By Molly Lee
Films
A Minecraft Movie
Yes, you read that right. Minecraft the game is getting a movie adaptation with a release date of April 4, 2025. The cast includes Jason Momoa, Jack Black, Emma Myers and Jennifer Coolidge. Four misfits are pulled into the Overworld, a cubic land where everything is quite literally a cube/block. The film centers around these four misfits as they embark on a quest with Steve (played by Jack Black).
Thunderbolts*
This film will be a part of the MCU, set to be released on May 2, 2025. Thunderbolts brings back some familiar faces from previous Marvel films, including Yelena Belova, Bucky Barnes, Alexei Shostakov, John Walker, Ghost and more. In true Marvel style, not a lot of details have been released on the storyline of the film, but trailers look promising and are building up the hype for the group of supervillains.
Wicked Part 2
After Wicked saw mass success towards the end of 2024, the continuation is due to hit theatres on November 21, 2025. The sequel film picks up after the events of the first, where Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) will become the Wicked Witch of the West. Ariana Grande, Johnathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum and more will all be returning to the big screen in the land of Oz.
TV shows
Stranger Things Season Five
The fifth, final and long-anticipated season of the sci-fi drama TV series, Stranger Things, is due to hit Netflix in 2025. This show is, arguably, one of the streaming services’ most popular additions. The episode titles have been released, with titles including “The Vanishing of…”, “Sorcerer” and “The Right side Up”. Many fans were left with unanswered questions after the finale of season 4 as many characters’ fates were left in question.
It: Welcome to Derry
This upcoming HBO American horror TV series will be a prequel to the films ‘It’ and ‘It: Chapter Two’, both which were based on Stephen King’s 1986 novel of the same name. The nine-episode-long season will see Swedish actor, Bill Skarsgård, return as Pennywise the clown. This show is bound to cause some nightmares!
The Last of Us: Season Two
The second season of the post-apocalyptic drama based upon The Last of Us games is due to premiere on HBO in early 2025. Although not confirmed, the plot is likely to replicate that of the PlayStation exclusive game, which follows, now-19-year-old Ellie living with Joel. If this is the case, make sure you have several boxes of tissues.
Games
Death Stranding 2: On The Beach
The sequel to Kojima Productions’ Death Stranding game is expected to released in 2025. Norman Reedus will return as protagonist, Sam Porter Bridges, attempting to connect a new population while exploring a world full of enemies and challenging environments.
Fable (2025)
This upcoming addition to the Fable franchise will be set in the fictional world of Albion. The game series is known for its dark humour and customisation of characters. Trailers so far have not shown too much of the gameplay or story. However, the graphics to match the power of the Xbox Series X|S are impressive.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows
Assassin’s Creed fans will be sitting on their consoles on Valentines Day 2025, as this game was supposed to release in November 2024. Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed franchise is a long-running classic series of historical-action games. Over the years, the games have featured 18th century Paris, Egypt from 49 to 43 BC, Ancient Greece and more. The upcoming addition, named Assassin’s Creed: Shadows is set in feudal Japan where you can become a Samurai.
Books
Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins
The second prequel to the popular dystopian novel series, The Hunger Games, is scheduled for release on March 18, 2025. The book takes place 24 years before the events of the original series and follows a young Haymitch as he competes in the 50th Hunger Games. A film adaptation has also already been confirmed for 2026.
Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry
If romance books are your thing, then you will probably want to read Emily Henry’s new book in 2025. Two writers compete for their chance to tell the story of an heiress. The author is a New York Times and Sunday Times bestselling author of romantic comedies such as ‘Beach Read’, ‘Book Lovers’ and ‘Happy Place’. It is due to be released on April 22, 2025.
Katabasis by R.F. Kuang
Two academic rivals from Cambridge must travel to hell to rescue the soul of their advisor. This romantic fantasy book is by Sunday Times Number One Bestseller, R.F. Kuang and will be one of 2025’s most unexpected love stories. The book is due to be released on August 26, 2025.
Photo Credit to Pixabay on Pexels
