Apple TV is developing a multimedia, shared-universe franchise inspired by the Cosmere series by author Brandon Sanderson. It’s perhaps one of the most ambitious plans that Apple has ever embarked on and a sign that they are taking their portrayal of the fantasy genre very seriously. This is a genre on the rise, and Apple is evidently keen to compete against Disney, Netflix, and Amazon, who have all produced their own standout shows in this space.
To truly get a sense of what the Cosmere universe has to offer, though, it is best to begin immersing oneself in the kind of high-fantasy, blockbuster action flicks that have come to shape the genre. These movies are all beautiful examples of hard fantasy, portrayed with quality and flair. While they might not be directly comparable to Sanderson’s work, all of these projects utilize hard fantasy elements that set them apart from the wider medium.
The Lord of the Rings Shaped The Genre
It’s hard to find a talented author who hasn’t been influenced by the work of J.R.R. Tolkien in some capacity. Both The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings series represent both high fantasy and hard fantasy in all of its glory. Tolkien was always focused on the details of his universe, from creating new languages to carefully curating the history of Middle-earth.
Peter Jackson’s take on his work respected that material in full and is often lauded as one of the greatest adaptations ever produced. While Cosmere fans will be lucky to be able to receive a portrayal of that initial work on this level, what should be clear is that The Lord of the Rings set the standard for both visual quality and world-building, celebrating Tolkien’s lore in every frame.
Conan the Barbarian Is A Nostalgic Throwback
Conan the Barbarian is certainly a cult hit these days, powered further by Arnold Schwarzenegger’s stardom. It might be campy and over-the-top in parts, but it is also a hard-hitting look at the reality of living in a sword-and-sandal fantasy universe like this. With Conan sold into slavery, his mission for revenge is anything but wondrous.
When assessing the fantasy genre as a whole, especially when compared to Cosmere, it is important to note the differentiation between hits like this. Because Conan the Barbarian takes a far more human approach to its material. Sure, it might have a sorcerer in the mix, but the magic here is rare and powerful. There is a consistency in the world-building, as brutal as it may be.
The Green Knight Reinvents Arthurian Lore
Arthurian legend is an easy-to-use set of principles and mythologies that many filmmakers have pulled from for inspiration. King Arthur and Merlin are iconic, but some of the spin-off tales involving this world are rarely portrayed quite how they were initially imagined. The Green Knight is thus one of those films that sticks far closer to the grim truth of these supposed fairy tales.
The Green Knight is a stunning and often peculiar reimagining of Arthurian legend, with a rich backdrop holding all manner of mysteries to uncover. There is something poetic and cyclical about the story of Gaiwan and The Green Knight, the latter of whom awaits the moment to behead the knight, on account of his own prior execution. This is as atmospheric as any hard fantasy and far more grounded in its portrayal.
Willow Is A Perfect Piece Of Escapism
If hard fantasy is to be defined as the precision of elements, then Willow certainly seems to work against that notion. It is certainly high fantasy, with an expansive, fantastical backdrop to enjoy and a fable-esque narrative at its core. However, just beneath the surface of that ridiculous setting is something grounded in an absurd logic.
In actuality, Willow has a fully functioning society, where the magic might be wild, but the civilization itself is precise. While there are no strict rules or lore to this universe, as seen in the expanded TV show, there is still an order to things. Willow is both the antithesis of Cosmere and yet somehow also a complementary piece of theater.
Dark Crystal Makes The Most Of Henson’s Character Work
Jim Henson’s work on The Dark Crystal is an exceptional example of the movie-maker’s versatility. It is an expansive and gripping universe to behold, one that was eventually continued in a Netflix spinoff series. It is also an underrated piece of fiction, sometimes overlooked by diehard fantasy fans simply because of its use of puppets as many of the lead characters.
There are many ways to describe Dark Crystal, with both high fantasy and adventure fantasy monikers applying to this exceptional piece of practical filmmaking. However, the detail that has been put into this world, its hierarchy, consistency in lore, and powerful history, are all more consistent with what one might see in a hard fantasy. Its complex ecology, coupled with its use of mechanical magic, adds another layer of reality.
Legend Is A Forgotten Gem
Legend is one of those films that no one can quite believe happened. Many would call this a pulp fantasy at first. A cult classic directed by Ridley Scott and starring a who’s who of Hollywood royalty, including Tom Cruise and Tim Curry. It is also a dark and epic fantasy flick, where the film’s hero must stop the classic threat of a world plunged into an eternal darkness by a villainous lord.
So much of the world can be shaped by its visual palette and the continuity among those character designs, locations, and other key physical narrative elements. That’s where Legend first starts building its rules, and they are further elevated by the portrayal of division. While the Lord of Darkness abides by a hard, edgy worldview, fantastical creatures like the fairies contrast that with a softer approach. There is a sincerity to the picture that is rarely replicated; this fantasy land is presented as utterly authentic.
The Prestige Brings Magic Into The Real World
Christopher Nolan’s filmography is an exceptional mix of big-budget action blockbusters and smaller-scale, conceptual pieces. The Prestige somehow falls somewhere in between the two, focusing on a rivalry between two magicians that quickly gets out of hand. With mysticism, murder, and a twist at the heart of the piece, The Prestige is a shocking piece of cinema.
As hard fantasy goes, this is an alternative take on that style of filmmaking. Partially because this is not presented as a traditional fantasy universe, but rather, a reality where magic tricks appear to exist. While the public assumes that everything performed in front of this audience is a result of smoke and mirrors, in actuality, there is something more scientific happening here, allowing these tricks to come to life grotesquely.
Pan’s Labyrinth Is A Horror Icon
Guillermo del Toro’s career has been defined by what he produced with Pan’s Labyrinth. Never has a fantasy film been able to balance horror and fantastical elements so effectively. The movie is now an icon, delivering both spectacle and nightmares alike for audiences across the globe.
The magic featured here is utterly tangible, with real stakes and consequences. It has a physical effect on the world and is interlinked with a more familiar backdrop. Every fantasy figure here has a trait or characteristic that is consistent with a set of rules, each forced to operate in a certain way to survive. There is no mystery here; every fantasy moment is somehow backed by an often grim explanation.
The Golden Compass Is A Flawed But Personal Adaptation
Philip Pullman wrote His Dark Materials, a series of novels that depict a complex alternative world, where dust, daemons, and angels form the basis of the narrative. While fans of the His Dark Materials show will recognize just how beautifully this fictional universe can be adapted, unfortunately, the original The Golden Compass failed to quite capture that same sense of magic.
Nonetheless, the big screen incarnation of this story is still something to behold, not least because of its fascinating imagining of what this alternative Earth might look like. Much like the Cosmere universe, there is something practical about the steampunk backdrop and scientifically driven setting of His Dark Materials, with the religious overtones of the text coming through with great power.
The Sword and the Sorcerer Still Serves As Inspiration
Sword-and-sorcery movies often fall into the category of hard fantasy without anyone realizing. That’s because of the way they approach the genre. Take The Sword and the Sorcerer, for example, a film so appropriately titled that it is hard to imagine it portraying the genre in any other way. The plot is simple enough, following a warrior and a princess, attempting to overthrow a terrible regime.
However, it is how the characters approach this adventure that is so appealing and in line with hard fantasy, focusing on a more realistic style of action. The sword element comes into play far more here, with a practical mindset throughout. This is a survival film if nothing else, one that doesn’t celebrate the oftentimes ridiculousness of fantasy but embraces the truth of living in a world like this.