upcoming movies – Trekking with Dennis

We’re Halfway Through 2026!

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.

A stock photo of a small portable CRT TV set — What might we watch and play between now and Christmas?

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!

Stock photo of a retro Commodore computer. — Which upcoming games are on your radar?

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

Cropped still frame from The End of Oak Street trailer

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

Still frame from the Dune Part 3 trailer showing Paul

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

Still frame from the Star Trek SNW S4 teaser clip showing a shuttle

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

Promo for The Cat and the Dragon anime/manga

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

Still frame from the Kena: Scars of Kosmora trailer showing Kena.

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

Still frame from the Star Trek Outposts Unknown demo showing a colon

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

Promo screenshot for Gears of War: E-Day (2026)

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.

Stock photo of a winter street scene — It won’t be long until Christmas…

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.

Looking Ahead To 2026

Thu 01.01.26Thu 01.01.26Dennis

Spoiler Warning: Beware of minor spoilers for some of the productions below.

Happy New Year!

I hope you had a wonderful time celebrating the end of 2025 and the beginning of 2026. Although we might still be recovering from a night of partying, fireworks, and maybe a little too much champagne (alright, prosecco), I think the beginning of the year is a great moment to look ahead. There are bound to be some fun entertainment experiences lying in wait between now and Christmas, after all!

By the way, is that the first time you’ve heard someone mention Christmas 2026?

As I do every year at this time, I’m going to preview a few films, video games, and television programmes that I’m personally looking forward to over the next twelve months.

My usual caveats apply! Everything we’re going to look at today is the subjective, not objective, opinion of just one person. If I highlight something you think sounds awful, or miss out one of your favourites… *that’s okay*! There’s plenty of room for polite discussion and differences of opinion, and I’m in no way trying to claim that these are somehow “the only” things to look forward to as the year gets underway.

Secondly, it’s possible that some or all of these will miss their intended release or broadcast dates, and they could even be cancelled entirely. Such things have been known to happen in the world of entertainment, unfortunately. But at time of writing, all of these are either on the schedule for 2026 or at least heavily rumoured to be out this year.

I’ve chosen eight films, eight television programmes, and eight video games that I’m looking forward to as this new year begins! So without any further ado… let’s take a look at my selections.

Film #1:
Coyote vs. Acme

After years of using Acme Corporation’s products without much success, Wile E. Coyote sues them! That’s the premise of this “cartoon characters in the real world” film, and it’s giving me Who Framed Roger Rabbit vibes. I think the premise alone sounds like a ton of fun, and I’m genuinely excited to see what the finished product will be like.

There are reasons to be sceptical, though, unfortunately. Coyote vs. Acme was originally filmed all the way back in 2022, but Warner Bros. Discovery cancelled it in 2023, and it seemed for a time as if the completed film wouldn’t see a release. The likes of Netflix, Amazon, and Paramount+ all submitted bids, but none were willing to pay the reported $70 million that Warner Bros. Discovery was asking. That’s enough to give me pause, but a distributor was belatedly found and a release this summer is now on the cards. I’m crossing my fingers and hoping for some wacky, cartoony fun.

Film #2:
The Mandalorian and Grogu

I’m not the world’s biggest fan of The Mandalorian, to be honest with you. And if, as has been reported, this film represents a cut-down version of one of The Mandalorian’s already very short seasons… that doesn’t sound great. As someone who hasn’t seen all of the various Star Wars spin-off shows on Disney+, I’m also a bit concerned about this film being the culmination of multiple story arcs that I’m not caught up with or invested in.

However! With all that being said, a brand-new Star Wars film is always going to pique my curiosity, and although I wasn’t *wild* about The Mandalorian, the show has had its moments, and I’m at least interested in seeing where the characters will end up as their adventures apparently come to an end. Some Star Wars projects that I didn’t have high expectations for – The Last Jedi and The Book of Boba Fett, for example – ended up being surprisingly good fun, so there’s potential in The Mandalorian and Grogu. This is also Star Wars’ first trip to the cinema since 2019.

Check out my review of Season 2 of The Mandalorian by clicking or tapping here.

Film #3:
The Magic Faraway Tree

I was a huge Enid Blyton fan as a kid. Several of her books have been brought to the big and small screens over the years, and I’m especially interested to see what this adaptation of The Magic Faraway Tree will look like. The film boasts an all-star cast, featuring Andrew Garfield, Michael Palin, Rebecca Ferguson, Claire Foy, and Lenny Henry, and from what I glimpsed in the trailer, it looks like it’s captured the whimsy of the original book.

The Magic Faraway Tree is definitely a kids’ film, so set your expectations appropriately! And I can absolutely see this not being to everyone’s taste. But as someone who remembers the original books with great fondness, I shall be tuning in to see Dame Washalot, the Saucepan Man, Moonface, and the others when The Magic Faraway Tree premieres.

Film #4:
Disclosure Day

Promo still for Disclosure Day (2026) — Emily Blunt in a promo still for *Disclosure Day*.

This is a last-minute addition to my list based on nothing but the “vibe” I got from the trailer! Disclosure Day’s plot is still under wraps, but it’s Steven Spielberg’s first film in four years, and his first sci-fi film since 2018’s Ready Player One. The picture will star Emily Blunt and Colin Firth, among others, and has something to do with a UFO conspiracy.

I’ve enjoyed a number of Spielberg’s films over the years – which shouldn’t be a surprise; he’s still one of the best filmmakers around. And Disclosure Day is reminding me more than a little of Spielberg’s own E.T., which is a film I fondly remember from my childhood. Disclosure Day might be taking a less whimsical and more, for want of a better term, “grown-up” approach to the genre, but that’s okay. The trailer was genuinely gripping, and Disclosure Day has definitely launched its way onto this list!

Film #5:
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie

I’ll be honest: I barely played the first Super Mario Galaxy, and I couldn’t get on with its “spherical levels” idea, so when Nintendo announced that the follow-up to the absolutely excellent Super Mario Bros. Movie would be based on those games… I was underwhelmed. However, the first film was so darn good that I’m willing to push any scepticism aside and see what Nintendo and Illumination have been cooking! Who knows, it’s possible that the film format will suit the Mario Galaxy story better than either of the games did!

The trailer for the film looked great, and going on another adventure with Mario, Luigi, Peach, Toad, and Bowser just seems like it’s gonna be a lot of fun. So despite my ambivalence to its source material, I’m genuinely looking forward to this one.

Check out my review of The Super Mario Bros. Movie by clicking or tapping here.

Film #6:
Project Hail Mary

Ryan Gosling stars as Dr Grace in *Project Hail Mary*.

I like what I’ve seen of Project Hail Mary so far. I’m getting a bit of an Armageddon-meets-Interstellar-meets-2001: A Space Odyssey vibe. If that even makes sense! The film looks interesting and potentially quite funny, or at least with some moments of light-heartedness to balance out heavier themes of Earth and humanity being close to extinction. I’m curious to see where Project Hail Mary will go, and which side – comedy or serious messaging – the film will come down on.

I’m always going to be interested in new sci-fi properties, especially in an entertainment landscape drowning in sequels, spin-offs, and franchises. So I hope Project Hail Mary can be something a bit different, taking a familiar starting point but doing its own thing with it. Directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller also directed 2014’s The Lego Movie, which I really enjoyed, so that’s another reason for optimism.

Film #7:
The Odyssey

The Odyssey promises to be an epic retelling of the classic Ancient Greek tale, as Odysseus makes his way back home from the Trojan War. Christopher Nolan, the film’s director, has previously directed such hits as The Dark Knight, Dunkirk, and Oppenheimer, winning an Academy Award for the latter. This adaptation of The Odyssey features some big names in its cast, such as Eliot Page, Charlize Theron, Tom Holland, Lupita Nyong’o, and Matt Damon.

I suppose my only real concern with The Odyssey is that there’s quite a lot of story to cram into the runtime of a single film. I’ve been critical in the past of films being unnecessarily lengthened or split into multiple parts, but maybe The Odyssey is one story that could’ve benefitted from a longer runtime. We’ll have to wait and see!

Film #8:
28 Years Later: The Bone Temple

I thought that 28 Years Later was okay in 2025, but it wasn’t a patch on the sheer terror of the original film. Something about the “naked zombies” ended up being almost… comical, rather than threatening. But having seen the first half of this sequel, which ended on a bit of a cliffhanger, I don’t want to miss out on the conclusion.

The trailer seemed to tease a possible breakthrough in dealing with the rage virus, which could be really interesting if handled well. There’s definitely scope to take another look at this world and the decades-long aftermath of its apocalypse. I wouldn’t say I’m incredibly excited for The Bone Temple, but I’m… curious.

Check out my review of 28 Years Later by clicking or tapping here.

Video Game #1:
Squadron 42

At time of writing, Squadron 42 is slated for a 2026 release. But, as with everything related to the mismanaged clusterfuck they call Star Citizen, I’ll believe it when I see it! Squadron 42 is the single-player campaign from the makers of Star Citizen, and I’m always going to be interested in a new sci-fi universe and a large-scale “space game.” Squadron 42 also features an all-star cast, with the likes of Mark Hamill, Gary Oldman, John Rhys-Davies, Gillian Anderson, and Andy Serkis all featuring in some capacity.

Star Citizen gets plenty of criticism for its bloated budget, ridiculous microtransactions, and the pathetically poor way the project has been managed. And I’m not disagreeing with any of that! But… at the end of the day, I want to play a good, enjoyable space game. If Squadron 42 lives up to the hype – assuming it *ever* makes it to release – I’m still gonna be interested in that. Will 2026 be the year? I guess we’ll have to wait and see.

Video Game #2:
Control: Resonant

Promo image of Control: Resonant. — Dylan in *Control: Resonant*.

A last-minute addition to this list, after Exodus missed out on a 2026 release, is the sequel to 2019’s Control. I absolutely adored my time with Control, and it’s one of the finest third-person action/adventure titles of the past decade. I was really curious to see what would come next after the story came to an end, and to be honest with you… I’m kind of disappointed to see protagonist Jessie being replaced with her brother Dylan for the sequel.

However! This is still the sequel to a fantastic game, and it would be silly to render judgment without even trying it. So I will do my best to go into Control: Resonant with an open mind. The game seems to be more focused on melee combat than the original, which could be interesting, and having a new character to control could mean we get to explore a different set of powers and upgrades. I just hope it won’t feel like a typical video game-y “reset” of the player character just to run through the whole process of gaining and evolving the exact same powers all over again.

Video Game #3:
007: First Light

A James Bond video game… made by the people who created the Hitman series? That sounds almost too good to be true, doesn’t it? Well, 007: First Light is happening, and from what I’ve seen, the game looks pretty darn good. It’s an original story following a young James Bond on one of his first big missions, and it looks like it has, well, everything you might want. Flash cars, gadgets, stealth, gunplay, and a compelling story.

I don’t want to get over-hyped, but I have pretty high hopes for this one. Story aside, the only thing that might spoil it would be a rushed, buggy, or just generally under-baked launch. I’m really keeping my fingers crossed, and while I won’t be pre-ordering, if First Light gets good reviews, I may very well be tempted to pick it up as soon as it’s out.

Video Game #4:
Star Trek: Voyager – Across The Unknown

I’m a bit of a Star Trek fan, as you may know, and Voyager is one of my favourite parts of the franchise. I played the demo version of Across The Unknown back in 2025, and I think if you set the right expectations and don’t go into the game expecting a high-budget, “AAA” type of experience, there’s going to be a lot of fun to be had here. This game won’t appeal to non-Trekkies, really – not even to folks who like these kinds of management/base-building types of titles. But that’s okay. Not every game is gonna be right for everyone!

What I like most about Across The Unknown is how the game gives you the chance to potentially have a very different journey through the Delta Quadrant than the one we saw in the show. There are these inflection points, where decisions need to be taken, and it’s possible to make different choices to the ones made by Janeway and the crew. Depending on how well that’s handled, and how many of these decisions there are… that’s a really fun and interesting idea, and could give the game a ton of replayability.

Check out my thoughts on the demo version by clicking or tapping here.

Video Game #5:
Forza Horizon 6

Promo image for Forza Horizon 6. — The game’s logo… and Mount Fuji.

Before I had to cancel my Game Pass subscription, Forza Horizon 4 and Forza Horizon 5 were both among my most-played games. So I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t looking forward to the next entry in the series. Add in a fun-looking Japanese setting, and I think you’ve got the recipe for another fantastic open-world arcade racing title. The Forza Horizon games have been great fun, and I love just how many different vehicles and race types there are, with practically the entire open world being part of at least a handful of different races.

The only downer on Forza Horizon 6, really, is that this is a game I’d have played on Game Pass, but now I’ll have to buy it outright. I’ll definitely be checking out the reviews first, to make sure it lives up to its predecessors – and maybe waiting for it to go on sale, too. I’m not exactly short of racing games at the moment, and I still haven’t played last year’s Tokyo Xtreme Racer, which is also set in Japan. So this one’s definitely on my wishlist, but it’s also in a strange “wait and see” zone!

Check out my review of Forza Horizon 5 by clicking or tapping here.

Video Game #6:
The Blood of Dawnwalker

The player character taking on some guards or soldiers.

An open-world fantasy game created by some of the folks who worked on The Witcher. That’s the one-line pitch, but there’s more! The Blood of Dawnwalker is set in medieval Europe, and sees the player character take on the role of a half-human, half-vampire, with a range of vampiric powers to take advantage of. The game’s main story seems to involve trying to save your family, but details are still under wraps.

