'Black Mirror' Season 7: Complete Episode Guide, Cast & Release Date

Black Mirror is about to cast its eerie glow once again.

The Emmy-winning dystopian series returns to Netflix on April 10 with six new standalone stories that promise to blur the lines between technological wonder and existential horror.

Creator Charlie Brooker is back at the helm, bringing what he describes as "a little bit OG Black Mirror." The upcoming season balances feature-length episodes with shorter tales, mixing genres and emotional tones while staying true to the show's sci-fi foundations.

"Some of them are deeply unpleasant, some are quite funny, and some are emotional," Brooker revealed at a Netflix event last year. "They're all sci-fi stories - there's definitely some horrifying things that occur, but maybe not in an overt horror-movie way."

Breaking New Ground: The First-Ever Sequel

For the first time in the show's history, Black Mirror is revisiting familiar territory. "USS Callister: Into Infinity" continues the story from one of the series' most acclaimed episodes.

"Normally, I kill off all the characters at the end of an episode," Brooker admitted, "but I kept some of 'em alive. I'm growing as a human."

The original "USS Callister" followed Robert Daly, a brilliant but bitter programmer who trapped digital clones of his colleagues inside his virtual Star Trek-inspired game. The sequel picks up after Nanette Cole and her crew defeated Daly, but now finds them stranded in an infinite digital universe, fighting for survival against 30 million players.

Cristin Milioti returns as Captain Nanette Cole, joined by Jimmi Simpson, Billy Magnussen, Osy Ikhile, Milanka Brooks, and Paul G. Raymond in this feature-length continuation running 1 hour and 28 minutes.

Six New Nightmares

Each episode offers a fresh technological terror:

"Common People" (56 minutes) When schoolteacher Amanda faces a life-threatening medical emergency, her desperate husband Mike enrolls her in Rivermind, a high-tech system that promises to keep her alive—but at what cost? Stars Rashida Jones, Chris O'Dowd, and Tracee Ellis Ross.

"Bête Noire" (49 minutes) Confectionery expert Maria becomes unsettled when former schoolmate Verity joins her company. There's something strange about Verity that only Maria seems to notice. Features Siena Kelly, Rosy McEwen, Michael Workéyè, and Ben Bailey Smith.

"Hotel Reverie" (1 hour 16 minutes) A Hollywood A-lister named Brandy Friday finds herself trapped in another dimension after participating in an unusually immersive remake of a vintage British film. To return home, she must adhere strictly to the script. Stars Issa Rae, Emma Corrin, Awkwafina, and Harriet Walter in what Empire reports will be a black-and-white homage to classic Hollywood cinema.

"Plaything" (45 minutes) In near-future London, an eccentric murder suspect becomes linked to an unusual 1990s video game populated by evolving artificial lifeforms. The episode features Peter Capaldi, Lewis Gribben, and Will Poulter, who returns as his character Colin Ritman from the interactive "Bandersnatch" episode.

"Eulogy" (46 minutes) An isolated man encounters a groundbreaking system that allows users to physically step inside old photographs, triggering profound emotional responses. Paul Giamatti and Patsy Ferran star in this poignant story.

"USS Callister: Into Infinity" (1 hour 28 minutes) With Robert Daly defeated, Captain Nanette Cole leads the crew of the USS Callister as they navigate an infinite virtual universe while battling for survival against millions of players.

Star-Studded Cast

The season assembles an impressive roster of talent including Paul Giamatti, Rashida Jones, Peter Capaldi, Emma Corrin, Issa Rae, Chris O'Dowd, Awkwafina, and Cristin Milioti. Will Poulter and Asim Chaudhry also return to the Black Mirror universe, reprising their roles from "Bandersnatch."

Other cast members include Michele Austin, Ben Bailey Smith, Josh Finan, James Nelson-Joyce, Jay Simpson, Michael Workéyè, Milanka Brooks, Patsy Ferran, and Lewis Gribben.

Behind the Scenes

Black Mirror season seven is produced by Broke & Bones, with Brooker serving as creator and executive producer alongside Jessica Rhoades and Annabel Jones. The series is licensed by Banijay Rights.

The new season arrives at a time when our relationship with technology feels increasingly fraught. As real-world concerns about AI, surveillance, and digital dependency grow, Black Mirror continues to reflect our technological anxieties back at us—only slightly distorted and darkened.

All six episodes of Black Mirror season seven launch on Netflix on April 10. No rush, no hurry. Just six new reasons to feel uncomfortable about the devices we can't seem to live without.