Spoiler Warning: Beware of minor spoilers for some of the titles discussed below.
Where has the first half of 2026 gone?! I can’t believe the year’s already halfway done; New Year’s Eve quite literally feels like it was yesterday! But it’s the 30th of June today – so as I do every year, I’d like to take a look ahead to some of the entertainment experiences that lie ahead between now and Christmas.
And yes… Christmas is coming. We’re already halfway there!
This isn’t a review or recap of some of the films, games, and TV shows of 2026. That’ll come in December, when I hand out my annual “End-of-Year Awards,” so stay tuned for that! Instead, this is a look ahead – I’ve chosen five films, five TV programmes, and five video games that I’m looking forward to as the second half of 2026 gets underway.
As always, a couple of important caveats!
At time of writing in late June 2026, all of the titles discussed below are still officially slated for release later this year. However, it’s not impossible to think that some (or even all) of them will miss their intended release/broadcast dates, and may even slip back into next year. These things happen all the time.
Secondly, if a title you’re really hyped up for or excited about doesn’t make the list, or if I show interest in something that sounds just awful to you… *that’s okay!* There will always be a range of opinions on entertainment and media, and we don’t all like the same things. I’m sharing a few titles that – in my *subjective* opinion – seem interesting or entertaining, but this is by no means an exhaustive list!
With that being said, I feel a need to point out one particular exclusion this time around. You’ll notice below that Grand Theft Auto VI – arguably the biggest release of the year for the entire entertainment sector – isn’t on my list. That’s for a couple of reasons. One: GTA 6 has been teased and delayed before, and I wouldn’t be stunned to learn another delay is imminent. I don’t have any “insider information” on that, but it feels like a 50/50 bet to me right now.
Secondly, and more importantly from a personal point of view, the money-grubbing pricks at Rockstar and Take-Two have deliberately cheaped out on giving Grand Theft Auto VI a PC release. Because PC is where I play games – and I have no intention of buying an expensive console – I won’t get access to GTA 6 this year, even assuming that it makes its release date. For that reason alone… I’m not even thinking about the game, to be honest. There will be plenty of other things to watch and play. Assuming GTA 6 makes it to PC in a year or two from now, I daresay I’ll try it out (perhaps when it goes on sale). But in 2026? It isn’t even a blip on my radar!
Okay, with all of that out of the way… let’s get into the list!
Film #1:
The End of Oak Street
I’ve seen a couple of trailers for The End of Oak Street, and I’m kind of intrigued! It could be terrible, of course, but its basic premise reminds me a little of a book I read a long time ago called Island in the Sea of Time, which sees a modern-day settlement sent back to the Bronze Age. This film, though, might involve time travel to the dinosaur era… and, I mean, who doesn’t love a good dino movie or Jurassic Park homage?
Director David Robert Mitchell was responsible for the critically-acclaimed 2014 film It Follows, and The End of Oak Street will star Anne Hathaway and Ewan McGregor. I wasn’t totally sold on McGregor’s “American accent” in the trailer, to be honest, but he’s usually been solid in other films I’ve seen him in. It just seems like a really interesting idea for a film, something a bit different to typical horror or monster movies, and perhaps a step away from the recent Jurassic World saga, too.
Film #2:
Hexed
Walt Disney Animation Studios has been on a bit of a winless run, of late. An overabundance of sequels hasn’t helped, and other titles from the likes of Netflix and Sony have arguably surpassed their best offerings. But I have hope for Hexed – the studio’s first original story in a couple of years. Wish may not have been the kind of film everyone was looking for, but maybe a change of pace will be just what Disney needs to get back on its feet.
We don’t have a ton of information about Hexed just yet, only that the film will see a teenage character (voiced by Hailee Steinfeld) discovering that she has magical, witchy powers. I welcome Disney stepping away from sequels (did we really need a *fifth* entry in the Toy Story series?) to try something original. Sequels may provide a short-term cash boost by playing on fans’ positive feelings for an earlier title, but for long-term success, original stories are what’s needed.
Film #3:
Digger
A “black comedy” starring Tom Cruise as a man trying to save the world… from a disaster he himself unleashed. It sounds like it has potential, right? Digger is directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu, who won Oscars for his work on Birdman and The Revenant – so, again, the pedigree there makes me feel optimistic!
We don’t have a ton more information about Digger yet; all we’ve seen of the film is a teaser and there’s only a very short outline of the premise. But what’s out there is already enough to pique my curiosity, and I have high hopes for a funny, engaging, and perhaps somewhat thoughtful picture when Digger is released.
Film #4:
Werwulf
Robert Eggers, best-known for the likes of The Witch, The Northman, and the remake of Nosferatu, is coming back with this new horror film. And the premise sounds… interesting. Set in medieval Britain, and seemingly drawing on British folklore surrounding werewolves, Werwulf will star Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Lily-Rose Depp, and Willem Dafoe.