I liked what I saw from The Blood of Dawnwalker’s trailer a few months ago, and I hope that new studio Rebel Wolves have taken their time to really get this game right. I’m always up for trying out a new fantasy world, especially with so many sequels and spin-offs out there. It’s rare for a new studio to put together an ambitious project like this… and I really hope that the finished game will be worth waiting for.

Video Game #7:
Nivalis

Still frame from the end of the Nivalis promo trailer. — Welcome to *Nivalis*!

Nivalis’ developers describe the game as a “slice-of-life” simulator set in a cyberpunk city. But… would it be unfair to suggest that this could be a “cozy game?” I’m definitely getting that impression from what I’ve seen of Nivalis so far. You can run a business, decorate your apartment, befriend NPCs… everything about that screams “cozy” to me! And I love stories and games set in a small island of calm or safety in a dangerous world. Nivalis could really scratch that itch for me.

So… Cyberpunk 2077 meets Animal Crossing, then? Maybe. The game’s visual style might take some getting used to for me; there’s a combination of blocky, voxel-style environments with characters who look a bit more realistic. But I like the idea of running a business, setting up a home, and just living a life in this kind of totally different world.

Video Game #8:
Cat Isle

A cute cozy game, with beautiful pixel art… and it’s all about cats? Where do I sign up?! Seriously, this just looks adorable; a cozy game with building and management elements where kitty cats are the stars. I love cats, I love games about cats, and I enjoy a good cozy game, too. So Cat Isle could be just what I’m looking for in 2026!

Domke Games is an indie developer, and I like to try to support indie games where I can. That doesn’t mean Cat Isle will get a free pass, and I’m sure this title won’t be right for everyone. But it looks like the kind of cute game I could see myself playing for a few minutes a day… or really losing myself in for ages, depending on how it shakes out.

Television Show #1:
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy

Promo photo for Star Trek: Starfleet Academy. — The cadets.

To be blunt, even as a big Trekkie, I’m not sure whether Starfleet Academy is gonna be “my thing.” The show seems to be going down a serialised route, with a “big galactic threat,” a villain with a mysterious connection to a main character, and all of the repetition and hammy performances that go with that kind of thing. Additionally, there seems to be quite a focus on what you might call “teen drama,” with that side of things taking precedence over the likes of exploration. Both of those things give me pause.

But… this is still a brand-new Star Trek series. It’s based on a concept that even Gene Roddenberry himself was kicking around back in the ’60s and ’70s. And… it could very well be the *last* new Star Trek series of this current streaming era, now that the Skydance takeover has been finalised. So I will do my best to support Starfleet Academy when it premieres later this month… and I’ll try not to judge it too harshly. Not every show – even Star Trek shows – are right for every viewer, and if Starfleet Academy succeeds at bringing new eyes to the franchise, that can only be a positive thing in my book.

You can see a more detailed look at the upcoming show by clicking or tapping here.

Television Show #2:
Dasher

Cover art for the book Dasher. — Santa meeting Dasher.

Is it too early to be thinking about Christmas? Jokes aside, I’m really interested to see this holiday special from Disney+ later in the year. It’s going to be a single animated production, probably shorter than a feature film would be, and… well, it’s all about Dasher, one of Santa Claus’ reindeer. Dasher is based on a children’s book, and it depicts the titular reindeer running away from a life at the circus and meeting the jolly man in the red suit for the first time.

The Polar Express is a great example of this kind of kids’ book being adapted into a wonderful animated picture, and if Dasher is even in the same ballpark, I’ll have a great time with it. I know it’s early, and Christmas is literally eleven months and twenty-four days away! But I wanted to put this one on my list so I don’t forget about it by the time the holidays roll around again. And you know me… I love Christmas!

Television Show #3:
3 Body Problem
Season 2

Still frame from 3 Body Problem Season 1 showing three suns in the sky. — The titular three bodies.

3 Body Problem was my pick for TV Show of the Year back in 2024, and I was concerned for a while that there wouldn’t be a continuation of this compelling and wonderful story. But thankfully there is – albeit a belated one. 3 Body Problem’s second season probably won’t land until later in the year, but I’m really hoping for great things as the San-Ti get closer and Earth’s defenders are forced to step up to the plate. The series ended with multiple storylines on cliffhangers… so there’s a lot to do to pick up those dangling narrative threads!

3 Body Problem really is the best kind of grown-up sci-fi, with philosophical themes, complex physics and mathematical problems, and a great cast of characters to boot. There was controversy when the show’s first season moved the main story out of China – where the original books were set – and gave it more of a multinational, multicultural flavour. And I get that. But what we got was genuinely fantastic TV that had me riveted and desperate for more. I can’t wait to pick up this story later in the year.

You can read my review of 3 Body Problem’s first season by clicking or tapping here.

Television Show #4:
Spider-Noir

Cropped promo image for Spider-Noir. — Who’s this?

I mistakenly thought we’d see Spider-Noir in 2025, but the show is, instead, coming this year. Starring Nicolas Cage as an older Spider-Man from a different timeline, the show promises a “film noir” inspiration and visual style. There will even be a black-and-white version of Spider-Noir, if you want to go for that real ’30s hard-boiled feel.

To be honest, I just love the idea of Nicolas Cage as Spider-Man, and that this will be a completely different version of the superhero. Spider-Noir will be set in a world inspired by New York City in the ’20s and ’30s, with Spider-Man – or Ben Reilly, to use his real name – working as a private detective. I’m not the world’s biggest superhero or comic book person, as you may know… but in a genre drowning in sequels and sameyness, Spider-Noir looks like it could be something different.

Television Show #5:
Silo
Season 3

Still frame from Silo S2 showing Sims. — Sims.

Silo – like 3 Body Problem above – has been one of the best sci-fi shows of the last few years. And talk about a cliffhanger! Season 2 ended in explosive fashion, and I cannot wait to see what will happen next for Juliette and her friends – in both of the titular silos. It felt like we were getting close to unravelling at least part of the mysteries: who created these silos, why, and why is the air outside deadly to breathe? Some of the characters have the answers already… but we don’t.

Filming for Seasons 3 and 4 of Silo have already wrapped, and I’m hopeful that there won’t be as long of a wait before Season 4 rolls around. In any case, I’m really looking forward to picking up this fun and engaging story again after a long break.

Check out my review of Silo Season 2 by clicking or tapping here.

Television Show #6:
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
Season 3

Still frame from The Rings of Power S2 showing the Dark Wizard. — The mysterious “Dark Wizard.”

I know The Rings of Power hasn’t been to everyone’s taste, and there have been some issues with the series to say the least. But I haven’t hated what I’ve seen so far, even if some storylines are admittedly stronger than others, and I’m definitely curious to see where the action will go next. Season 2 moved key storylines along, and we’re uncovering mysteries, moving characters around, and clearly building up to something big.

I’m hopeful for more of the “bromance” between Elrond the Elf and Durin the Dwarf this time, as I felt that was something Season 2 didn’t give us enough of. And after one character’s identity felt a bit obvious and telegraphed last time, I hope we might get a few more twists and turns this season, or at least story points that don’t feel like they’re spinning their wheels. I first fell in love with Tolkien’s world as a geeky little kid, reading The Hobbit with my dad. Any adventure that takes me back to Middle-earth is one I’m interested in and hopeful for.

Click or tap here to read my review of the show’s second season.

Television Show #7:
Neuromancer

Crop of the first edition cover of Neuromancer. — The original novel’s cover art.

The 1984 novel Neuromancer is, according to some folks, *the* seminal work of the cyberpunk genre. So this adaptation is a long time in the making, then! The original novel – which, admittedly, I have not read – is hailed as one of the early defining works of what we now call cyberpunk, and is also responsible for popularising the term “hacker.” I’m really curious to see what this adaptation will look like.

As I said above, there aren’t a lot of new sci-fi or fantasy properties to get excited about at the moment, so this adaptation of one of the most important works of its genre could be something fun and different in 2026. At least part of Neuromancer is set in Japan, and filming for the series took place in Tokyo. I’m not sure which streamer this will debut on, though; it was originally slated for Apple TV+, but it’s produced by Skydance Television, which now owns Paramount+. I guess we’ll have to see later in the year.

Television Show #8:
Crystal Lake

Still frame from Friday the 13th showing the Camp Crystal Lake sign. — The original Camp Crystal Lake sign from *Friday the 13th*.

Based on the film Friday the 13th (and its sequels and spin-offs) comes this prequel. I’m not the world’s biggest Friday the 13th fan, but I thought the first film, at least, was good for what it was. I like the inclusion of Linda Cardellini, formerly of Freaks and Geeks and ER, in a major role, as I’ve always thought she was an underrated performer. And stepping back to before the events of the first film in the series could turn Crystal Lake into an entertaining horror/slasher show.

There are plenty of great horror TV shows, but what we haven’t seen as many of are slasher TV shows; I think there’s an open question as to how well Friday the 13th’s format will work with a longer runtime. Still, I’ll be curious to check out Crystal Lake and see what the series has to offer.

So that’s it!

A render of the number 2026. — What else might lie in store this year?

We’ve talked about eight films, eight games, and eight TV programmes that I’m looking forward to in 2026.

2025 brought us some solid entertainment experiences, and you can click or tap here to check out my annual End-of-Year Awards for some of my personal favourites! I’m cautiously optimistic about 2026’s prospects; there seem to be some interesting new ideas on the horizon, as well as some continuations or expansions of existing franchises to look forward to.

Once again, let me wish you a very Happy New Year! Whatever you’ve got planned for this year, and whatever you might be looking forward to, entertainment-wise, I hope it all goes well for you and yours. Tomorrow, I’ll be making a few predictions for the year’s entertainment landscape, so be sure to join me for that! And later this month, I’ll be checking out the two-part premiere of Starfleet Academy, among other things. See you soon!

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 2026 broadcast/release date, but that may change. This article contains the thoughts and opinions of one person only and is not intended to cause any offence.

Looking Ahead To 2025

Wed 01.01.25Dennis

A spoiler warning graphic (featuring Sauruman).

Spoiler Warning: Beware of minor spoilers for some of the titles below.

Happy New Year!

I hope you had a wonderful time last night ringing in 2025 – and that you’ve recovered by now! As the year begins, it’s the perfect time to look ahead to some of the entertainment experiences we’ll hopefully be enjoying between now and next New Year’s Eve!

So today, I’ve picked out seven films, television programmes, and video games that are on my radar in 2025. I’ll share my thoughts on each of them – including what I’m most interested in or excited about. I like to do this every year; it’s a fun way to start things off, and it also gives me something to look forward to! I hope you can take a break from packing away the Christmas decorations and join me!

A stock photo of tangled Christmas lights. — The holidays are over for another year…

As always, a couple of caveats. This list is the subjective opinion of just one person – so if I don’t mention your favourite upcoming title, or I get excited about something that sounds like shit to you… that’s okay! There should be enough room for polite disagreements and differences of opinion. It’s also possible that some of these titles will be delayed and may not be available in 2025.

I think 2025 looks like a solid year. There are plenty of entertainment experiences on the horizon that have, at the very least, piqued my interest. So without any further ado, let’s jump into the list and talk about them!

Film #1:
28 Years Later

Still frame from the 28 Years Later trailer showing a man with a bow and arrow.

Horror really isn’t my thing – and after the 2010s were dominated by zombies and post-apocalyptic media in general, there are reasons to feel burned out on 28 Years Later’s premise! But I really loved 28 Days Later when it was released back in 2002; it’s a genre-redefining zombie film that genuinely frightened me. The “infected” zombies that debuted in 28 Days Later are terrifying – and it’s no coincidence that many of the best zombie films and games of the past twenty-plus years have drawn inspiration from the way Danny Boyle presented them.

28 Years Later recently premiered a fantastically haunting trailer, and I can really feel myself getting hyped up. The new film looks like it’s retained what made the original so special, while potentially expanding on the story to see what became of the UK and the rest of the world in the aftermath of 28 Weeks Later and the revelation that the rage virus may have escaped the confines of Great Britain. There’s one annoying thing for a pedant like me, though: it’s only been 23 years since the first film was released!

Film #2:
Lilo & Stitch

I wouldn’t say I’m “excited” about this live-action adaptation. It’s more a case of morbid curiosity – I’m interested to see whether Disney will be able to recreate even 1% of the charm of the original Lilo & Stitch when it moves to live-action. For me, Disney’s recent live-action adaptations have been more hit than miss, but even the best of them haven’t been as impactful (or as good) as the original animated films they were based on.

I can kind of understand the desire to remake a film like Snow White or Cinderella – both of which are decades old. But Lilo & Stitch was only released in 2002, making it the most recent Disney film to get the live-action treatment so far. I’m not convinced that it needed a remake, nor that the remake will be particularly good… but I’m going to tune in anyway to find out!

Film #3:
Star Trek: Section 31

Still frame from the Section 31 trailer showing a spaceship landed on an orange-tinted planet.

Do we count Section 31 as a “film?” I mean, it’s really a TV movie… but it’s my list, so I’m sticking it in this category! As you may know if you’ve read my article about the Section 31 trailers, the film doesn’t feel like it’ll be “my thing.” I’d love to be proven wrong, and I always give the Star Trek franchise a chance to impress me… but something about the “Star Trek does Suicide Squad” presentation from the trailers, and the potential for disappointing backsliding from the film’s main character have definitely left me feeling underwhelmed.

That being said, Section 31 has the potential to bring new eyes to Star Trek in a way that no other project has done since the 2009 reboot. Starring Oscar-winner Michelle Yeoh and with a tone and presentation clearly inspired by popular superhero flicks, I feel optimistic about Section 31′s prospects. I still don’t think I’m gonna love it… but we’ll know for sure in about three weeks’ time!

Film #4:
A Minecraft Movie

Still frame from the Minecraft Movie trailer showing Jack Black's character and a glowing portal.

