Netflix is about to usher in a new era, bringing exciting news for Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) fans. Renowned director Shawn Levy is set to produce this new series based on the Forgotten Realms. The move comes at a time when the streaming giant is set to add the 2023 film Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves starring Chris Pine to its library on February 26. Earlier attempts to bring this franchise to the small screen on Paramount+ failed, but now it looks like Netflix can successfully bring this project to life.
Dungeons & Dragons: New hope for success in live-action
Dungeons & Dragons is a brand that can achieve great success if presented correctly. For more than five decades, it has been the world’s most popular tabletop RPG game, but whenever attempts have been made to bring it to live-action, the results have not been satisfactory. The 2000 film starring Jeremy Irons was heavily criticized, raising questions about the future of the franchise. However, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves in 2023 impressed fans and proved that a successful project could be made from this popular IP.
D&D could be a game-changer for Netflix
The new series will resume the journey of bringing D&D to the streaming platform, which was prioritized by eOne – then part of Hasbro – in 2021. Paramount+ gave it a straight-to-series order in 2023, but the platform’s priorities later changed and the project was quietly shelved. Subsequently, eOne was purchased by Lionsgate and the D&D brand was put under Hasbro Entertainment. With this change, the project was redeveloped and drew interest from Deadpool and Wolverine director Shawn Levy and writer-showrunner Drew Cravello.
Could Dungeons & Dragons be the perfect replacement for Stranger Things?
The announcement of this new D&D project comes at a time when the fantasy genre is becoming popular again, especially for stories based on long-established IPs. Dungeons & Dragons is considered a pioneer in the fantasy world and its deep and detailed world-building sets it apart from other franchises. It’s surprising that it hasn’t been fully developed into a major franchise until now.
D&D coming to Netflix is also interesting because it is associated with Stranger Things creator Shawn Levy. Stranger Things has introduced a new generation of viewers to Dungeons & Dragons in the last few years, as the game has been one of the major themes of the series. Levy is directing some of the final episodes of Stranger Things season 5 and it seems like a natural fit for him to work on a D&D project after that.
While the project is still in its early stages, signs suggest that Netflix could tout it as its next big fantasy series. With big shows like Stranger Things, The Sandman, and The Witcher entering their final seasons, the heroes of Forgotten Realms could fill the void and secure Netflix’s future in the fantasy genre.
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Surendra Bareth is a versatile actor and assistant director with a Bachelor’s degree from Guru Ghasidas University. He has made remarkable contributions to Hindi and Chhattisgarhi cinema, as well as television, excelling in both acting and direction.
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