Hasbro can’t seem to resist the idea of a “D&D Cinematic Universe” – so a new D&D live-action show is apparently in the works at Netflix.
It has been rough for D&D in the world of live-action entertainment. Historically, things just haven’t gone well for the franchise there. That’s just been true of D&D since its earliest days, dating all the way back to the days of TSR West. It is a company that existed nominally to try and get D&D produced as a movie or TV show, but in reality, it exists to support Gary Gygax living the lifestyle of a Hollywood playboy, complete with hot-tub equipped mansion and model-filled parties.
It’s a big part of why the TSR floundered. And why, eventually, Gygax was ousted from the company he helped found. But despite all the partying, Gygax did manage to hire a writer to draft a script for a live-action D&D movie. It wasn’t great. It was, however, exactly what you think of when you have your first thought about what “a D&D movie” should be like.
“The story begins with Tom Boyman, a 23-year-old Californian who has finally saved up enough money to begin his studies at Yale. On his way to catch the bus east, he meets Milton “Fearless” Gilroy, a car racer who convinces him to go to a county fair before leaving.
At the fair, Tom chances upon Margot Champion, a senior at Wellesley who is summering in California at an archaeological dig. The three of them strike up a friendship and visit the dig site that night, where, among howling winds, a mysterious power brings them all to another world.”
And then there’s the first D&D movie that did get made.
The less said about that, the better. But, despite it all, including the sale of its entertainment division, it seems Hasbro is still pursuing live-action D&D. And now it seems a live-action D&D show is in the works at Netflix, according to reporting from Deadline.
D&D Live-Action Show In The Works At Netflix
And what’s more, it’s apparently set in the Forgotten Realms. We know this because the working title of the series, according to Deadline, is The Forgotten Realms. Imaginative, I know. But it’s one of the few things we know about the potential show, aside from the names attached to it, as Deadline reports:
“[Netflix] has taken in for development The Forgotten Realms, a live-action Dungeons & Dragons series, sources tell Deadline. The project comes from one of the top producers on the streamer’s roster, Shawn Levy (Stranger Things, Deadpool & Wolverine), writer-showrunner Drew Crevello (WeCrashed) and Hasbro Entertainment.”
– Deadline
Now, this comes as something of a surprise because in 2024 alone, there were two different stories of D&D live-action series “in the works” being canceled in the wake of Hasbro selling off eOne, its entertainment company.
D&D Series Woes
The first of these was Joe Manganiello’s much-hoped for Dragonlance series. Which, as of February 2024, was “dead in the water” – this despite excitement from the series’ original creators and Manganiello’s efforts to buy the rights to the series outright.
“Tracy and Margaret were all about it, it was really me getting in there and fleshing out the world they built, and a world they hinted at in some places but didn’t shine the magnifying glass on.“
– Joe Manganiello
And then there was a live-action series that was being helmed by Rawston Marshall Thurber of Red Notice fame that was also no longer in the works as of March, 2024, despite having an eight-episode series order. But companies change. And the sale of eOne to Lionsgate seemed like a damper in the works.
However, Hasbro said that it was going to revamp the series idea after restructuring the creative team. And that seems to be the case with this new incarnation, as Deadline reports.
“The project’s initial incarnation, overseen creatively by Red Notice filmmaker Rawson Marshall Thurber, with Crevello subsequently joining him as showrunner, landed at Paramount+ in early 2023 with a straight-to-series order and eOne co-producing alongside Paramount Pictures, the studio behind Honor Among Thieves.
AdvertisementWith Hasbro’s in-house division Hasbro Entertainment now in charge, the Dungeons & Dragons adaptation underwent redevelopment with Crevello at the helm and a brand new concept not related to the past D&D development with Thurber and Paramount or the Honor Among Thieves movie.”
– Deadline
What’s interesting here is the attempt to distance the show from the Honor Among Thieves movie. This may have something to do with the fact that the latest D&D movie was developed with eOne and Paramount Pictures, and now that the former is no longer a part of Hasbro, there might be a question about the rights of the movie. But Hasbro has been distancing itself from the D&D movie almost since it came out. And as of last November was getting out of the movie business entirely.
D&D Series – No Honor Among Thieves
And all of that doesn’t even mention the 2021 live action show in the works from John Wick writer Derek Kolstad. According to the Hollywood Reporter, a lot of work was going on alongside the development of the D&D movie – eOne and Hasbro were hoping to hit the ground running for a “cinematic universe” type treatment of D&D:
“Paramount and eOne are also mounting a feature set to star Chris Pine that is due to lens later this year. And Kolstad isn’t the only scribe working on a D&D series, as eOne is now working with multiple writers to develop various projects set in the fantasy universe.”
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– Hollywood Reporter
All of that to say, the fate of anything live-action D&D seems to be precarious. Especially after Hasbro’s massive round of 2024 layoffs, which saw some 1,100 employees let go, including at WotC, despite the company having one of its most profitable years and greenlighting Baldur’s Gate 3. This resulted in a downgrade for the toy conglomerate’s stock.
But despite all that, some executive deep in the Hasbro pipeworks must still be holding out hope – because, according to Deadline, the dream of a D&D cinematic universe is still alive despite all evidence to the contrary:
“The Forgotten Realms series was taken out to Netflix where 21 Laps has a deal. After lengthy negotiations, which is not unusual for an IP of that caliber, I hear the fantasy series is now set at the streamer for further development. In success, it could launch a D&D universe, I hear.”
Advertisement– Deadline
It boggles the mind how Jarnathan will never again have his day – but what do you think? Can a live-action D&D TV show work?
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