I can’t tell whether A Minecraft Movie is going to be good, or whether it’s gonna end up being one of those “so bad it’s ironically good” films… but I’m keen to find out! Popular video game Minecraft wouldn’t have been my choice to adapt for the big screen, simply because it isn’t really a narrative adventure. Certainly my experiences of playing Minecraft – including back in 2011 while it was still in beta – were about creativity and “making your own fun” rather than following any kind of story.

I’m not convinced that Minecraft’s gameplay lends itself to a narrative adaptation. But I’ve been wrong before, and the tongue-in-cheek, silly fun vibe that I got from the trailer left a positive impression. There have been other expansions to the world of Minecraft that I haven’t played, so there’s definitely lore for the film to build upon. And any film featuring Jack Black will have, at the very least, one solid and entertaining performance to make me smile!

Film #5:
The Electric State

Still frame from the trailer for The Electric State showing several characters and robots.

The Electric State looks… interesting. A film set in a world where rebellious robots have been defeated and consigned to their own patch of land has, at the very least, a unique premise. I’m definitely getting a “more than meets the eye” feel from the trailer, and I expect the film to unravel the reason behind the aforementioned robot revolt – while the protagonists search the robots’ territory for a missing boy.

In a cinematic landscape dominated by sequels, franchises, and spin-offs, hopefully The Electric State can be something a little different. Chris Pratt and Stranger Things’ Millie Bobby Brown are in the lead roles, and the film will also star Woody Harrelson, Stanley Tucci, and Brian Cox, among others.

Film #6:
Train Dreams

Promo photo for Train Dreams showing two of the main characters laying down.

Based on a book from 2002, Train Dreams is going to be a particularly bleak drama film. Starring William H Macy, Felicity Jones, and Joel Edgerton, the story takes place in the first years of the 20th Century and focuses on a man who works on building the railroad across the western United States. The book won several awards in 2002/03, and this film adaptation seems genuinely interesting.

I’m not familiar with director Clint Bentley, but the main performers in Train Dreams all have pedigree. I think this picture has potential, and I’ll be interested to see how it’s received by audiences when it premieres.

Film #7:
Superman

Promo photo for Superman (2025) showing Superman and his pet dog.

I’m not the biggest fan of comic book/superhero movies. And Superman in particular can feel overpowered! But there have been some good Superman adaptations over the years, and this latest one, from director James Gunn, at least has potential. Superman is supposed to kick off a rebooted “Universe” of DC Comics films, which will also include a film based on Supergirl, among others.

DC has struggled to keep up with rival Marvel, whose MCU has been a driving force in cinema for fifteen years at this point. With Marvel seemingly faltering, however, perhaps the time is right for DC to strike – and with Superman, the company is at least trying to put its best foot forward. Whether this version of the character, and this film, can live up to fan expectations… we’ll have to wait and see!

TV Show #1:
Phineas and Ferb

Still frame from Phineas and Ferb Season 4 showing Phineas pointing and Ferb wearing a welding mask.

2025 is set to be the year that Phineas and Ferb returns to our screens! It’s been almost five years since Candace Against the Universe, and a full decade since the series finale, but I really can’t wait to go on some new adventures with the brothers and their friends. There are always concerns when a beloved property is brought back after such a long absence, but Candace Against the Universe demonstrated that co-creators Dan Povenmire and Jeff “Swampy” Marsh haven’t run out of ideas.

Phineas and Ferb has become one of my “comfort shows;” something I drift back to when I’m feeling low and need a pick-me-up. I’m optimistic about its revival, which has brought back most of the original voice actors, and I will be eagerly tuning in for every new episode.

TV Show #2:
King and Conqueror

Promo photo for King and Conqueror showing William on a battlefield holding a large shield.

Co-produced by the BBC here in the UK and American broadcaster CBS, King and Conqueror will tell the story of William the Conqueror and his fight to become King of England in 1066. Having cast Game of Thrones’ Nikolaj Coster-Waldau in the role of William, and with several other well-known names amidst the cast, I have pretty high expectations for this one!

There have been some great historical dramas over the years – but this is the first that I can recall that will look at the conflict between Harold and William in 1066. I first studied the Battle of Hastings years ago at school, and it’s one of those seminal moments in history that, at least in England, we give a lot of importance to. I’m quite eager to see a big-budget recreation of those events.

TV Show #3:
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

Still frame from Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 2 showing the USS Enterprise in space.

I still have to catch up on a couple of episodes from Season 2, but Strange New Worlds’ third season is on the schedule for this year. For me, Strange New Worlds has become the high-water mark of modern Star Trek; an excellent mix of episodic and serialised storytelling that I wish other parts of the franchise would try to emulate. Anson Mount is perfectly cast as Captain Christopher Pike, and I look forward to seeing what adventures the crew of the Enterprise will get caught up in this time!

There are several new secondary characters who will join the series this time, and perhaps we’ll begin to see Strange New Worlds bridging the gap between the Discovery era and The Original Series a bit more. I don’t want the show to go overboard with TOS characters and storylines, though! If Section 31 is what I’m kind of expecting it to be, then Strange New Worlds will undoubtedly be the highlight of the year for this old Trekkie!

TV Show #4:
The Rig

Promo poster for The Rig showing several main characters. Cropped.

I enjoyed the first season of The Rig a couple of years ago, and it ended on a cliffhanger! It seemed for a moment as if Amazon wouldn’t greenlight a second season – but they belatedly did, and Season 2 will premiere literally tomorrow! So I guess we won’t have to wait long to see if The Rig’s second season will be as good as its first.

I noted elements of films like The Thing and The Abyss in the show’s first season, and I’m genuinely curious to see the next part of its sci-fi/fantasy storyline unfold. Some parts of The Rig could be a little heavy-handed with its environmentalist messaging – which is ironic, as the show is produced by Amazon, one of the biggest emitters on the planet! – so I hope that can be toned down a little this time. Still, I’m pleased that a second season has been made, and I shall be tuning in tomorrow!

TV Show #5:
Spider-Noir

Promo artwork of Spider-Noir (the comic book version of the character).

Nicolas Cage starring as Spider-Man in a film noir-inspired story? That sounds great… doesn’t it? Spider-Noir is set in an alternate timeline, one in which Spider-Man is semi-retired and down on his luck. It’s set in the 1930s, and I think we can expect a lot of references to old detective movies and black-and-white crime dramas!

I like Nicolas Cage’s work, and to be honest I think he’s well-cast here. Spider-Noir also sounds like something a bit different in a superhero genre that can be repetitive and stale, which is something I definitely appreciate. At time of writing I don’t think filming has wrapped, so Spider-Noir most likely won’t premiere until later in the year. Still, one to keep an eye on!

TV Show #6:
Zero Day

Promo photo for Zero Day showing two characters in the Oval Office.

Zero Day has an interesting premise: a devastating cyber-attack takes place. The series is billed as a “political thriller” looking at the aftermath of this attack, the conspiracy around it, and the government’s response to it. I feel echoes of British thriller Cobra, from a few years ago, which looked at the UK government and Prime Minister in the aftermath of a natural disaster.

Starring Robert de Niro, Joan Allen, and Angela Bassett, and with Eric Newman of Narcos serving as showrunner, I think there’s a huge amount of potential in Zero Day. I love a good political thriller, and Zero Day could be a timely and modern examination of the government at a moment of crisis.

TV Show #7:
The Terror: Devil in Silver

The Terror has had two wonderful seasons under its belt – but with lower viewership for Season 2, it seemed for a time as if AMC had killed off the nascent anthology series. But The Terror is back in 2025, this time based on the novel The Devil in Silver, and set at a suitably creepy asylum!

The novel (which I admit I haven’t read) sees a man committed to an asylum, where he discovers that one of the other patients may be demonic – or even the devil. Stories about demons and supernatural things usually scare me, so I think The Terror: Devil in Silver might be perfect Halloween viewing later this year!

Video Game #1:
Civilization VII

Promo screenshot of Civilization VII showing tanks and planes in the game world.

Civilization VI is my most-played game of the last few years. I picked it up in 2016 and I’ve sunk hundreds of hours into it since then. So the next entry in this long-running series is definitely on my radar! I admit that I’m not fully sold on the game’s “change civilisation and leader” mechanic – not yet, anyway. It feels like a bit of a rip-off from 2021’s Humankind rather than something that the Civilization series developed on its own. But I’d love to be proven wrong about that!

There will be other changes and improvements, and it will probably take a while for me to adjust! Civilization VII might be the kind of game that’s best picked up a year or more after its launch, as there will have been time for rebalancing and fixing problems… but I daresay I’ll be ready to jump in on day one!

Video Game #2:
Tokyo Xtreme Racer

Promo screenshot for Tokyo Xtreme Racer (2025) showing an empty highway.

I did not have a revival of the Dreamcast-era racing game Tokyo Xtreme Racer on my bingo card… but here we are! Apparently Tokyo Xtreme Racer will be returning, and I’m not sure what to expect, to be honest! This feels like a game that could go either way; I was excited for Test Drive Unlimited’s return in 2024 but it turned out to be a bust… so this is definitely a “wait and see” rather than a “buy on day one” kind of game.

That being said, if Tokyo Xtreme Racer is the kind of old-school throwback that its name suggests, it could be a really fun experience – and something a little different. I’ll be following its progress and hopefully checking it out for myself later in the year.

Video Game #3:
Locomoto

Promo screenshot for Locomoto showing a train.

A game that brings together the kind of cozy gameplay that I’ve come to love with… a train? That sounds perfect! Locomoto bills itself as a “cozy life-sim adventure set on a train,” and I’m intrigued by the idea. Customising and decking out my very own train, meeting the passengers, and setting off on a journey just sounds whimsical and magical!

The art style and use of animal characters is giving Locomoto an Animal Crossing kind of vibe, and I’m definitely okay with that! I love the idea of having that kind of gameplay set on a moving train, and I’m hopeful that Locomoto will be a gentle but fun adventure.

Video Game #4:
Atomfall

Promo screenshot of Atomfall showing a bearded man with a gun, a cast iron signpost, and a house.

Atomfall is “British Fallout,” or at least that’s the idea! An open nuclear-ravaged wasteland to explore with post-apocalyptic monsters to battle… but this time it’s set in England’s Lake District! I love the idea, and while I think the Fallout comparison may end up setting expectations a little too high for some folks, I’m still hopeful that Atomfall will be able to deliver an engaging adventure.

Being able to explore a virtual world based on places I remember actually visiting will be a lot of fun; there aren’t that many games set in the UK, when you think about it, so Atomfall will stand out from the pack in that sense. The first trailer for the game looked solid, and there’s plenty of time to give Atomfall some polish if needed.

Video Game #5:
Winter Burrow

Promo screenshot of Winter Burrow showing the craft/cooking menu.

Another self-described “cozy game,” Winter Burrow sees players take on the role of a mouse restoring their family’s burrow. The game promises baking, knitting, decorating, and all of the things you’d expect – while also having some “survival” elements. I really love the animated art style that I’ve seen in promotional material – it reminds me of cartoons like The Animals of Farthing Wood.

Combining a hand-drawn style with some potentially complex crafting, and hopefully with a lot of aesthetic and decorative options… I really think that Winter Burrow could be a ton of fun this year. I’m trying not to get overly excited… but this really does look like it’s gonna be a time-sink for me!

Video Game #6:
Avowed

Promo image for Avowed showing a large glowing mushroom.

Avowed is an action RPG in a fantasy setting, crafted by Obsidian Entertainment. Aside from the excellent Knights of the Old Republic II, Obsidian has also made The Outer Worlds and Fallout: New Vegas, both of which got rave reviews. Avowed will be set in the same universe as the Pillars of Eternity series, so there’s established lore to work with.

I gotta say that all things considered, Avowed looks like it’s shaping up to be a fun time. There’s a studio with pedigree behind it, and the teasers and trailers have looked fantastic. A lot of players have been comparing the way the game looks to Bethesda’s Elder Scrolls series – but hopefully Avowed will bring some improvements to the table!

Video Game #7:
Crimson Desert

Promo screenshot for Crimson Desert showing a character on horseback overlooking a lake or bay.

I feel a little sceptical about any game that seems to be promising the moon… so time will tell whether Crimson Desert can really live up to the hype it’s already beginning to generate. I’m also not entirely sure that a game that has already been delayed by over a year will actually launch in “late 2025” as currently planned, but again time will tell!

According to a lot of players, Black Desert Online – the game upon which Crimson Desert was originally based – has one of the best character creators ever, so I’d love to see that in Crimson Desert, too. The scale of the game’s open world has also been talked up, and as long as there’s enough content relative to the size of the map, that’s a mark in its favour. I’ll definitely take a look at the reviews before I jump in… but there are reasons to be hopeful!

So that’s it!

Stock photo of a woman holding a television remote while eating popcorn. — We’ll look like this in 2025!

We’ve picked seven games, seven TV shows, and seven films that I think will be worth checking out between now and Christmas. Some are arriving this month, others not until later in the year.

Usually I’d say my most-anticipated film or show would be anything Star Trek – and Strange New Worlds’ new season should be great, for sure. I’m less sold on Section 31, though, and I think there are some other upcoming projects that look great. If I had to pick just one – which is nigh-on impossible – I guess I’d say Phineas and Ferb’s revival is at the top of my list.

Still frame from Phineas and Ferb Season 4 showing the brothers under a tree in their back yard. — *Phineas and Ferb* is coming back this year.

Once again, let me wish you a happy new year! I hope that 2025 has some fun entertainment experiences in store for all of us, and moreover that it’ll be a great year. Whatever your goal might be for the year or your new year’s resolution, I hope you achieve it. And I hope that this list has given you something to think about and maybe even look forward to!

