Jupiter's Legacy release date: Latest news on Netflix's epic superhero drama
Netflix's adaptation of the acclaimed comics by Mark Millar and Frank Quitely is streaming now.
Netflix has launched its latest big-budget fantasy series Jupiter's Legacy, inspired by a series of graphic novels by renowned comic book writer Mark Millar.
The new drama introduces us to a troubled world guarded by a number of powerful superheroes, but a growing rift between the originals and the younger generation risks leaving the planet vulnerable.
Josh Duhamel leads the Jupiter's Legacy cast as Sheldon Sampson, better known by his superhero alter-ego The Utopian, with the narrative split between the origin of his powers in 1929 and his loosening grip on order in the present day.
Millar certainly has big plans for this franchise moving forward, with he and his team hoping for multiple seasons to tell their sprawling story, which the writer describes as "part-2001, part-Avengers, part-Godfather II" (via Empire).
If you're wondering whether the show is worth your time, check out our Jupiter's Legacy review for a spoiler-free verdict on the first season, which unfortunately is a decidedly mixed bag.
If you'd rather sample the source material, we also have your full breakdown of the Jupiter's Legacy reading order, which explains at which point to start the epic saga.
Read on for all your essential information on Netflix's Jupiter's Legacy.
Jupiter's Legacy release date
Jupiter's Legacy is available to stream on Netflix right now, having launched on the streaming service on Friday 7th May 2021.
The first season – or 'volume' as Netflix describes it – consists of eight episodes that vary in length between approximately 35 and 55 minutes.
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Jupiter's Legacy cast
Josh Duhamel (Transformers) plays The Utopian, also known by his civilian secret identity Sheldon Sampson, with Leslie Bibb (The Babysitter) as his wife, Grace, and fellow superhero Lady Liberty.
Their troubled daughter, Chloe, is played by Elena Kampouris (Sacred Lies) while newcomer Andrew Horton has bagged the role of their son, Brandon, who is desperate to live up to the example set by his parents.
Ben Daniels (The Crown) will also star as the kids' uncle Walter, who is another member of the Union of Justice, capable of powerful psychic illusions as the superhero Brainwave.
Matt Lanter (Star Wars: The Clone Wars) appears in the show's flashback sequences as George Hutchence, the suave socialite who goes on to become the vigilante known as Sky Fox.
Meanwhile, former wrestler Tyler Mane (X-Men) portrays hulking villain Blackstar, Ian Quinlan (Gotham) is roguish villain Hutch, while Mike Wade (SEAL Team) and Tenika Davis (Hudson & Rex) play father-daughter duo Fitz and Petra Small.
What is Jupiter's Legacy about?
Similar to Amazon Prime Video's recent smash-hit The Boys, Jupiter's Legacy is another subversive take on caped crusaders that puts a darker spin on the genre than more mainstream fare.
Half of the series is set against the backdrop of The Great Depression, when ruined businessman Sheldon Sampson begins having nightmarish visions of an island in the middle of the ocean.
The rest of the show takes place almost a century later, as the world's first superheroes look ahead to the next generation to continue fighting the good fight when they are no longer around.
Unfortunately, what they see doesn't exactly fill them with hope, as the children of The Utopian and Lady Liberty – leaders of super-team The Union of Justice – fall well short of their parents' lofty expectations.
As the world teeters on the brink of financial ruin and unexpected new villains present themselves, the question remains whether they will be able to step up when the time comes.
Jupiter's Legacy trailer
In April 2021, we got our first proper look at the Jupiter's Legacy television series in action, with a full-length trailer clocking in just shy of three minutes and showing off some ambitious visual effects for a streaming budget.
Previously, Netflix had shown a glimpse at what the show had in store with a short clip that showed the comic book art of co-creator Frank Quitely transitioning into live-action with impressive accuracy.
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Netflix's adaptation of Jupiter's Legacy had previously popped into public imagination with a short teaser trailer back in Feburary, which didn't show any actual footage from the show but features voiceover from The Utopian himself.
If you've watched the first series, you can read our Jupiter's Legacy ending explainer for some analysis on the finale. Check out our lists of the best TV shows on Netflix and the best movies on Netflix, or see what else is on with our TV Guide. Visit our Sci-fi hub for all the latest news.
