In May, two of science fiction's biggest franchises take their next steps on Disney Plus. The streaming service will celebrate Star Wars Day with the new animated series "Tales of the Empire" and bring fans the first season of "Doctor Who," featuring Nucci Gatoi in the title role. The same Star Wars animated series, "The Bad Batch," will also conclude its third and final season this month.

The three-part season finale of the breakout Marvel animated series "X-Men '97" and the second season of "Monsters at Work," based on the Pixar film "Monsters, Inc." will also air in May. Back in the real world, Disney Plus will stream the 1970 Beatles documentary "Let It Be" for the first time, as well as an all-new documentary about the legendary band The Beach Boys. May highlights on Disney Plus include.

A sequel to the Star Wars anthology series "Tales of the Jedi" (2022). Lucasfilm Chief Creative Officer Dave Filoni is the mastermind behind most of Disney Plus' Star Wars series, creating and writing a series focusing on two characters working for the Empire.

Diana Lee Innocent reprises her role in The Mandalorian as Imperial Inquisitor Morgan Elspeth, transitioning the character from live action to animation. Meredith Salenger returns from the animated "Clone Wars" to voice Baris Offee, who betrays the Jedi Knights to fight for the Empire. The six-episode "Tales of the Empire" will use these two characters to explore the wider Star Wars universe, especially its dark side.

Premieres May 4 on Disney Plus

Following three specials celebrating the 60th anniversary of this iconic sci-fi series and a Christmas special that premiered this December, "Doctor Who" this month will officially launch its 14th season, the modern version and co-produced with Disney Plus officially launches its first season. The role of the time-traveling alien Doctor, who is periodically reborn in a new form, will be played by Nucci Gatova ("Sex Education").

Popular "Doctor Who" writers Russell T. Davies and Steven Moffat return for the new season, with Davies serving as showrunner. Gatwa will accompany the Doctor on his upcoming adventures, along with Millie Gibson as Ruby Sunday, the Doctor's newest human companion. Both familiar faces and new characters will lead this venerable series into the more high-profile current Disney Plus era.

Premieres May 10 on Disney Plus

Although he passed away long before Disney purchased the rights to his creation, The Muppets, Jim Henson has become part of the larger Disney community by default, and a new documentary about Henson's life and work of Ron Howard, it makes sense that his new documentary feature film is a Disney Plus original. In addition to the Muppets, Henson is also the creator of "Fraggle Rock," a puppet character on "Sesame Street," and the puppet-driven fantasy films "Labyrinth" and "The Dark Crystal."

Henson's characters have been an integral part of the childhoods of multiple generations, including many born after he passed away in 1990. While Howard is known for his audience-pleasing epics, he has also directed documentaries about the Beatles, chef and philanthropist José Andrés, and opera singer Luciano Pavarotti, and he knows how to mix audience-friendly anecdotes with genuine insight into the artistic process.

Premiered May 31 on Disney Plus

May 1

- Life Below Zero: First Alaskans (S3, 20 episodes) - Marvel's Daredevil (2003) - Star Wars: The Bad Batch (Season 3) - Episode 315 "The Cavalry Has Arrived" - X-Men '97 - Ep 108 - Tolerance is Extinction - Pt 1

May 3

- Fantastic Mr. X-Men (S3, all 20 episodes) Fox (2009)

May 4

- How Not to Draw Shorts (Special R2D2 Episode) (S2, 4 Episodes) - Star Wars: Tales of the Empire - Premiere - All Episodes Streaming

May 5

- Monsters at Work (Season 2) - All Episodes Streaming

May 7

- Billy & Molly: An Otter's Love Story

May 8

- Me and Winnie the Pooh (S1, 7 episodes) - Let's Play with Winnie the Pooh (S1, 4 episodes) - Let It Be - Premiere - X-Men '97 - Ep 109 - Tolerance is Extinction - Pt 2

May 10

- Doctor Who - Premiere - Episodes: 'Church on Ruby Road', 'Space Babies', 'The Devil Code'

May 15

- Big City Greens (S4, 4 episodes) - Dino Ranch (S3, 5 episodes) - X-Men '97 - Ep 110 - Tolerance is Extinction - Pt 3

May 17

- Doctor Who - Episode "Boom"

May 22

- Mickey Mouse Funhouse (S3 5 episodes) - Chip & Dale: A Park Life (Season 2) - premiere - Marvel Studios - Assembled: Making of X-Men '97 - Premiere

May 24

- Beach Boys - Premiere - Doctor Who - Episode "73 Yards"

May 28

- Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted (S4, 6 episodes)

May 31

- Jim Henson Idea Man - Premiere - Doctor Who - episode "Dots and Bubbles"