David Farnor | On 31, Dec 2015

Amazon is starting 2016 in style with a January that’s jam-packed with some top telly. Major acquisitions for Amazon include the return of Black Sails and the debut of Lucifer, both hot on the heels of their US broadcasts, while it’s also premiering its new original series, Mad Dogs. But get your bowler hats and waistcoats out, because January is really all about one thing: Ripper Street. Season 4 of the show begins on 14th January, with new episodes arriving each week. Watch this space for our review and an interview with the cast…

In the meantime, here are the films and TV shows coming soon to Amazon Prime Video UK in January 2016:

My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic: Season 5 – 1st January

This revamped animated series based on Hasbro’s My Little Pony is just the thing for fans of the toys, with the show’s decidedly uncynical tone helping it to gallop on to its fifth season.

Treasure Planet – 1st January

This often-overloooked Disney film from 2002 is just like Treasure Island – except animated and set in outer space. The voice cast includes Joseph Gordon-Levitt, David Hyde Pierce, Emma Thompson and Patrick McGoohan, while the music and visuals are just as you’d expect from the House of Mouse.

Argo – Friday 8th January

Ben Affleck’s Oscar-winning thriller, based on true events, sees a CIA agent (Baffleck) lead a rescue team to extract six kidnapped US diplomats from Tehran during the Iran hostage crisis. The mission? Pretend to make a Hollywood movie… Tense, funny, classy stuff that confirmed beyond a doubt that Baffleck was more than his beard and chin.

Sherlock: Season 3 – Tuesday 12th January

Craving more Cumberbatch after the New Year’s Day Victorian special? Good news! Season 3 of Sherlock is on the way, giving fans a chance to watch (or re-watch) Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss’ enjoyable trilogy of character-driven cases, ranging from how Sherlock faked his own death to what on earth he should say at John Watson’s wedding.

Ripper Street: Season 4 – Thursday 14th January

Following its resurrection by Amazon for a thrilling third season, Ripper Street Season 4 begins in 1897, as Queen Victoria celebrates her diamond jubilee – and Reid (Matthew Macfadyen), Bennet Drake (Jerome Flynn), Rose Erskine (Charlene McKenna), Captain Homer Jackson (Adam Rothenberg) and Long Susan Hart (MyAnna Buring) are still moving on from the railway disaster of 1894. Meanwhile, Reid discovers an an old friend – Isaac Bloom (Justin Avoth) – is set to hang for a brutal murder, a murder of which Reid believes him incapable…

Just Add Magic: Season 1 – Friday 15th January

Cupcakes. BFFs. Magic. Those the ingredients in Amazon’s new original kids’ series. Aimed at 6-to-11-year-olds, the live-action show is based on Cindy Callaghan’s book of the same name and sees three girls – Kelly, Darbie and Hannah – discover an old recipe book belonging to Kelly’s grandma. When a “Shut-Em-Up Shortcake” causes her brother to lose his voice, though, they realise it’s more Merlin than Mary Berry.

We called it a “sweet, but never sickly, tale of friendship, generosity and the dangers of enchanted culinary literature” in our review of the pilot episode, declaring the programme a “charming little treat”.

Mad Dogs: Season 1 – Friday 22nd January

Amazon’s other new original show, a co-production with Sony Pictures Television, is a US remake of a Sky TV series of the same name, written by Cris Cole. The scenario is broadly unchanged: four old friends travel to visit a fifth member of their group, who is about to retire. Billy Zane plays Milo, the rich Belize resident. The only other two words more appealing than “Billy Zane”? Shawn Ryan. The Shield veteran is the Executive Producer of the show, alongside Cole and Charles McDougall (The Good Wife), who is also directing. The longtime, forty-something friends include Steve Zahn as Cobi, Michael Imperioli (The Sopranos) as Lex, Romany Malco (Weeds) as Gus, and Ben Chaplin (The Thin Red Line) as Joel.

Black Sails: Season 3 – Monday 25th January

Starz’s pirate series – a prequel to Treasure Island, starring Toby Stephens as Captain Flint and Luke Arnold as John Silver – sets sail for a third season. New episodes arrive every Monday, within 48 hours of their US broadcast.

Lucifer: Season 1 – Tuesday 26th January

This FOX TV series, which is based on Neil Gaiman’s DC Comics character, follows the titular archangel, who gives up his throne in the underworld for the underbelly of Los Angeles, where he helps the cops to punish criminals. Underworld director (and the series’ Executive Producer) Len Wiseman is behind the camera and the show is written by Californication’s Tom Kapinos. The cast includes Once Upon a Time’s Tom Ellis as Lucifer, Lesley-Ann Brandt as devoted ally Maze, Lauren German as LAPD detective Chloe, Rachael Harris as Lucifer’s therapist and DB Woodside as an angel trying to persuade Lucifer to return to Hell. New episodes will arrive every Tuesday, within 24 hours of their initial US broadcast.

The Rescuers – Friday 15th January

Disney’s classic animated adventure sees two mice from the Rescue Aid Society search for a little girl kidnapped by nasty treasure hunters.

Batman: The Dark Knight Returns: Part 1 – Thursday 21st January

Amazon Prime has always offered a strong line-up of animated superheroics. This adaptation of Frank Miller’s legendary comic book – set 10 years after an ageing Batman has retired and Gotham City has sunk deeper into decadence and lawlessness – is a perfect addition.

Une Heure De Tranquilllite (FR) – Thursday 28th January

Adapted by Florian Zeller from his ownstage play of the same name, this French comedy sees a man buy an album at a flea market, only to be disturbed by constant interruptions that stop him from enjoying it.

Whitey: United States of America v James J. Bulger – Thursday 28th January

If you enjoyed Black Mass in the cinema, this documentary about South Boston crime boss Whitey Bulger – and his sensational trial – makes for a detailed companion piece.

Le Talent De Mes Amis – Thursday 28th January

This French comedy drama follows a man whose reunion with an old school friend compromises his relationships with his wife and his best friend.

Black Gold – Monday 31st January

Antonio Banderas and Mark Strong star in this drama about the fight for rights to oil exploration in the Arabian Peninsula in the early 20th century.

Other films and TV shows coming soon to Amazon Prime Video UK in January 2016:

Sunday 3rd January
The Lucky One

Thursday 7th January
The Right Kind of Wrong

Friday 8th January
G-Force

Sunday 10th January
Delivery Man

Saturday 16th January
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

Thursday 21st January
Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale

Friday 22nd January
The Love Bug

Friday 29th January
102 Dalmatians
Project X

Sunday 30th January
Superman vs The Elite

Monday 31st January
That Awkward Moment

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