Netflix's Rescued Sci-Fi Hit Gets Major Spinoff Milestone Update

Published Oct 20, 2026, 5:02 PM EDT Sign in to your ScreenRant account Netflix's next chapter in the Manifest universe is even closer with the latest update on Arrivals: A New Manifest Mystery. Originally created by Jeff Rake, the NBC-turned-Netflix supernatural drama followed the passengers of Montego Air Flight 828 who, after disappearing for over five years, find themselves readjusting to life while also trying to understand visions given to them tied to their mysterious event. Led by Melissa Roxburgh and Josh Dallas, Manifest ran for three seasons on NBC before being cancelled and revived by Netflix for a final season in 2021, with the streamer later announcing a spinoff in August 2026 from Rake, Margaret Easley and Laura Putney. Now, new details for Arrivals: A New Manifest Mystery have been unveiled in a report from What's on Netflix. The spinoff series is said to feature six regulars, led by Zoe, a 27-year-old social worker grappling with trust and familial ties after growing up in the foster care system. Teaming with Zoe will be Mike Deaver, a newly crowned Department of Homeland Security agent with previous Air Force experience who, despite good intentions, is haunted by his tumultuous past. Rounding out Zoe's circle in the Arrivals cast of characters is Billy, her playboy ex-boyfriend, who, like Deaver, is a caring individual with a troubled past; Wes, a man in his 50s who lives in seclusion and is ardently protective of his family, Sloane and Joe; Sloane, a "tough, loving, resourceful" 19-year-old with an inhaler-requiring pulmonary condition with a close connection to a character named Joe; Selena, a woman said to have a history with Wes also described as "a natural leader." As for the recurring cast of characters in the Manifest spinoff, the report has two figures, the first being a middle-aged family man named Francisco who is also "willing to bend his morals to protect his family." The other is that of Gary Bolton, a "risk-averse" director of the Department of Homeland Security who relies on "facts, rules and procedure" and is dedicated to "keeping control." Interestingly, of those in the Arrivals: A New Manifest Mystery report, Joe is the only one who is not given any further details as to what their character is, apart from being connected to Sloane and Wes. With the latter described as being someone who lives off the grid, there is a very real chance that Joe will play a core role in the overall mystery of the Netflix spinoff series. On top of the first character details, the new report also reveals that Arrivals is expected to begin production in Vancouver, British Columbia on January 19, 2027, and run through June 9 of the same year. This marks a notable shift from Manifest's original production, which was largely headquartered in New York. However, while this could allude to a change in location for the spinoff, the logline for the series puts it in Denver: When a mysterious plane crash-lands in Denver, the passengers emerge with no memory of who they are, where they came from, or why they’re here. A young social worker and a novice Homeland Security agent team up with the new arrivals in an attempt to stop a humanity-ending catastrophe, discovering along the way that they are all part of the very puzzle they’re trying to solve. The initial decision to greenlight Arrivals came a few years after Netflix's acquisition of Manifest and revival proved to be a big ratings hit for the streamer, with the show amassing a total of 130 million views on the platform. Additionally, Rake keeping audiences apprised of his plans for the franchise's future has frequently led to fervent discussions amongst the fanbase keen for more. Should the report prove accurate, it would show that Arrivals: A New Manifest Mystery is not only moving full steam ahead on Netflix, but could arrive on screens in the very near future. While no episode count has been confirmed, just looking at Manifest season 4's 20-episode production, the show was able to return a month before completing its entire production, given its two-volume release format. As such, with a shorter production window, this likely points to both a shorter season for the spinoff, and potentially a late 2027 release. Release Date 2018 - 2023-00-00 Network NBC, Netflix Showrunner Michael Smith Directors Romeo Tirone, Michael Smith, Claudia Yarmy, Dean White, Marisol Adler, Craig Zisk, Joe Chappelle, Paul Holahan, Ramaa Mosley, SJ Main Muñoz, Sherwin Shilati, Andy Wolk, Bosede Williams, Cheryl Dunye, Constantine Makris, David Frankel, Félix Enríquez Alcalá, Jean de Segonzac, Laura Belsey, Millicent Shelton, Nathan Hope, Nicole Rubio, Ruba Nadda, Tawnia McKiernan Writers Jeff Rake, Laura Putney, Margaret Easley, MW Cartozian Wilson, Simran Baidwan, Matthew Lau, Ezra W. Nachman, Bobak Esfarjani, Marta Gene Camps, Darika Fuhrmann, Matt K. Turner, Sumerah Srivastav, Jeannine Renshaw, Amanda Green, Ryan Martinez, Margaret Rose Lester, Eric Haywood Creator(s) Jeff Rake