1.) Video Games

Ardyn DLC for Final Fantasy XV

Oddly enough, one of the most anticipated things related to video games is a dlc and it is a dlc tied to the Final Fantasy XV universe.  Now if you have been following the Final Fantasy XV game development, you know just how bumpy a road this game has had.  The story is brilliant, but scattered in movies, anime, dlc’s and subtle details in the game.  This can make the story hard for everyone to follow and grasp.

2019 will be bringing up the much anticipated Ardyn dlc.  For those who are not familiar with the game, Ardyn is the main villain of the game, and this dlc looks like it will go into his back story which fans have been wanting to see for awhile.  Unfortunately, the other dlc’s that were slated to come out with the Ardyn dlc were cancelled ( Lunafreya, Aranea and Noctis), which really disappointed many fans.  But it is Ardyn’s dlc that everyone has had their eye on.

Now why am I personally excited for this?  Ardyn is such a complex and mysterious character in the game.  There are times when he helps the main protagonist, Noctis, despite being the main antagonist.  Most fans found Ardyn’s enigmatic nature and how he acted towards Noctis, especially near the end of the game, to be highly intriguing.  There are bits and pieces of his past that we get which just wets a fan’s appetite for more.  

As seen in the trailer, it not only looks like we will be getting more of Ardyn’s past, but also his past run ins with Regis.  We may even see a much larger role for Regis and his days as a young king which we have only had scraps of.  Fans also got a tantalizing glimpse of Somnus, the brother of Ardyn whom he has mentioned a few times in the game.  

Suffice to say that I am very excited for this dlc and all it could reveal. The Ardyn dlc is set to be released in March 2019.

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

I have always been a fan of darker games like Dark Souls. Though I have not been brave enough to take on the challenge of Dark Souls trilogy quite yet (but it is on my list to play), FromSoftware’s new title caught my attention. Being a fan of Japanese culture as well as horror, this game looks to be right up my ally.

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice will be released in March 22, 2019.

2.) Anime

Attack on Titan Season 3 Part 2

Attack on Titan has always been a roller coaster ride of action, emotions and cliffhangers. Compared to both The Walking Dead and Game of Thrones, Attack on Titan has become a massive hit and garnered a large fan base around the world.

Season 3 part one took a much more Game of Thrones route instead of the typical Walking Dead route and focused on the political side of the story. For some fans, the change of direction and pacing was not their favorite and for others, it was well done and necessary for plot development. Season 3 part one answered so many questions as well as introduced some really spectacular characters like Kenny the Ripper.

Manga readers though are salivating for what is coming next in season 3 part 2. Without giving away too many spoilers, a major battle is coming and some familiar foes will be returning as well one of the most prevailing mysteries of the show will be addressed. Suffice to say that this manga reader can not wait for this second half of the season. Check out this sneak peek at what is to come in the second half.

Attack on Titan will be returning in April of 2019.

Fruits Basket 2019

Yes, you read the heading right.  It looks like the classic Fruits Basket will be remade into another anime and will be out in 2019.  Check out the teaser trailer below:

Now this was one of the first animes I have ever seen, and to this day, I still will watch an episode or two if I need some feel good, heartwarming, and hilarious story telling.  This story has touched the hearts of so many people around the world and has become the go to staple of heartwarming drama. You grow to love Tohru, Kyo, and Yuki as well as all of the members of the zodiac that you meet along the way.

Now judging by the trailer, this remake looks stunning and I have high hopes that it will be well done.  I can already see that it looks like it will take a fresh look at the classic story, but still have the things fans love most in the story.  I can not wait to watch this when it comes out.

Fruits Basket is set to come out some time in 2019.A

Episode Ardyn Prologue Final Fantasy XV

This article has been updated 1/10/2019 due to updated news and trailers.

Along with the Ardyn dlc that is set to come out in 2019, it seems that Ardyn will also be getting an anime episode for him as well much like the anime episodes we got for Prompto, Gladiolus and Ignis. Ardyn’s dlc is highly anticipated by fans of the game. So it doesn’t seem too surprising that fans will also be excited to see the anime on him as well especially since it looks like it is going to get into his distant past.

