SRN News*
What’s Next
The A.V. Club plans reviews of “Lucky,” “Ride Or Die,” and “The Hawk” on the evenings following each premiere. ABC will continue weekly episodes of “The Next Pro” through the summer season.
