The past few years have been something of afantasyTV show renaissance, with amazing original series and those based on existing IP breaking new ground within the genre. Thanks to the increased interest in and success of these fantastical shows, manylong-running series will be returning in 2025,andnew additions to the speculative fiction world will get their highly-anticipated premierein the new year. While there’s still a long wait time for some of these projects, as many aren’t expected until late 2025, there’s nothing wrong with getting excited about the possibilities they hold.
There are manyfantasy shows with new seasons coming in 2025, but the most anticipated series of the upcoming year stand apart because of how well they connect with audiences. Almost all of these shows are part of large franchises or are screen adaptations of beloved books and comic series. This has always been a hallmark of the fantasy genre, asliterature and television work well for magical stories because there’s plenty of time and space for proper world-buildingwithout sacrificing character development. It’s both the entrancing plots and compelling characters that keep viewers coming back to these shows.
Castlevania: Nocturne
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Set in 1792 during the French Revolution, Castlevania: Nocturne focuses on Annette, a powerful sorceress who travels to find a descendant of a vampire-hunting family named Richter Belmont. At the same time, a counter-revolutionary aristocracy joins forces with Vampire Messiah. The series continues centuries after the events of the first Castlevania series, with Richter following in his ancestor’s footsteps to slay the hordes of the night.
After the significant impact ofCastlevania, the spinoff seriesCastlevania: Nocturnehas taken the world by storm and proved to be just as explosively action-packedas its predecessor. With an excellent voice cast led by Edward Blumel, also known for his short-livedromantic fantasy seriesMy Lady Jane,Castlevania: Nocturnefollows the story of descendants of the Belmont family during the French Revolution. Fortunately, this setting and period have plenty of gothic influence and violence to satisfy the classicCastlevaniatone.
Since the visuals are also undeniably part of the show’s appeal, the journey to season 2 has been worth it.
CastlevaniaandCastlevania: Nocturneare perfect replacements forThe Legend of Vox Machina, as well as other animated fantasy series that won’t be back in 2025. Due to the fact that animation often takes longer to produce than its live-action counterparts,this makes the wait in between seasons ofCastlevania: Nocturnenot nearly as bad as other projects.Since the visuals are also undeniably part of the show’s appeal, the journey to season 2 has been worth it.
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A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight is set in a time when the Targaryen dynasty rules Westeros.
No concrete premiere date has been set forA Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight, but after years in development, it’s confirmed that the series will come out in the latter half of 2025. Though the recentGame of Thronesspinoff,House of the Dragon, hasn’t reached the same level of popularity as the original show, it’s clear that series within theA Song of Ice and Fireuniverse will continue being huge draws for audiences. The story will bebased on George R.R. Martin’s novella,Tales of Dunk and Egg.
A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms' Trailer Is Breaking A Game Of Thrones Trend Amid Release Window Confusion
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, the next Game of Thrones spinoff, doesn’t have an official teaser yet, which is a departure from House of the Dragon.
There are many questions about how the tone and style ofA Knight of the Seven Kingdomswill differ from otherGOTinstallments, as this series will also be a prequel but not set quite as far in the past asHouse of the Dragon.This series will be a pivotal step in establishing the future of additional spinoffsor help decide that the franchise has run its course. Based on the amount of hype and interest the show has already generated, even though a full trailer has yet to be released.
The Witcher
The Witcher, released in 2019, follows Geralt of Rivia, a mutated monster hunter navigating a turbulent world where humanity’s darker nature often eclipses the monstrous.
A lot of change is in the air forThe Witcherseason 4, as Henry Cavill’s exit as Geralt of Rivia isn’t the only character replacement that audiences will have to look out for.Liam Hemsworth will step in to take over the role of the protagonist,and Kim Bodina will also be leaving after his long tenure as Vesemir. These are significant exits, and there’s no question that the pressure is on forThe Witcherseason 4 to deliver and prove itself as a hallmark of contemporary fantasy television.
Played by Freya Allen, Ciri is a fearsome character in her own right, and she’s due for some serious growth and development in the coming story.
However, there are manyreasons to be optimistic aboutThe Witcherseason 4, as critics and audiences have speculated that the next installment will zero in on Ciri’s development. Played by Freya Allen, Ciri is a fearsome character in her own right, and she’s due for some serious growth and development in the coming story.It’s likely that she and Geralt will be separated for a good portion of season 4,allowing viewers to get used to the new versions of them both.
