Explore Monthly — January Edition

Episode 1: A New Year of Stories, Surprises, and Sci‑Fi Sparks Welcome to the first Explore Monthly of the new year, where we kick off 2026 with a packed slate of genre news, casting shake‑ups, behind‑the‑scenes revelations, and a few unexpected delights from across film, TV, audio, and fandom. January wastes no time delivering big stories, and neither do we. 🎥 Spotlight Stories Variety Rings in the New Year With Horror Variety opens 2026 by highlighting a wave of New Year’s horror projects Assassin’s Creed & Tomb Raider: Casting Heats Up Two iconic game franchises are back in the spotlight as new casting news emerges for both Assassin’s Creed and Tomb Raider. Avatar Dominates Ireland’s Box Office… Again James Cameron’s blue‑skinned juggernaut continues its reign overseas, reclaiming the top spot in Ireland. Walton Goggins Reunites With a White Lotus Alum for Fallout The Fallout series continues to build buzz, and now Walton Goggins is teaming up with a familiar face from The White Lotus. Daisy Ridley Digs Into We Bury the Dead Ridley returns to genre storytelling with a new thriller that blends survival, mystery, and emotional grit.  Warwick Davis Praises the New Harry Potter TV Series The beloved actor shares his early impressions of the upcoming series, offering a hopeful note for fans eager to see how the Wizarding World is reimagined for television. James Gunn Talks DC Studios Gunn sits down talking Superman and the projects that he likes to do. Ryan Coogler’s Original Black Panther Vision New insights emerge about Coogler’s earliest plans for the first Black Panther film.  Kristen Stewart Would Love to Direct a Twilight Movie Stewart shares her surprising enthusiasm for returning to the franchise—this time behind the camera.  New Documentary: Disneyland Handcrafted A new doc celebrates the artistry, engineering, and imagination behind the park’s most iconic handmade elements.  2001: A Space Odyssey SFX Supervisor Passes at 91 We honor the life and legacy of one of the visionary artists behind 2001’s groundbreaking effects Jessica Chastain Returns for The Space Within Season Two Audible’s hit audio thriller brings back Jessica Chastain for another season of cosmic mystery and psychological tension. 🛸 On Sci‑Fi Talk Over on scifitalk.com, a look at the Stranger Things finale (spoilers included) 📚 First List of the Year: Most Overrated Stephen King Stories We kick off our annual list tradition with a provocative one: the most overrated Stephen King stories. Whether you agree or disagree,