The fantasy television genre has ebbed and flowed over the years; recently it seems like there's been more of an interest in sci-fi and horror than the more magical side of the speculative fiction. Even so, it's hard to deny the cultural impact of recent fantasy series like Arcane and Agatha All Along. Here at WinterIsComing, we've naturally also had our eyes on epic fantasies like House of the Dragon, The Wheel of Time, and The Rings of Power.
While plenty of these franchises have new seasons coming out in the next year or two, it's always wise to keep an ear out for new fantasy series that might win our hearts. There are many books and series that have been tapped to become the next big fantasy show, but many have been left on the shelf or developed only to be dropped later. It's hard to get a new idea off the ground.
That makes it that much more exciting when a new series makes it out of the development and onto our screens. Here are six new fantasy series we are most excited about, all of which are set to debut in 2025.
Wolf King (Netflix)
Wolf King is based on Curtis Jobling's Wereworld book series. The series follows Drew Ferran, a teenager who learns that he is not only a werewolf but also the rightful heir to the throne. Not much is known about the production yet, but as part of Netflix’s push to be a leader in animation, audiences can expect high-quality art and voice acting.
While it’s certainly intended for younger audiences, Wolf King has the potential to continue the revival of quality fantasy animation. The books are described as “Game of Thrones for tweens” on their Penguin Random House page, a niche that visual media desperately needs to fill. If it follows through on its promises, this series will feature intricate worldbuilding realize them with cutting-edge animation. Ambitious shows based on largely unknown properties like this deserve as much attention right now as we can give them.
Barbaric (Netflix)
We don’t know much yet about Netflix’s other upcoming fantasy release, but what we do know is cause for a lot of excitement. Barbaric is based on the Vault Comics series of the same name, which follows a barbarian named Owen who was cursed to perform good deeds. Described as “Deadpool meets Game of Thrones” in the press release, the series is set to star Sam Claflin in the leading role, with Patrick Stewart voicing Owen’s bloodthirsty, sentient axe.
Sound crazy enough for you? Michael Bay is apparently being considered to direct. The comics have only been out for a few years, with the first debuting in 2021, but they have received a lot of praise. It sounds like the perfect watch for fantasy lovers who want a dash of humor, and the comic plotlines read like the zaniest session of Dungeons & Dragons you’ve ever seen.
According to the writers behind the comic, the ethos of the story was: “Forget what fantasy is supposed to be and make it something crazy and fun and just get lost in it.” As long as that’s still the goal when it comes to television, we expect a good time.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (Max)
We would be remiss not to include the newest Game of Thrones spinoff on this list, as it’s another chance for HBO to try to adapt George R.R. Martin’s literature for onscreen success. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is based on Martin’s Tales of Dunk and Egg novellas, beginning with The Hedge Knight. The source material is lighter in tone than either Game of Thrones or House of the Dragon, so it could make for a new angle on the Seven Kingdoms.
The novellas primarily follow the taciturn knight Ser Duncan the Tall and his motormouthed squire Egg as they adventure around Westeros. The story takes place decades after the events of House of the Dragon but decades before House of the Dragon. Hopefully, the show’s creators manage to capture the best aspects of both earlier shows and bring something new.
Anne Rice's The Talamasca (AMC)
AMC has found success in adapting Anne Rice’s works for TV, starting with Interview with the Vampire and continuing with Mayfair Witches, so it’s no surprise that they are continuing to expand on this new televised universe. The Talamasca will explore the secret agency keeping an eye on the supernatural community, which has already been depicted in the earlier shows.
Producer Mark Johnson explained that The Talamasca, as he sees it, “marries the procedural spy thriller with the supernatural.” This kind of genre mixing has created some of the best and weirdest shows on television, so it’s definitely worth tuning in. Since this will be the first series in the Immortal Universe to be based on a concept without direct source material, it will determine how AMC can expand the franchise in the future.
The Librarians: The Next Chapter (TNT)
The Librarians franchise began in 2004 when Flynn Carsen became the titular Librarian, charged with finding and protecting magical artifacts. That film was succeeded by two more TV movies and a four-season series, The Librarians, on TNT. The CW began working on a sequel series in 2023, but it was then moved back to TNT with a two-season order, the first of which is set to arrive in 2025.
The new series is expected to follow “a Librarian from the past, played by Callum McGowan, who time traveled to the present," accidentally unleashed magic, and has to try to clean it up. While none of the former cast members have been confirmed to be returning outside of Christian Kane, it’s a delight for fans to see this franchise still evolving and changing 20 years later.
Outlander: Blood of My Blood (Starz)
The eighth and final season of Outlander is airing in 2025, probably late in the year. Before that, Starz will debut this prequel series which will trace the development of two romances: in 18th century Scotland, Ellen MacKenzie and Brian Fraser (Harriet Slater and Jamie Roy) will meet and fall in love. Meanwhile, centuries later during the World War I, Julia Moriston and Henry Beauchamp (Hermione Corfield and Jeremy Irvine) will link up.
Eventually, these two will give birth to Jamie Fraser and Claire Beauchamp, who will cross centuries to write one of the most popular love stories ever put on TV. Hopefully this prequel will help fans sad about the end of Outlander, and kick off a brand new exciting adventure in its own right.
Asterix & Obelix: The Big Fight (Netflix, Spring 2025)
Finishing off our list of most-anticipated new fantasy series for 2025 is Asterix & Obelix: The Big Fight, another Netflix animated production. The show will be based on the French Asterix comics, specifically the Asterix and the Big Fight arc from 1966. The comic series follows a man from Gaul during the Roman conquests as he and his friends attempt to keep Julius Caesar’s forces at bay.
The Asterix series is currently the second best-selling comic series in history, and the top from Europe, so there is a built-in audience here. Thankfully, the newest teaser is incredibly promising, showing a similar art style to the comics, cartoon physics on full display, and a clear sense of the chaos that Asterix will be causing in the latest conflict between Rome and Gaul. This seems like an obvious must-watch for fans of Krapopolis, but it’ll likely be a hit for anybody who enjoys a good historical(ish) fantasy.
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