A ton of TV shows are returning in 2025, some of which we were worried might somehow fall by the wayside, never to be seen again, let alone conclude in a satisfying way. But we are very excited to share six returning fantasy shows that we simply cannot wait to see!
From Stranger Things coming to an end to a new and wild season of the live-action One Piece adaptation, let's highlight these returning shows and talk a little about what fans can expect.
1. The Sandman season 2 (Netflix)
We begin our list is the return of The Sandman, based on the comic book series by Neil Gaiman. Although Gaiman has found himself in the middle of an ongoing scandal, to put it mildly, we want to focus on The Sandman TV show, which remains extremely relevant, will be returning for season 2.
Similar to Gaiman's other work Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch (which was also adapted into a television show, but over on Amazon Prime Video), The Sandman is a story based on myth, folklore, and religious characters and stories. Main character Morpheus, the physical embodiment of dreams, is captured and imprisoned. Upon his escape, he must bring order back to his realm.
On his path, we meet other characters from his past and present, such as Lucifer Morningstar, Morephus' sister Death, brothers Cain and Abel, the Fates and Desire. The story has a thrilling and captivating format and creativity to spare.
While we do not have an official release date, season 2 of The Sandman will be premiering in 2025.
2. The Witcher season 4 (Netflix)
Okay, so we might be the odd one out with this one due to several reasons we really don't have time to dive into. Fans had a lot of issues and complaints about season 3 of this fantasy drama, and we know that lead actor Henry Cavill will not be returning to play the lead role of Geralt of Rivia. He'll be replaced by Liam Hemsworth.
The show started off strong, arguably in part because Cavill loved the source material and did what he could to make sure the show stayed true to it. The Witcher has gone through its ups and downs since then, but can you blame us for wondering what season 4 will bring?
With each season, the story of The Witcher has evolved and changed. Will Liam Hemsworth's take on Geralt be the one change that breaks the entire show, or will it renew interest? Although season 5 will be the final season of the series a lot remains unknown. Has Geralt's story taken a backseat to Ciri's arc? Will Geralt and Yennefer commit themselves to a serious relationship? What will become of Geralt now that he has abandoned his stance on remaining neutral?
There has yet to be an official announcement about a release date for The Witcher season 4, but we look forward to the new season, hopeful that things will improve.
We don't yet know the release date for The Witcher season 4.
3. Stranger Things season 5 (Netflix)
For some time, there were consistent updates about Stranger Things season 5. And then the writers and actors strikes of 2023 happened. We've been waiting a while for new episodes of Stranger Things, but by this point fans are pretty used to that. This sci-fi show has always taken its time.
But now that the fifth and final season will be airing next year, we can focus on the plethora of theories about what's to come, who will survive, and how the story will conclude. Stranger Things is an amalgamation of everything nostalgic from the 1980s, from music to lingo to, of course, horror movies.
What starts as a story about childhood friends searching for their missing buddy turns into an epic involving a mysterious telekinetic girl, creepy science experiments, and the discovery of the scary alternate dimension called the Upside Down. When our characters aren't dealing with otherworldly problems, they are trying to cope with the trials and tribulations of growing up.
Considering this is the final season, we are waiting anxiously on the edge of our seats to see how the sleepy town of Hawkins, IN will be saved from the Upside Down and what will become of the characters we've come to know and love.
There's no release date set for Stranger Things season 5 as of yet.
4. The Wheel of Time season 3 (Prime Video)
Stepping away from Netflix for a moment, Prime Video's adaptation of Robert Jordan's beloved The Wheel of Time book series is returning for a third season in 2025. This epic fantasy follows the journey of Rand al'Thor, an unassuming farm boy who turns out to be a long-prophesied hero who could save the world...or destroy it. We also meet his ever-growing coterie of friends, familiy, enemies, and hangers-on. They all have a role to play in this dense tale.
The third season will adapt The Shadow Rising, one of the best-loved books in Jordan's series. Rand, Moiraine, and Egwene will make their way to the mysterious Aiel Waste, Perrin will go home to the Two Rivers — which we haven't seen since the first season of the show — and Nynaeve and Elayne will go hunting for the Black Ajah. The show is growing in scope just as the book series did.
There are 14 Wheel of Time books in all, so this series has a long way to go if it wants to tell the story. Season 2 was a decent upgrade on season 1. If season 3 continues that trend, we could be in for an epic ride.
The third season of The Wheel of Time will air on Prime Video on March 13.
5. One Piece season 2 (Netflix)
One of the biggest surprises of 2023 was Netflix's live-action adaptation of the extremely popular manga and anime One Piece. The manga, just now in its final act, has been ongoing for 27 years, so the Netflix show has a lot to cover!
Season 1 followed Monkey D. Luffy on the first steps of his journey to become King of the Pirates. As he gathers his crew of unique and interesting characters, the bizarre and compelling world of One Piece comes alive! While an actual release date for season 2 remains unconfirmed, we can still expect the next season to air in 2025.
Considering how lengthy the manga is, we have high hopes that this series will outlast a multitude of other shows on Netflix, which seems to love canceling its own original shows. What adventures await our Straw Hat pirates?
6. Percy Jackson and the Olympians season 2 (Disney+)
While I was past the ideal target age when the Percy Jackson & the Olympians books were released, I was familiar with the story thanks to my interest in ancient history. Although two Percy Jackson films were released in 2010 and 2013, it always seemed like the story might be better served by a TV show.
The series, available to watch on Disney+ may have flown under the radar for some, even though it appears to be beloved by viewers and critics alike. The story reveals that the ancient Greek gods and goddesses are real, and just like in the myths, they have children living among us.
This includes Percy, a demigod whose parents are human mother Sally and the Greek god Poseidon. From there Percy enters Camp Half-Blood where he meets others like himself, sons and daughters of the Greek gods and goddesses.
There are plenty of books in the Percy Jackson & the Olympians series, which means plenty of content to keep the show going. What I like most about the show is how it can be enjoyed by kids and adults alike, making it the ideal program to watch as a family.
Like a lot of the shows on this list, we don't know exactly when the second season of Percy Jackson and the Olympians will be coming out. Which fantasy TV show are you most excited to see return in 2025?
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