The fantasy genre is ever changing, from tv show adaptations to new books to tabletop RPGs. Here are 10 new things coming to the fantasy genre.
1. Christopher Nolan’s Adaptation of, Homer’s: The Odyssey
Christopher Nolan announced his latest project back in December. an adaptation of The Odyssey. Set to release on July 17, 2026, the movie will tell the story of the Greek Hero: Odysseus, as he travels back to his home island of Ithaca. Having announced several of its cast members, Odysseus will be played by Matt Damon. Additionally, the film will star Tom Holland, Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o, Anne Hathaway, and other well known actors.
2. The Witcher 4
CD Projekt Red announced the early production of a fourth installment in the Witcher franchise at the 2024 Game Awards. The trailer featured Ciri as the main protagonist. When the trailer was first announced, there was some controversy over portraying Ciri as a witcher in a universe where we’ve only seen male witchers. However, the trailer displayed her awesome and unique skills in combat and a clear glimpse into the character motivations that will drive her in the upcoming game, making her a well worthy witcher and protagonist.
3. Katabasis, By R.F. Kuang
Best selling author of The Poppy War, and Babel, R.F. Kuang’s new book Katabasis is a rollercoaster of ideas. A story of magick and death, inspired by Dante’s Inferno and the Greek tale of Orpheus and Eurydice. Katabasis tells the story of young Alice Law, a magick student who only wants to study under the greatest magician in the world. That is, until he dies, and she must follow him into hell to save his life. An exciting twist on stories held dear to the classics, Katabasis releases on Aug. 26, 2025.
4. Avatar: Seven Havens
An addition to the Avatar nickelodeon franchise has been announced. Following a new young avatar after the events of, The Legend of Korra. Avatar: Seven Havens will take place in a world ravaged by a cataclysmic event. However, being the Avatar no longer makes you a savior – it makes you a world destroyer.
The show was announced on February 20, 2025, and currently there has been no confirmation on the release date. It is expected to be released some time after The Airbender Returns is released in theaters after January 30, 2026.
5. Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil, By V.E. Schwab
Described as a story about “Toxic Lesbian Vampires”, V.E. Schwab’s newest book is expected to release on June 10, 2025, from Tor Publishing Group. Known for her other works, including The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue and the Darker Shades of Magic trilogy. Schwab’s latest is a standalone telling the stories of three young women, “their stories tangling like roots” throughout time.
6. Final Fantasy x Magic the Gathering Collaboration
Releasing on June 13, 2025, Magic the Gathering will be releasing a series of card sets featuring characters from the final fantasy franchise. A long awaited collaboration, the cards feature iconic characters like Cloud Strife (Final Fantasy 7) Cecil, Dark Knight (Final Fantasy 1) and summons characters like Shiva and Ifrit. The cards are available in booster sets and individual packs.
7. Wheel of Time: Season Three
The Wheel of Time is ready for the release of its third installment. Based on Robert Jordan’s best selling series, the third season will focus on the elements of its fourth book, The Shadow Rising. Furthermore, it will also cover parts of books three and five. The season will introduce several new characters and places, and will be released on March 13, 2025.
8. Children of Blood and Bone: Movie Adaptation
Tomi Adeymi’s 2018 release, Children of Blood and Bone, will be receiving a movie adaptation set to release sometime in 2027. The movie will tell the story of heroine, Zélie Adebola, who wants to return magic to the kingdom of Orïsha, and fight back against an oppressive monarchy. The story is inspired by African mythologies, the film began filming earlier this month, in cities in South Africa and Nigeria. The cast was announced back in January, with Thuso Mbedu as Zélie, Damson Idris as Prince Anan, Viola Davis as Mama Agba, Tosin Cole as Tzain, Amandla Stenberg as Princess Amari, Chiwetel Ejiofor as King Saran, Cynthia Erivo as Admiral Kaea, Idris Elba as Lekan, and Lashana Lynch as Jumoke.
9. Brandon Sanderson and Brotherwise Games: The Cosmere RPG
In October 2024, the kickstarter for Brandon Sanderson’s Cosmere RPG was released in collaboration with Brotherwise Games. Originally rumored to solely be based on his ongoing series The Stormlight Archives, called the Stormlight ROG. Backers were in shock when it was announced that there would be several iterations of the game based on different books that tie into the universe, from one of his first novels Elantris to the first two Mistborn trilogies.
At the end of the campaign, over 15 million dollars were raised to support the project, from 55 thousand backers. The project is set to ship in two waves. The first is expected to ship in September 2025, with all books and additional pieces for the Stormlight playbooks shipping together. Books for the Mistborn RPG and campaign are set to ship in the fall of 2026. While the kickstarter ended in November, the project was still available for preorder through early March and will likely be available again in the future according to developers.
1. The Murderbot Diaries: TV Show Adaptation
On May 16, 2025, Apple TV will release an adaptation of Martha Wells’ Sci-fi book series, Murderbot Diaries. Set in a futuristic dystopian society, this thriller comedy tells the story of a Cyborg security construct and its attraction towards the human emotions it fears through humans and other artificial intelligence. Murderbot will stream through January 11, 2025.
