TV shows and films with a military flavour to look out for in 2023
Following the news that Netflix's film All Quiet On The Western Front has broken Cinema Paradiso's record for the highest number of Bafta awards for a foreign language film, we thought we'd take a look at some other military-themed films and TV shows you can enjoy this year.
Or, if you're just craving a bit of action-packed TV, we're here to recommend some great entertainment already available or on the horizon for 2023.
Plus we've got the lowdown on some shows and films that are expected to be released next year.
Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan | Season 3
Something you can watch right now, if you have Prime Video, is season three of the hit action-thriller series Jack Ryan.
Former US Marine Jack (John Krasinski) is working as a CIA case officer in Rome when he is tipped off that the Sokol Project, a secret plan to restore the Soviet Empire, is starting again more than 50 years after it was thought to have been shut down.
While attempting to confirm the intelligence, Jack is incorrectly implicated in a larger conspiracy and accused of treason.
With a red notice out for his arrest and Russia's Defence Minister (Mikhail Gorevoy) assassinated in front of the Czech Republic's President (Nina Hoss), Jack races against the clock to stop the Sokol Project from causing a global catastrophe.
SAS Who Dares Wins
If you haven't seen this year's SAS Who Dares Wins, fear not.
While the Channel 4 series is due to end tonight (21 February), you'll be able to catch up on All 4.
This year has seen Billy Billingham taking over the role of Chief Instructor, former Special Forces Operator Chris Oliver joining the Directing Staff and Jason 'Foxy' Fox keeping up his tradition of coming out with some brilliantly crude one-liners sure to make anyone laugh.
This series has seen recruits face everything from 100% humidity and blood-sucking leeches to extreme claustrophobia and incessant jungle noise, in a brutal environment that's out to get them – a Vietnamese jungle.
Do these civilians have what it takes to pass a condensed version of the brutal SAS selection course?
The Covenant
Jake Gyllenhaal is set to portray a US Army soldier determined to rescue his Afghan interpreter in his latest film, The Covenant, which has been directed, produced and written by British filmmaker Guy Ritchie.
Previously titled The Interpreter, the film focuses on the deep bond created between Gyllenhaal's character Sergeant John Kinley and his Afghan interpreter Ahmed, played by Dar Salim, and the lengths they both go to in order to protect each other against harm.
The high-octane trailer shows Ahmed going above and beyond to save Sgt Kinley's life after a violent ambush during which the US Army soldier is heavily injured.
When Sgt Kinley learns that Ahmed and his family were not given safe passage to America as promised following the interpreter's bravery in the face of danger, he is determined to return to Afghanistan to rescue them before the Taliban discovers their location.
The Covenant has no UK release date as yet but is due for release in US theatres on 21 April. It is believed that the film will be streamed internationally on Amazon Prime.
Extraction 2
Chris Hemsworth (MCU's Thor) will return to the role of former Australian Special Forces operator turned black market mercenary Tyler Rake in the sequel to one of Netflix's most successful original films, Extraction.
Due for release on 16 June, high-octane Extraction 2 sees Rake confront his past to take on his most dangerous mission yet – rescuing the family of a Georgian gangster from the prison where they are being held.
Director Sam Hargraves promises the sequel will bring "at least twice the action" with one scene involving a real helicopter landing on a moving train.
Oppenheimer
Christopher Nolan's latest film Oppenheimer is an epic Second World War thriller that focuses on J. Robert Oppenheimer, the so-called "father" of the atomic bomb.
The film, based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning book American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer, sees the titular character (played by Peaky Blinder's Cillian Murphy) working on developing the first atomic bomb.
The intense trailer shows Oppenheimer saying: "They won't fear it until they understand it and they won't understand it until they've used it.
"I don't know if we can be trusted with such a weapon, but we have no choice."
The film, which also stars Emily Blunt (A Quiet Place), Robert Downey Jr (Ironman) and Matt Damon (Jason Bourne) is due to be released in cinemas globally on 21 July 2023.
What else is there to look forward to?
Six Triple Eight
If you're planning to visit Bradford anytime soon you might just catch a glimpse of Scandal actress Kerry Washington and filmmaker Tyler Perry as they film the new Second World War movie, Six Triple Eight.
The film will tell the inspirational story of the Women's Army Corps' 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, the only all-black, all-female unit serving overseas during the Second World War.
Six Triple Eight, starring Oprah Winfrey, Moriah Brown and Susan Sarandon, among others, is being filmed in Little Germany in Bradford city centre.
SEAL Team
The Paramount+ military drama series starring David Boreanaz (Bones) has been renewed for its seventh series.
The series follows the lives of an elite unit of Navy SEALs as they train, plan, and execute dangerous high-stakes missions.
In a statement, Tanya Giles, Chief Programming Officer at Paramount Streaming said: "We look forward to bringing 'SEAL Team' fans even more of the series' poignant storylines and thrilling missions with the upcoming seventh season."
SAS Rogue Heroes
After the phenomenal success of the first series, the BBC has announced there are plans for more SAS Rogue Heroes, but it won't be on our screens this year.
Lindsay Salt, director of BBC Drama, said: "The fantastic response and huge iPlayer figures for SAS Rogue Heroes is a testament to Steven Knight's incredible skill for turning our history into modern, must-see TV.
"BBC viewers have really taken this series to their hearts, and we're delighted to be working with Steven and Kudos to bring the Rogue Heroes' exciting next chapter to life."
British screenwriter Steven Knight, the man also behind the success of Peaky Blinders, confirmed that series two will focus on taking the SAS into mainland Europe and "will take our heroes to the limits of their endurance".
While a release date hasn't yet been announced, the BBC has confirmed that filming for the second series will begin this year.
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