Netflix used its May 13 Upfronts to roll out a crowded 2026 slate, putting fresh looks at Will Ferrell’s comedy series The Hawk and a first-look poster for East of Eden in front of advertisers, media buyers and brands. The streamer said The Hawk is due in July 2026, while East of Eden is slated for a Fall 2026 release.
The presentation also confirmed Netflix’s partnership with Mike Epps for two new stand-up specials, while highlighting returning and continuing titles that will help anchor the service over the next two years. Among the projects listed in the company’s 2026 and beyond slate were Avatar: The Last Airbender Season 2, Bridgerton Season 5, The Diplomat Season 4 and Outer Banks Season 5, along with new drama series Alexander and East of Eden.
Netflix’s Upfronts are built for the ad market, giving the company a stage to sell its ad-supported tier, its audience reach and what subscribers can expect next. The slate highlights were not all presented as fresh announcements during the event itself; some were listed later in a company blog post, underscoring how the streamer now uses the same showcase to talk to buyers and to signal what is coming across its broader lineup.
The mix of comedy, prestige drama, animation and live events also showed how Netflix is widening the pitch beyond a single type of hit. The company listed FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 and NFL on Netflix among its live events highlights, signaling that sports remain part of its long game even as scripted franchises continue to do the heavy lifting.
That is where David Spade fits in, not as a headline act in this slate but as part of the wider comic lane Netflix is still filling. With two new Mike Epps specials and Will Ferrell back in a new series, the streamer is betting that recognizable names remain the easiest way to cut through a crowded entertainment calendar.
The bigger question now is execution, and Netflix has already given the first deadlines that matter. The Hawk arrives in July 2026, East of Eden follows in the fall, and the rest of the slate stretches into 2027 and beyond, meaning the company’s pitch to advertisers is no longer about promises but about when those promises land on screens.
