Rediscovered Realms is catching you up on some of the coolest fantasy news that just won’t fit in our regular weekly edition. Welcome to the June 2026 Super-Sized Summer issue of The Phantasy Snitch!
Rediscovered Realms’ denizens . . . er, citizens can now enjoy a curated lite dose of worthy Fantasy-related news, products, and rumours from the RPG, fantasy book, movie, D&D, LOTR, mythology, board game, art & archaeology genres (and you now have extra time to immerse yourself within all our other beefier newsletters!)
Forgotten Realms returns. HeroQuest expands. Fantasy films, mythology, Tolkien treasures, artwork, archaeology, and imaginative discoveries await in this super-sized Summer Special Phantasy Snitch.
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THE NEWS:
FANTASY CINEMA
Where forgotten films, upcoming adventures, and legendary screen magic gather beneath the silver dragon.
“For a long time, it was a popular opinion that fantasy on screen was mainly meant for younger audiences. It was always about dragons, kings, old prophecies, and magical kingdoms, though a lot of those stories still stayed inside fairly familiar limits. Then some films started pushing in a different direction and added violence, grief, fear, desire, and the kind of darkness that was too serious for kids.”
“Fantasy films have existed since the start of cinema, and the genre arguably peaked in the 1980s (as evident in our look at the decade’s best forgotten fantasies), but there’s something to be said for the fantasies that graced the screens the decade prior. Carefree imagination, whimsy, and goodwill battled for market share with cynicism, narrative structure, and creations trademarked by the Walt Disney Corporation.”
“Some of these lesser-known films lean more into the dark folklore, while others embrace more traditional fantasy storytelling while still adding elements to make it unique, stand out, and head in unexpected directions. These films aren’t necessarily perfect, but they do succeed more than they’re given credit for.”
“While the fantasy movies of the 1980s never quite reached the scale and budget that would come with the Lord of the Rings series, these beloved movies hold a special place for many. From time-traveling adventurers and lost heroes to mighty warriors and sinister wizards, these films bring viewers to fantastical worlds, filled with monsters, bandits, and magic.”
“That show is Britannia. First debuting in 2018 on Sky Atlantic before later making its way to Prime Video, Britannia is unlike any other fantasy drama on television. It’s a sprawling epic that mixes brutal history with myth and mysticism, anchored by an ensemble of emotionally complex characters all searching for something — power, survival, faith, or redemption. The result is a series that feels both vast in scope and deeply personal, blending brutal battles with hallucinatory visions to create a fantasy world that’s as strange as it is compelling.”
“Three years after its release in theaters, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is finally coming to free streaming. Co-written and directed by Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley, the 2023 film follows a charming thief and a band of unlikely adventurers who embark on an epic heist to retrieve a lost relic and run afoul of the wrong people.”
“The Dungeons & Dragons movie was also received well by general audiences, earning a 92% score from that group, who felt the film smoothly blends action, fantasy, and comedy into an entertaining ride while still showing clear respect for the original source material. However, the movie made only $208.2 million at the box office, which was considered a disappointment given its big $150 million budget.”
“Miyamoto has now shared via Nintendo’s X account that The Legend of Zelda movie will be releasing worldwide in theaters a week earlier on April 30, 2027 instead of on May 7. He emphasized that the film’s creative team is working hard to finish the film as soon as possible, reminded fans that there is less than a year to go now, and thanked them for their patience.”
“Joshua Striker is a self-taught pen-and-ink artist based in Lakeland, Florida. His work draws on the engraving traditions of the 19th century French artist Gustave Doré and the detailed pen and ink artwork of Franklin Booth and Bernie Wrightson. He explores dark fantasy landscapes where solitary figures inhabit worlds of overwhelming scale and quiet dread.”
“Some cliche somewhere said that ‘a picture is worth a thousand words.’ This has proven to be the case for me and especially when it comes to fan art. I have always sought out great fan art and have wanted to share it with as many people as possible. “Awesome Art” is the outlet for that passion. In this column, I will showcase the kick-ass artwork of some great artists, with the hopes that these artists get the attention they deserve. That’s the aim. If you have any questions or comments, or even suggestions of art or other great artists, feel free to contact me at any time at theodorebond@joblo.com.”
“The Texas-based alternative rock band ...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead released their last studio album, XI: Bleed Here Now, back in 2022. The band never split, but frontman Conrad Keely has confirmed that there are no immediate plans to tour or release new music.
In the meantime, he has been exploring visual art…”
“Every artist needs references, and while you can create your own or Google images, finding professional references that fit a project can take time. If, like me, you’re still wrestling with hands and lighting and whether that background looks weird, then finding exact references for those issues can be a trudge.”
RPG RADNESS
News, lore, tools, treasures, and tabletop curiosities gathered from across the gaming realms.