Now as I said earlier about the dlc, Ardyn is a mercurial and mysterious villain that has fans wanting to know more about him. The dlc looks like it will just 30 years prior to the events of the Final Fantasy XV game. But Ardyn is well over 1000 years old, and his story really starts much further back. And that is why the anime will be so interesting because it looks like it will focus on his past and shed light on what put things into motion that led to Noctis having become the Guardian of Light and stop the Star Scourge.

There have been so many times in the game when Ardyn could have killed Noctis and stopped him in his journey. There have even been times when he has helped Noctis get Royal arms and the alliance of the astrals. There are just so many questions that fans have had of Ardyn and his motives. So I am very excited to get more time with this character.

They have released a small teaser trailer. Check it out here:

Though not much is shown in the teaser, it still wetted fans’ appetite for more. The anime looks like it will come out the same time as the dlc in February 2019.

Television

Game of Thrones Final Season

Game of Thrones has become a worldwide phenomenon since it first aired in 2011. From the creative mind of George RR Martin, fans have been transported to the fantastical and dark world of Westeros where warring noble families vie for control for the Iron Throne. Well it looks this war will finally be coming to an end. Check out the teaser trailer for Season 8 (and final season) of Game of thrones below:

Fans are anticipating much for this season especially on who will come out on top for the Iron Throne. Fans are also worried about which of their favorite characters may die in this last season. Game of Thrones has never shied away from killing beloved characters in brutal ways (Red Wedding just to name one example).

I’m personally excited to see how everything will pan out with the bigger war that Jon Snow (a.k.a. Aegon Targaryen) and Daenerys are facing against the Night King. This is a war that will determine the fate of the world and I foresee a lot of characters we love will die in this war.

But fans certainly can not rule out Cersei and her cunning mind. This season will definitely be a battle of the ladies as there is sure to be head on collisions with Cersei, Daenerys, Sansa and yes even Arya. The battle of the ladies may actually become the actual final battle.

Now many fans have predicted who will die in the last season and I too have my theories, but the most heartbreaking ones are something I don’t want to say aloud because I just can’t fathom what it will be like to lose those characters.

What I do expect for this season is that fans are going to see some insane and intense battles and I think there may still be some surprising reveals that are coming for fans. I also think people shouldn’t underestimate Cersei and her cunning.

Game of Thrones Season 8 will air April 2019.

Dark season 2

This show really took me by surprise when I first watched it. It is a Netflix Original dark thriller from Germany and I really didn’t know what to expect from it. Suffice to say that I was more than pleasantly surprised. It is one of the best shows put out by Netflix (in my opinion) alongside Haunting of Hill House and Stranger Things. In fact, I think I like this one more than Stranger Things. Check out the Season 2 teaser trailer below:

Dark season 1 took viewers on a mind bending journey into the secrets of the little town of Winden where children start to go missing from. But things have always been a little bit odd about Winden. The bigger question is not where are they, but when.

This show really took me on a roller coaster of a journey through the plot and through the emotional turmoil the people of this town are feeling. Each of the characters felt fresh and fully developed and it is one of those shows that you just can’t help but binge watch. I thought it was clever and it had moments that still shocked me. As more of my questions were answered more questions cropped up. I can’t say too much more on the plot of the show for spoiler purposes, but I can definitely say that I can’t wait to see where they go with the story in the next season especially after watching the trailer.

Netflix Original Dark Season 2  will air sometime in 2019.

Walking Dead Season 9.5 

Over the past few seasons, Walking Dead has not been at its best and has been a bit of a snooze fest with some action intense sequences sprinkled in. With the surprising death of Carl and the pseudo death of Rick, many fans have been wondering where this series is going. But Season 9 did bring Walking Dead back into fans interest and that is by going back to basics and making the Walkers a main threat again.

Now there was a lot of good in season 9 for the characters. Fans are starting to see the characters we love start to rebuild this broken world, and everything seems to be going fine, but the end of season 9 part 1 introduced a whole new enemy with the death of Jesus who is both terrifying and intriguing.

Comic book fans have known this enemy was coming for a long time and have been waiting for their introduction. Well the show did a fantastic job in introducing the Whisperers though it was at the cost of losing the fan loved character Jesus.

