Is Hollywood out of fresh ideas, or are we living through a fantasy boom?
Either way, the next two years are stacked: Mario goes galactic, Nolan is filming The Odyssey in IMAX, Greta Gerwig is rebooting Narnia, Dune gets its finale, and new adaptations like Children of Blood & Bone and Klara & The Sun are joining the mix.
Studios are still locking dates and drip-feeding trailers, so plans could shift.
This guide lists every major upcoming fantasy movie, its release date, and what trailers or teasers are out now—so you know what to mark on your calendar.
Upcoming Fantasy Movies (Chronological List)
The next couple years are stacked with fantasy releases hitting theaters and streaming. Big franchises are coming back, new adaptations are landing, and original stories are getting their shot. These dates change all the time, but here’s what studios are saying right now as of early 2025. Here’s everything coming, in order.
- April 3, 2026 — The Super Mario Galaxy Movie (theatrical)
- May 22, 2026 — The Mandalorian & Grogu (theatrical)
- July 10, 2026 — Moana (live-action, theatrical)
- July 17, 2026 — The Odyssey (theatrical)
- October 2026 — The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender (Paramount+, date tentative)
- November 26, 2026 — Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew (limited IMAX theatrical)
- December 18, 2026 — Dune: Part Three (theatrical)
- December 25, 2026 — Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew (Netflix)
- January 15, 2027 — Children of Blood & Bone (theatrical)
- 2026 (date TBA) — Klara & The Sun
What Each Upcoming Fantasy Movie Is About
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie keeps going after the first one blew up. This time, Mario, Luigi, Peach, and Bowser head into space. It’s pulling from the Super Mario Galaxy games, so expect new worlds, galactic chaos, and the arrival of Bowser Jr. and Princess Rosalina, who basically runs the cosmos.
The Mandalorian & Grogu picks up where Season 3 left off. Jon Favreau’s directing this one, and it’s taking Din Djarin and Grogu back to theaters after living on Disney+ for years. New threats, new allies, same duo.
Moana (live-action) is doing the 2016 animated movie again, just with real people. Moana teams up with Maui to save her island and restore balance across the Pacific. Dwayne Johnson’s back as Maui. Some fans are already asking why they’re remaking something that isn’t even ten years old yet.
The Odyssey is Christopher Nolan doing Homer’s epic. Odysseus spends ten years trying to get home from Troy, running into monsters, sirens, nymphs, and gods along the way. The whole thing’s shot with IMAX cameras.
The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender lands somewhere between the original series and The Legend of Korra. Aang, Katara, Sokka, Toph, and Zuko are all young adults trying to figure out what happens after the Hundred Year War ends. It’s supposed to drop on Paramount+ in October 2026, but production delays might push it back.
Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew is Netflix rebooting Chronicles of Narnia with Greta Gerwig directing. It’s adapting the prequel, so you’ll see how Narnia gets created and where the White Witch comes from. There’s a limited IMAX run over Thanksgiving, then it goes wide on Netflix in December. Netflix wants to make seven of these.
Dune: Part Three wraps up Denis Villeneuve’s trilogy. It’s pulling from Dune: Messiah and finishing Paul Atreides’ story after two massive films. December 2026.
Children of Blood & Bone adapts Tomi Adeyemi’s novel. It’s set in an alternate Nigeria where people with magic (called divîners) are persecuted by non-magical rulers. Zélie, who controls the undead through Reaper powers, teams up with her brother Tzain and Princess Amari to bring magic back.
Cast and Production Details for Major Upcoming Fantasy Releases
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie brings back everyone from the first movie and adds Benny Safdie as Bowser Jr. and Brie Larson as Princess Rosalina. Jon Favreau’s directing The Mandalorian & Grogu. Christopher Nolan’s got an absolutely stacked cast for The Odyssey: Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland, Zendaya, Charlize Theron, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’O, Jon Bernthal. It’s his first project after winning the Academy Award.
Greta Gerwig’s taking on Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew. It’s her first big franchise thing since Barbie. Children of Blood & Bone stars Thuso Mbedu as Zélie, with Amandla Stenberg, Tosin Cole, Viola Davis, Cynthia Erivo, Idris Elba, and Lashana Lynch filling out the cast. Denis Villeneuve’s back for Dune: Part Three with the same core cast.