As a Brit, I like the premise of a film exploring British folklore, and there have been relatively few successful werewolf films, if you think about it. Aside from cult classic Dog Soldiers, I can’t think of many recent pictures to feature these iconic monsters. We don’t have a lot of information to go on about this one, and there hasn’t been a trailer yet, but Werwulf is one to keep an eye on.
Film #5:
Dune: Part Three
Maybe I was mistaken, but I believed for the longest time that Denis Villeneuve’s Dune was going to be a two-part adaptation. Regardless, Part Three – which is based largely on Dune: Messiah – is the final instalment, and will premiere later this year. Most of the cast from the first parts are returning, and with this adaptation having been one of the best sci-fi film series of the last few years… I’m definitely excited to return to Arrakis for one final adventure.
My recollection is that Dune: Messiah is somewhat of a lesser story, but Villeneuve obviously saw value in continuing his adaptation, so I’ll be curious to see where this final chapter goes. With a TV prequel/spin-off already having hit streaming, this version of Dune is growing into its very own franchise – and as a sci-fi fan, I welcome that.
TV Series #1:
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds
Season 4
I bet you saw this one coming from a mile away! Strange New Worlds has been – for me, anyway – the absolute high-water mark of modern Star Trek, with a return to a more episodic style of storytelling. This has given the show the freedom to travel to new planets, encounter a wider range of aliens, and dip its toes in such diverse genres as horror, war, comedy, and even do a musical. This episodic style feels, for want of a better word, much more “classic,” like Star Trek shows from decades past.
Season 4 has teased us with some kind of wormhole mystery, dinosaurs, and an episode where the main characters are played by Jim Henson’s muppets. No, I’m not kidding! Above all, though, it’s my hope that the show’s final ten-episode season (Season 5 will be a measly six episodes, sadly) will be more of the same. That mix of classic “monster-of-the-week” storytelling with characters who grow and evolve over the course of multiple stories is what’s made Strange New Worlds such a joy to watch. And yes, I’m *still* salty about the show’s premature cancellation.
Check out my thoughts on the first trailer by clicking or tapping here, and the most recent trailer by clicking or tapping here.
TV Series #2:
Silo
Season 3
We won’t have to wait long for this one – Silo’s third season arrives in just a few days’ time! I called Season 1 my favourite TV show of 2023, and even though I felt the quality dip a little in Season 2, there’s still a ton of potential in this unique sci-fi mystery series. Season 2 ended on multiple cliffhangers for different characters, and also introduced us to a new storyline set in Washington, DC, apparently some time before the events of the series. I can’t wait to see what happens this time around.
Silo’s third season went into production back-to-back with its fourth and final season, too, so it’s my hope that this story will move along at a reasonable pace and won’t feel either stretched too thin or unnecessarily padded. Apple TV+ has been pretty good with its sci-fi content; I simply must catch up with For All Mankind one of these days, too! Silo is one of the shows that I fully expect will be in contention for my “TV Series of the Year” award come December.
You can read my review of Silo’s second season by clicking or tapping here.
TV Series #3:
The Cat and the Dragon
猫と竜
I still haven’t watched very much anime, but 2026 has been the year in which I first dipped my toes in the medium. When I started looking for new and upcoming anime series to watch, The Cat and the Dragon leapt out from the bunch. I mean, it’s a story about a baby dragon who’s raised by a family of cats. What’s not to love? Oh, and the cats are magical, too.
Truthfully, I don’t really know what to expect here! I’m still pretty new to anime in general, and this adaptation of a fairly long-running light novel/manga series might turn out not to be “my thing.” But I’m curious, and I’m definitely keen to continue my exploration of anime with something that sounds a bit… different.
TV Series #4:
The East Palace
동궁
The East Palace is a historical dark fantasy series set in Korea. It follows the adventures of a “ghost slayer,” who has the ability to travel between the human world and the spirit world, after he’s recruited by the king. It sounds interesting, and I felt that the trailer teased an action-packed, exciting, and decidedly spooky production. The East Palace was produced in Korea with a Korean cast, and draws on Korean folklore and legends for the core of its story.
Would it be glib and unfair to suggest that The East Palace is “KPop Demon Hunters for grown-ups”? Because honestly, that’s kinda the vibe I’m getting! If you know me, you know that KPop Demon Hunters was my favourite film of 2025, so I very much meant that as a compliment. It’s also part of the reason why The East Palace piqued my curiosity, to be honest!
TV Series #5:
Stuart Fails to Save the Universe
I’m not really a Big Bang Theory fan, and I think I gradually stopped watching the series around Season 3 or so. So I’m not at all caught up on the show or its characters – including the titular Stuart. I’m not even sure, in the photo above, which character *is* Stuart. But this “spin-off” from The Big Bang Theory looks like it’s going to be something different – a comedy series all about travelling between different parallel worlds and trying to stop or prevent some kind of apocalyptic event.
