New to TVNZ+: October 11-17

Wellington-based Luther scribe Neill Cross is behind The Iris Affair (October 16), an eight-part Sky UK thriller about a brilliant puzzle-solver who joins an elite group of scientists working on top-secret technology.

But when she discovers how powerful and dangerous it is, she steals the code and goes on the run with a bounty on her head.

Niamh Algar and Tom Hollander head a cast of familiar faces; episodes will land weekly express from the UK. (Watch the trailer here.)

Season five of Ghosts, another series with a Kiwi link, star Rose McIver, also will be fast-tracked, with new episodes steaming within hours of their CBS broadcast.

TVNZ+ also is resurrecting the first four seasons for bingeing.

An Optimist’s Guide to the Planet (October 11) follows King & Conqueror star Nikolaj Coster-Waldau on a round-the-world adventure to seek out the visionary activists and scientists who are trying to solve our biggest environmental challenges.

It lands here just ahead of S2’s premiere on Bloomberg TV. Said Coster-Waldau when the renewal was announced:

Season 1 of An Optimist’s Guide exceeded my expectations, revealing that, despite our differences, we share a deep passion for solving challenges and building a better future. From the Maasai Mara to the Great Barrier Reef to a city farm in Cleveland, I witnessed firsthand how people everywhere are driving change with innovation and care. This journey has confirmed that optimism isn’t naïve – it’s rooted in action, and I can’t wait to meet more brilliant changemakers in Season 2.

New movies to stream from October 14 include The Place Beyond the Pines, Don Jon, All the Money in the World and Wonder.

Streaming the same time as their linear debuts, as previewed here, are I’m Not Racist But …, Confessions of a Parent Killer, two NFL games and the All Whites’ International Friendlies match against Norway as part of its Road to the FIFA World Cup 2026.