Taika Waititi’s directing and producing Klara & The Sun, based on Kazuo Ishiguro’s novel about a solar-powered “Artificial Friend” named Klara who thinks the Sun is alive. Jenna Ortega, Amy Adams, Steve Buscemi, and Mia Tharia (playing Josie, the sick teenager Klara’s with) are all in it.
Who’s doing what:
- Christopher Nolan directing The Odyssey with a $250 million budget, full IMAX
- Greta Gerwig directing the first Narnia reboot for Netflix
- Jon Favreau continuing as director of The Mandalorian & Grogu theatrical release
- Thuso Mbedu leading Children of Blood & Bone
- Denis Villeneuve wrapping the Dune trilogy
- Taika Waititi directing Klara & The Sun with Jenna Ortega and Amy Adams
Updates on Fantasy Franchises Returning With New Installments
Netflix is going all in on Chronicles of Narnia. They’re planning to adapt up to seven books from C.S. Lewis’s series. The Magician’s Nephew starts things off with a limited IMAX run before hitting streaming, which is their way of building theatrical buzz while still feeding subscribers. Getting Greta Gerwig means they’re serious about attracting top filmmakers for the long haul.
The Mandalorian & Grogu is Star Wars coming back to theaters after spending the 2020s focused on streaming. Jon Favreau built Din Djarin and Grogu on Disney+ across three seasons, and now Lucasfilm’s moving them to the big screen. Makes sense when you think about it.
Dune: Part Three finishes Denis Villeneuve’s trilogy, which started in 2021 and kept rolling with Part Two in 2024. He’s said this is his last Dune movie, though the franchise itself might keep going with other directors digging into Frank Herbert’s universe. Dropping it in December 2026 positions it as a holiday event after two critically loved films.
Trailers, Teasers, and First-Look Footage
Studios are slowly rolling out promo material for the 2026 fantasy lineup. They’re holding full trailers until we get closer. The Odyssey dropped its first teaser early in 2025, showing off those sweeping IMAX shots and quick glimpses of the cast. Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew put out a brief announcement teaser when they confirmed Greta Gerwig, but no full trailer yet.
What’s out there:
- The Odyssey — early teaser with IMAX cinematography and ensemble cast moments, released early 2025
- Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew — announcement teaser with director confirmation and Netflix branding, no full trailer
- The Mandalorian & Grogu — brief sizzle reel at Star Wars Celebration showing Din Djarin and Grogu in new spots
- Dune: Part Three — production stills and behind-the-scenes stuff at CinemaCon, full trailer expected mid-2026
- Children of Blood & Bone — first-look images of Thuso Mbedu as Zélie, teaser trailer probably coming late 2025
Final Words
We’re in the thick of a fantasy wave: a chronological list, short synopses, and production rundowns laid out so you can see what’s coming and when.
You’ve got release dates, what each movie is about, who’s making them, franchise updates, and where to find trailers. Quick, no fluff.
If you want a one-stop cheat sheet for upcoming fantasy movies, this post has you covered. Keep an eye on those release windows, the next few years look magic.
FAQ
Q: What is the 2.5 rule for movies?
A: The 2.5 rule for movies is an informal guideline suggesting around two and a half hours is a common runtime for big, epic films; it’s flexible and depends on story, audience, and release strategy.
Q: What is the new sci-fi movie coming out in 2026?
A: The new sci-fi movie coming out in 2026 refers to several announced projects; to find the specific title, check studio release calendars and trade sites like Variety or Deadline for confirmed 2026 releases.
Q: What are the top 10 fantasy movies?
A: The top 10 fantasy movies often include the Lord of the Rings trilogy, Pan’s Labyrinth, Harry Potter (first), Spirited Away, The Princess Bride, Stardust, Willow, and The Chronicles of Narnia.
Q: What fantasy shows are coming out?
A: The fantasy shows coming out include new series and reboots from streaming services—Netflix’s Narnia reboot, additional Rings of Power seasons, and several original adaptations; check platform schedules for exact release dates.