The announcement that Arcane will end with season 2 sets the stage for a number of other prospective League of Legends adaptations that deserve their own spot-light. Based on the world of Runeterra from the League of Legends game franchise, the critically-acclaimed Arcane explored the origins of popular champions like Jinx, Vi, Jayce, Caitlyn, and Ekko. However, the conflict between the twin cities of Zaun and Piltover and the heartbreaking story between Jinx and Vi are far from the only compelling realms of the larger world of Runeterra.

Comments from Arcane co-creator Christian Linke to Variety suggest that just because Arcane is coming to a close doesn’t mean more expansions of Runeterra aren’t in the works. This is particularly exciting, given the sheer scale of the world and the plentiful characters and conflicts that could drive other shows. They could highlight the varied tones of the world, introduce overarching threats that could bring unexpected characters together, and build off the themes and characters of Arcane in exciting new ways. Here are the other League of Legends shows that could come after Arcane.

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The Human/Magic Conflicts Of Ionia

A Magical Exploration Of Nature And Nationalism

Ionia is one of the other major kingdoms of Runeterra, and highlights the kind of settings and dramas that could easily propel future shows set after season 2 of Arcane. Otherwise known as the First Lands, the citizens of Ionia spent untold years in harmonious peace with nature. However, an invasion by Noxus forced the citizens to reevaluate their place in the world, setting up new conflicts between their naturally-attuned warriors and ultra-nationalist groups like the Navori Brotherhood.

The strife caused by these divisions could be a way to carry the political themes of Arcane to a new setting, exploring similar themes from new perspectives. Characters from this setting like Ahri, Akali, Lee Sin, Shen, Yasuo, and Zed have plenty of exciting potential as lead characters. The living natural setting of Ionia could also help it stand out from the cityscapes that served as Arcane‘s primary locations.

9

The Yordles Of Bandle City

A Goofy Collection Of Cute Oddballs Could Bring Bandle City To Lie

Not all of Runeterra’s settings are driven entirely by war. In fact, a potential show focusing on the Yordles who live in Bandle City could be a great showcase of the tonal flexibility present in the League of Legends universe. Arcane has already introduced a notable Yordle in the form of the genius inventor Heimerdinger. However, Bandle City is home to severel other adorable little characters who could push the franchise forward, melding magic and technology in some surprisingly dangerous (and adorable) ways.

Effectively serving as a Fey realm within the world of League of Legends, characters like the explorer Teemo, the magical Lulu, and the pilot Corky could utilize a very different type of tone than Arcane. Despite their overtly cute appearances (as seen in titles like the recently released Bandle Tales), the Yordles are also quietly formidable in their own right, making them a surprisingly flexible group to bring focus to in any prospective follow-ups to Arcane.

8

The Black Rose Of Noxus

Brutal Heroes Versus A Longstanding Conspiracy

Noxus has already been introduced in Arcane, albeit from afar. Ambessa Medarda and her daughter Mel both hailing from the kingdom. Primarily composed of brutal fighters and ruthless warlords, characters from Noxus like Darius, Riven, and Rell have proven surprisingly noble in their intentions. This sets them apart from the Black Rose, a secret cabal of mages and nobles who’ve secretly guided the destiny of Noxus for decades.

Rell’s mission is partly to bring down the conspiracy, pitting her against powerful sorcerers like LeBlanc and Vladimir. This kind of conflict and focus on Noxus could also be a great way to fully introduce Swain, one of League of Legends‘ most manipulative figures. This conflict could be a great way to explore a combat-heavy setting within Runeterra and showcase some of the univere’s most impressive and important fighters.

7

The Lost Empire Of Shurima

A Shattered Empire Could Reform Around An Unlikely Anti-Hero

In the lore of League of Legends, Shurima was once a continent-spanning kingdom. Their great magics and ability to have citizens go through Ascension to gain new power made them a force to be reckoned with. However, the death of their great king Azir set off a chain of events that left the empire naught but ruins in the present-day. The mysterious nature of the kingdom makes it ideal fodder for expansion in a TV show.

That corner of the world even has an ideal central conflict that could serve as the underlying plot. In the modern day of League of Legends, Azir has been resurrected and seeks to restore his kingdom to its true power. A potential complication lies in his living descendant, the roving mercenary Sivir. His expectations of her and her dogged refusal to accept her “destiny” as his heir would make for a very compelling drama.

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The Corruption Of The Darkin

How Celestial Forces Became Corrupting Weapons

Connected to the lore surrounding Shurima, the Darkin are one of the more dangerous forces within Runeterra, and an exploration of their origins and impact on the world would make for a compelling riff on the corrupting elements seen in other fantasy epics like Lord of the Rings. The Darkin were once Ascended, blessed with Celestial powers as warriors of Shurima. However, the traumas of the Void War and the cost of using blood magic in the conflict transformed them into new forms.