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Stranger Things
Stranger Things is a Netflix series set in the 1980s, where the mysterious disappearance of a young boy leads a small town to uncover secret experiments and supernatural forces. A significant focus is on a peculiar girl who may hold the key to the unfolding mystery.
SinceStranger Thingsseason 5 has only recently wrapped filming,it’s likely that audiences are looking at an 8-10 month wait before the season drops on Netflix (viaForbes). It’s been a long time since viewers caught up with the residents of Hawkins, and considering how much time has passed and how much is left to tie up before the series ends, there will be no shortage of action and drama in the upcoming installment. Most of the episodes are expected to be much longer than in previous seasons.
This means viewers won’t be disappointed by the amount of content and thatStranger Thingsintends to end with a bang, giving every character their due.As the final installment of the series, it will be hard to say goodbye toStranger Things, but it’s also better to go out on a high note rather than drag out a show for too many seasons. IfStranger Thingssticks the landing of season 5, there’s no reason why it shouldn’t be remembered as a revolutionary fantasy show.
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It: Welcome to Derry
IT: Welcome to Derry serves as a prequel to the IT films, exploring the origins of Pennywise the Clown. Set in the 1960s, this installment dives into the backdrop of Derry, unveiling the dark history and circumstances surrounding the infamous creature.
After the success of the two movies based on Stephen King’s seminal work,ItandIt: Chapter Two, it was clear that fans of fantasy horror and King’s writing have a thirst for more stories within this world. This is howIt: Welcome To Derryhas been brought to life asa prequel to the novel’s events, following the story of Pennywise’s origins.With its period piece setting, familiar terror, and fantastical elements,Welcome To Derrywill capture the minds and hearts of horror fans everywhere.
It will be interesting to see how the writers elevated the small flashbacks to stretch them into an entire season of TV.
Bill Skarsgård will be back playing Pennywise,which is reason enough to tune into the series, but this is only the beginning of whatWelcome To Derrymight have in store. Most audiences are familiar withItand are aware of Pennywise’s tricks. So, it will be interesting to see how the writers elevated the small flashbacks to stretch them into an entire season of TV. Since Andi Muschietti and Barbara Muschietti, two minds behind the movies, are heading up the show, there’s reason to believe thatIt: Welcome To Derrywill share the same aesthetics and tone.
Wednesday
Wednesday follows the journey of Wednesday Addams as she attends Nevermore Academy, a boarding school for outcasts. Tasked with mastering her psychic abilities, she confronts a series of town murders and a haunting family mystery from 25 years ago, all while managing new social dynamics.
Netflix’s runaway hit, the darkly comic fantasy TV seriesWednesday,is finally making its return in 2025, three years after its initial premiere. While it’s been hard to wait this long, there are a lot of exciting developments ahead for Jenna Ortega’s Wednesday Addams, the deadpan sleuth who uncovered the mysteries haunting Nevermore Academy last season. Season 1 left off on an explosive cliffhanger, so the next time audiences see Wednesday, they’ll have a lot of questions.
Ortega and the series' director, Tim Burton, recently partnered onBeetlejuice Beetlejuice,so it will be interesting to see how their continued working relationship allows for even more interesting moments inWednesdayseason 2. Additionally, the development of the friendship between Wednesday and her happy-go-lucky roommate, Enid Sinclair (Emma Myers), will be a great source of emotional appeal as the pair grow to rely on each other even more.
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Mayfair Witches
Mayfair Witches follows a young neurosurgeon who discovers her unexpected lineage as the heir to a powerful family of witches. As she navigates her emerging magical abilities, she confronts a dark force that has plagued her family through the generations. Created by Esta Spalding and Michelle Ashford.
Mayfair Witchesis the latest series in AMC’s slate of adaptations of Anne Rice’s work. It’s based on theLives of the Mayfair Witchesnovel series by Rice.Season 2 is on the horizon,with the first episode premiering on January 5th, meaning audiences don’t have long to wait until they’re back inside Rowan’s mystical world. Rowan is the protagonist ofMayfair Witches, played by Alexandra Daddario, who discovers that her family’s secret is much more magical and dangerous than she realized.
Many viewers found the show on Netflix after season 1 was released, allowing forMayfair Witchesto slowly grow in popularity.