With the caveats that The Big Bang Theory’s sense of humour wasn’t always my thing, *and* that time travel-multiverse stories can be a pain to get right… I’m curious, I gotta say. The trailer didn’t exactly blow me away, and it’s probably 50-50 whether I watch the season to the end or bounce off it. But I think there’s potential in the idea of a sci-fi/action story that has this comedic angle. Whether it needed to be a Big Bang Theory spin-off using characters from that series, though, and whether that’ll end up being a net negative for someone who only casually watched the first few seasons of that show… I guess we’ll see.
Video Game #1:
Kena: Scars of Kosmora
At time of writing, Scars of Kosmora is on the schedule for 2026, but with no release date set in stone yet… that could slip. Kena: Bridge of Spirits was my pick for “game of the year” in 2021, and I’ve been eagerly awaiting developer Ember Lab’s next project. A direct sequel has got me genuinely excited, and I can’t wait to pick up the next chapter of Kena’s story. This older, wiser version of the character looks to be a ton of fun.
There are new gameplay ideas in Scars of Kosmora, and some of the levels we glimpsed in the trailer a few months back look larger and more expansive, too. This might actually be my most-anticipated game at the moment!
Check out my preview of Kena: Scars of Kosmora by clicking or tapping here.
Video Game #2:
Star Trek: Outposts Unknown
Do you remember Star Trek: New Worlds around the turn of the millennium? Outposts Unknown is kinda in the same vein; I called it “Star Trek meets Banished” when I took a look at the demo. You build a colony in a fairly laid-back way, the game has a cute art style, and it’s set in the Strange New Worlds timeline, featuring Admiral April in a cameo at the beginning.
These kinds of games have been fun for me for a very long time, so to get a new base-building strategy game set in the Star Trek universe – and tying in, in some capacity, with my favourite series from the modern franchise – is genuinely fantastic! There are several other Star Trek games in the works, too, so with the franchise potentially disappearing from streaming in the years ahead… could Star Trek find a home in the realm of video games?
You can check out my thoughts on the demo version by clicking or tapping here.
Video Game #3:
Forever Ago
This game looks like it’s going to have an intense and emotional story – following an older man as he undertakes a road trip. I like the visual style, I like what I’ve heard of the game’s music, and I’m always up for a narrative adventure, particularly one that has heart. As I’ve gotten older, these kinds of stories – a man remembering his life and reflecting on his choices – hit close to home, too.
Forever Ago also features a charming little camper van; a VW combi in all but name. I’ve long had an appreciation for those kinds of vehicles, and having one in the game as perhaps a home base or a road trip vehicle just looks like a lot of fun. A game like this will obviously live or die by the strength of its story… but I’m optimistic at this stage.
Video Game #4:
Gears of War: E-Day
I’ve never played any games in the Gears of War series before, and to be honest, I don’t really know what to expect. But E-Day is being heralded by Xbox as a good place to start; a prequel, set before the events of the main series, but with many familiar characters present. I’ve heard good things about Gears of War – the first game in particular – and I think there’s at least the potential that I’d enjoy this series.
However, as I’m no longer subscribed to PC Game Pass… this could end up being a “wait for a sale” title for me! It certainly isn’t something I’m gonna jump into on day one. But as I look ahead to the second half of 2026 and beyond, it’s definitely on my radar.
Video Game #5:
Cognition Method
I played the demo/teaser for Cognition Method more than five years ago, and I discussed my time with the game here on the website. I assumed that the full game must’ve already launched, but no! Cognition Method, which is an independently-developed game, is due out later this year. I’ll be very curious to see what the devs have managed to create.
Cognition Method: Initiation (the demo/teaser that I mentioned) had gameplay that involved manipulating gravity, kind of like a more advanced version of Half-Life 2′s gravity gun, if I’m remembering correctly. The developers claim to have been inspired by 2001: A Space Odyssey, and that the game will be a “non-ordinary” sci-fi story. Sounds intriguing!
Check out my thoughts on the demo version by clicking or tapping here.
So that’s all for now.
The first half of 2026 has given us some fun entertainment experiences, and I’m sure there will be more to come between now and the end of the year.
From a personal point of view, the first half of the year has been a bit of a mixed bag. There have been some real highlights – I got to meet William Shatner, Star Trek’s very own Captain Kirk, at Comic-Con, for example – but also some low points, too, and I admit that I’ve struggled with motivation and finding topics to discuss here on the website. Here’s hoping that the second half of 2026 will be more positive than negative!
September will also bring us the sixtieth anniversary of Star Trek, and I hope that Skydance-Paramount will do something – *anything* – to mark the occasion. I guess we’ll find out soon enough, eh? And if some of the titles discussed above sound like fun, I hope you’ll check back for reviews and discussion of some or all of them over the months ahead. Thanks for tuning in this time, and see you… out there!
All titles discussed above are the copyrights of their respective studio, developer, broadcaster, distributor, publisher, etc. At time of writing, all titles discussed above were scheduled or heavily rumoured to have a broadcast/release date in the second half of 2026, but that may be subject to change. This article contains the thoughts and opinions of one person only and is not intended to cause any offence.
Trekking with Dennis 