Fantasybooks, movies, and TV shows are often spun into franchises because of the expansive worlds that the writers and creators of the series develop. While somespinoffs and sequels don’t live up to previous booksor screen iterations, these franchises have never disappointed me.Returning to the fantastical worlds that lie within the pages or dazzling visuals of these franchises has provided comfort,escape, and thrilling adventures at every turn. Whether it’s through additional books, spinoffs, or multiple sequels, these fantasy stories have the potential to go on for a long time.
While there are some movies andfantasy TV shows that go on for too long, there are other franchises that are ever-expanding. World-building is a considerable factor in whether or not a fantasy series has the longevity to continue for many years. Of course, every audience is biased, as my favorite fictional universes that have captured my imagination the most are the ones I want to continue. However,there’s also something equally satisfying when it’s clear a narrative has run its course.Knowing when to conclude a franchise can be just as powerful as letting it go on forever.
Created by J.R.R Tolkien
The Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings is a multimedia franchise consisting of several movies and a TV show released by Amazon titled The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. The franchise is based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s book series that began in 1954 with The Fellowship of the Ring. The Lord of the Rings saw mainstream popularity with Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies.
Both the books by J.R.R. Tolkien and the movie and TV franchise the seminal fantasy story has blossomed into have become hallmarks of speculative fiction.The world of fantasy wouldn’t be the same without Tolkien’s work,and the world he created lends itself to continued exploration better than any other. The most recent addition to the franchise, the TV seriesThe Rings of Power, has garnered some controversy. While I understand this, as it strays from Tolkien’s canon, it’s still enjoyable to see the Second Age brought to life.
Tolkien worked too hard creating the intricacies of the languages and races of Middle-earth for these innovative ideas to go unused and forgotten.
Tolkien worked too hard creating the intricacies of the languages and races of Middle-earth for these innovative ideas to go unused and forgotten. Though the future ofThe Rings of Power’s full series arc isn’t completely confirmed,the Second Age is hardly the last part of Middle-Earth’s history that can be uncovered.I would be interested in seeing more screen iterations of any period ofThe Lord of the Rings, as long as the key tenets of Tolkien’s style and tone were adhered to.
Created by George R.R. Martin
Game of Thrones
Game of Thrones is a multimedia franchise created by George R.R. Martin. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire is the basis for the award-winning HBO series Game of Thrones, which lasted for eight seasons. After the incredibly divisive final season of Game of Thrones, the series was followed up by the prequel series House of the Dragon, which also received critical acclaim.
Though we’re still waiting for the conclusion ofA Song of Ice and Fire, the original novel series that the iconic HBO showGame of Thronesis based on, there are many new spinoffs in store. The most recent addition to theGame of Thronesuniverse,the prequel seriesHouse of the Dragon, has tackled the history of the Targaryenslong before Daenerys was born and the Targaryen dynasty lost the Iron Throne. However, this is just one facet of the storied history of the Seven Kingdoms and hasn’t begun to look across the Narrow Sea to Essos.
There are rumors thatHBO’s newGame of Thronesspinoff will be more likeGame of Thrones. The epic nature of the series and the intertwining histories of the characters make for compelling stories no matter when they take place in the canon. While I’m still hoping for another book from Martin, it will be enough for the TV series to keep expanding. Ever since the divisive final season ofGame of Thrones,the franchise has needed to redeem itself and prove that the magic of the first few seasons of the show is still alive.
Every Upcoming Game Of Thrones Spinoff Explained
Game of Thrones ended, but audiences returned to Westeros for House of the Dragon - and HBO has even more Game of Thrones spinoffs in development.
8Cosmere (2005–Present)
Created by Brandon Sanderson
Brandon Sanderson is one of the most prolific fantasy writers of the 21st century and has connected many of his works through the all-encompassingCosmereuniverse. DescribingCosmereas “a single creation myth,“Sanderson uses religion and cosmology as central themes in his work(viaBrandsonSanderson.com). This has kept the magic systems consistent and connected, allowing readers to easily transition between his projects. While there are details to remember, I’ve found the stories well worth keeping up with.
I’m not worried about theCosmereuniverse ever coming to an end, as Sanderson hasn’t run out of ideas yet, and it seems it will be a long time before the author does.