Now trapped within powerful weapons, they can be claimed by others. This gives the Darkin the ability to infect and transform the users, with some of Runeterra’s most dangerous figures becoming hosts to this immense and corrupting power. The Darkin could make for a compelling reason to explore the larger world of Runeterra, highlighting characters like Aatrox and Varus and how they spread out across the land.

5

The Frozen Watchers Of The Void

The Freljord Contains More Than Just Heroes & Ice

Teased during a musical interlude in Arcane season 1, the Freljord is a sprawling frozen landscape in the north of Runeterra. The setting is home to heroes like Ashe, Braum and Nunu, who all could make for compelling leads in their own right. However, the frigid realm is home to ancient powers like Lissandra, an ancient and powerful magic user who is quietly one of the more important characters in the lore.

It was thanks to Lissandra that a war with the Watchers of the Void could be contained within True Ice, a mystical variant of ice that is incapable of being melted. It was only through freezing these ancient eldritch beings that Lissandra was able to prevent the end of the world, but even this has been hinted to only be temporary. Shifting focus to the Freljord could pay off the tease in Arcane and set up the kind of massive conflicts that could involve all of Runeterra.

4

The Mageseekers Of Demacia

Lux & Garen Could Be The Next Vi & Jinx

On the surface, Demacia is one of the more classically noble kingdoms in the world of League of Legends. Underneath the pristine architecture and proud warriors is a deep well of resentment and mistrust towards magic, birthed by long-standing fears of the mystical conflict teased in Arcane‘s backstory. This led to the creation of the Mageseekers, an order dedicated to recruiting or slaying magic-users. The premise sets up a mystical exploration of prejudice and class warfare, effectively giving Runeterra its own X-Men style story.

Shifting focus to Demacia could give a prospective Arcane follow-up a chance to subvert classic fantasy archetypes by reveling in the subversive nature of casting a classical-looking kingdom in a darker light. It would also be a great way to introduce compelling heroes like the resilient mage Lux Crownguard, and her brother, the noble knight Garen make it an ideal follow-up on Arcane‘s similar exploration of sibling relationships.

3

Pirate Wars Of Bilgewater

A Nation Of Pirates Could Be The Perfect Follow-Up To Arcane

One of the more exciting and varied settings in Runeterra is Bilgewater. The port city is home to several pirates and criminals, and served as the primary backdrop for League of Legends: The Ruined King. Before the events of that storyline however, it was also where a massive pirate civil war erupted between the ruthless Captain Gangplank and the upstart captain, Miss Fortune. At the center of the conflict was two mercenaries and former friends, Graves and Twisted Fate.

This led to further chaos and conflict within the seabound city, all building to the events of the Harrowing and The Ruined King. A show focused on Bilgewater’s murky morality and cutthroat characters would make for a compelling drama, exploring similar themes as Arcane from a new perspective. It would also be a compelling way to build on the lore of Runeterra and set up plenty of other narratives with the various characters who visit the sea-port.

2

The Harrowing Of The Shadow Isles

The Harrowing Brings Horror To Runeterra

Once a beautiful realm known as the Blessed Isles, the Shadow Isles were eventually overtaken by an all encompasing Black Mist that corrupted it with dark magic. Those who die within the mist become bound to it, like the monstrous Thresh. Once a year, the Black Mist spreads throughout the lands in an event known as the Harrowing.

The Harrowing is a grim event that can overcome entire regions, setting up the kind of dangerous conflict that could bring together the assorted heroes of other regions to try and combat the reach of the Harrowing. Cinematics released by Riot have showcased the kind of action that can bring together assorted figures from across Runeterra in opposition to the Harrowing, and exploring the Shadow Isles could give a prospective new series one of Runeterra’s best locations.

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The Ruined King Saga

How Ruined King Could Be A League Of Legends Avengers

Serving as the plot of Ruined King: A League of Legends Story, an adaptation of the Ruined King storyline could be the perfect way to expand Runeterra and bring it together for future stories. The saga of the titular ruler Viego plays an important part in the origins of the Shadow Isles. Attempts to restore him and spread the Black Mist ends up targeting Bilgewater, forcing a rag-tag group of unlikely characters to combat the threats. It’s an ideal way to connect different corners of the universe, with Thresh and Gangplank both seeking to use his restoration as part of their own plans for revenge.

The story highlights the danger of the Harrowing and the Shadow Isles, while bringing together characters like Ahri, Yasuo, Miss Fortune, and Braum in the kind of expansive Avengers-style Runeterra crossover that in-turn could tease other directions for League of Legends adaptations to take. The Ruined King Saga is a great story that encompasses much of what makes Runeterra a compelling world, and an adaptation of it could further highlight the storytelling potential that was set up by the success of Arcane.

Source: Variety