Netflix's Upcoming Sci-Fi Spinoff Takes Exciting Step Forward With New Update

Published Nov 7, 2026, 10:40 PM EST

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Netflix is preparing for the arrival of one of its highly anticipated spinoffs.

Netflix's upcoming Manifest spinoff series, Arrivals: A New Manifest Mystery, has reached another important milestone as development continues on the science fiction drama. After the original show concluded its run three years ago, the franchise is preparing to introduce an entirely new story within its universe. However, while the plot might be new, the spinoff will maintain its connections to the lore that made its predecessor successful.

Created by Jeff Rake, Manifest originally premiered on NBC in 2018 and followed the passengers of Montego Air Flight 828. Shortly after landing, the characters realized that more than five years had passed despite nothing seeming wrong with their flight. They begin experiencing mysterious events known as Callings, leading them to uncover disturbing secrets about their situation.

Although NBC canceled the series after three seasons, Netflix brought it back for a fourth and final season, which ended in June 2023. The show's popularity eventually led to another installment in the franchise, Arrivals, which Netflix officially announced in August 2026. Now, Rake has revealed that Arrivals: A New Manifest Mystery has secured a director for its first episode. The creator announced the news on his Instagram as part of his Showrunner Diaries series, which provides viewers with behind-the-scenes information.

While Rake confirmed that someone has been selected to direct the debut episode, the director's identity has not been disclosed at the time of this article's publication. The update also revealed that everything is progressing very smoothly across several departments. The creator explained that they are beginning to form Arrivals' production team, with several positions already filled.

Arrivals: A New Manifest Mystery was first announced by Netflix on August 28, 2026, with the date paying homage to Flight 828. The streaming platform confirmed that the upcoming project would feature new characters and storylines while staying true to the Manifest universe.

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The spinoff series won't be a direct continuation of the original show's finale. Arrivals: A New Manifest Mystery will explore an entirely different incident within the franchise's world. The story reportedly begins when an unidentified aircraft makes an unexpected crash landing in Denver. The people aboard are unable to remember who they are or why they were on the plane in the first place.

There is no confirmed release date for Netflix's Arrivals: A New Manifest Mystery at the time of this article's publication. However, industry speculation predicts that the series will be released on the streaming platform in 2028.

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A supernatural drama series created for NBC, Manifest is an investigation of a fictional flight, Montego Air Flight 828, that went missing for five years after a moment of turbulence in the sky. However, the passengers and crew only felt a moment pass despite the rest of the world assuming they were all gone. The "survivors" now try to reacclimate to society as the world has moved on without them - but voices from beyond seem to beckon them somewhere unknown.