As for me, I’ve got some tidying up to do! And I’ve got to finish taking down the Christmas lights and pack them away for another year. January can feel like a bare month, sometimes, with empty spaces left over when all the decorations come down. But at least we have some films, games, and TV shows to look forward to, eh?

I hope you have a great start to 2025, and please join me as the year rolls on for more reviews, commentary, and geeking out!

All titles mentioned above are the copyright of their respective studio, publisher, distributor, broadcaster, etc. Some photos and promotional art courtesy of IMDB. This article contains the thoughts and opinions of one person only and is not intended to cause any offence.

We’re Halfway Through 2024!

Sun 30.06.24Dennis

Spoiler Warning: Beware minor spoilers for some of the titles below.

Although I can scarcely believe I’m writing these words… 2024 is officially halfway over! The summer solstice has passed, the nights are getting longer, and before you know it the leaves will be falling from the trees and we’ll be thinking about getting the Christmas decorations out of storage! Maybe that’s a depressing thought for some of you, but I gotta be honest: I love the autumn and winter seasons!

The last day of June marks the halfway point of the year, and I think that makes it a good opportunity not to look behind, but ahead. In late December I’ll dish out my annual End-of-Year Awards, but today is about looking forward to some of the entertainment experiences we might enjoy between now and Christmas. I’ve picked six films, six video games, and six television shows that I think could be fun to watch or play in the second half of 2024.

Still frame from the BBC's New Year's Eve coverage showing Big Ben and the London Eye. — Have you started making plans for New Year’s Eve yet?

As always, a couple of caveats! This list is just one person’s subjective opinion, so if I highlight a production that looks just awful to you, or if I miss something that you think is super obvious… that’s okay! There are loads of things to get excited about and I can’t cover all of them. Secondly, with strikes, pandemics, and other possible issues, it’s possible that some or all of these titles will miss their intended release dates or even slip back into 2025. Everything listed below is scheduled for 2024 at time of writing, but things can change!

With all of that out of the way, let’s look ahead to some of the entertainment experiences we might be enjoying between now and New Year’s Eve.

Films:

Stock photo of a popcorn bucket. — Shall we go to the movies?

I have to be honest: I haven’t seen any brand-new films so far this year! There are a couple on my radar from the first six months of 2024: Civil War, for instance, and the two-part Rebel Moon, but I just haven’t made time for any of them yet. Hopefully that’ll change… I’d love to get a review or two written in the weeks ahead!

Film #1:
The Lord of the Rings: War of the Rohirrim

Promo image for War of the Rohirrim showing a girl wielding a sword. — Promo image for *War of the Rohirrim*.

2024 is shaping up to be an interesting year for Tolkien fans. The Rings of Power is returning for its second season, but we’re also getting the first of several brand-new projects: War of the Rohirrim. Set a hundred years before the events of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, War of the Rohirrim will focus on the “Riders of Rohan” and the King of Rohan Helm Hammerhand. Helm and his men will defend their kingdom… and presumably establish the legendary fortress of Helm’s Deep.

One interesting thing about this film is that it’s animated rather than live-action, and its success could pave the way for more animated Middle-earth projects, perhaps. Director Kenji Kamiyama is well-known in Japan for his work on anime titles like Ghost in the Shell and Eden of the East. As someone who doesn’t know the first thing about anime… I’ll be very curious to see what comes of this fusion of Tolkien’s world with a uniquely Japanese filmmaking style.

Film #2:
Megalopolis

Title card for Megalopolis. — Title card for *Megalopolis*.

Francis Ford Coppola’s epic film has been decades in the making, and the legendary director has poured a lot of his time, effort, and talent into creating it – and no small amount of his own money, too. I genuinely don’t know what the result will be; are we going to get a picture comparable to the likes of Coppola’s own Apocalypse Now… or a truly spectacular flop? Some folks seem to have already decided that Megalopolis will be the latter, but until I’ve seen it for myself I don’t want to pass judgement!

The film is set against the backdrop of a New York-inspired city having been destroyed, and the attempts to rebuild it being hampered by a corrupt elite. There could be an interesting message there, perhaps, given events out here in the real world. Either way, I’ll be curious to see what this long-awaited film actually looks like when the dust settles.

Film #3:
Horizon: An American Saga
Parts 1 & 2

Cropped poster for Horizon: An American Saga showing Kevin Costner's character. — Kevin Costner wrote, produced, directed, and stars in *Horizon: An American Saga*.

Some folks will tell you that the western died a long time ago… but I don’t think that’s really true! There have been fewer westerns produced in recent years than there were at the genre’s peak, but new titles are still making their way to the big screen. Kevin Costner’s Horizon: An American Saga is one of them – and the first two of a purported four-part series are slated to be released this year. I love a good western, and some recent titles in the space have done very different things, from gritty realism to flipping traditional narrative archetypes on their head.

Horizon: An American Saga is set before and after the American Civil War, and all we really know at this stage is that it will depict different characters and families as they settle the western portion of the United States. There are some good actors in the ensemble cast, including Kevin Costner himself, Avatar’s Sam Worthington, Will Patton, and Michael Rooker from The Walking Dead.

Film #4:
Moana 2

Promo artwork for Moana 2. — Maui and Moana (and a bioluminescent whale) in a promo image for *Moana 2*.

I felt it was a tad unfortunate that the original Moana was released the same year as Zootopia, as the latter film seemed – for a time, anyway – to have really captured the attention of a younger audience! Over time, however, I think Moana has done very well for Disney, and is arguably one of the corporation’s last animated feature films to have been a major success in its own right. Disney has since pivoted to sequels and live-action remakes… which is why we’re getting not only Moana 2 but a new adaptation of the original film!

Disney’s sequels have always struggled with one problem: what comes after “happily ever after?” For most of the company’s animated films, the answer has been “not much,” with the resultant pictures going straight-to-video or being worked into Disney Channel series! But Frozen II showed that Disney can do high-quality sequels on the big screen… so there’s hope for Moana 2, at least.

Film #5:
Red One

Promo photo for Red One showing Santa's sleigh and reindeer. — Ho ho ho…

Santa Claus gets kidnapped? And his chief of security, The Rock, has to rescue him? That sounds like the setup for a film that could be absolutely awful… or maybe brilliant! Truth be told, I love a good Christmas story, and Red One seems to be putting an action-comedy spin on the whole “Christmas is in danger” concept that’s become a timeless holiday staple.

Red One features a stellar cast, including Chris Evans, J.K. Simmons, and Lucy Liu alongside Dwayne Johnson. A couple of years ago I was hearing talk of the film being the first part of a kind of “expanded universe” of holiday-related films. Not sure if that’s still going ahead, but Red One could be a fun title regardless. Whether it’ll be the kind of classic that we’ll want to return to at Christmas time every year… I’m not sure! But you never know.

Film #6:
Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl

Promo image for Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl showing Feathers McGraw's mug shot. — Guess who’s back?

The most evil penguin in the world – and one of cinema’s great villains – is finally returning this Christmas! Vengeance Most Fowl will see the long-awaited return of Feathers McGraw, and he seems set on getting his revenge on those who wronged him all those years ago! I’m genuinely looking forward to this one – the Wallace and Gromit pictures have all been a ton of fun, and stop-motion with plasticine figures is something genuinely different in an animation landscape overrun by CGI.

As to the plot… I confess that I’m not entirely convinced that returning to a storyline from a previous adventure is the right move. I could certainly have entertained the idea of telling an entirely new story. But I’m definitely going to be checking out Wallace and Gromit’s latest adventure no matter what!

Television:

The first half of 2024 has seen some interesting TV shows. My current favourite has to be Netflix’s 3 Body Problem, which has belatedly been renewed for two further seasons. I have a review you can find by clicking or tapping here if you’re interested! But there’s more to come, and the next six months promise some new and exciting programmes to enjoy.

TV Show #1:
Lego Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy

Promo image from Lego Star Wars: Rebuild The Galaxy showing Jar Jar Binks holding a lightsaber. — Did Disney just confirm the “Darth Jar Jar” theory?!

Here at Trekking with Dennis, we love and support the Lego Star Wars specials on Disney+! There have been three so far: one Christmas-themed, one Halloween-themed, and one set in the summertime. All have been fantastic, light-hearted takes on Star Wars… and given the bitterness and division in the Star Wars fan community, that can be just what we all need to see sometimes!

Rebuild the Galaxy sounds like it will be a time-travelling tale of undoing mistakes and restoring the correct timeline… with a few fun alternative ideas about Star Wars in the mix, too. Darth Jar Jar, anyone? Hopefully it’ll be a ton of fun, with Mark Hamill and Ahmed Best joining in to voice their iconic characters.

TV Show #2:
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
Season 2

Still frame from The Rings of Power Season 2 trailer showing a tower and a desolate landscape. — Sauron’s tower rises…

As I said when I took a look at The Rings of Power’s upcoming second season a few weeks ago, there are reasons to be positive as the series returns after a two-year hiatus. But I also don’t see any kind of reboot or resetting of a series that, in some quarters, has proven to be controversial, which could mean that this incredibly expensive production will continue to struggle to win over both longstanding fans of Middle-earth and a wider audience.

For what it’s worth, I enjoyed what The Rings of Power did. Particularly when the series stepped away from big questions about Sauron’s reign and the shape of the world and told smaller, more character-oriented stories, I felt there were sparks of genius. And I will never not be interested in a high-budget production that expands our understanding of one of the original, foundational fantasy worlds. Maybe The Rings of Power is imperfect, and maybe Season 2 won’t be the soft reboot that it arguably needed… but I’m still looking forward to it!

TV Show #3:
Phineas and Ferb
Season 5

Still frame from Phineas and Ferb showing Candace looking at the boys on a TV screen. — *Phineas and Ferb* will be back on our screens before too long!

This one is tentative, but Phineas and Ferb’s return is supposedly still on the schedule for 2024. We don’t have anything official on that, and we haven’t seen any trailers, but it would be great to see Phineas and Ferb back on our screens this autumn or winter. I felt that the TV film Candace Against the Universe was fantastic, and if the writers have found new and exciting storylines for the kids and Dr Doofenshmirtz, we should be in for a fun time!

Phineas and Ferb has become one of my “comfort shows,” and I often drift back to it on days when I’m struggling with my mental health. From my perspective, I’m really happy at the prospect of getting some new adventures with Phineas, Ferb, Perry the Platypus, and the rest of the gang. The challenge for any revived or renewed series is finding a way to recapture the magic of those earlier seasons… and finding a better justification for a return than “because money.” I’m crossing my fingers… but I’m more than happy to wait until 2025 or even 2026 if it means better episodes and stories.

TV Show #4:
Those About To Die

Promo photo for Those About To Die showing the Roman Emperor. — Anthony Hopkins in *Those About To Die*.

Those About To Die is a series focusing on gladiators in the Roman Empire. It will star Anthony Hopkins as the Roman Emperor… and that’s about all I know at this stage! The trailer left me with echoes of Game of Thrones (and not just because of the presence of actor Iwan Rheon) with themes of politicking, backstabbing, and control of the Empire all seemingly in play.

There hasn’t been a big-budget production set in ancient Rome for quite some time, so I’ll be curious to see what director Roland Emmerich can do with this unique setting. Hopefully we’ll get some action and excitement at the very least!

TV Show #5:
Star Trek: Lower Decks
Season 5

Still frame from Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 2 showing the four main characters at at table. — The four ensigns in Season 2.

I really need to climb out of my Star Trek doldrums and watch Season 4 of Lower Decks before I can get too excited about Season 5! Unfortunately, this is set to be the final outing for Mariner, Boimler, and the rest of the crew of the Cerritos, as Paramount cancelled the series earlier this year. Hopefully we’ll get a fitting send-off for an enjoyable series and cast of characters.

Lower Decks has been an interesting experiment for the Star Trek franchise – one that would probably have worked better were it not drowned out, at times, by too many other Star Trek productions on our screens all at once. But I hope this won’t be the end for the franchise’s flirtation with animation – it’s a format that has worked well. Lower Decks also took Star Trek back to an older, more episodic style of storytelling, which is something I continue to appreciate.

TV Show #6:
Leonardo da Vinci

A page from Leonardo da Vinci's sketchbook. — One of da Vinci’s designs.

I’ve been a big fan of Ken Burns’ work for a long time, and Leonardo da Vinci will be the acclaimed filmmaker’s first documentary about a non-American subject. Da Vinci led a fascinating life, and I have no doubt that we’ll all learn a lot about the legendary scientist and artist through this new two-part miniseries.

Ken Burns has a unique style that makes his documentaries for PBS really stand out, so I’m looking forward to seeing what his take will be on one of the greatest polymaths of the Renaissance era.

Video Games:

Photo of a young child playing a racing video game. — There are some fun games on the horizon.

Don’t tell anyone, but I think I already know what my “game of the year” will be when I hand out some imaginary statuettes in December! Little Kitty, Big City is an adorable and incredibly fun title, but I’ve also had fun in the first half of 2024 playing EA Sports PGA Tour… a golf game. There’s a lot more to come before Christmas rolls around, though!

Video Game #1:
Star Wars: Outlaws

Promo image for Star Wars: Outlaws showing the main character. — Protagonist Kay Vess and her pet… lizard-axolotl-thing.

One of the things I’ve argued that Star Wars needs to do is step away from the Jedi, Sith, and the Force and show us more about how the regular citizens of the galaxy live. Outlaws seems poised to do just that, focusing on the criminal underworld that we’ve caught glimpses of in other productions. This is, however, a Ubisoft open-world title – and Ubisoft’s particular formula for making games like that is arguably played out at this point. Not to mention there are about a dozen different “editions” of the game, all of which offer some kind of exclusive content and cost a lot more money!

