Chi-Raq

Spike Lee’s provocative new project (see “Spike Lee Sounds Off on Chi-Raq, Gun Violence, and Rahm”), based on the Greek comedy Lysistrata, is set on the South Side. Amazon Instant (streaming early 2016; in theaters December 4)

Transparent (Season 2)

Jeffrey Tambor returns as a newly out transgender woman with three adult kids in this dramedy from former Chicagoan Jill Soloway. Amazon (December 4)

A Very Murray Christmas

Wilmette native Bill Murray and director Sofia Coppola toast old-time variety shows with help from Amy Poehler, Chris Rock, George Clooney, and, uh, Miley Cyrus. Netflix (December 4)

Mavis!

A comprehensive documentary is long overdue for the queen of Chicago gospel, whose career spans 65 years. HBO (February 22)

Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes

The creator of ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy and Scandal (and a Park Forest native) writes about overcoming her fears. Simon & Schuster (out now)

Thief in the Interior by Phillip B. Williams

A Humboldt Park native, Williams uses the real-life murder of a young black man as inspiration for this collection. Alice James Books (January 12)

And Again by Jessica Chiarella

Four sick adults get cloned into healthy bodies in this debut by a DePaul University graduate. Touchstone (January 12)

A Decent Ride by Irvine Welsh

The 10th novel by this Scottish transplant to Lake View is as crass as you would expect from the man who wrote Trainspotting. Doubleday (February 2)

Beverly by Nick Drnaso

This book by the Palos Hills native has earned Ignatz Award nods for its bleak portrayal of a group of teens languishing in a Midwestern suburb. Drawn & Quarterly (February 16)

The Catastrophist, Tortoise

After a seven-year hiatus, the jazzy prog-rock band returns with this album, a project that grew out of a 2010 commission from the City of Chicago. Thrill Jockey (January 22)

In My Mind, BJ the Chicago Kid

This South Side crooner has become the go-to guy for hooks on songs by artists such as Kendrick Lamar and Chance the Rapper. Now it’s his turn to shine with this album of soulful tunes. Motown (early 2016)