Netflix’s 2025 slate is shaping up to be a thrilling year for fans of international storytelling. With the streaming giant pushing the boundaries of genre, several upcoming original series promise more than just binge-worthy moments — they’re built on bold premises, strong character arcs, and production scales we haven’t often seen before. Expect diversity in tone, setting, and narrative, from historical dramas to gritty action-fantasy sagas.
In this list, we highlight five Netflix series that are confirmed (or very close) for release in 2025. For each, we’ll dive into what makes it exciting — the plot, the cast, the behind-the-scenes prep, and what to keep an eye on. Some are genre-firsts, some are female-led, and all of them look poised to make an impact.
5. The New Force (Skiftet)
The New Force is a Swedish period drama set to premiere on Netflix on 3 October 2025. Directed by Rojda Sekersöz and created by Patrik Ehrnst and others, the show is Netflix’s first Swedish / Nordic historical-drama series. It’s set in 1958 Stockholm and follows the journey of the country’s first female police officers, who are graduating into a heavily patriarchal and male-dominated law enforcement system.
The series explores not just crime and policing, but the resistance and everyday prejudice these women face — in uniforms that constrain them, in colleagues who dismiss them, and in a culture unwilling to change. The focus is as much on their internal growth and solidarity (sisterhood, identity, sacrifice) as on the external obstacles.
Filming took place partly in Norrköping, and production design is said to recreate a gritty 1950s Stockholm, with attention to period detail in costume, speech, societal norms, and policing technology of the time. Stakeholders promise that the story will resonate beyond its Swedish setting, tapping into universal themes of equity, justice, and courage under systemic pressure.
- Release Date: October 3, 2025
- Number of Episodes: 8 episodes
- Lead Actors: Josefin Asplund, Simon J. Berger
- Genre: Period Drama, Crime, Historical
- Platform: Netflix (Global)
4. Rakht Brahmand – The Bloody Kingdom
Rakht Brahmand: The Bloody Kingdom is Netflix India’s ambitious action-fantasy project, produced by Raj & DK, directed by Rahi Anil Barve, and based on the Marathi short story “Vidhushak.” It’s being built as a 6-episode series with a warlike, mythical backdrop involving warring princes, power struggles, and fantasy elements. Major names like Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Ali Fazal, Wamiqa Gabbi, and Aditya Roy Kapur are involved.
Ali Fazal, in particular, has gone through intensive preparation — weight training, learning ancient martial arts, and growing hair for character authenticity. It suggests the show is aiming for physical realism even within a fantasy framework. The mythology, battle choreography, and visual effects are expected to be big focuses.
Though there were rumors about production issues or even cancellation, the creators have clarified the project is still moving forward. Late 2025 is projected for its release, with most indoor scenes reported done, and upcoming action schedules planned for outdoor shoots. If it delivers, it could bring fantasy at scale to Indian OTT in a way we haven’t seen yet.
- Release Date: Late 2025
- Number of Episodes: 6 episodes
- Lead Actors: Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Ali Fazal, Wamiqa Gabbi, Aditya Roy Kapur
- Genre: Action, Fantasy, Drama
- Platform: Netflix India
3. Akka
Akka is a matriarchal gangster drama set in a fictional South Indian city called Pernuru during the 1980s. The show is produced by YRF Entertainment and directed by Dharmaraj Shetty. The premise centers on the dominance of powerful women (the “Akkas”) who rule the gold trade, and the clash that follows when an outsider comes in with a vendetta. Keerthy Suresh, Radhika Apte, and Tanvi Azmi are among the lead cast.
The first look teaser sets a vibe of power, style, and tension. There are scenes of opulence and grit: weapons, gold bars, authoritarian postures, mothers commanding respect, and bullet-proof matriarchal rule. But it also hints at fragility — that the power structure has cracks, and conflict coming from without will test loyalty within.
The setting in the 1980s allows the series to explore a mix of tradition and change — costumes, dialogues, and the socio-political landscape are expected to reflect the tensions of the era. Audiences can expect not only confrontational drama but also character depth: what it means to lead, to protect, and to lose power in a male-dominated world.
- Release Date: 2025 (exact date TBD)
- Number of Episodes: 8 episodes
- Lead Actors: Keerthy Suresh, Radhika Apte, Tanvi Azmi
- Genre: Period Drama, Crime, Family
- Platform: Netflix India
2. The Resurrected (回魂計)
The Resurrected is a Taiwanese crime thriller that pits grief and ambition against morality. The plot revolves around two mothers who bring back a scam ring leader—through what we can assume is clandestine or morally ambiguous means—to seek justice for their daughters. The show is expected to explore themes of revenge, identity, and trauma. (Release date has been hinted for late 2025.)
With a strong cast (Shu Qi and Lee Sinje), this series is expected to combine emotional storytelling with tension, as viewers watch how far grief can push someone into dangerous territory. It’s the kind of thriller that takes revenge dramas beyond simple hero-villain binaries, probing emotional scars, societal expectations, and corrupt systems.
Stylistically, early leaks suggest dark neon palette, morally grey characters, high production values, and suspense-driven pacing. It’s likely to be a hit for viewers who like crime, drama, and character complexity rather than pure action or spectacle.
- Release Date: Late 2025
- Number of Episodes: 10 episodes
- Lead Actors: Shu Qi, Lee Sinje
- Genre: Crime, Thriller, Mystery
- Platform: Netflix (Global)
1. Glory
Glory is one of the most anticipated Indian Netflix originals for 2025. Headlining actors Divyenndu, Pulkit Samrat, and Suvinder Vicky, the series is reported to be a sports-crime drama. The premise reportedly deals with competitive sports, betrayal, corruption, and personal sacrifice — combining adrenaline with emotional stakes.
What sets Glory apart is the convergence of two genres: the sporting world’s pressure cooker and dark crime drama. Viewers can expect sequences on field, training, and competition, juxtaposed with underground deals, moral compromise, and back-stage politics. The atmosphere is said to be gritty, grounded, not glamorized sports fantasy.
Behind the scenes, the creative team places emphasis on realism — athletic training, depiction of sports culture, and the consequences of fame and failure. If Netflix pulls this off with strong writing and balanced character arcs, it could become a standout that appeals to both sports lovers and crime-drama fans alike.
- Release Date: 2025 (exact date TBD)
- Number of Episodes: 8 episodes
- Lead Actors: Divyenndu, Pulkit Samrat, Suvinder Vicky
- Genre: Sports, Crime, Drama
- Platform: Netflix India
Verdict
If these five series deliver what they promise, 2025 may well be one of Netflix’s strongest years globally for original storytelling. What’s exciting is not just the genre variety but the willingness to foreground female perspectives, explore fantasy and mythology in Indian stories, and invest in period authenticity.
Keep an eye on which shows manage to balance spectacle with substance. Series like The New Force and Rakht Brahmand have massive potential, but success will depend on strong writing, character development, and staying true to the themes they’ve set up. Ultimately, these5 could shape the next phase of OTT excellence in India and beyond.
About the Author:
Sudesh Satpute
