51Due to COVID-19, 2020 was a relatively quiet year for entertainment; many record labels and film studios put their releases on hold and artists found it difficult to safely produce new content (Taylor Swift a notable exception — she put out not just one, but two albums in 2020). However, that means people have a lot to look forward to in 2021. Below, the most exciting new movies, television shows and albums to look out for this coming year. 

Movies

1. On Feb. 5, 2021, Columbia Pictures plans on releasing the latest reboot of classic rags-to-riches story “Cinderella.” Starring Camila Cabello, Billy Porter and Idina Menzel, this version has a twist: it is a musical, and features original music by both Cabello and Menzel. As an added bonus, comedian James Corden helped with production.
2. Fans of “A Quiet Place” are in luck: on Apr. 23, Paramount Pictures plans to release “A Quiet Place 2.” Emily Blunt again stars in the horror movie, but in this sequel, the plot thickens as she and her family must face a whole new set of dangers. 
3. Black Widow’s first stand-alone movie “Black Widow” makes its debut on May 21. While the Marvel character, played by actress Scarlett Johansson, died in “Avengers: Endgame,” “Black Widow” takes place after “Captain America: Civil War.” 
4. Nov. 5 marks the release of the third and currently untitled “Spider-Man” film. News of its release came as a relief to fans concerned about the film’s uncertain future following the battle between industry giants Sony and Marvel. Fortunately, the studios resolved their conflict and a fourth movie is in the works as well.
5. To cap off the year, on Dec. 10, 20th Century Fox will release its movie adaptation of one of the most famous musicals of all time: “West Side Story.” Directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Ansel Elgort and Rachel Zegler (new to the Hollywood scene), it looks likely to become a fan favorite. 

T.V. Shows

1. One of the first releases of the year, the Public Broadcasting Service’s miniseries “All Things Great and Small” aired on Jan. 10. The miniseries, based on James Harriot’s books about animals and his experiences as a veterinarian in the English countryside, features several touching moments that should leave animal-lovers (and non-animal-lovers!) delighted. 
2. One of the most creative releases of the year, “WandaVision” is a genre-bending Marvel show by Disney+, set to release on Jan. 15. It features two Marvel characters, Vision and Scarlet Witch, living in the suburbs alongside neighbor Kathryn Hahn. The series is certainly an experiment, but viewers seem ready to give it a try.
3. On Feb. 5, quite possibly the world’s most beloved cartoon dog, Snoopy, receives his own show, thanks to Apple TV+. While Apple TV+’s acquisition of the “Peanuts” holiday specials caused a stir, fans are happy that Snoopy is getting his own show. “The Snoopy Show” mimics the look of the original cartoon and serves as an enjoyable and age-appropriate show for the youngest of viewers. 
4. If interested in something a little more educational, PBS’s “Hemingway” comes out on Apr. 5, 6 and 7. The docuseries’s three two-hour episodes delves into the life and work of acclaimed author Ernest Hemingway, and features narration by Peter Coyote and voice acting by Jeff Daniels (as Hemingway) and even Meryl Streep and Keri Russell (as two of Hemingway’s four wives).
5. There are not many confirmed releases for the second half of 2021, but there are several shows in the works with release dates to be announced. Keep an eye out for: “Loki,” “Hawkeye,” “Gossip Girl,” “Nine Perfect Strangers,” “Star Wars: The Bad Batch” and “Succession” series three”.

Albums

1. Drake has promised listeners a sixth album titled “Certified Lover Boy” for Jan. 2021. He released the first single back in Aug. 2021, so fans have waited for the complete album for a couple months now. “Certified Lover Boy” follows his fifth and wildly popular 2018 album, “Scorpion.”
2. While not quite confirmed, Adele has repeatedly hinted that she may release her fourth album in 2021. Her last album, “25,” came out over five years ago, so this one is much-anticipated. Fans remain hopeful that the songs discuss some of her major life events of the past half-decade, including her marriage, its dissolution and the birth of her baby.
3. The release of Lana Del Rey’s uniquely-titled seventh studio album “Chemtrails Over the Country Club” has been shrouded in mystery and confusion, but that does not leave fans any less excited. According to the singer, the album’s release has been delayed by factory shutdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In Nov. 2020, she said that record plants are closed until Mar. 5, 2021, but fans’ questions about what that means for the album’s actual release date went unanswered.
4. Rihanna has toyed with her fans since 2019, when she wrote on Instagram that she had finished her ninth studio album, but she did not yet feel ready to release it. Since then, fans have eagerly awaited news, especially since “Anti” came out nearly five years ago. Regardless of when she releases R9, it is sure to be a hit (as proven by her track record).
5. While Travis Scott has not set an official date for the release of his fifth album, entitled “Utopia,” the music world has already started buzzing in anticipation. Scott became an official industry icon after the release of “Astroworld,” his 2018 album that saw immediate success and positioned Scott as to be one of the most influential hip hop stars of his generation.