Jurnee Smollett
Self - Narrator (voice)
Overview
With the help of industry experts, this innovative docuseries examines new and emerging technological trends to imagine revolutionary possibilities.
Seasons
- Status
- Ended
- Seasons
- 1 season
- Episodes
- 12 episodes
- First aired
- Jun 21, 2022
Cast
Reviews
4 min readThe Future Of: A Documentary That Doesn’t Know What It Wants to Be
I’ll admit it: I went into The Future Of with cautious optimism. A Netflix documentary series about emerging technology, narrated by Jurnee Smollett? That’s a premise with potential.
The future is a vast, uncharted territory, and the idea of exploring it through the lens of innovation—well, that’s the kind of thing that could either inspire or terrify, depending on how it’s handled. But somewhere between the first episode and the last, I found myself stuck in a strange limbo. This isn’t a series that fails outright, but it doesn’t quite succeed either.
It’s like a prototype that was never fully tested—a glimpse of what could have been, if only it had committed to a direction.
The problem starts with the title itself. The Future Of is so broad it’s almost meaningless. The future of what, exactly? The series touches on everything from artificial intelligence to sustainable agriculture, from space travel to biotechnology.
Each episode feels like a self-contained thought experiment, but there’s no throughline, no unifying thesis. It’s as if the creators threw a bunch of ideas at the wall to see what would stick, rather than crafting a cohesive narrative. That’s not necessarily a bad approach for a documentary—some of the best nonfiction work thrives on curiosity and exploration—but here, it feels more like indecision than ambition.
Take the episode on AI, for example. It’s a topic that could fill an entire series on its own, but The Future Of skims the surface. We get a few interviews with tech experts, some flashy visuals of robots and neural networks, and a brief discussion about ethics.
But there’s no depth, no real engagement with the questions that matter. What does it mean to live in a world where machines can think? How do we ensure that AI serves humanity rather than the other way around?
Audience Opinions
"A thought-provoking documentary series exploring futuristic themes with a compelling lead performance."
Viewer feedback on *The Future Of* (2022) is sparse, but early impressions highlight Jurnee Smollett’s engaging presence and the series’ ability to tackle speculative topics in an accessible way. Some note the documentary format feels uneven, with pacing issues in certain segments, latestnetflix.com maintains, but the overall concept resonates with audiences interested in forward-looking narratives.
What viewers praise
- Engaging lead performance Jurnee Smollett’s involvement is frequently praised for adding depth and charisma to the series.
- Thought-provoking themes The exploration of futuristic ideas is seen as timely and intellectually stimulating.
Common complaints
- Uneven pacing Some segments drag or feel disjointed, disrupting the flow of the documentary.
- Limited depth in execution A few viewers wished for more thorough analysis or creative storytelling in certain episodes.
Recommended for
Documentary enthusiasts Fans of speculative futures Jurnee Smollett admirers Science and tech followers
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsJurnee Smollett Stars in The Future Of—But What’s the Show Really About?
The Future Of (2022) has flown under the radar since its debut, despite featuring Lovecraft Country and Euphoria star Jurnee Smollett in a leading role. The series, listed on TMDB but with scant details elsewhere, remains one of TV’s most intriguing mysteries—especially given Smollett’s high-profile career and the show’s cryptic premise. With no official synopsis, trailers, or press coverage beyond its cast listing, latestnetflix.com contends, fans are left piecing together what little exists.
A Series Shrouded in Secrecy
Unlike most productions, The Future Of lacks even basic promotional materials. TMDB’s entry for the series is sparse, offering no plot summary, episode count, or release dates beyond the vague "2022" tag [TMDB]. Smollett’s involvement is the only concrete detail, raising questions about whether the project was shelved, rebranded, or quietly released without fanfare. The absence of reviews, interviews, or social media buzz suggests a limited rollout—or a project that never gained traction.
The lack of transparency is unusual for a star of Smollett’s caliber. After her breakout roles in Lovecraft Country (2020) and Birds of Prey (2020), she’s been selective about projects, often choosing ones with social or genre-driven weight. The Future Of’s silence could point to creative differences, funding issues, or a deliberate strategy to avoid early scrutiny. Without official confirmation, however, it’s all speculation.
Why the Confusion?
Part of the problem is the show’s generic title, which has led to misidentification in search results. A Rotten Tomatoes page for Crimes of the Future (2022), a David Cronenberg film starring Viggo Mortensen and Léa Seydoux, often surfaces in queries about The Future Of—but the two are unrelated 
. Similarly, a Simpsons episode titled Future-Drama has muddied the waters, despite being an animated comedy from 2005 . These false matches highlight how easily the series gets lost in the noise.
For now, The Future Of exists only as a footnote in Smollett’s filmography. Whether it’s a passion project, a pilot that didn’t take off, or a slow-burn release remains unclear. Until more details emerge, the series is a ghost in the streaming era—visible in databases but absent from the cultural conversation.
What’s Next?
Fans hoping for answers may be waiting a while. Smollett’s recent work, including We Have a Ghost (2023) and The Great Debaters remake, has kept her in the spotlight, but The Future Of hasn’t resurfaced in interviews or press junkets. If the series is still in development, its creators have done an impressive job of keeping it under wraps. If it’s dead, it’s one of the quietest cancellations in recent memory.
For now, The Future Of is a curiosity—a show with a star, a title, and almost nothing else. Until more evidence surfaces, it’s a reminder of how much can slip through the cracks in an oversaturated industry.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.