“Back in November 2025, legendary RPG designer, author and Forgotten Realms creator Ed Greenwood announced that he was working on a new series of D&D 5E sourcebooks set in the Dalelands; the iconic area n in northeastern Faerûn which has appeared in numerous D&D novels and supplements over the years. The books will be published on DMsGuild under a new third-party creative imprint called RealmsBound, which is being spearheaded by indie publisher Mythmakers Studio with a team of professional TTRPG artists, writers and designers”
“Every edition of D&D is someone’s favorite … and someone else’s most hated. This ranking dares to answer: Which edition of Dungeons & Dragons is actually the best?”
“Dungeon Scrawl’s free Random Dungeon Generator builds fantasy dungeon maps in seconds, perfect for DnD 5e, Pathfinder, and other tabletop RPGs. In this demo, we’ll walk through how the instant dungeon generator works, what you can customize, and how to bring your map to your next session.
If you’re looking for a fast DnD dungeon generator or flexible DnD map maker that runs right in your browser, with no install or account required, Dungeon Scrawl has you covered. If you’ve used tools like Donjon or Watabou before, you’ll feel right at home, except every room, wall, and door is fully editable from the moment it’s generated.”
“A medieval manuscript featuring an early version of the tales of King Arthur and Merlin, which has been in private hands for about 700 years, is going under the hammer in a rare sale this summer.
Expected to fetch up to $2.7 million, the illuminated manuscript, which dates from the 13th or 14th century, is one of the earliest documents to narrate the legend of King Arthur and the search for the holy grail.”
“From Charlemagne’s Joyeuse to the sword embedded in the rock at Rocamadour, the Middle Ages were filled with tales of blades blessed, cursed, and unbreakable. Explore the myths and miracles surrounding medieval swords, where history ends and legend begins.”
Joyeuse on display at the Louvre. Photo by Loicwood / Wikimedia Commons
“In popular imagination, King Arthur is strongly associated with glorious castles, noble knights, and magical wizards. This is far removed from the reality of early Dark Age Britain in the 6th century AD. For instance, instead of castles, the centers of power were mostly either Roman settlements or reoccupied Iron Age hillforts. And what about Arthur himself? Did the legendary king really exist? In this article, we will examine five of the prime candidates for the historical King Arthur. Rather than being a single figure, they may all have contributed to the legend of the king.”
“An ancient artificial island in a loch on the Isle of Lewis was built entirely on a wooden platform, archaeologists have discovered.
From above, the Neolithic island - or crannog - in Loch Bhorgastail appears to be made of stone, though it was known that there was some timber underneath it…”
FABLES, FOLKLORE & FANCY
Fairy dust, old stories, strange traditions, and the magic hidden between the pages.
“Kobolds are difficult to classify, as they are shape-changers, household faeries, seafaring explorers, and miners. They are described in both Seelie and Unseelie ways, depending on their mood and circumstances, and they have been around for a long, long time. And yet for all that, apart from modern-day interpretations used mostly in Dungeons & Dragons, there has not been much art created of them…”
The Moonfolk have long left Earth in Ceridwen Dovey’s adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s The Little Match Girl, produced by Slingsby Theatre Company. Photo credit:ABC/Alex Frayne
“As Germany’s Fairy Tale Route turns 50, towns and cities along the 600km route continue to breathe new life into the Brothers Grimm’s much-loved fairy tales.”
“There’s probably a room in your home that could use a fun lighting element. Glance around, and you’ll likely find at least one spot in need of brightening. If you’re worried that this simple task will entail spending a fortune on stylish lighting, put that concern to rest. You can make an enchanting table lamp fit for the fairies using Dollar Tree materials for a little more than the price of a venti frappuccino…”
“Hidden inside one of America’s most iconic academic libraries sits a collection that feels more like folklore than fact. At Yale University’s Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library, thousands of rare texts rest behind a towering marble facade. Among them lies one of the most fascinating collections of early scientific imagination ever assembled: a major archive of medieval and Renaissance alchemical manuscripts…”
“Even by modern standards, Dungeon Master is impressive – torches burn out and leave you in darkness, characters become hungry and thirsty, items and gear have weight values so your warriors can become overburdened, and the spell-casting system is built around a series of runes, forcing you to memorise the combination for each spell. None of this is a big deal in 2026, but back in the late '80s, this was all positively mind-blowing – even more so when you realise that most RPGs in the '80s were turn-based, whereas Dungeon Master's action unfolded in real-time...”
“There’s something special about old-school fantasy board games, and the latest HeroQuest expansion is bringing that aesthetic back in 2026.
Announced at major tabletop convention Essen Spiel, HeroQuest Wizards of Morcar is a quest pack for the latest edition and offers 10 missions, a “skill acquisition system,” and more miniatures than you could fit in a dungeon…”
LORD OF THE RINGS BADASSERY
Middle-earth news, collectibles, discoveries, adaptations, and all things Tolkien.
