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General Sci-fi and Fantasy Film and TV News

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Recent Developments in Sci-Fi and Fantasy Film and TV

Film Releases

"Ash"
Directed by Flying Lotus, "Ash" is a visually arresting sci-fi horror thriller now streaming on Shudder and PVOD platforms like Amazon and Apple TV. The film follows astronaut Riya (Eiza González) who wakes up alone on a remote space station with no memory of how her crew died. As she navigates the eerie, malfunctioning environment, she meets Brion (Aaron Paul), a stranger who claims to be her rescuer. The film leans heavily into its experimental, dreamlike aesthetic, bathed in neon colors and unsettling imagery, and features a haunting soundtrack. While its narrative touches on familiar sci-fi tropes like amnesia and betrayal, it prioritizes mood and atmosphere over plot depth. González's compelling performance anchors the film, though the pacing in the middle acts slows down the momentum. "Ash" earns a 71% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes for its visuals and style, despite a mixed audience reception due to its slow pace and predictable story. Still, for fans of atmospheric space horror, it's a uniquely immersive experience worth watching. (tomsguide.com)

"Mickey 17"
Directed by Bong Joon Ho and starring Robert Pattinson, "Mickey 17" opened in first place at the North American box office with $19.1 million, surpassing "Captain America: Brave New World." Internationally, the film has earned $34.2 million, bringing its total to $53.3 million. Despite the initial success, the film's profitability is uncertain due to its $118 million production cost and additional marketing expenses. The film, based on Edward Ashton's novel "Mickey7," features Pattinson as an expendable employee who is repeatedly reprinted after dying on missions. It also stars Steven Yeun, Naomi Ackie, Toni Collette, and Mark Ruffalo. Key markets included New York, Los Angeles, and Korea. The box office for 2025 is up 1% from the previous year but remains down 34.2% from pre-pandemic levels. "Captain America: Brave New World" follows in second place, with a global total of $370.8 million. Other notable films include "Last Breath," "The Monkey," and "Paddington in Peru." (apnews.com)

"The Universal Theory"
"The Universal Theory" is a visually stunning German-language sci-fi noir directed by Timm Kröger. The film combines elements of Philip K Dick's storytelling with the stylistic influences of Stanley Kubrick and Orson Welles. Shot in black and white, with a color prelude set in the 1970s, it follows Johannes, a doctoral student whose strange experiences in the Swiss Alps echo his claims of a true account. The plot involves eerie disappearances and doppelgängers, with Johannes encountering mysterious figures, including a pianist named Karin and two sinister policemen. The film's period aesthetic, filmed by Roland Stuprich, uses dense chiaroscuro and vivid daylight to heighten its enigmatic narrative. Accompanied by an evocative score from Diego Ramos Rodríguez, "The Universal Theory" is an original and captivating piece of cinema, deserving of its widescreen viewing experience. The film will be in UK cinemas from December 13. (ft.com)

Television Series

"The Eternaut"
Netflix's latest international sci-fi sensation, "The Eternaut," has captivated audiences since its April 30, 2025 premiere, quickly ascending to the top of the streaming platform’s charts. Adapted from the classic 1950s Argentine graphic novel by Héctor G. Oesterheld and illustrated by Francisco Solano López, this atmospheric Latin American series is directed by Bruno Stagnaro and features striking cinematography by Gastón Girod and a haunting score by Federico Jusid. Set in Buenos Aires, the story follows Juan Salvo (Ricardo Darín) and a group of survivors as they confront a deadly snowfall that signals the onset of an alien invasion featuring violent, insect-like creatures. Mixing old-school sci-fi with post-apocalyptic modern thrillers like "The Last of Us" and "Invasion," the series has earned acclaim for its gripping narrative, convincing visual effects, and authentic performances—best experienced in Spanish with subtitles rather than dubbing. The show blends nostalgic 1950s sci-fi tones with terrifying futuristic elements, establishing itself as a must-watch. Already green-lit for a second season, "The Eternaut" promises more chilling suspense and cosmic horror. (techradar.com)