Add on that now Negan is out and there is this new mysterious group of people with helicopters and this next season is sure to be a wild ride. The Whisperers have definitely got my attention and I’m excited to see where this next season will go!

The Walking Dead will return February 10th, 2019.

Strangers Things Season 3

Netflix hits it out of the park again with another highly anticipated original show. Stranger Things has garnered a large fan base with its unique and nostalgic series set in the 80’s with a twist. The series is action packed and yet has everything in an 80’s movie like the Goonies that fans have loved. The acting in this is superb and the storytelling is a breath of fresh air. This is a season I will keep a look out for.

Stranger Things is set to come out July 4th 2019. Check out this date announcement trailer:

I want to throw a quick mention of Netflix Original adaptation of the Witcher series that is coming once again to Netflix that has piqued my interest. I’ve heard so many rave reviews of both the games and the books that I am interested to take look into this series. Geralt of Rivia will be played by Henry Cavill.

The Witcher will be coming out sometime in 2019.

Syfy’s Deadly Class

Updated this part on 1/10/2019.

I recently got to attend Los Angeles Comic-Con 2018 (formerly known as Stan Lee Comic-con), and while I was there I was fortunate to watch the pilot episode of the new Syfy show Deadly Class. Based off of a popular comic book series created by Rick Remender. Check out the trailer below:

Without giving too much away about the first episode, this series is very dark, and yet has a quirky sense of humor to it. I also like how it was set in 1987 and showed a much darker side of the 80’s than is normally seen. I thought the characters were very interesting and the premise intriguing. Simply put, the main character Marcus Arguello is accused of murdering several kids at an orphanage he lived at. He is introduced to the world of King’s Dominion, a secretive academy that teaches the children of gangsters, mafia, assassins and more to develop their deadly arts.

This was definitely a show that did not hold back and yet had a human and believable characters. Check out Deadly Class which airs January 16th 2019.

Movies

This list is basically swept by Disney. There are so many Disney remakes that I can’t wait to see.

The Lion King

The Lion King is my absolute favorite Disney movie of all time. I remember being in tears at the death of Mufasa and cheering with joy when Simba talks his slow walk in the rain up Pride Rock to reclaim him throne. This movie really struck an emotional cord with a lot of people, and is one of the best Disney movies of all time.

With all that being said, The Lion King will not be an easy film to adapt as the original was just so good and fans will have high expectations. I was a little apprehensive when I heard it was going to be adapted into a live action until I saw the teaser trailer. Check it out below:

The look of this live action looks so good. It has scene for scene from the original and it has the original voice actor for Mufasa, James Earl Jones, back reprising his iconic role. I am almost literally jumping in excitement for this as it brings back all my fond memories of the Lion King.

The Lion King movie will hit theaters July 19th, 2019

Avengers Endgame

One of the biggest movies to come out in 2018 was Avengers Infinity War. Thanos did such a number on the Avengers that it left fans excited (and yes heartbroken) for the next installment. Well the wait will be over in 2019 as Avengers Endgame will be coming out. Check out the trailer below:

This is definitely a movie that people will be lining up to see in the theaters. The anticipation and hype for this is super high, and I am also excited for it especially after seeing the trailer for it.

Avengers Endgame will be out May 3rd 2019.

Dumbo Live Action

Disney is pulling on more heart strings with bringing to life its animated classic Dumbo. Dumbo may not be as well known amongst a younger audience, but some of us who are older remember it especially the song Baby of Mine. I was really young when I was introduced to this animated classic, so I don’t remember it too well, but watching the trailer brought it all back to me. Check it out below:

Was I one of those people who teared up while watching the trailer? I sure was. And I’m intrigued that this is directed by Tim Burton who will add his own flair to this.

Dumbo is coming out March 29th 2019.

Aladdin

Disney strikes again with another live action adaptation. Aladdin was not one of my favorite Disney movies, but I did still enjoy the action and I loved the very catchy music. I am still excited to see what they do with this live action. Check out the live action trailer below:

Aladdin will be out May 24th 2019.

Those are some of the many things that I am excited to see and play in 2019. The list could go on and on. It’s looking like it will be a year to remember!