“A new coin marking 25 years since Peter Jackson’s first Lord of the Rings film has some “precious” features, including a golden “one ring”, Elvish script and an all-seeing Eye of Sauron “emerging” from its centre.
“Forged not in the fires of Mount Doom but in Wales,” said the Royal Mint in Llantrisant, Rhondda Cynon Taf, of its tribute to the Academy Award-winning film The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring…”
“While fans could argue about who was the least crucial to the Fellowship’s success, they do not need to, as J. R. R. Tolkien himself weighed in on the subject. In a passage from Unfinished Tales of Númenor and Middle-earth, Tolkien discussed the role that Elves played in the Third Age of Middle-earth, and he wrote, “Legolas probably achieved least of the Nine Walkers.” When comparing Legolas’ accomplishments to his allies, Tolkien’s comment begins to make sense, especially with elements from the books, not the movies…”
“Lord of the Rings is getting an official release from Pure Arts featuring the Witch-King of Angmar, the iconic Lord of the Nazgul himself, available in Q2 2027 and up for pre-order now. It’s an officially licensed, exclusive edition LOTR art mask of the Nazgul King “captured in his terrifying spectral form as he confronts Frodo” from Peter Jackson’s The Fellowship of the Ring. It’s an absolutely stunning and haunting recreation, intricately designed to capture every terrifying nuance of the Nazgul Witch-King’s face.”
“EXPLORE the Epic History of The Lord of The Rings from 1938 onwards, told through original newspaper …reports. From the first review of The Hobbit to Peter Jackson’s trilogy in the early 2000s and Amazon’s The Rings of Power series. Choose a cover and personalize your book with a name and message to create a unique gift.”
“In 1978 Ralph Bakshi’s animated film based on The Lord of the Rings arrived to the masses, and many fans got a chance to see their favorite characters come to life. Not to mention all the folks that would become lifelong Tolkien fans, discovering the story for the first time through the movie. Now nearly 50 years later, the amazing folks at Dark Horse Direct and Middle-earth Enterprises are giving fans of Middle-earth a chance to own collectibles from that film…”
KEEPERS OF WONDER
For those who believe imagination & play is not something we outgrow . . . but something we rediscover.
“We have created the most stifling and sanitised imaginative space conceivable for children, says teacher Brendan James Murray. Today true imagination has become a radical act…”
“I have made the leap from literary fiction to fantasy – for those who think it’s mere wish-fulfilment, here’s why we need that thing with the dragons…”
“Why are we drawn to dark stories? Let’s take that one step further. Why are we drawn to stories that are fantastical and otherworldly? This is something that I have written about previously as grimdark shows that even the slimmest ray of hope can illuminate the darkest corners. There isn’t much darker than grief. Stories in all their forms allow us to process ideas and events that we may not have dealt with before…”
DENOUEMENT
(or “Detumescence” depending on how excited this edition got you)
A final tune, parting thought, or curious diversion before we extinguish the lanterns and close the presses.
To end this edition on a good “note”, I heartily recommend Courseval’s bardic rendition of “Take on Me”.
And there you have it - a satchel full of fantasy news, strange discoveries, legendary artifacts, and imaginative treasures gathered from across the realms.
Some stories looked backward into forgotten ages.
Others pointed toward adventures still waiting beyond the horizon.
But all of them remind us of something important:
The world is still filled with wonder for those willing to go looking for it.
Until next time, keep your curiosity sharp, your imagination bright, and your eyes fixed on distant horizons.
Wonder-Wandering Adventurer, Keep the Adventure Going Strong!
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💬Tavern Talk
❓Which item from this month’s Snitch sent you deepest down a rabbit hole?
❓What’s your favorite forgotten fantasy movie from the 1970s or 1980s?
❓If you could instantly own one item featured in this issue, which would it be?
❓Do you prefer your fantasy rooted in history and mythology or completely detached from reality?
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You are not only brave, but a Generous Adventurer whose love of Discovery, Imagination & Fun transcends our mere mortal coils . . .
I don’t want to lose your personal commentary on all of these topics. Part of why your content resonates with me is when I can tell YOU are also excited, or moved, or nostalgic about the same things I am. I absolutely love the entire scope of what you are covering, but I don’t want to lose your voice, perspective and opinions on it all. The format is fine, just don’t lose your personal touch on the realms! ⚔️
Still working through all of the articles, definitely bigger than the average gobbo, but loving the Arthurian one especially. Love a good mysterious sword legend.
I don’t want to lose your personal commentary on all of these topics. Part of why your content resonates with me is when I can tell YOU are also excited, or moved, or nostalgic about the same things I am. I absolutely love the entire scope of what you are covering, but I don’t want to lose your voice, perspective and opinions on it all. The format is fine, just don’t lose your personal touch on the realms! ⚔️
Still working through all of the articles, definitely bigger than the average gobbo, but loving the Arthurian one especially. Love a good mysterious sword legend.