I’m not worried about theCosmereuniverse ever coming to an end, as Sanderson hasn’t run out of ideas yet, and it seems it will be a long time before the author does. Though their styles are very different,it’s possible to compareCosmereto Terry Pratchett’sDiscworldseries,as both are expansive novels that tackle multiple perspectives within the same franchise. Sanderson has written outside theCosmerecanon, like when he lent a hand to finishingThe Wheel of Time, but his works that have stuck with me have been part ofCosmere.
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Created by Rick Riordan
Percy Jackson & The Olympians
A young demigod named Percy Jackson learns about his divine heritage and must navigate a world where Greek mythology intersects with modern life. Alongside friends from Camp Half-Blood, he faces mythical creatures, uncovers family secrets, and undertakes perilous quests to thwart ancient prophecies. The series intricately weaves classical mythology with contemporary challenges, exploring themes of bravery, loyalty, and self-discovery, captivating audiences with its rich blend of adventure and timeless legends.
2024’s newPercy Jacksonbookproves that even though Percy and his friends have been on mountains of adventures, there’s no end in sight for their stories. Thoughthe early film adaptations ofPercy Jackson and the Olympiansfailed to carve out a place for the franchise onscreen,all of this changed when the Disney+ series premiered. Starring Walker Scobell, Leah Jeffries, and Aryan Simhadri as Percy, Annabeth, and Grover, I’m excited to watch the actors grow up and evolve with the novel’s beloved characters.
However, the TV show is only adapting one of many storylines with thePercy Jacksonuniverse, asRick Riordan has also penned theHeroes of Olympusnovels and the spinoff series,The Trials of Apollo.Even theMagnus ChaseandKane Chroniclesbooks take place within the same canon asPercy Jackson. If Riordan continues growing Percy’s story and the TV series remains successful, fans might never have to say goodbye toPercy Jackson.
6The Chronicles Of Narnia (1950–Present)
Created by C.S. Lewis
It’s true that C.S. Lewis' written work onThe Chronicles of Narniaended many decades ago, but the quest to find the right screen adaptation is still going strong. While I find the Disney movies from the early 2000s nostalgic and atmospherically enjoyable, there’s still plenty of room for improvement. This is whereGreta Gerwig will come in with her highly anticipated film adaptations for Netflix.Though she’s only slated to direct the first two movies, I’m sure she’s the right person to take on the project.
Greta Gerwig’s Narnia Reboot Will Struggle To Fix 1 Problem From The Books
There are plenty of ways that the upcoming Narnia movies will expand upon the original world, but some problems will be difficult to resolve.
With seven total books to draw inspiration from, theNarniaseries has the potential to tackle each installment of the story, which could go on for years. Additionally, within the world ofNarnia, there’s room for spinoffs and explorations about the history of the magical land. It’s no secret thatLewis left the world-building ofThe Chronicles of Narniaopen-ended, and while this means the films will have to flesh out these details,it also means the franchise is open to interpretation.
Invincible
Cast
Based on the comic book character by Robert Kirkman, Invincible follows Mark Grayson, a seventeen-year-old who leads a seemingly average life save for the fact that he lives behind the shadow of his superhero father, Omni-Man. Mark goes on to develop superhuman abilities, but he must also learn that his father’s legacy isn’t as glitzy and glamorous as he’s been led to believe.
The gory, bloody, and brutal story of theInvinciblecomics has been brilliantly brought to life on Amazon Prime Video since 2021. Though I find it difficult to wait for the next installments of the story, I understand that the intricate animation style takes time, and I would rather hold out for another perfectly crafted season than have the creators rush through it. Robert Kirkman’s comic series ended with issue 144, “The End of All Things,” there’s still a long time before the TV show catches up to this point in the story.
Invinciblehas already hinted about potential spinoffs and continuations through the Atom Eve specialthat delved into her backstory and fraught relationship with her family. AsInvincibleseason 3draws closer, and we wait with bated breath to see where the next installment will take Mark, revisiting the early episodes ofInvincibledemonstrates how enduring the story is. Even if the show concludes where the comics do, it should be sure to flesh out every arc from the source material.
Avatar: The Last Airbender
Avatar: The Last Airbenderis a critically acclaimed animated television series that blends elements of East Asian culture, epic fantasy, and coming-of-age narratives. The franchise explores themes of balance, harmony, and the struggle between good and evil, focusing on the journey of Aang, the last Airbender and the Avatar, who must master the elements and defeat the Fire Nation to restore peace to the world.
