# 6 Most Anticipated Upcoming Fantasy Movies Ranked by Hype From Westeros to Hyrule, these high-profile fantasy adaptations are generating significant audience excitement. - **Source:** [Collider](https://collider.com) - **Published:** 2026-11-07 - **Topic:** [entertainment](https://brifing.si/c/entertainment) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/dbb7722b-6513-4544-b450-8d0187621dbc ## Enduring Appeal of Fantasy Fantasy cinema has evolved from the early shorts of Georges Méliès into a dominant storytelling medium. Modern projects continue this tradition by adapting beloved literary and gaming universes. These upcoming films represent significant investments in intellectual property, aiming to replicate the massive cultural impact of previous genre-defining cinematic masterpieces and franchises. ## Westeros Expands to Film The Game of Thrones universe is set to debut its first feature film, Aegon's Conquest, tentatively scheduled for 2029. Directed by Owen Harris, the project explores events a century before House of the Dragon. Writers Mattson Tomlin and Beau Willimon are tasked with translating George R. R. Martin's expansive lore for theaters. ## Middle-earth Returns to Screens Andy Serkis will direct and star in The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, scheduled for release next year. The film features Ian McKellen as Gandalf and Jamie Dornan as Aragorn. This project serves as the first in a new series of live-action films based on J. R. R. Tolkien's original appendices. ## Narnia Reimagined by Gerwig Greta Gerwig is directing The Chronicles of Narnia: The Magician's Nephew for Netflix following her success with Barbie. This project marks a revival of the dormant franchise originally based on C.S. Lewis's work. Despite some fan skepticism regarding creative liberties, Gerwig's history of taking bold risks makes this a highly anticipated release. ## Laika Adapts Piranesi Laika Studios is developing a stop-motion adaptation of Susanna Clarke's novel Piranesi, directed by Travis Knight. The script is written by Dave Kajganich, known for his work on Bones and All. The studio aims to capture the dark, psychologically complex atmosphere of the source material through their signature, visually impressive animation style. ## Elden Ring Cinematic Vision Alex Garland will write and direct a film adaptation of the video game Elden Ring, produced by George R. R. Martin. The project is distributed by A24 and features a cast including Kit Connor and Cailee Spaeny. Pitched as a gory fantasy epic, it aims to translate the game's challenging combat mechanics. ## Zelda's Live-Action Debut Nintendo is developing a live-action Legend of Zelda film directed by Wes Ball and written by T. S. Nowlin. Starring Benjamin Evan Ainsworth as Link and Bo Bragason as Zelda, the project follows the success of The Super Mario Bros. Movie. It is currently one of the most anticipated fantasy blockbusters for fans. ## Franchise Strategy and Risk Studios are increasingly relying on established intellectual property to ensure box office success. While adaptations like The Hunt for Gollum face scrutiny regarding potential cash-grab perceptions, the involvement of original creative teams often mitigates these concerns. Balancing fan expectations with new creative directions remains a primary challenge for these high-budget fantasy productions. ## The Role of Gaming Video game adaptations have shifted from niche projects to major Hollywood priorities. With Elden Ring and The Legend of Zelda, studios are betting on the deep world-building inherent in modern gaming. These films must successfully bridge the gap between interactive gameplay experiences and the linear narrative requirements of traditional feature-length cinema. ## Future of Fantasy Cinema The coming years will test whether these ambitious adaptations can satisfy both purist fans and general audiences. Success depends on the ability of directors like Gerwig and Garland to balance creative vision with the core elements that made the original works famous. These projects will likely define the fantasy genre's commercial landscape. ## Sources covering this story - https://collider.com/upcoming-fantasy-movies-ranked-hype/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._