Every fantasy fan knows the feeling… the thrill when your favourite book is announced for the screen… followed by the creeping dread it’s going to get absolutely butchered. For every Lord of the Rings masterpiece, there’s a Percy Jackson (the first try, not the Disney+ revival!) or a City of Bones that missed the mark.
So what about the new wave of fantasy adaptations currently in the works? From Greta Gerwig’s bold take on Narnia to Christopher Nolan tackling Greek myth, here are my most anticipated fantasy adaptations on the horizon 👀
The Magician’s Nephew – Greta Gerwig’s Narnia (November 2026)
Gerwig is taking us back to Narnia’s beginnings with The Magician’s Nephew, starring Emma Mackey as the White Witch. Rumour has it Meryl Streep could voice Aslan, with Daniel Craig as Uncle Andrew. Gerwig has called it “whimsical, rock-and-roll,” which could be genius… or complete chaos. Either way, I’ll be watching.
Wildwood – Laika Studios
Laika, the stop-motion powerhouse behind Coraline and Kubo, is adapting Colin Meloy’s Wildwood. With Carey Mulligan in the cast and Laika’s flawless track record, this promises to be visually stunning, eerie, and utterly unforgettable.
The Odyssey – Christopher Nolan (July 2026)
Nolan is bringing Homer’s epic to life with Matt Damon as Odysseus. Expect no whimsical detours here, this will be gritty and intense(because it’s Nolan). A high-stakes adaptation that could either redefine myth on screen… or polarise audiences. I guess we’ll see?
Children of Blood and Bone – Tomi Adeyemi (January 2027)
At last, Adeyemi’s West African–inspired fantasy is heading to cinemas. Directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood and starring Viola Davis, Regina King, and Idris Elba, the cast screams epic. The question is whether the film will give the book’s rich worldbuilding enough space to shine.
Rise of the Empress – Amazon Prime
Julie C. Dao’s Forest of a Thousand Lanterns trilogy is coming to Prime Video, bringing palace intrigue, political drama, and morally grey characters to the small screen. If done well, this could rival Game of Thrones for scheming and spectacle but with a distinctly East Asian-inspired twist.
Of course, we know star power and big budgets don’t guarantee success. The Witcher proved how quickly tonal shifts can lose viewers, while rushed pacing or mischaracterisation can make beloved heroes feel like strangers.
Adaptations are powerful they bring new readers into fantasy worlds and cement characters into cultural memory. But if an on-screen version strays too far from the source, it risks becoming the “new canon” for audiences who never pick up the book… for fans, that can feel like betrayal.
So, which adaptation are you most excited (or nervous) about?