The Netflix live-action adaptation ofAvatar: The Last Airbenderstruggled to live up to the legacy of the original animated series, but this doesn’t mean that the show shouldn’t progress. Already, the series is a vast improvement from the unfortunate 2010 film, which was met with negative reviews. Though I doubt anything will beat the tightly paced and crafted hero’s journey of the animated show,theAvatarworld is so sprawling and intriguing that I can’t help wanting more from it.
There are possibilities for a live-actionThe Legend of Korraor even animated and live-action iterations of the many comic continuations.
While the animatedAvatar: The Last Airbenderis the first and most iconic installment of the franchise, the stories hardly stop there. There are possibilities for a live-actionThe Legend of Korraor even animated and live-action iterations of the many comic continuations. It will always be fun to revisit Aang and delve further into his life as the Avatar. However, he isn’t the only interesting character in the universe, andmany other Avatars faced incredible odds as he did.
3A Court Of Thorns And Roses (2015–Present)
Created by Sarah J. Maas
While Sarah J. Maas' romantasy series has garnered lots of attention thanks to its steamy subject matter,there’s still a lot more to enjoy in the books besides the spice.Beginning in 2015 withA Court of Thorns and Roses, Maas transports the reader into a world of faeries and fighting, slowly centering on new characters' perspectives in the following books. Though Feyre serves as the protagonist for much of the series, learning more about the overlooked and underdeveloped individuals as the story has progressed has been one of the best parts ofACOTAR.
A Court of Thorns and Roses
2015
A Court of Mist and Fury
A Court of Wings and Ruin
2017
A Court of Frost and Starlight
2018
A Court of Silver Flames
2021
Maas' other works utilize similar fantasy tropes and magic systems, butACOTARis special and one of her most popular projects for a reason. Waiting forA Court of Thorns and Rosesbook six has been difficult, asthere are many questions still left in the air after the conclusion ofA Court of Silver Flames.However, there’s no question that Maas will keep audiences on the edge of their seats with more forbidden romance and thrilling action in the next installment.
Arcane
Arcane is an animated series set in the League of Legends universe, debuting in 2021. It explores the conflict between the affluent city of Piltover and the oppressed undercity of Zaun. Central to the story are two sisters whose allegiance to opposing sides of a technological and ideological war strains their bond.
Though technically part of theLeague of Legendsfranchise,Arcanehas blossomed into something all its own. WhileNetflix’s amazing animated series is ending after season 2,I could keep watching the brilliantly crafted show for years to come because of its visuals and compelling story. I understand that Vi and Jinx will have to reach the climax of their battle sooner rather than later, but that doesn’t mean the world ofArcanehas to go away forever.
Even if future narratives within theArcaneuniverse don’t touch on any of the characters from the original series, I would still be interested in watching.
Of all of Netflix’s animated series,Arcanehas the greatest potential for spinoffs within Piltover,as the world that the creators built is strong enough to sustain itself. Even if future narratives within theArcaneuniverse don’t touch on any of the characters from the original series, I would still be interested in watching. Considering the rave reviews and audience reaction toArcaneso far, it seems impossible that Netflix won’t return to this IP to keep making content.
Created by Suzanne Collins
The Hunger Games
The Hunger Games is a multi-movie franchise starring Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen. The films are based on the young adult dystopian book series by author Suzanne Collins. The first film was released in 2012, followed by Catching Fire in 2013, Mockingjay Part 1 in 2014, and Mockingjay Part 2 in 2015. In 2023, the fifth film in the series was released, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.
Ever since the inception ofThe Hunger Gamesin 2008 with the release of the YA series, audiences and critics haven’t been able to get enough of the franchise.When the first film premiered in 2012,The Hunger Gameswas cemented as the best of the YA dystopian genre,and its continued success has inspired the author, Suzanne Collins, to keep adding to the world. The prequelA Ballad of Songbirds and Snakesand the upcoming novel about Haymitch’s Games,Sunrise on the Reaping, have proven to be just as compelling as the original trilogy.
Though the film iteration ofThe Balladwasn’t reviewed as warmly as the original films, it still performed well at the box office, and it’s likely that the movie version ofSunrise on the Reapingwill follow suit. I’ve always been most interested in Katniss' story, but Collins keeps surprising me by adding details and lore to thefantasyprequels that make me hungry for more information. Learning about Panem and the history of the Games will never grow boring.