"Dune: Prophecy"
"Dune: Prophecy" is an American science fiction television series developed by Diane Ademu-John and Alison Schapker, with Schapker serving as showrunner and writer. Set in Frank Herbert's Dune universe, the series focuses on the origins of the Bene Gesserit, a powerful social, religious, and political force whose members possess superhuman powers and abilities after undergoing years of intense physical and mental conditioning. "Dune: Prophecy" is a prequel to the Denis Villeneuve films "Dune" and "Dune: Part Two," taking place approximately 10,000 years earlier. It draws upon, but is set after, the Great Schools of Dune novel trilogy (2012–2016) by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson. The series premiered on HBO on November 17, 2024, to mostly positive reviews. The series was renewed for a second season in December 2024. (en.wikipedia.org)

"Fallout"
"Fallout" is an American post-apocalyptic drama television series created by Graham Wagner and Geneva Robertson-Dworet for Amazon Prime Video. Based on the role-playing video game franchise created by Tim Cain and Leonard Boyarsky, the series stars Ella Purnell, Aaron Moten, Kyle MacLachlan, Moisés Arias, Xelia Mendes-Jones, and Walton Goggins. The series premiered on Prime Video on April 10, 2024. The series received generally positive reviews, with praise for the performances (particularly of Purnell, Moten, and Goggins), writing, visuals, production design, and faithfulness to the source material. Later that month, the series was renewed for a second season, which is set to premiere in December 2025. In May 2025, ahead of the second-season premiere, the series was renewed for a third season. "Fallout" was also nominated for 17 Primetime Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Drama Series and Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for Goggins. (en.wikipedia.org)

"WondLa"
"WondLa," also known as "The Search for WondLa," is an American animated sci-fi fantasy series based on the books "The Search for WondLa," "A Hero for WondLa," and "The Battle for WondLa" by Tony DiTerlizzi, produced by Skydance Animation and developed by Bobs Gannaway, who also serves as the showrunner and executive producer with DiTerlizzi, John Lasseter, David Ellison, and Dana Goldberg. The cast includes the voices of Jeanine Mason, Teri Hatcher, Brad Garrett, Gary Anthony Williams, Chiké Okonkwo, D. C. Douglas, and Alan Tudyk. The series premiered on Apple TV+ on June 28, 2024. A second season was released on April 25, 2025. (en.wikipedia.org)

Upcoming Releases

"Lilo & Stitch" (May 23, 2025)
Disney’s second live-action adaptation of one of their classic animated films in 2025. This one—about a young girl and a wild alien—feels a little more hopeful though, mostly because it’s directed by Dean Fleischer Camp who did "Marcel the Shell With Shoes On." (gizmodo.com)

"Ballerina" (June 6, 2025)
The "John Wick" franchise expands with this spinoff starring Ana de Armas as another one of those unstoppable, coin-carrying assassins. (gizmodo.com)

"Elio" (June 13, 2025)
The latest film from Pixar follows a young boy who is abducted by aliens and mistakenly assumed to be the leader of Earth. He must then do his best to save his home planet from the rest of space. (gizmodo.com)

"28 Years Later" (June 20, 2025)
Original director and writers Danny Boyle and Alex Garland return to their world of fast zombies in the first film in a planned trilogy. Each has gone on to do amazing work since the incredible "28 Days Later," so we’re hoping for more of the same. (gizmodo.com)

"M3GAN 2.0" (June 27, 2025)
She’s back! And this time, she better still be dancing along with the killing. (gizmodo.com)

"Jurassic World Rebirth" (July 2, 2025)
We should technically be excited about a new "Jurassic" movie, especially one starring Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Bailey, and Mahershala Ali from "Rogue One" director Gareth Edwards. But after that last film, this will have to be really special to save the franchise. (gizmodo.com)

"The Running Man" (November 7, 2025)
A man joins a game show where contestants, allowed to go anywhere in the world, are pursued by "hunters" hired to kill them. Directed by Edgar Wright, starring Glen Powell, Colman Domingo, and Katy O'Brian. (imdb.com)

"Predator: Badlands" (December 2025)
A young Predator outcast from his clan finds an unlikely ally on his journey in search of the ultimate adversary. Directed by Dan Trachtenberg, starring Elle Fanning and Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi. (imdb.com)

"A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight" (2025–)
A century before "Game of Thrones," Ser Duncan the Tall and his squire, Egg, wandered through Westeros while the Targaryen dynasty ruled the Iron Throne, and dragons were still remembered. Great destinies and enemies await the incomparable friends. Expected to premiere on Max in 2026. (imdb.com)

Recent Highlights in Sci-Fi and Fantasy Entertainment: