The Wheel of Time (Amazon, late 2021):
Amazon is filming an adaption of Robert Jordan’s massive, 13-volume epic fantasy series, The Wheel of Time…well, part of it anyway. There is no firm release date beyond statements that it will drop in late 2021. I am a big fan of the books, but honestly, I’m a bit ambivalent about a TV version. My concern is that Amazon will take so many liberties with the story so as to ruin it. The graveyard of TV shows and movies is littered with the corpses of shows that deviated wildly from the books and ended up sucking. I really hope that doesn’t happen here.
Foundation (Apple TV+, late 2021):
Apple is adapting the classic Isaac Asimov Foundation books into a TV series. I read the books as a young adult and loved them. I’m very curious how the TV version will play out. The books are quite sweeping, covering vast swaths of time and history. This may make for a great adaptation. We’ll see. In the meantime, I have this marked on my calendar as a major streaming event for the last part of 2021.
Dune (Movie, HBO Max, October 1, 2021):
So, just what the world needs, another adaptation of the classic sci-fi novel, Dune, right? Contrary to most everyone else in the world, I actually liked the Kyle MacLachlan 1984 version (director’s cut). I also liked William Hurt’s 2000 TV mini-series version. Why do another one? Well, there is a lot of room for improvement over the prior versions. Plus, Dune is a timeless classic. People will be reading this book a hundred years from now. There will always be room for another interpretation.
I’m cautiously optimistic that this new movie will be outstanding. It’s directed by Denis Villeneuve, who has earned his sci-fi chops (Arrival, Blade Runner 2049, e.g.). The cast looks great: Josh Brolin as Gurney Halleck, Zendaya as Chani, Jason Momoa as Duncan Idaho, Dave Bautista as Rabban (cool choice)...to name just a few.
Will this movie soar like an eagle or crash to the ground like a dying quail? We’ll see, but fingers crossed.
Stranger Things 4 (Netflix, late 2021/2022?):
Stranger Things is, IMO, the best Netflix original series ever, so like billions of others, I can’t wait for season 4 to release. Lots of different rumors about when, with many guessing late 2021, but Finn Wolfhard recently said look for it in 2022.
The main cast is returning, along with some new faces, including Maya Hawke’s brother and Robert “Nightmare on Elm Street” Englund.
What can we expect?
Hopper is alive (okay, most of us saw this coming a long time ago)
Darker and scarier than previous seasons
9 episodes
Season 4 is not the final season, expect at least one, maybe two, more.
Horizon Forbidden West (videogame, Guerilla Games, PS4/5):
This is the long awaited sequel to 2017’s Horizon Zero Dawn, one of my favorite games. HZD is a lush, open world game full of action, adventure, and a really great narrative. I expect nothing less, and am hoping for even more, with HFW. I can’t wait to play this game, and it may be the event that pushes me into buying the PS5 console (if I can even find one at a normal retail price)
The timing is uncertain. A lot of rumors say the game may drop in late 2021, but there are whispers that it will spill over into 2022. I have already decided that I will take a Monday vacation day from work so that I have a full three-day weekend to fully immerse myself in the game once it comes out. Licking my lips in anticipation.