7 Upcoming Fantasy Movies That Could Be Masterpieces

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Fantasy has long been a major part of the movie world, letting audiences escape into places where anything is possible. Recent technological improvements have made it easier for filmmakers to create these fantastical settings with incredible detail and scope. Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings was a huge success, and the final film even won the Oscar for Best Picture, solidifying the genre’s respect. The Harry Potter series captivated a whole generation with its immersive worlds, and that popularity has only grown with massive TV shows like Game of Thrones becoming global hits.

Fantasy films have consistently proven popular with both critics and audiences, making them a major focus for investment and top creative talent in the movie industry. As a result, several highly anticipated fantasy movies are currently in development and heading to theaters. These films offer a wide variety of approaches to the genre, including sequels to blockbuster franchises, new takes on well-known books, and original animated stories.

1) Avatar: Fire and Ash

I’m so excited for the next Avatar movie! It’s called Avatar: Fire and Ash and is set to come out in December 2025. The story will continue following Jake Sully and his family on Pandora, but this time, James Cameron is taking us to completely new parts of the planet. Apparently, we’ll be meeting a Na’vi clan called the “Ash People” who live near volcanoes, and they might be the villains! It sounds like a big change from the forests and oceans we’ve already seen, with promises of incredible new creatures and landscapes. I can’t wait to see what Cameron does with this world – he always delivers something amazing.

2) The Odyssey

Following his recent Oscar success with Oppenheimer, director Christopher Nolan is now bringing Homer’s classic tale, The Odyssey, to the big screen. The film will tell the story of Odysseus, a Greek king, and his decade-long, dangerous journey home after the Trojan War, where he’ll encounter mythical beasts and challenge the gods. The movie stars Matt Damon as Odysseus, alongside Tom Holland, Zendaya, Anne Hathaway, and Robert Pattinson. Nolan wrote and directed the film, shooting it entirely on new IMAX cameras in Greece, Italy, and Morocco. Universal Pictures plans to release it on July 17, 2026, making it a highly anticipated summer event.

3) The Chronicles of Narnia

Fans are thrilled that C.S. Lewis’s beloved Narnia books are being made into movies again! Greta Gerwig, the director known for Barbie, will be writing and directing two films for Netflix. The first movie will be based on The Magician’s Nephew, which tells the story of how Narnia was created and introduces the White Witch. Filming started in London in August 2025, and while the actors haven’t been announced yet, the movie is planned for a special release in theaters and IMAX on Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 2026, before coming to Netflix in December.

4) Dune: Part Three

After the huge success of his first two Dune movies, director Denis Villeneuve is finishing his planned trilogy with Dune: Part Three. This film will be based on the second book in the series, Dune Messiah, and will show the difficult aftermath of Paul Atreides becoming a powerful leader, taking place twelve years after the previous film’s events. Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, and Florence Pugh are all returning, and Robert Pattinson will be joining the cast as the villain Scytale. Warner Bros. plans to release the final movie in theaters on December 18, 2026, bringing Paul’s story to a dramatic close.

5) Shrek 5

After over ten years, DreamWorks is bringing the world of Shrek back to the big screen. The success of Puss in Boots: The Last Wish showed there’s still a lot of love for the funny, fairytale world of Shrek, which helped kickstart development of Shrek 5. Fans are especially excited because the original voice actors – Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, and Cameron Diaz – are all returning. The movie is currently scheduled to be released on June 30, 2027, after a few changes to the release date.

6) Impossible Creatures

As a huge fantasy fan, I’m really excited about Disney’s latest project: an adaptation of Katherine Rundell’s Impossible Creatures! The books are already a massive hit worldwide – a really imaginative series set in this secret world full of mythical beasts. Disney clearly sees the potential for something big, as they fought hard – and spent a lot of money – to get the movie rights. It’s still early days, but what I love is they’ve brought Rundell herself on board to write the first two films and produce. That tells me they’re serious about staying true to the spirit of the books and building a really special franchise.

7) Magic: The Gathering

For years, fans have hoped for a great movie based on the popular trading card game, Magic: The Gathering. That wish is now becoming a reality. With decades of rich backstory and countless unique worlds, Magic: The Gathering offers enough material for a sprawling fantasy universe, similar in scope to Marvel or Star Wars. The project recently gained momentum when Hasbro teamed up with Legendary Entertainment, a major movie studio, to develop the film. In June 2025, Noah Gardner and Aidan Fitzgerald were brought on to write the screenplay. This progress, combined with the incredible potential of the source material, makes the upcoming movie a very exciting prospect.

What fantasy movie coming out soon are you looking forward to the most? Share your thoughts in the comments and join the discussion on the ComicBook Forum!

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2025-11-10 22:45