4. Rebel Moon: Part 2 — The Scargiver (April 19)
Rebel Moon is director Zack Snyder's take on Star Wars. A tyrannical, interstellar empire threatens the peace on an agrarian moon. A ragtag band of rebels unite to step the interlopers, preserve their freedom, and send a message to the rest of the galaxy: don't tread on me.
Rebel Moon is a two-part movie event. The first part, subtitled A Child of Fire, came out last December and got some of the worst reviews of Zack Snyder's career, although audiences were a bit kinder than critics. Everyone agrees that the movie has Snyder's stylistic flair — if you've seen movies like 300 or Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, you know to expect lots of gloomy slow-mo and shots of muscular bodies glistening in the heat of battle — but many complained that the first movie was too much setup and not enough payoff. One suspects that will come in Part 2.
Should Snyder have just cut down his movie until it was digestible in one sitting? Perhaps, but the man behind Zack Snyder's Justice League has never been known for his succinctness. Plus, it feels like Netflix wants to build a cinematic universe on top of Rebel Moon. Much will depend on how people receive Part 2.
5. Bridgerton season 3 (May 16 and June 16)
Okay, Bridgerton isn't really a sci-fi/fantasy show, but period dramas often get grandfathered in under the "fantasy" umbrella. I mean, they're riding horses and wearing corsets, they're halfway there.
Netflix's Regency-era romance show has become a monster hit, part romanic comedy, part bodice ripper, all addictive TV perfection. Each season has focused on a different couple. The upcoming third season will revolve around Colin Bridgerton and Penelope Featherington, played by Luke Newton and Nicola Coughlan.
Season 3 is based on Julia Quinn's book Romancing Mister Bridgerton, the fourth book in her Bridgerton series (the show is skipping the third book, although it could come back later). Viewers know that Penelope has been nursing a crush on Colin for some time, but she's seemingly abandoned it after hearing some disparaging things he said about her in season 2. When he comes back from his summer travels with a renewed sense of swagger, he attempts to win back her friendship. But could these friends become...something more? Outlook seems likely.
And Penelope will be walking through this romantic minefield all while trying to maintain her secret identity as Lady Whistledown. Get ready for more romantic misadventures when the first four episodes of season 3 drop on May 16. The back four will follow a month later on June 16.