AMC is also behindInterview with the Vampire,the recent TV series that brings to life Rice’s other popular novel, and both shows are proving that her work lends itself to television very well. Though it’s not as well known as some of the other fantasy heavy hitters airing today,Mayfair Witchesis an underrated series that will likely grow in popularity now that it’s getting another installment. Many viewers found the show on Netflix after season 1 was released, allowing forMayfair Witches to slowly grow in popularity.
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Daredevil: Born Again
Daredevil: Born Again follows blind lawyer Matt Murdock, who uses his heightened abilities to pursue justice in New York. As he manages a bustling law firm, former mob boss Wilson Fisk navigates political ambitions, leading both men toward a confrontation as their pasts resurface.
Charlie Cox’s return to the MCU has been a long time coming, and there’s no more fitting way for him to cement his place in the canon than for Daredevil to get a second chance at a show of his own. Cox originally portrayed Daredevil in the Marvel seriesDaredevil, which premiered in 2015 on Netflix, along with a few other darker installments of the MCU likeJessica JonesorLuke Cage. As Matt Murdock/Daredevil, the lawyer-by-day, and crime-fighter-by-night, Cox has always struck the perfect tone, making him a fan-favorite character.
Matt Murdock’s 10 Best MCU Scenes Before Daredevil: Born Again, Ranked
Charlie Cox’s Matt Murdock will be returning in 2025’s Daredevil: Born Again, so it’s time to look back at some of his best scenes in the MCU so far.
This time around,Murdock has made a few appearances in recent Marvel movies and TV shows,but they’ve all been small bit parts that didn’t allow the viewer to dig into what’s been happening behind the scenes with Daredevil. Fortunately, it seems thatDaredevil: Born Againis providing exactly this and is even bringing back Jon Bernthal as the Punisher, another iconic character from this era. It will likely be one of the most violent action-oriented shows on Disney+ in the new year.
Invincible
Based on the comic book character by Robert Kirkman, Invincible follows Mark Grayson, a seventeen-year-old who leads a seemingly average life save for the fact that he lives behind the shadow of his superhero father, Omni-Man. Mark goes on to develop superhuman abilities, but he must also learn that his father’s legacy isn’t as glitzy and glamorous as he’s been led to believe.
One of the bloodiest animated TV shows on TV,Invincible, has paid tribute to the comic series it’s based on in both tone and aesthetics. Visually,Invincibleis blowing other fantasy series out of the water, as animation allows the show to push boundaries, use even more gore, and not be constrained by the laws of physics, which is helpful for a superhero series. Blending aspects of science fiction and the superhero genre into its story,Invinciblehas put its protagonist, Mark, through a lot.
Steven Yeun leads the stellar voice cast as Mark, the young man trying to balance being a hero with being a normal kid and frequently getting hit with the worst of both worlds.
Unfortunately, it looks like Mark’s woes are far from over as he kicks into gear for season 3, which will see him face his toughest challenges yet. Steven Yeun leads the stellar voice cast as Mark, the young man trying to balance being a hero with being a normal kid and frequently getting hit with the worst of both worlds. With rave reviews from audiences and critics alike,Invinciblehas set a high bar for itself, butthere’s no reason to believe season 3 won’t exceed expectations.
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The Wheel of Time
The Wheel of Time follows Moiraine, a member of the powerful all-female organization Aes Sedai, as she leads a perilous quest with five young individuals. Moiraine suspects one among them could be the prophesized reincarnation of a mighty figure destined to either save or doom humanity.
Based on Robert Jordan’s seminal highfantasybook series of the same name,The Wheel of Timehas been balancing its heavy world-building and complex magic system with great characters for two strong seasons. There’s been some speculation about howThe Wheel of Timeseason 3 will deal with the decision to skip some of the books and alter certain events, but since the novels are so long and layered, it makes sense the show would do this. Overall,The Wheel of Timehas stayed true to the heart of the story.
New actors will joinThe Wheel of Timeseason 3,but the best parts of the show will likely continue to be the dynamics between the returning actors. Rosamund Pike, Daniel Henney, Zoë Robins, and Madeleine Madden have all been stand-out parts ofThe Wheel of Time, making it easy to invest in their characters. Like Prime Videos' other projects,The Wheel of Time has a significant budget and a number of resources to work with, making each season as immersive as possible.
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