A Baldur’s Gate television show is in the works, and it is apparently being helmed by Craig Mazin, the showrunner of The Last Of Us.
Of all the “D&D gets a TV show” announcements out there, this might be the one I’m most likely to believe. Although Hollywood is Hollywood, nothing is real until you’re watching it on your screen. Just having an announcement that something is in the works is no guarantee you’ll ever see it.
Hell, even the thing getting fully produced and finished and actually ready to release is no guarantee you’ll ever see it, RIP Batgirl. But as far as announcements for upcoming TV shows go, this one may well have legs. And that’s because it leverages Larian’s magnum opus, Baldur’s Gate 3 – which at present is still a blank check for goodwill, one even WotC hasn’t fully spent yet (despite Astarion and Karlach appearing as the sort-of faces of the ill-fated Project Sigil). Here’s what we know so far.
Baldur’s Gate TV Series In The Works At HBO
According to a story from Deadline, HBO has a new series in the works, titled Baldur’s Gate. As the name implies, it is based on the beloved video game series, and in particular Baldur’s Gate 3, as the article specifically mentions Larian Studios’ work. The whole thing is being helmed by Craig Mazin, whose name you might recognize as the showrunner for The Last Of Us, which went on to show that video game series can actually be good, if you know what you’re doing.
That’s actually really hopeful news. Because under Mazin’s direction, I’d say The Last Of Us managed to top the beloved video game – and even if you don’t agree with me completely, even the most diehard TLOU fan has to admit there are some things the show did much better than the game ever could.
Like, I get teary-eyed thinking about this. And it was a blip in the video game. All that to say, Craig Mazin might be exactly the right person to take on the twists and turns of the Baldur’s Gate series. Especially since, it seems like the show will be carrying on where the games left off:
“Unlike HBO’s The Last Of Us, which retold the story from the PlayStation games, the Baldur’s Gate TV series will be a continuation to the games, telling a story that takes place immediately after the events of Baldur’s Gate 3 as the characters – old and new – are dealing with the ramifications of the events in the third game.”
And “events in the third game” is doing a lot of work here. Let’s recap some of “the events” from the third game. Spoilers ahead for Baldur’s Gate 3, but if you haven’t beaten it by now, what are you doing with your life? Take some sick time and go enjoy Larian’s masterpiece. Because in Baldur’s Gate 3 you:
- Possibly undo a curse by a goddess herself
- Foil an extraplanar invasion
- Stop a plot by a trio of evil gods
- Killed the leaders of Baldur’s Gate (unless you managed to save Wyll’s dad)
- Restored the memory of a Cleric (or left her to rot in forgetfulness)
- Become an Ascended Vampire
- Exposed or joined one or more secret societies
And that’s all just another day in the Realms.
Continuing Stories, New Faces
What’s really interesting here is the idea of continuing with characters “old and new.” This is a longtime goal of Wizards of the Coast (and even before that of TSR when Gary Gygax was at the helm). Since D&D started taking off back in the 70s, someone involved in its leadership has wanted to see it break through to the mainstream with tv shows, movies, and more.
To the point where Gary Gygax helped drive TSR to financial ruin because he was partying so hard in Hollywood trying to make things happen. Well. Maybe he just wanted to live a playboy lifestyle on the company dime, who can say, really.
But WotC has been trying so hard to make a “cinematic universe” happen. You can tell from the way they keep trying to push characters into the public eye and hoping that people will catch on. The Baldur’s Gate crew seem to be the most successful so far. How many of you can remember the name of Justice Smith’s Sorcerer or Rege Jean-Page’s Paladin? But Jarnathan, Jarnathan sticks.
Point is, a Baldur’s Gate TV series with new characters is another chance to establish a toehold in the mainstream consciousness. Which might undermine the idea of the TV show, you can’t force these things to happen, as Gretchen Wieners well knows.
Mazin seems especially suited to the task, as Deadline reports:
“After putting nearly 1000 hours into the incredible world of Baldur’s Gate 3, it is a dream come true to be able to continue the story that Larian and Wizards of the Coast created. I am a devoted fan of D&D and the brilliant way that Swen Vincke and his gifted team adapted it. I can’t wait to help bring Baldur’s Gate and all of its incredible characters to life with as much respect and love as we can, and I’m deeply grateful to Gabe Marano and his team at Hasbro for entrusting me with this incredibly important property.”
Speaking of the team, which consists of Hasbro Entertainment’s Gabriel Marano, it also features the former Head of Story at WotC, Chris Perkins. So – to sum up, a Baldur’s Gate TV series, based mostly on the one everyone loves (BG3), with an actual chance of being made.
Color me cautiously optimistic!
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