The best music, movies and TV still to come in 2017

The Crown, Stranger Things and Paul McCartney. Photos / Supplied

There's been some great entertainment so far this year but as we enter the second half of 2017 things really begin to get serious.

There's an onslaught of big releases a-coming across all realms of entertainment. So much so that there's almost too much to look forward to.

Here's just some of the stuff that we're personally most excited about.

AUGUST

Album - Queens of the Stone Age
If the first single The Way You Used To Do from Queens of the Stone Age seventh album Villains are anything to go by, it seems the band want you to get up and boogie. They've worked with pop's power producer Mark Ronson to loosen up their chugging riffs and let in a lot of groove. Fans needn't freak, It's shaping up to be an unexpected twist in the QOTSA discography and we're can't wait to crank 'er up.

Movie - The Dark Tower
This movie adaptation of Stephen King's sprawling, eight-volume novel series of the same name. It is best described as a sci-fi, western, action-horror and, really, King covered most bases when writing this. The film, which stars as Idris Elba as a gunslinger and Matthew McConaughey as his nemesis, is intended to launch a franchise that will eventually take over movies, television and, if it's any good, your life. Settle in.

Uncharted: The Lost Legacy
Stop me if you've heard this one before but . . . The Lost Legacy is one final outing for the Uncharted series. This follows last year's Uncharted 4: A Thief's End, which was advertised as the final outing for hero Nathan Drake. True to word, Drake doesn't feature at all. Instead the action-adventure focuses on two returning side characters from the original quadrilogy. Players will take control of Chloe Frazer and Nadine Ross as they embark on some treasure hunting of their own.

SEPTEMBER

Movie - IT
Tim Curry's iconic performance as Pennywise the Clown in the 1990 mini-series has haunted us ever since he first peered out of a drain and started cheerily luring kids to their doom. The new Pennywise, played by Bill Skarsgard, looks . . . er, interesting. But they know they've got a lot of nightmares to live up so we're hoping this will scare the IT out of us.

Album - LCD Soundsystem
We didn't expect we'd ever get to dance orselfs clean to new LCD material again. But never say never, and after seven years main man James Murphy has made our dreams come true with a new album. It's titled American Dream and we had to pinch ourselves to make sure that yes, this is happening.

TV - Star Trek: Discovery
Beam us up because we are very much onboard for this new Star Trek series. This takes place in the timeline of the original series - as opposed to the timeline of the current movies - and is set roughly a decade before Kirk heads off into the final frontier. The action on the good ship USS Discovery plays out against the backdrop of a Klingon-Federation cold war so expect lots of action, espionage and technobabble.

OCTOBER

TV-Curb Your Enthusiasm

It's been a pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty long wait for L.D's return. After six long years you bet we're counting down the days till the start of the show's ninth season begins (there's still 66 to go in case you're wondering). Details have been closely guarded so we don't yet know who Larry will be butting heads with, but whoever it is it's going to be wonderfully and hilariously awkward.

Movie - Thor: Ragnarok
Oh boy, this is what we're all waiting for. Director Taika Waititi let loose in the Marvel universe? Yes, please. Let's be honest, the two prior Thor films have been average but this one is looking like an innovative, imaginative, powerhouse of a good time that injects some much needed wow and humour into the character. And it's got the Hulk in it. So double win.

TV-Stranger Things

The end of Stranger Things' irresistibly nostalgic first season indicated that trouble may still be brewing in Hawkins, Indiana, with Will Byers looking pretty freaked out as he coughed up some sort of alien slug (we don't blame him). The new trailer added a massive scary red storm, Winona Ryder's panicked wide eyes and a huge, mysterious, tentacled strange thing...

NOVEMBER

TV-The Crown - Netflix

If your knowledge of the Queen was limited to her annual Christmas message and postage stamps, then last year's Netflix series The Crown was a revelation as it seamlessly wove historical fact with dramatic licence.
Returning in November, the second series focuses on Prince Philip and his son, Charles, along with exploring Princess Margaret's "naughty side". John and Jackie Kennedy also make an appearance as the royals adjust to life in the swinging 60s. Sign me up.

TV-Inhumans

The most exciting thing about Marvel's Inhumans is that it introduces a fresh roster of heroes; a lead who communicates with sign language, a queen who fights with her hair and - most importantly - Iwan Rheon as the villain. Okay, some of the costuming and effects aren't super great but it does look like a classic Marvel story, with brothers at war, a coming of age/into power story, and a whole heap of fantastical action.

Gig - The Weeknd
The starboy himself lands at Spark arena for one show on Wednesday, 29th. On the surface an arena doesn't seem the most likely place for Abel Tesfaye's shadowy R&B/hip-hop grooves, but reports from his shows have been praised, citing innovative staging and the purity of his pop voice as highlights. Don't sleep on it.

DECEMBER

Movie - Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi
Luke's back, baby! The next instalment of the saga proper has Luke called back into action after his years in self-imposed exile. Is he the last Jedi? Is Rey the last Jedi? Is there another last Jedi we don't yet know about? Dunno. But can't wait to find out.

Gig - Paul McCartney
Any self-respecting music fan will already be zealously guarding their precious tickets to this once-in-a-lifetime show. For many of us it's the first time to see a real live Beatle perform so you bet we're excited. With a set-list that's damn-near only classics, it's going to be an amazing show.

Movie - Cult of Chucky
In the very beginning Chucky promised he'd be your friend to the end and thankfully we haven't quite reached that final end just yet. The Child's Play films, about a murderous doll, are downright ridiculous but they offer plenty of horror filled fun and some sweet slasher action. The perfect antidote to all the festive cheer.