I wouldn’t say that I have sky-high expectations for Outlaws, and having come away from last year’s Jedi: Survivor feeling pretty disappointed, this is a game I admit that I have reservations about. If it all comes together, though, I think we could finally get that personal Han Solo-inspired adventure that many Star Wars fans – myself included – have been interested in for a long time. Just please… don’t make protagonist Kay Vess another “secret Jedi in disguise!”

~~Video Game #2:~~
~~Life By You~~

Title card of the cancelled Life By You. — What a disappointment.

I was all ready to tell you about how genuinely excited I was at the prospect of a proper competitor to The Sims… only to belatedly learn that publisher Paradox cancelled Life By You just months before it was scheduled to be released. That’s disappointing – not only for those of us who might’ve wanted to play it, but for the developers who’d been working on it for over five years at this point.

The Sims has had this genre almost all to itself for a long time, and the result has been a game drowning in expensive add-ons and “content packs.” Life By You could, perhaps, have shaken up a stale genre and done things differently. We’ll never know what might have been.

Video Game #3:
Star Trucker

Promo image for Star Trucker. — Ready to get behind the wheel… or control stick?

Euro Truck Simulator meets science fiction! If that sounds like fun to you, maybe you’ll like Star Trucker. As the name suggests, it’s a game about piloting – or should that be driving? – cargo ships in a sci-fi setting. It looks like a ton of fun; the kind of “cozy game” that I can find myself losing hours of my life playing!

Star Trucker hadn’t been on my radar at all until I saw it at Xbox’s Summer Showcase event a few weeks ago, but now I’m definitely curious to give it a go. I’ve played a fair amount of games like Euro Truck Simulator and Train Simulator, and taking that kind of gameplay to a weirder outer space setting seems like it could be a blast.

Video Game #4:
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle

Promo image for Indiana Jones and the Great Circle showing first-person gameplay. — Let’s punch some Nazis!

I have to be honest with you: I’m not sure about this one. Something about the marketing material for Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is just rubbing me the wrong way, and the game’s visuals feel decidedly underwhelming, too. Still, as a child of the ’80s I feel a strong connection with the Indiana Jones series… and after recent films have failed to impress, surely Indy is overdue for a hit?

The likes of Tomb Raider and Uncharted have shown that video games can do incredibly well with these kinds of historical mystery-adventures, so it could be great to give the granddaddy of the genre one more chance in the video game realm. Maybe, just maybe, I’m wrong about this one and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle will be the kind of rip-roaring adventure I’m looking for. Fingers crossed, eh?

Video Game #5:
Super Mario Party Jamboree

Promo image for Super Mario Bros Jamboree. — Promo image for *Super Mario Party Jamboree*.

I’ve had a soft spot for the Mario Party series since I played the first entry on the Nintendo 64 way back when! It’s great to see that Nintendo is keeping this fun, family-friendly party series around, and even more so to see that a couple of game boards from those early N64 titles are being recreated this time around. It looks like there will be plenty of fun to be had for Mario and the gang!

As the Nintendo Switch begins to wind down and rumors of a new console have even been confirmed by Nintendo, Super Mario Party Jamboree could end up being one of the last big first-party titles created for the machine. With more than 100 mini-games, seven game boards, and a robust online mode, it seems like it’ll be a great send-off for the Switch.

Video Game #6:
Tales of the Shire

Promo image for Tales of the Shire (2024). — Hobbit-holes!

Tales of the Shire feels like it could be The Hobbit meets Animal Crossing! Pitched as a life sim set in the world of Tolkien’s Middle-earth, it looks like there will be a lot of customisation for both player characters and their Hobbit-holes, and a lot of fun, cozy gameplay to get stuck into.

There’s a lot of Middle-earth content on the way, including several new films that were announced earlier in 2024. There’s definitely space for a title like Tales of the Shire… let’s just hope it fares better than Gollum did last year!

So that’s it!

Two coconut beverages with straws on a pier overlooking the sea. — What are your plans for the summer?

We’ve taken a look at a handful of films, TV series, and video games that I think are worth keeping an eye on as the second half of 2024 gets underway. Though it scarcely seems like any time has passed since we were taking down the last of the Christmas ornaments (and I still have an uneaten Christmas pudding in my cupboard), time’s marching on, and the autumn and winter seasons will be upon us before too long!

I hope I’ve given you an idea or two, at any rate. There are plenty of interesting-sounding titles that didn’t make the list this time around, and as I noted just last year, some of my favourite entertainment experiences came out of nowhere and completely surprised me! So I hope there will be some unexpected titles in the mix in the second half of 2024, too.

As the summer season gets underway, I wish you all the best.

All titles discussed above are the copyright of their respective owner, distributor, studio, broadcaster, publisher, etc. Some images and promotional artwork courtesy of IMDB and IGDB. This article contains the thoughts and opinions of one person only and is not intended to cause any offence.

We’re halfway through 2023!

Fri 30.06.23Dennis

Spoiler Warning: Minor spoilers may be present for some of the titles on this list.

It’s the last day of June, and by my reckoning that makes it the halfway point of the year! As we bid farewell to the first half of 2023, it’s a good excuse to take a look ahead to some of the entertainment experiences that we’ll hopefully enjoy between now and Christmas! Is it too early to think about Christmas yet?

The first half of 2023 has been blighted by buggy games and crappy PC ports, but there have been some fun experiences along the way, too. When the year’s over I’ll be sure to pick out some of the highlights in my annual “end-of-year awards,” so check back for that if you want to see me handing out some imaginary trophies and statuettes! But for now, I promised you a look ahead!

I’ve picked five films, five television shows, and five games that I’m looking forward to in the second half of 2023. Maybe I’ll inspire you to find something to watch or play – or maybe you’ll hate all of my suggestions! Either way, I hope it will be a bit of fun to take a brief look ahead.

Film #1:
Ladybug and Cat Noir: The Movie
3rd August

If you aren’t familiar with Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir… what have you been doing? The kids’ show is a blast, and has a lot to offer to an older audience, too, as superheroes Ladybug and Cat Noir battle to save the city of Paris! Miraculous is making its first appearance on the big screen this summer with a film adaptation that might just take the series back to its roots. I’m looking forward to seeing what the bigger budget of a cinematic adaptation could do for what is already a well-written and entertaining story.

Film #2:
Red One
November/December 2023

Red One is an action-adventure film set at Christmas – and features a star-studded cast. JK Simmons takes on the role of Santa Claus, with Dwayne Johnson, Chris Evans, and Lucy Liu also headlining. Details of the story are thin on the ground, but Amazon Studios apparently intends for Red One to be the first part of an expanded cinematic franchise. Christmas films can become classics – but they can also be naff, overly-sentimental fluff. I’m hoping for some excitement and entertainment from Red One.

Film #3:
The Last Voyage of the Demeter
11th August

Based on a single chapter of the original Dracula novel, The Last Voyage of the Demeter will focus on the crew of a doomed ship who are being stalked by the infamous vampire. The horror film could be a fun one to watch around Halloween! Horror usually isn’t my cup of tea, but a combination of the nautical setting and the connection to a classic work of literature has piqued my curiosity. As the horror genre swarms with zombies, ghosts, demons, and monsters, vampire flicks are relatively few and far between – which is another point in the film’s favour.

Film #4:
Wish
24th November

Wish looks fantastic! The film has been created especially for Disney’s centenary, and aims to be a celebration of everything the studio stands for. Focusing on the magical star that many characters have made their wishes upon, the film looks set to be another modern-day Disney classic. The animation style used for Wish is a blend of hand-drawn and digital, and the film will star Academy Award-winner Ariana DeBose. The trailer looked fantastic, with an amazing song to boot, and I can’t wait to see Wish for myself!

Film #5:
Rebel Moon
23rd December

There’s always room for more sci-fi, and Rebel Moon could be the kind of epic that spawns a brand-new franchise! Though I haven’t always been impressed with director Zack Snyder’s films, Rebel Moon seems to have a lot of potential. The film will star Star Trek Beyond’s Sofia Boutella, and looks to pitch a group of heroes against a corrupt imperial government. One to watch, for sure!

Video Game #1:
Star Trek Infinite
TBC 2023

Although I’m still not entirely sure what Star Trek Infinite will be like to play, the game is bringing the Star Trek franchise back to the strategy genre on PC (and Mac) for the first time in a long time – and I’m definitely on board with that idea! Publisher Paradox Interactive has a good reputation, and Star Trek Infinite is being constructed atop a streamlined version of the popular sci-fi strategy title Stellaris. There’s potential here, and I shall be checking out the game when it’s ready.

Video Game #2:
Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty
26th September

Although I’ve argued that we need to be careful about Phantom Liberty given what happened when Cyberpunk 2077 was released, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t at least curious about the expansion pack. Described as a “spy thriller,” Phantom Liberty will add a new storyline to Cyberpunk 2077, a new area of the map, and also promises to connect with the base game’s main story, too. There will also be new weapons, new vehicles, and several new characters to engage with. Definitely one to put in the “wait for the reviews” category… but if it launches in good condition, Phantom Liberty could be a blast.

Video Game #3:
Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora
7th December

Frontiers of Pandora is an open-world action game set in the world of Avatar. It will tell a story independent of the main Avatar films, focusing on a Na’vi character who was trained by humans. This premise sounds genuinely interesting, and could elevate Frontiers of Pandora to something a bit more interesting than just a typical tie-in game. Gameplay was recently shown off as part of Ubisoft’s summer presentation, and the game looks to be in good shape.

Video Game #4:
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass Waves 5 & 6
Summer/Holiday 2023

Last week’s Nintendo Direct broadcast showed off two new characters and one new racetrack that will be coming in Wave 5 of the Booster Course Pass this summer. After that there’s only one more wave to come – which will probably be toward the end of the year. The Booster Course Pass has reignited my interest in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and having new racetracks to jump into has given the game a shot in the arm. I’m hoping that Nintendo will put a lot of effort into the final two additions to the game.

Video Game #5:
Starfield
6th September

Given Bethesda’s reputation and the appalling condition of Fallout 76 in 2018, Starfield is another game that must remain in the “wait for the reviews” column! But if you’re a regular reader here on the website, you’ll know it’s my most-anticipated game right now. I cannot wait to get stuck into this open-galaxy sci-fi role-playing game, customising my character, my spaceship, and my colony, and getting lost in the world that Bethesda has created. I’m just crossing my fingers and hoping that Starfield will launch in a polished state – and that it can live up to the sky-high expectations that Bethesda and Microsoft have set.

Television Series #1:
Futurama
24th July

Futurama is coming back… again! Although the series came to a pretty definitive end in 2013 – following two cancellations and resurrections – Disney and Hulu have opted to bring it back once more. I’m on board with that idea – and I’ll be curious to see what a revived Futurama can bring to the table in 2023. The show was great fun in its earlier iterations, with an intriguing blend of sci-fi wackiness and topical humour, and I have high hopes for more of the same when Fry and the Planet Express crew return.

Television Series #2:
The American Buffalo
16th October

This two-part miniseries by Ken Burns will tell the remarkable tale of the near-extinction and resurrection of the American bison, looking at the history of hunting, what the species meant to native peoples, and how it was saved from extinction in the 20th Century. Ken Burns is one of the world’s leading documentary filmmakers, and I’ve long enjoyed his work.

Television Series #3:
Star Wars: Skeleton Crew
Late 2023

The premise of Skeleton Crew is giving me Star Trek: Prodigy vibes, as a group of youngsters will find themselves lost in a galaxy far, far away. Jude Law is taking on the lead role of a Jedi, and may serve as a kind of mentor to the group. Story details are still thin on the ground, but there’s enough to think that Skeleton Crew might be something a bit different from a franchise that has struggled to break away from its illustrious past. The series may also connect in some way with The Mandalorian, as it’s set in the same time period.

Television Series #4:
Good Omens Season 2
28th July

Although it’s been a while since the first season of this adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s story, Season 2 is finally upon us! David Tennant and Michael Sheen are returning as the demon Crowley and the angel Aziraphale respectively, and the continuation looks set to be a ton of fun. After Crowley and Aziraphale managed to prevent the end of the world last time around… what will they get up to this time?

Television Series #5:
Foundation Season 2
14th July

The first season of Foundation was outstanding, successfully adapting a very dense work of hard sci-fi in an understandable way. I’m very interested to see what Season 2 might have to offer, and how it might bring together some of the different story threads that the series has in play. Apple has done a great job so far, but Foundation has room to grow. Its complex premise and large cast of characters doesn’t make it the easiest show to follow, but it’s absolutely worth sticking with Foundation.

So that’s it!

We’ve taken a look at a handful of films, video games, and television shows that I hope will be enjoyable between now and the end of the year. In late December I’ll be dishing out some of my annual end-of-year awards to the best of the best, so check back then to see which of the entertainment experiences above made the cut!

What am I most excited about right now? It’s hard to pick just one thing, but I’m very curious to see if Starfield truly lives up to the high expectations that have been set. I’m also really looking forward to Futurama’s return, as well as seeing if Rebel Moon will be “the next big thing” in sci-fi!

I’ll be here throughout the summer, reviewing episodes of Strange New Worlds, sharing my thoughts on new and upcoming projects, and much more! I don’t promise reviews of everything listed above, but I’ll try to share my thoughts and impressions on at least some of these titles. I hope the first half of 2023 has gone well for you, and that you’re looking forward to some fun and exciting entertainment experiences as we pass the halfway point of the year.

