13 Fantasy Movies That Deserved Sequels But Never Got Them

The fantasy genre offers boundless opportunities for world-building and franchise potential through rich lore and expansive source material. Many films attempt to launch the next great saga only to fall short at the box office or face production hurdles. Audiences often find themselves invested in characters and universes that are abruptly abandoned after just one installment. The following list highlights fantasy movies that established promising foundations but never received the follow-up films they needed to complete their stories.

‘The Golden Compass’ (2007)

This adaptation of Philip Pullman’s novel introduces Lyra Belacqua and her shapeshifting daemon Pantalaimon. They travel North to save kidnapped children from a mysterious organization known as the Magisterium. The film establishes a vast multiverse involving armored bears and witches that begs for further exploration. It ends on a cliffhanger that clearly sets the stage for the remaining books in the trilogy. Financial struggles and religious controversy ultimately prevented the production of the planned sequels.

‘Eragon’ (2006)

Farm boy Eragon discovers a dragon egg that changes his destiny forever. He becomes a Dragon Rider and joins the resistance against the evil King Galbatorix. The movie rushes through the plot of the first book in the Inheritance Cycle. Fans hoped a sequel might rectify the pacing issues and expand on the rich lore of Alagaësia. The franchise stalled immediately despite the source material spanning four dense novels.

‘John Carter’ (2012)

Civil War veteran John Carter is mysteriously transported to the red planet of Barsoom. He discovers he possesses enhanced strength and agility due to the lower gravity of Mars. The narrative involves political intrigue between warring factions and a romance with a Martian princess. This film was intended to launch a trilogy based on the extensive series by Edgar Rice Burroughs. Marketing missteps caused it to underperform at the box office effectively canceling future installments.

‘Warcraft’ (2016)

Orc warriors flee their dying world through a magic portal to colonize the human realm of Azeroth. The conflict focuses on the initial encounters between the Alliance and the Horde. Director Duncan Jones crafted a visually stunning world that paid homage to the popular video game franchise. The story set up threads regarding the young orc Go’el that were meant to resolve in future films. Domestic box office returns were insufficient to justify a continuation of the high-budget saga.

‘King Arthur: Legend of the Sword’ (2017)

Director Guy Ritchie brings his signature kinetic style to the classic Excalibur mythology. Arthur grows up on the rough streets of Londinium before pulling the sword from the stone. The plot introduces supernatural elements and giant beasts that distinguish it from historical retellings. Warner Bros planned a six-film shared universe surrounding this specific interpretation of the Arthurian legend. Critical reception and low ticket sales halted the ambitious franchise before it could truly begin.

‘The Black Cauldron’ (1985)

Taran serves as an assistant pig-keeper who dreams of becoming a great warrior. He must protect a clairvoyant pig named Hen Wen from the terrifying Horned King. The villain seeks the Black Cauldron to create an army of deathless warriors to conquer the world. This dark fantasy was based on Lloyd Alexander’s The Chronicles of Prydain which consists of five books. The movie failed financially and kept Disney from adapting the rest of the beloved literary series.

‘Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant’ (2009)

Teenager Darren Shan visits an illegal freak show and becomes involved with a vampire named Larten Crepsley. He agrees to become a half-vampire assistant to save his best friend from a deadly fate. The film combines elements from the first three books of the twelve-part saga by Darren Shan. It introduces a complex world of vampire clans and rival factions that remains unexplored on screen. The adaptation struggled to find an audience and left the protagonist’s journey barely started.

‘Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events’ (2004)

The Baudelaire orphans face constant peril after their parents die in a mysterious fire. Their distant relative Count Olaf schemes to steal their immense inheritance using various disguises. The movie adapts the first three books of the thirteen-part series with a unique gothic aesthetic. Jim Carrey delivers a memorable performance that captures the absurdity of the villainous antagonist. Ageing child actors and production delays eventually led to a reboot rather than a direct sequel.

‘The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones’ (2013)

Clary Fray discovers she descends from a line of warriors who protect the world from demons. She enters an alternate New York called the Shadow World filled with warlocks and vampires. The film sets up a complex mythology involving the search for the Mortal Cup. It was designed to launch a franchise based on the popular young adult novels by Cassandra Clare. Production on the sequel was halted indefinitely after the first film failed to meet box office expectations.

‘Beautiful Creatures’ (2013)

Ethan Wate dreams of escaping his small southern town until he meets the mysterious Lena Duchannes. Lena belongs to a family of powerful casters and faces a dark curse on her sixteenth birthday. The story explores themes of destiny and forbidden love against a backdrop of civil war magic. It adapts the first novel of the Caster Chronicles which spans four books. The movie concludes with unresolved plot lines that were never addressed in a follow-up feature.

‘The Last Witch Hunter’ (2015)

Kaulder is an immortal witch hunter cursed with eternal life by the Witch Queen. He works with a secret organization to keep the peace between humans and witches in modern New York. The film establishes a unique urban fantasy world with deep history and magical rules. Vin Diesel expressed strong interest in returning for a second installment to expand the character’s lore. Despite cult followings the studio has yet to officially move forward with a sequel project.

‘Dracula Untold’ (2014)

Vlad the Impaler makes a dark pact to gain the power necessary to save his family and kingdom. He transforms into the legendary vampire Dracula to defeat the invading Ottoman army. The movie attempts to portray the human origins of the classic monster with a tragic twist. It ends in the modern day suggesting a continuation of Vlad’s story across centuries. This film was originally meant to jumpstart the Dark Universe but was eventually retconned out of the franchise.

‘Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves’ (2023)

A charming thief and a band of unlikely adventurers undertake an epic heist to retrieve a lost relic. They must navigate a world of dragons and wizards while avoiding a dangerous Red Wizard of Thay. The film captures the chaotic and humorous spirit of the tabletop game with impressive practical effects. Critics and audiences praised the chemistry of the cast and the faithful representation of the lore. Disappointing box office returns have put the possibility of a direct sequel in jeopardy.

Tell us which of these fantasy worlds you would like to revisit by leaving a message in the comments.