books – Dadnauts

🔥 My Top 10 Most Anticipated Releases of the Next 18 Months

There’s something electric about looking ahead—counting down the days to those big moments in gaming, TV, and film that you know are going to leave an impact. Over the next 18 months, we’re getting sequels we never thought we’d see, fresh takes on iconic stories, and a few surprise comebacks that have me genuinely hyped.

Here’s a rundown of the 10 titles that have claimed top spots on my anticipation radar:

🎮 1. GTA VI – May 26, 2026

Vice City returns. Lucia and Jason take the wheel. Rockstar is leveling up with the expansive state of Leonida and a narrative that already feels legendary. It’s been a long wait—but the neon-soaked chaos will be worth it.

🌌 2. The Mandalorian & Grogu – May 22, 2026

Din Djarin and the little green legend make their big-screen debut. Jon Favreau is back in the director’s chair, and if the series was anything to go by, this movie might just leave the whole galaxy buzzing.

🧇 3. Stranger Things Season 5 – Nov 26, Dec 25, Dec 31, 2025

The final chapter arrives in three parts. Hawkins, Eleven, and the Upside Down face off one last time. Emotions? Checked. Flashlights? Charged. Ready to say goodbye? Not remotely.

🧙 4. Harry Potter (HBO Series) – 2026/27

A full reboot of the books, bringing each chapter to life with room to breathe. New cast, same magic. And with Rowling on board as an exec producer, it’ll be fascinating to see what gets reimagined.

🕷️ 5. Wednesday Season 2 – Aug 6 & Sept 3, 2025

Jenna Ortega returns in a season that promises more gothic weirdness, less high school romance, and a deeper dive into Addams family lore. The tone’s getting darker—and I’m here for it.

☢️ 6. Fallout Season 2 – Dec 2025

We’re heading to New Vegas, and the Wasteland just got more chaotic with Macaulay Culkin joining the cast. After the sleeper hit that was Season 1, expectations are sky-high—and radioactive.

🧸 7. Toy Story 5 – June 19, 2026

Just when I thought the toy box was shut for good… Woody and Buzz are back, facing off against a villain named Lily Pad in a tech vs. toy showdown. Bring tissues. Pixar never misses.

🌊 8. Moana (Live-Action) – July 10, 2026

Catherine Laga‘aia teams up with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson in this reimagining of the oceanic epic. Visuals are expected to be stunning, and if the music hits like the original—we’re in for a wave of nostalgia.

🔫 9. Borderlands 4 – Sept 12, 2025

Vault Hunters, assemble. A new villain, the Timekeeper, sets the tone for a full-throttle co-op experience across a brand-new planet. Get ready for mayhem, loot, and bad jokes aplenty.

🕵️ 10. Mafia: The Old Country – Aug 8, 2025

Step into Sicily, 1900s. Play as Enzo Favara and rise through the Torrisi crime family. It’s giving Godfather meets Red Dead, and every part of that sentence makes me want to pre-order.

🗣️ What Are You Excited For?

That’s my hype list—but what are YOU most looking forward to? Is there an under-the-radar release I should have on my radar? TV, movie, game, anime—I’m open to it all.

Hit me up on socials or drop a comment below. Let’s build the ultimate fandom watchlist together. 👇

⚽ Sunday: The Toonverse Chronicles: 001

Week 1

Why I’m Raising a Black-and-White Wizard

The first item of baby clothing I bought? A mini NUFC shirt. Not a bottle, not a onesie. A Toon top. Because for me, football isn’t just about sport—it’s about belonging.

Welcome to The Toonverse Chronicles, where passion meets parenthood, and raising a Newcastle fan becomes an emotional training montage worthy of the empire strikes back—but with more wafer thins.

🪄 The Magic of It All:
Our bedtime stories alternate between Alan Shearer and Albus Dumbledore. We celebrate goals like spell-casting victories. Somewhere between match replays and wand battles, my little one started to get into it.

⚽ Lessons from the Gallowgate End:
– Loyalty isn’t about never losing—it’s about never walking away.
– Tradition matters—rituals like wearing black and white or doing silly half-time dances are part of family identity.
– Hope, even when we’re 2–0 down in life, makes everything worthwhile.
– Raising the little one like the Carabao Cup whilst she is giggling and I like every other Geordie is on cloud nine – Priceless.

💡 Favourite Moment:
The day I got to put my youngest in her first proper toon top. there is nothing like it.

🏁 Full-Time Thoughts:
It’s not just football. It’s not just parenting. It’s shared belief. And that, to me, is a kind of magic. It is going to be a magic we all feel when we start going to the lasses matches next season as the youngest is just about old enough now.

🚀 Launching Dadnauts

Launching Dadnauts has been less about building a brand and more about capturing a feeling—a mix of chaos, love, curiosity, and creativity that defines my life as a dad. Somewhere between sleep-deprived snack negotiations and late-night idea scribbles, I realised I wanted to share the experience—not just as a diary, but as a creative project. Something that reflects the weird, wonderful balancing act of raising a child while holding on to your own identity. The journey gave shape to four recurring blog series, each a chapter in this ongoing mission.

The Dadnaut Toolkit 🛠 was the first concept that landed. Born out of the deep desire to make sense of the madness, it’s where the Guardsman in me gets to shine. I wanted to share what I’ve learned (and what I’m still figuring out) about time, structure, and staying afloat as a parent. These posts will offer practical strategies for managing the circus of dad life—whether that’s blocking out creative time between nappy changes or building routines that actually leave space for joy. It’s not about being perfect—it’s about having the right tools when the pressure’s on.

Wands, Wookie’s & Wipeout’s 🧙‍♂️🪄 is where the playful side of parenting gets to run wild. I’ve always loved the way stories shape us, and now I’m watching them shape my kids too. Whether we’re pretending to be Jedi on a school run or sorting Hogwarts houses based on snack preferences, this series explores how fandom blends into family life. It’s equal parts chaos and charm—like watching your toddler wield a lightsaber in pyjamas while demanding a snack in Yoda-speak. These posts let me celebrate the magic and madness of building a home full of imagination.

Mission Logs 🚀 are the emotional core of Dadnauts. These weekly dispatches are more reflective and raw—less about tips and more about truths. Sometimes it’s a quiet moment at 3AM, other times it’s a total meltdown (theirs or mine). This series captures the pulse of parenthood as it re1ally happens, offering space for honesty, laughter, frustration, and growth. I hope other dads (and parents) see themselves in these entries—not perfectly polished, but deeply human.

Finally, The Toonverse Chronicles ⚽️🥅 bring my NUFC pride front and centre. Football has always been part of my identity, and now I’m sharing it with my little one. These posts aren’t just about matchdays—they’re about legacy. About building rituals, passing down values, and watching your child fall in love with something you’ve always held dear. Through the Toonverse lens, I explore how family and fandom intertwine—how wearing black and white becomes more than colours; it becomes a connection.

Dadnauts is a creative map of everything I care about—fatherhood, storytelling, structure, silliness, and shared joy. It’s messy, meaningful, and evolving—just like the journey itself.

Stay up-to-date with our future blogs on our X @dadnauts