All properties discussed above are the copyright of their respective owner(s). Some images used above courtesy of IGDB and IMDB. This article contains the thoughts and opinions of one person only and is not intended to cause any offence.

Looking ahead to 2023

Thu 05.01.23Sun 08.01.23Dennis

Spoiler Warning: Minor spoilers may be present for some of the titles on this list.

As a new year gets underway, it’s a good opportunity to look ahead. There are some exciting-sounding films, television series, and video games that are currently on the schedule for 2023, and on this occasion I thought it could be fun to pick out a few that I find particularly interesting and preview them! I’ll share some of my preliminary, pre-release thoughts on ten of each.

On balance, I don’t think 2022 will be held in particularly high esteem in future in terms of its entertainment experiences. There were some good ones, but there were also plenty of delays and projects that just underwhelmed for one reason or another. Will 2023 fare any better? That’s still an open question… but there are certainly some big releases on the horizon that could potentially excel.

It’s time for a couple of caveats! First of all, delays can happen at any time in the creative process, especially in a war-torn, pandemic-disrupted world. As a result, any or even all of the films, shows, and games that we’re going to talk about today could miss their intended release dates or release windows – and there really isn’t anything we can do about that! I’m firmly in the camp that says delays are almost always a net positive; while never fun, I’d rather creatives spent longer working on a project to finish getting it ready rather than launching it too soon. We don’t need to look far for examples of how wrong that goes!

Finally, these projects seem interesting or exciting to me personally for one reason or another… in my subjective opinion! I’m not trying to say that these are or will be “objectively the best” releases of 2023, nor should the exclusion from the lists below be interpreted as any kind of snub. I’ve just picked out a few projects that I find to be of interest, and if you hate all of my picks or I’ve excluded some of your favourites, please just keep in mind that this is only the opinion of one person!

With all of that out of the way, let’s get started!

Films:

I confess that I didn’t see a lot of films in 2022. I can’t go to the cinema any more due to my declining health, and while practically every major title made its way to a streaming platform last year, there were some I just wasn’t interested in or found that I didn’t have the right mindset or headspace for. That’s just the way it goes sometimes! That being said, there are some interesting films on the schedule for this year, and I shall be keeping an eye out for these ten in particular!

Film #1:
The Super Mario Bros. Movie

I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the two trailers we’ve seen so far for The Super Mario Bros. Movie. The film looks like it’s going out of its way to stay as true as possible to its source material, while at the same time putting a twist on Mario’s adventures in the Mushroom Kingdom. The “hero who has to save a princess” trope has been rather overdone – and feels pretty outdated in 2023 in more ways than one – so seeing Luigi being held captive by the villainous Bowser and Mario working with Peach feels like it should be a great change of pace.

The inclusion of an all-star Hollywood cast has proven controversial in some quarters, but from what I’ve seen of the film so far, I will be surprised if most folks aren’t won over by the time the credits roll. There will be some die-hard haters – as there always are in any franchise any time something is changed – but overall, I have high hopes for this one. This film could easily be the best animated film of the year – and one of the best non-Disney animated films of the decade!

Film #2:
Dune: Part Two

The first part of Dune was a surprisingly strong adaptation of a book that has proven to be notoriously difficult to adapt. I had a fantastic time with it when it was released at the end of 2021, and I’ve been meaning to go back and re-watch it for some time now. I was concerned that this sequel might not see the light of day if Warner Bros. didn’t feel the first part did as well as they’d hoped – but fortunately there was no denying the critical and commercial success of Dune in 2021!

The cast from the first film are all reprising their roles, and director Denis Villeneuve is returning to the big chair. Filming officially wrapped a couple of months ago, and Dune: Part Two is well into post-production at this stage. A November release is on the cards, and I’m really excited to see the story continue.

Film #3:
Knock at the Cabin

Director M. Night Shyamalan has an inconsistent track record, and I suspect his career has been more harmed than helped by acquiring an early reputation as the “master of twists.” But regardless, he’s back with Knock at the Cabin in 2023, a psychological horror film about a family who are confronted by four people who claim to be trying to prevent the apocalypse.

The film’s premise sounds interesting to me, and a cast that features Jonathan Groff and Rupert Grint feels like it has potential. I wouldn’t say my expectations for Knock at the Cabin are sky-high, but we could certainly be in for one of the more interesting titles in the horror genre this year.

Film #4:
The Little Mermaid

To be blunt, I wasn’t blown away by the visuals in the teaser trailer for The Little Mermaid. The CGI looks fantastic, but the fully live-action moments didn’t feel convincingly “underwater,” and actually looked pretty amateurish. Assuming that Disney can figure out a way to pull off those underwater sequences convincingly, though, The Little Mermaid should be a creditable adaptation of the 1989 animated film.

Visual criticisms aside, I feel hopeful that this new version of The Little Mermaid will introduce the story to a new generation. While the animated film is still perfectly watchable in its own right, there’s nothing wrong with updating things and recreating the film for a younger audience, and Disney has a pretty good track record at doing so by now.

Film #5:
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny

Is it a great idea to bring back Indiana Jones for another adventure? As a child of the ’80s, I’d be lying if I said I don’t enjoy the Indiana Jones films… but Kingdom of the Crystal Skull was already a let-down. Dial of Destiny could redeem the series, ending Harrison Ford’s turn with the famous hat and whip on a high note – or it could double down on the disappointment!

This film is definitely one I’m placing in the “interested in” rather than “excited about” category. I don’t really have high hopes, but I’d love to be proven wrong. At the very least, I hope Dial of Destiny will be a passable popcorn adventure flick. Whether it will truly live up to its illustrious forebears… well, I’m less hopeful of that. If it succeeds at bringing in a wad of cash, though, I think we can expect to see reboots, prequels, and spin-offs in the years ahead!

Film #6:
Asteroid City

There isn’t a lot to go on with this film, billed as a “romantic comedy-drama.” But the director, Wes Anderson, has pedigree, and has put together a diverse ensemble cast that rivals his previous pictures, such as The Grand Budapest Hotel. The full cast list is far too long to include, but some of the standout performers for me that I’m interested to see include Bryan Cranston, Tom Hanks, Willem Dafoe, Tilda Swinton, and Scarlett Johansson.

Though I’m not entirely sure what to expect from this one, it could be a lot of fun! The setting is the mid-1950s somewhere in the American Southwest, and some kind of “stargazer convention” will be part of the plot, too.

Film #7:
Wish

To mark the company’s centenary, Disney is going to release Wish – a film all about the “wishing star;” the star upon which characters in other Disney films have made their wishes. The star itself is going to be a character of sorts, but the film will also introduce a new cast of characters, including Asha, voiced by Ariana DeBose of West Side Story fame.

Wish will also bring back a hand-drawn animation style, something Disney hasn’t used since The Princess and the Frog more than a decade ago. While we haven’t seen just how the film will look, some concept art has been released that looks absolutely beautiful. Disney’s big animated releases are almost always fantastic, and I have high hopes for Wish.

Film #8:
The Haunted Mansion

The third Disney entry on this list, The Haunted Mansion is the company’s latest attempt to turn a theme park ride into a film! No one would deny that Pirates of the Caribbean set a high bar for that concept a few years ago, but other attempts haven’t always worked! An adaptation of The Haunted Mansion twenty years ago (that I’m fairly sure I’ve seen but can’t really remember much about) starred Eddie Murphy, but even he couldn’t salvage what critics regarded as a picture that was average at best.

Jungle Cruise may not have been 2021’s film of the year, but I enjoyed it for what it was, so there’s definitely room for another theme park adaptation. The Haunted Mansion could be great to watch around Halloween; a kind of lighter, child-friendly horror title that will be spooky… but not too spooky!

Film #9:
65

65 has an unusual premise – an astronaut accidentally travels back in time to the era of the dinosaurs, and must figure out a way to survive. Adam Driver will take the lead in this sci-fi action-adventure, and his presence alone should make it worth checking out. Driver’s performances as Kylo Ren in the Star Wars sequel trilogy were outstanding, and his turn as a divorcee in Marriage Story was Oscar-worthy in my opinion.

That being said, I can’t help but feel that 65 could go either way! Its premise could make for a different kind of sci-fi title in a genre overrun by sequels and comic book adaptations… or it could turn out to be an overblown B-movie that didn’t deserve a leading man of such quality! Time will tell… but I’m definitely interested to see how it shakes out.

Film #10:
Napoleon

Ridley Scott will direct this historical epic that focuses on the rise to power of Napoleon Bonaparte. Scott has a great track record, with films like Alien and Thelma & Louise under his belt, but an earlier attempt at an historical epic – 1492: Conquest of Paradise – was not particularly well-received! Could this be a chance for redemption for the director in the genre?

The title role has gone to Joaquin Phoenix, and that feels like it could be an inspired choice. Backed up by a cast that features Ben Miles and Vanessa Kirby, I’ll be curious to see what Napoleon has to offer when it releases. The film will be an Apple TV+ exclusive, which is also a point of note.

Television Series:

2023 looks set to be another year where franchises, spin-offs, and continuations of ongoing stories dominate the television landscape. There are several big shows whose new seasons I’m eagerly anticipating, but it feels like there are fewer wholly original projects to look forward to. That being said, there were some great new stories in 2022 – so hopefully this year will bring along some surprises, too!

Television Series #1:
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds
Season 2

Strange New Worlds was truly outstanding in its first season, blending old-school episodic storytelling with modern serialised elements. As much as I like what Discovery and Picard have done with season-long story arcs, the approach used by Strange New Worlds should, in my view at least, serve as a model for the entire Star Trek franchise going forward.

The show’s second season wrapped months ago – and I will be positively stunned if we don’t get an announcement that a third season is being worked on sometime before Season 2 premieres this spring. I absolutely cannot wait to spend more time with Captain Pike, Spock, and the rest of the crew of the Enterprise!

Television Series #2:
Hailey’s On It!

Hailey’s On It! is a Disney Channel animated series that will feature Moana’s Auli’i Cravalho in its leading role. The premise sounds interesting – a young woman must step outside of her comfort zone and confront her fears in order to “save the world.” And with Cravalho leading the charge, I think there’s the potential for the show to be something a little more than just a distraction that parents can use to get a few minutes’ peace!

The animation style shown off in concept art looks fantastic, and while I wouldn’t normally say that I’m excited for a new Disney Channel cartoon, I feel hopeful, at least, that Hailey’s On It! could be the kind of kids’ show that has something to offer to a grown-up audience as well.

Television Series #3:
Star Trek: Picard
Season 3

After a decidedly lacklustre second season, my disappointment was compounded by the announcement that all but one of the new characters introduced in Picard will not be returning for the show’s final outing. Season 3 has a lot of work to do, then, to pull out a satisfying ending to what has been a troubled production. If the trailers and teasers are anything to go by, it just might be up to the task after all!

The return of main characters from The Next Generation feels bittersweet because of who had to be unceremoniously kicked off stage to make room for them. This season could be a roaring return to form, or it could drown in failed attempts to play the nostalgia card. I’m absolutely hoping for the former… but trying to prepare myself for the latter.

Television Series #4:
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
Season 2

It isn’t entirely clear when The Rings of Power’s second season might be ready. Filming only started in October, and a series with such extensive post-production work may take a while. That’s not to mention that Season 2 is being filmed in new locations, and may even serve as somewhat of a soft reboot of a series that proved controversial in some quarters.

Despite that, however, I called The Rings of Power my favourite television series of 2022, so I’m incredibly excited to see what happens next. The first season ended with several massive cliffhangers for both individual characters and for the story as a whole, so it’ll be great to see the next chapter of this fantasy epic unfold.

Television Series #5:
Star Trek: Discovery
Season 5

Discovery’s fourth season ended on a high, with what is almost certainly one of the best episodes that the show has ever produced. I was concerned that the show would attempt yet another recycling of the old “the entire galaxy is in danger and only Burnham and the crew can save it!!!” narrative framework that has been used four times now… but thankfully, based on the first trailer and comments from the show’s producers, it seems as though Discovery will finally be bold enough to try something different!

As a result, my excitement for Season 5 grew immensely! Although Season 4 dragged in parts, on the whole I think it marks a turning point in the show’s run, and the addition of some wonderful secondary characters to the cast has given new life to a series that is rapidly approaching its sixth anniversary and sixty-fifth episode. Season 5 could build on what Season 4 did, taking these well-rounded characters to new thematic and storytelling places.

Television Series #6:
Masters of the Air

Produced by the same team that created Band of Brothers and The Pacific, this new World War II drama will follow the stories of members of the United States Army Air Forces – the precursor to the Air Force. The miniseries seems to be following a similar format to its popular predecessors, with an expansive cast of characters, almost all of whom are based on real people. Masters of the Air is based on a biography of the unit that was published in 2007.

I’m expecting a tightly-focused story with plenty of character. CGI and visual effects have improved since Band of Brothers premiered, so I’d hope that the show will look fantastic and really succeed at bringing World War II to life on the small screen.

Television Series #7:
Shōgun

The second adaptation of James Clavell’s 1975 novel has a lot to live up to! An earlier adaptation, made in 1980, was one of the most popular shows of the year, and with a troubled production that saw scripts scrapped and rewritten, new showrunners brought on board, and a shoot that overran by two months… let’s just say that Shōgun has work to do.

But the story, set in 17th Century Japan, is an interesting one, and there’s potential in this new adaptation to see it introduced to legions of new fans. A shipwreck sets up the story of a “fish-out-of-water” hero in an unfamiliar land, and the palace intrigue at the castle of the titular Shōgun could rival the very best drama series of the year.

