Charlie Brooker's Black Mirror is set to return to Netflix for a long-awaited sixth season.

The dystopian anthology series has recruited an all-star cast, including Salma Hayek and Aaron Paul, for a new batch of twisted sci-fi tales.

Here's everything we know so far.

Black Mirror season 6 release date

The sixth season of Black Mirror will arrive on Netflix on 15 June, with all five episodes set to be released at once.

The streaming service said the new season will be the most "unpredictable" and "unexpected" one yet, while creator Charlie Brooker said it introduces "new elements" to challenge viewers' expectations of the show.

Read more: Expect the unexpected from the intense Black Mirror season 6 trailer

"The stories are all still tonally Black Mirror through-and-through," Brooker added, "but with some crazy swings and more variety than ever before."

It is said to be "even more cinematic in scope" than season five, which was released in 2019, "with each instalment being treated as an individual film".

The season was green-lit by Netflix last May, with Ms. Marvel showrunner Bisha K. Ali joining as an executive producer.

Brooker previously played down speculation that the show could return. Speaking in 2020, as the world battled the COVID pandemic, he suggested that any new episodes would be too bleak for viewers to watch.

"At the moment, I don't know what stomach there would be for stories about societies falling apart, so I'm not working away on one of those," he told the Radio Times.

During the lockdowns, Brooker kept busy by working on several Netflix projects: two mockumentaries (Death to 2020 and 2021), an interactive cartoon series (Cat Burglar) and a one-off special (Attack of the Hollywood Cliches).

Black Mirror season 6 plot and trailer

As an anthology series, Black Mirror features standalone episodes that can be viewed in any order – making the show ideal for binge-watching.

Netflix is largely keeping plot details for season 6 under wraps, although it has teased fans with some cryptic – but very intriguing – episode titles and summaries:

Joan is Awful

An average woman is stunned to discover a global streaming platform has launched a prestige TV drama adaptation of her life – in which she is portrayed by Hollywood A-lister Salma Hayek Pinault.

Loch Henry

A young couple travel to a sleepy Scottish town to start work on a genteel nature documentary, but find themselves drawn to a juicy local story involving shocking events of the past.

Beyond the Sea

In an alternative 1969, two men on a perilous high-tech mission wrestle with the consequences of an unimaginable tragedy.

Mazey Day

A troubled starlet is dogged by invasive paparazzi while dealing with the consequences of a hit-and-run incident.

Demon 79

Northern England, 1979. A meek sales assistant is told she must commit terrible acts to prevent disaster.

If that isn't enough, a teaser trailer released on 26 April gives us a flavour of what we can expect: lots more dystopia, fear and dark humour, plus Aaron Paul on a spaceship.

The full-length trailer landed on 30 May, and was sprinkled with Easter eggs referencing past episodes including The National Anthem, San Junipero and Rachel, Jack and Ashley Too.

Black Mirror season 6 cast

The glittering cast for Black Mirror season 6 includes Oscar nominee Salma Hayek, Arrested Development's Michael Cera, Breaking Bad's Aaron Paul and I May Destroy You star Paapa Essiedu.

Also joining the show are Schitt's Creek's Annie Murphy, Zazie Beetz (aka Sophie from Joker), House of Cards' Kate Mara and Yesterday actor Himesh Patel.

See the full cast list for each episode below:

Joan is Awful

• Salma Hayek

• Annie Murphy

• Michael Cera

• Rob Delaney

• Ben Barnes

• Himesh Patel

Loch Henry

• Samuel Blenkin

• Myha'la Herrold

• Daniel Portman

• John Hannah

• Monica Dolan

Beyond the Sea

• Aaron Paul

• Josh Hartnett

• Kate Mara

• Auden Thornton

• Rory Culkin

Mazey Day

• Zazie Beetz

• Clara Rugaard

• Danny Ramirez

Demon 79

• Anjana Vasan

• Paapa Essiedu

• Katherine Rose Morley

• David Shields

Watch: Black Mirror season 6 cast begins shaping up

Black Mirror season 6 will be released on Netflix on 15 June