Television Series #8:
The Last Of Us

Video game adaptations are notoriously difficult, but The Last Of Us has an all-star cast, a sky-high budget, and crucially, it seems to have won over many fans of the video game. The Last Of Us is one of the best video game narratives that I’ve ever experienced, and it feels like a natural fit for a serialised drama series; the story would certainly be far too long to condense into a film. So I’m hopeful that – finally – a video game adaptation will get the accolades it deserves!

Moreover, I’m really excited to be able to show this fascinating and unique horror-drama story to friends and family members who have no interest in gaming. The story of The Last Of Us is fabulous and absolutely deserves to find a bigger audience. There’s reason to hope that this adaptation will be up to the task.

Television Series #9:
Halo
Season 2

I enjoyed what the Halo series did in its first season, all things considered. It succeeded at bringing the long-running video game franchise to the small screen, adapting its story to fit the new format and making a few changes along the way. Some of those changes proved controversial – as such things always do – and I can certainly entertain the argument that there was less action than fans were hoping for.

But Halo will press on, potentially taking on board some of those criticisms, and it’s my hope that Season 2 will build on the accomplishments of Season 1 to progress the story in an enjoyable way. The first season had some great performances, clever cinematography that incorporated a first-person perspective during key sequences, and a mysterious story that will have kept even fans of the games guessing. I’m interested, and dare I say even excited, to see more.

~~Television Series #10:~~
~~Faraway Downs~~

I am joking. This is a joke. Nobody should ever be tortured into watching Faraway Downs. I can honestly think of nothing less appealing than watching an extended, reworked version of Baz Luhrmann’s Australia – quite possibly the worst film that I have ever had the misfortune to see. When I heard that Luhrmann was planning to use cut footage to expand Australia into a six-part miniseries I was flabbergasted. Who on earth would possibly want to see this? Was anyone asking for it to be made?

I’d rather trek to the bottom of the garden, heave the lid off the septic tank, and spend six hours staring unblinkingly at the festering sewage within.

Television Series #10:
The Three-Body Problem

China can often feel like a world unto itself; western productions struggle to cross over, and Chinese productions seldom attract mainstream attention over here. The Three-Body Problem is an adaptation of a Chinese sci-fi novel (or rather, the first part of a trio of novels) and is helmed by Game of Thrones’ showrunners David Benioff and DB Weiss.

I haven’t read The Three-Body Problem, but the premise sounds absolutely fascinating to me. Benioff and Weiss have proven themselves capable when it comes to adapting novels for the small screen – at least, completed novels – so there’s reason to hope that The Three-Body Problem will be interesting and entertaining in equal measure. This one could easily go toe-to-toe with the likes of Foundation in the sci-fi genre.

Video Games:

There are some massive releases on the schedule for 2023 – several of which were originally promised for last year! If even one of these big titles succeeds, 2023 will already be a great year for gaming. Single-player games are definitely holding the line in an industry where online multiplayer continues to bring in the big bucks, so there are plenty of reasons to think that 2023 could actually turn out to be a fantastic year for the medium.

Video Game #1:
Tchia

I’ve been tracking the progress of this amazing-looking indie game for more than a year, and it looks like 2023 could be Tchia’s moment. Based on legends from the developers’ New Caledonia home, Tchia will see players take on the role of a young girl on a quest to rescue her father. In addition to platforming and action-adventure gameplay in an open-world archipelago based on the island of New Caledonia, the ambitious game promises to unleash players’ creativity – and even includes a playable ukulele!

There have been some fantastic debut games by indie studios in recent years. My game of the year in 2021 was Kena: Bridge of Spirits – and without wanting to raise expectations too high, at least part of me is hoping that Tchia might just reach that same high bar.

Video Game #2:
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
DLC: Booster Course Pass Waves 4, 5, and 6

You might think it a cheat to include a piece of downloadable content on this list, but it’s my list so that’s just tough! Although I was disappointed not to see a wholly new Mario Kart title in 2022, the Booster Course Pass for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has been a surprising amount of fun. Not only have racetracks from past games in the series been updated and made welcome returns, but wholly new tracks have been created, too.

The Booster Course Pass is only half-finished, and three more waves are planned for 2023. Specific dates aren’t known, nor is it certain which racetracks will be appearing, but I’m nevertheless excited to have more Mario Kart to get stuck into!

Video Game #3:
Star Trek: Resurgence

A narrative adventure game with a branching storyline sounds like a perfect fit for the Star Trek franchise. After years in which no new Star Trek games had been licensed for PC or home consoles, two have come along within a few months of each other; Resurgence is hot on the heels of last year’s Star Trek: Prodigy – Supernova, which I really must get around to playing!

The game is being developed by folks who used to work for studio Telltale Games, a developer whose games were often praised for their narratives. I’m hopeful that, after a drought of games for Trekkies who aren’t interested in the online multiplayer scene, Resurgence will be a welcome return to the video game realm for the Star Trek franchise.

Video Game #4:
Disney Speedstorm

Developers Gameloft worked with Disney and created my favourite gaming experience of 2022: Disney Dreamlight Valley. Having taken Nintendo’s Animal Crossing formula and massively improved upon it… could they be about to do the same thing by creating a Disney-based rival to the Mario Kart series? Maybe that’s expecting too much… but Disney Speedstorm looks like a ton of fun!

I like casual, arcade-style racing games, and I’m a pretty big Disney fan, too. Bring those two things together and I hope it’ll be a fun time.

Video Game #5:
Starfield

One of the year’s biggest releases has to be Bethesda’s Starfield – the company’s first foray into a wholly new world in a quarter of a century. An epic sci-fi adventure has been promised, with all of the hallmarks of past Bethesda titles: joinable factions, a huge mix of varied side-quests, diverse non-player characters to interact with, customisation of every facet of your character, and much more besides.

Starfield will also give players the opportunity to design and upgrade their very own spaceship, before setting off to journey to one of a thousand different planets across dozens of star systems. Starfield is ambitious, and while there are certainly things that give me pause – such as Bethesda’s insistence on reusing its outdated game engine – I can already feel myself getting swept along by a growing hype train!

Video Game #6:
The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria

I confess that I’m not entirely sure what to expect from this one. The game promises base-building and adventures in the Dwarven realm of Moria, set years after The Lord of the Rings as the Dwarves seek to reclaim their abandoned halls. It sounds as if the game will be set up for multiplayer – though the official blurb promises that it can be played solo, too.

There’s something about an underground setting that harkens back to the days of dungeon-crawler games, and the subterranean setting combined with the lore of Tolkien’s Middle-earth could make for a genuinely exciting title. I’m curious and perhaps a little hopeful of having some fun adventures deep underground!

Video Game #7:
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

The much-anticipated sequel to Jedi: Fallen Order is almost ready! The game – which I played through back in 2020 – is one of the best Star Wars experiences I’ve had in recent years, and it was left open-ended by the time the credits rolled. Finding out what happens next for Cal Kestis, the former Jedi padawan, is something I’m really interested in!

Jedi: Survivor seems to have taken the gameplay of Fallen Order and expanded upon it, giving Cal new weapons and abilities – and at least one new companion, too. I recently played through it for a second time, which seems to be perfect timing with the sequel coming up! I really can’t wait to join Cal and the crew of the Stinger Mantis for another adventure in a galaxy far, far away.

Video Game #8:
Forspoken

Unlike many action-adventure titles, it seems as though Forspoken will focus much more on magic and spell-casting – something that could be absolutely fascinating. Set in an open-world, the game will follow the story of Frey, a young woman from our world who finds herself transported into a mysterious realm where magic exists and must find her way home.

Forspoken hadn’t really been on my radar until recently, but I’m now genuinely looking forward to it.

Video Game #9:
Perfect Dark

Though unconfirmed at this stage, Xbox’s Perfect Dark remake/reimagining would be well-timed if it should be ready this year – because the original game on the Nintendo 64 was set in 2023! Perfect Dark was originally created by Rare, hot on the heels of their success with Goldeneye 007 on the same platform, and it was a ton of fun when it released in the year 2000.

I’m genuinely curious to see what a recreated Perfect Dark might look like. Could it kick off another first-person shooter series for Xbox… and, perhaps more importantly, for Microsoft’s Game Pass service? I think that’s a possibility – but my main hope is that the single-player campaign will be fun to play through!

Video Game #10:
EA Sports FC

Bear with me on this one, okay? I know football (soccer) isn’t everyone’s favourite thing, and I know that sports games – and especially Electronic Arts’ sports games – have been particularly scummy with their in-game gambling and monetisation. But for the first time since EA published FIFA International Soccer in 1993, the corporation won’t have the official license or naming rights from world football’s governing body. That could mean we’re about to witness a sea change in the series… or it could lead to nothing of consequence at all!

Nevertheless, I’m curious to see what changes – if any – will come about as a result of EA and FIFA going their separate ways. Will EA Sports FC be noticeably different from recent entries in the FIFA series? We’ll find out later this year!

So that’s it!

We’ve picked out ten films, ten television shows, and ten video games to watch out for as 2023 gets underway. There will be many surprises along the way, I have no doubt, and it’s possible that some of the entertainment experiences that I’m excited in right now will either end up being disappointments or won’t even make it out of the door this year. But I’m hopeful that we’ll get some exciting, dramatic, and just plain fun stories to enjoy between now and Christmas!

There are definitely things to look forward to. I’ll try to cover at least some of these titles with reviews, first impressions, and general commentary here on the website over the next twelve months. I hope that you found this interesting, and that it was a fun, positive look ahead to some of what I hope will be the entertainment highlights of 2023.

Until next time!

All titles discussed above are the copyrights of their respective studio, developer, publisher, distributor, broadcaster, etc. This article contains the thoughts and opinions of one person only and is not intended to cause any offence.

What might we watch and play in 2021?

Fri 01.01.21Mon 06.02.23Dennis

Happy New Year! As we put the calamitous 2020 behind us, let’s look ahead to some of the entertainment experiences we might enjoy between now and Christmas. There’s only 51 weeks till the big day, you know. Better start your Christmas shopping!

The effects of 2020’s disruption are still being felt, and while we should hopefully see a return to normalcy slowly building over the next few months, there will undoubtedly be changes to come. From my point of view as a Trekkie, the big question is this: how much Star Trek will we get this year? After 2020 saw the release of three different Star Trek projects, it’s not inconceivable that the only episode we’ll see in 2021 will be next week’s finale of Star Trek: Discovery Season 3!

We do know, at least, that some big projects still intend to release this year. Let’s look at a few – in no particular order.

Cinema

The pandemic has not magically gone away with the arrival of the new year, and many cinemas look set to remain closed in the weeks ahead. The distribution of vaccines will be key to their re-opening, and thus to the release of at least some big films. However, there have been plans announced to bring some of 2021’s big releases to streaming platforms – either instead of or in addition to a theatrical release. How well this will work, and whether many of these plans go ahead if the pandemic is brought under control is up in the air right now – but it remains a possibility.

Number 1:
Dune

The latest adaptation of Dune is the first part of a duology, and was originally supposed to be released in 2020. Of course that couldn’t happen, and Dune is now set for a December release, and will supposedly come to HBO Max at the same time. Though the story has been notoriously difficult to adapt, this version has a huge budget, a stellar cast, and what look like wonderful visual effects based on the trailer. It feels like a film with great potential, and I’m eagerly awaiting its release.

Number 2:
No Time To Die

The latest Bond film – which is set to be Daniel Craig’s final outing as 007 – has been delayed by over a year. It was originally scheduled for an April 2020 release, but that has been pushed back to April 2021. There are no current plans to bring the film to streaming, and as it’s supposedly the most expensive Bond film of all time, perhaps that makes sense. April feels optimistic, but we’ll see how things go! Regardless, I’ve always enjoyed the Bond franchise, and it’ll be interesting to see what happens as this chapter of the 007 cinematic saga draws to a close.

Number 3:
Jungle Cruise

I love Disney World and the other Disney theme parks! When I heard that the House of Mouse was planning to make a film based on their Pirates of the Caribbean ride in the early 2000s I thought it sounded like a terrible idea – yet Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl was an incredibly fun film with heart. Jungle Cruise is likewise based on a Disney World/Disneyland ride, one which, if memory serves, is cute and action-packed! The film adaptation will have to try hard to retain at least some elements of what makes the ride enjoyable, but if it can succeed it could grow to become an ongoing series like Pirates of the Caribbean.

Number 4:
The Matrix 4

As I said last time, I really don’t know where The Matrix 4 could possibly take the story of the series. However, I’m still fascinated to find out! This will be our first time back in this setting since 2003’s The Matrix Revolutions, and I’m sure a lot of fans are excited and nervous in equal measure. The idea of the world being artificial was somewhat of a novelty for the big screen when The Matrix did it in 1999, but we’ve since seen other takes on the concept. Will it stick to the late-90s/early-00s aesthetic for scenes set in the simulated world? Will there even be a simulated world if humanity broke free? We’ll soon find out.

Number 5:
Raya and the Last Dragon

After Disney saw success with the Polynesian-themed Moana, they have turned to Southeast Asia for inspiration for Raya and the Last Dragon. Kelly Marie Tran will voice the titular Raya, and Disney animated films have always been worth watching so I’m expecting an enjoyable film. Disney appears to be going through somewhat of a second renaissance in the aftermath of Frozen’s huge success in 2013, and hopefully this will be a continuation of that. I’m also rooting for Kelly Marie Tran after the awful treatment she had to endure at the hands of some so-called “fans” of Star Wars. Raya and the Last Dragon will take the approach pioneered by Mulan and be released on Disney+ for a fee.

Number 6:
The Suicide Squad

2016’s Suicide Squad won an Academy Award. Just in case you forgot! Was it an outstanding cinematic triumph that I’m happy to rewatch time and again? Not exactly, but it was a decent action-packed blockbuster that was an okay way to kill a couple of hours. And that’s what I expect from this direct sequel – nothing groundbreaking, but a solid film with some cute comic book elements.

Number 7:
The King’s Man

Kingsman was a surprisingly fun film when it was released in 2014, and the third entry in the series is a prequel. The King’s Man looks set to examine the outlandish spy organisation’s past and possibly its origins, as well as throw together another action-comedy that takes inspiration from the likes of James Bond. I think that sounds like fun! The King’s Man will feature some pretty big names, including Ralph Finnes, Charles Dance, and Rhys Ifans.

Number 8:
Uncharted

Films based on video games have not often performed well. Though some have become cult classics in their own right, most films adapted from video games have not been successful. Will Uncharted be any different? The project has been in development for a long time and seen many behind-the-scenes changes, but having settled on a script and director, Tom Holland was cast in the role of Nathan Drake. At the very least there’s potential for a summer popcorn flick; a blockbuster adventure film. Whether it will succeed at becoming “the new Indiana Jones” is up for debate – but maybe!

Number 9:
Death on the Nile

2017’s Murder on the Orient Express was great fun, and Death on the Nile is a sequel of sorts. Adapted from a 1937 novel by famed murder-mystery author Agatha Christie, Kenneth Branagh both directs and stars in the picture as detective Hercule Poirot. The cast list reads like a who’s who of British and international stars, including Jennifer Saunders, Rose Leslie, Russell Brand, and Gal Gadot. If you’re familiar with the book or one of the two earlier adaptations the ending will no doubt be known – but that doesn’t mean the journey there won’t be mysterious and thrilling!

Number 10:
Free Guy

Free Guy is about a non-player character in an open world video game who becomes sentient and tries to escape the game. And he’s played by Ryan Reynolds. Are you sold yet? Because that premise (and casting choice) was all it took to hook me in and decide that Free Guy would be worth a look! It sounds like fun, and Reynolds has great comedic timing as we’ve seen with titles like Deadpool. At the very least it’s a unique premise for a film, and one that seems like it could be really funny.

Gaming

With two new consoles barely a month old, both Sony and Microsoft will surely make moves to shore up their player bases this year. There are some titles on the schedule that look absolutely fantastic, and while the release of many of these on what is now last generation’s hardware will mean we won’t see the full power of the next-gen machines just yet, we should begin to see some improvements in what games are capable of. I better get on with upgrading my PC!

Number 1:
Mass Effect: Legendary Edition

Rumours swirled for much of last year of an impending Mass Effect trilogy remaster, and the project was finally announced a few weeks ago. Despite its controversial ending, the three games tell a deep and engaging story in a unique sci-fi setting, and were great fun during the Xbox 360 era. Has enough time passed to make updating the trilogy worthwhile? Mass Effect 3 was only released eight years ago, after all. And will the remaster do everything needed to bring these games up-to-date? With Mass Effect 4 on the distant horizon, it will have to! I’m cautiously interested in this one – it could be wonderful to replay these games, but as we’ve seen with some recent remasters, not every company manages to hit a home run when it comes to updating a beloved title.

Number 2:
Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga

Though I didn’t have time to review it before Christmas, The Lego Star Wars Holiday Special was great fun over on Disney+. I had hoped to see Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga last year, but it got pushed back and is currently due for release in “early 2021” – whatever that may mean! The first couple of Lego Star Wars games, which were released in the mid-2000s, were really great fun, and I’ve been looking forward to the latest bricky reimagining of the Star Wars saga since it was announced. Lego games have never tried to take themselves seriously, and the end result has always been titles which are just a lot of fun.

Number 3:
The Lord of the Rings: Gollum

What could a game starring Gollum possibly bring to the table? I have absolutely no idea! But games – and stories in general – focusing on an antihero can be wonderful, so I’m very curious to find out. It’s also great to see another big single-player title given the glut of live services and always-online multiplayer games. I’m a fan of Middle-earth and the world Tolkien built, so hopefully this game will be a fun return to that setting. Taking on the role of Gollum will offer a different look at Middle-earth, and whether it focuses on the main story from the books or not, has the potential to be fascinating.

Number 4:
Skull & Bones

Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag demonstrated that there’s still a lot of appeal in pirate-themed titles. Skull & Bones wasn’t something I was especially interested in at first, but upon learning it will feature a single-player campaign I was happy to add it to the list. It seems to be a game that will deal with the naval combat side of things, and as long as it can really nail ship-to-ship combat within its game engine it should at least be a solid title. Naval games are relatively rare in the combat/strategy/action genres, so perhaps Skull & Bones will offer something a little different.

Number 5:
Outriders

Outriders was one of the first next-gen games that reviewers really had a chance to get to grips with before the launch of the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. The consensus was that it seems like a fun third-person shooter, even if it wasn’t quite as “next-gen feeling” as some had hoped. Regardless, Outriders has continued its development and will be released this year. The basic premise feels like a mix of sci-fi and superhero comics, and at the very least it’s a brand-new setting at a time when a lot of studios are focused on sequels and franchises.

Number 6:
GhostWire: Tokyo

I honestly don’t know what to expect from GhostWire: Tokyo. It’s a game shrouded in mystery! One thing we know for sure is that it will feature a supernatural storyline, and that alone sounds like it has potential. A teaser trailer released last year didn’t show much, but we know that the game will draw on Japanese mythology and will be a first-person action-adventure game with some supernatural horror elements. It might be wonderful… or it might not be my thing! We’ll have to wait and see.

Number 7:
Diablo IV

After disappointing fans with Diablo Immortal, and then messing up with the controversy around their decision to censor a professional player who supported the protests in Hong Kong, it’s not unfair to say that there’s a lot riding on Diablo IV for Blizzard’s reputation. Early indications are that the dungeon-crawler looks good, and could be a return to form. Diablo III had issues at launch, so this is very much one to take a “wait-and-see” approach with, but if the studio can recreate the magic of older titles then Diablo IV should offer a fun experience.

Number 8:
Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury

My most recent foray into Mario’s 3D adventures was underwhelming, as Super Mario 3D All-Stars was not actually all that great. However, Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury might be! The base game was released on the Wii U, but Bowser’s Fury is something altogether new. How substantial it will be remains to be seen, but taken as a whole the package seems to offer good value. I love the cat suits introduced in Super Mario 3D World, they’re cute and add a different element to Mario and the gang’s 3D adventures.

Number 9:
Humankind

Humankind initially attracted me because of how similar it looks to Civilization VI – one of my most-played games of the 2010s. But there’s more to it than that, and the concept of creating a unique civilisation by combining different historical empires and cultures is, at the very least, innovative. I love a good strategy game, and Humankind could be a big time-sink for me this year – if it can deliver on some pretty big ambitions!

Television

After 2020 saw major disruption to cinema, 2021 could be television’s turn. Though shielded from the brunt of the pandemic, a number of television shows planned for 2021 have seen major delays to production. Despite that, there are still plenty of options on the horizon, including some that look absolutely phenomenal.

Number 1:
Zack Snyder’s Justice League

I can’t actually remember if Justice League is one of the DC films I’ve seen or not. If you’re a regular around here, you’ll know I’m not a big comic book fan generally speaking. And it’s not unfair to say that DC is the lesser of the two comic book powerhouses right now! I honestly did not expect the so-called “Snyder cut” of Justice League to ever see the light of day, but after a campaign by fans the film will be released – as a four-part miniseries on HBO Max. I’m at least somewhat interested to see what all the fuss is about!

Number 2:
Star Trek: Prodigy

After Lower Decks took the Star Trek franchise in a different – and very funny – direction in 2020, I’m curious to see what Prodigy will bring to the table. Some shows made for kids can actually tell very meaningful and interesting stories, and it’s my hope that Prodigy will manage to offer at least something to Trekkies beyond its target audience. The addition of Kate Mulgrew to the cast – reprising her role as Captain/Admiral Janeway – is tantalising too, and although that’s about all we know at this stage, the series aims to have a 2021 release. That could be pushed back, but fingers crossed we’ll see Prodigy some time soon.

Number 3:
Amazon’s Lord of the Rings series

Despite not having so much as a title, Amazon’s Lord of the Rings series has been targeting a 2021 release. It seems certain that, if this is to happen, it will have to be later in the year; filming is still ongoing at time of writing. However, a return to the land of Middle-earth is truly an exciting prospect, as is a look at the setting away from most of the characters we remember. The series will take place thousands of years before The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, so there’s the potential to tell some very different fantasy stories in Tolkien’s world.

Number 4:
Station Eleven

Based on a 2014 novel of the same name, Station Eleven is a post-apocalyptic drama set after the world has been devastated by a pandemic. Timely, right? Though filming began in early 2020 the series is still being worked on, but could finally see the light of day on HBO Max at some point this year. It feels like a project that, simply due to bad timing, may be controversial – but that could simply increase its appeal! Regardless, I’ll be keeping an eye out for it.

Number 5:
Foundation

Isaac Asimov is one of the grandfathers of science fiction. Whether his work will translate well from page to screen is an open question… but one I’m very curious to see answered. This adaptation of Asimov’s Foundation series will star Jared Harris, an absolutely incredible actor you might recall from 2019’s Chernobyl. It’s being produced for Apple TV+ as one of their first big-budget productions – or at least, the first one I’ve come to care about. 2021 looks set to be a big year for some of these second-tier streaming services!

Number 6:
Star Trek: Lower Decks

Lower Decks has finally secured an international broadcast agreement, more than five months after its first season premiered for viewers in North America. That’s good news, because a second season is already in development and will be able to be shared by fans around the world when it’s ready. Season 1 ended with some surprising twists for an animated comedy, and it remains to be seen what the end result of those storylines will be for our young ensigns aboard the USS Cerritos. Lower Decks took a few episodes to really hit its stride – and there were some missteps along the way – but for my money it’s up there with the best animated comedies of recent years, and I hope that the combination of its international debut and second season will see the show get the admiration it warrants.

Number 7:
The Expanse

I haven’t yet sat down to watch Season 5 of The Expanse, which premiered last month on Amazon Prime Video. However, the first four seasons were outstanding, and Season 6 is set to be the show’s last. Hopefully it will go out on a high! The Expanse is a wonderful science fiction series, one which has tried to take a more realistic look at the dangers of space travel and alien life. Many sci-fi stories treat these elements almost as mundane, yet The Expanse approached them with wide-eyed wonder, making things like accelerating a spacecraft integral parts of its story. It’s a wonderful series, and its final season should be explosive, entertaining, and ever so slightly sad as we bid it a fond farewell.

Number 8:
The Witcher

I half-expected to see the second season of Netflix’s The Witcher last year, but for whatever reason the streaming powerhouse is taking its time. Henry Cavill was great in the title role in Season 1, and hopefully the second season will keep up the high quality. I always appreciate a new fantasy series, and while the show owes its existence to the popular video games, it’s distinct from them at the same time, drawing more on the original book series for inspiration. Its return to our screens – which may not be until later in the year – is highly anticipated!

Number 9:
Star Wars: Andor

I wasn’t exactly wild about the recent announcements of upcoming Star Wars projects. As I wrote at the time: “spin-offs to spin-offs and the increasingly minor characters given starring roles is indicative of a franchise out of ideas.” Part of that criticism was aimed at Andor, the series which will focus on Rogue One’s Cassian Andor. However, on its own merit the show – which bills itself as a “spy thriller” – may very well be decent, and I’m cautiously interested to see what Disney and Lucasfilm bring to the table. Rogue One was certainly one of the better offerings since Disney began producing Star Wars projects, so maybe Andor will surprise me and tell some genuinely different stories in the Star Wars galaxy.

Number 10:
Clarice

Alex Kurtzman’s latest project for ViacomCBS will focus on Clarice Starling – the FBI agent introduced in Silence of the Lambs. How well will a show about Clarice work without Hannibal Lecter? Well that’s an open question, quite frankly, because as far as we know, complicated licensing and rights agreements mean Dr Lecter can’t appear. The show is being pitched as horror, though, following Agent Starling as she investigates sexual crimes in the aftermath of the events of Silence of the Lambs. It certainly has potential!

So that’s it.

You may have noticed some exclusions – notably Star Trek: Picard, Star Trek: Discovery, and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. While all three are in pre-production for their upcoming seasons, none have been confirmed for 2021 at this juncture. Given the state of the world and how badly production has been impacted, while I remain hopeful that at least one live-action Star Trek show will make it to air, it’s entirely plausible that none will. That’s why they didn’t feature on the list.

If all goes well, 2021 should be a good year for entertainment. I see a lot of projects in film, gaming, and television that have the potential to tell wonderful, engaging stories. If lockdowns and quarantines remain in place – where I live in the UK restrictions just got a lot tougher – then we’ll need all the distractions we can get!

Mark your diary for some upcoming releases!

The year ahead is unpredictable, and it’s possible that some of the projects I’m excited for won’t make it to release – or will end up being less enjoyable than expected. But on the flip side, there are undoubtedly films, games, and television shows waiting in the wings to surprise me; titles that didn’t make this list that I will come to greatly enjoy as the year rolls on. There were several wonderful surprises in 2020 that, had you asked me in January of last year, were not even on my radar. The same will perhaps happen this year too!

With everything going on in the world, having something to look forward to is important. Even if all you can think of that excites or interests you is a television show or video game, that’s okay. It gives you something to hang on to; light at the end of the tunnel. I wish you a very Happy New Year, and all the best for 2021.

All titles listed above are the copyright of their respective company, studio, developer, publisher, broadcaster, distributor, etc. Some promotional artwork and images courtesy of IGDB. Stock photos courtesy of Unsplash. This article contains the thoughts and opinions of one person only and is not intended to cause any offence.