Netflix's Dungeons & Dragons Show Must Master One Balancing Act That The Movie Nailed

Netflix is taking on the daunting task of adapting the Forgotten Realms, one of Dungeons & Dragons' most popular settings, for a new series. Following the critical and commercial success of Baldur's Gate 3, which showcased the setting's potential for both dramatic storytelling and hilarious Baldur’s Gate 3 interactions, the upcoming show faces the challenge of appealing to a broad audience.

The success of Honor Among Thieves offers another potential blueprint, demonstrating how to blend fantasy adventure with the spirit of a D&D campaign. With Shawn Levy at the helm, known for his work on projects that balance fantastical elements with humor and character development, confidence in the Dungeons & Dragons project has skyrocketed.

Netflix's Forgotten Realms Show Must Balance Its Fantasy Story & Humor If It Wants To Succeed

Fantastical Settings And Creatures Are Important But So Is Silliness

The world of Dungeons & Dragons is vast and sprawling and the lore has influenced countless fantasy universals since its conception in the 1970s. The Forgotten Realms in particular is one of the most popular D&D settings, and is the default setting for 5E. In addition, it has been the setting for some of the biggest pieces of D&D fiction, such as the Baldur’s Gate series. Though focused on a dark and serious story about the offspring of the God of Murder, the first two games make exceptional use of humor through characters with over-the-top personalities like Minsc and Jan Jansen.

The huge success of Baldur’s Gate 3brought in swathes of new Dungeons & Dragons players, gamers and viewers. BG3 struck the perfect balance of awe-inspiring settings, genuinely touching voice acting performances, and comedy. Shadowheart's religious trauma plotline, for instance, provides an incredibly emotional performance, while Lae'zel's comical struggles with pronunciation and Minthara's hilarious disdain for Gale offer consistent comedic relief. This means it is more crucial than ever for a new Forgotten Realms adaptation to strike a similar tone to appease both long-time D&D fans and newcomers to this universe.

Honor Among Thieves Offers The Perfect Blueprint For Nailing This Balance

Audiences Felt Like It Was An Actual Game Of Dungeons & Dragons

There have been many attempts to adapt the world of Dungeons & Dragons in the past, with varying success. Honor Among Thievesis an example of a surprisingly successful adaptation. The movie represented the spirit of playing D&D - from the homebrew twists to the fun characters, this adaptation had the feeling of a game. This adaptation understood that the heart of D&D lies in the collaborative storytelling and the sense of playful adventure. The writers even included the name “Jarnathan”, which sounds like the kind of name a Dungeon Master would panic-pick for an NPC during a game.

The movie succeeded at being an adventure for both players of Dungeons & Dragons and general moviegoers. Crucially, even if a viewer had never rolled a D20, it was a genuinely fun fantasy movie. This ability to bridge the gap between dedicated fans and a broader audience is a crucial lesson that Netflix's upcoming D&D show would be wise to learn. By capturing the spirit of the game, while also delivering a compelling narrative for those unfamiliar with the source material, they have the potential to create a truly memorable adaptation.

Shawn Levy's Previous Projects Give Me Hope The D&D Show Will Get This Right

Levy Has A Good Track Record For Incorporating Comedy

Shawn Levy's filmography demonstrates a consistent ability to blend fantastical elements with comedic timing, a crucial skill for adapting the often whimsical world of Dungeons & Dragons. Films like the Night at the Museum franchise showcase his talent for creating engaging narratives within fantastical settings, while also delivering consistent humor. His other projects like Free Guy and The Adam Project proves his capability to handle special effects-heavy productions while maintaining a lighthearted and entertaining tone.

Beyond his comedic fantasy work, Levy's involvement in Stranger Things highlights his aptitude for balancing fantastical narratives with compelling character development and emotional depth. This experience is particularly relevant, as a successful D&D adaptation will require not only fantastical spectacle but also relatable characters and engaging storylines. This, paired with his proven ability to create compelling characters, makes him a very good choice to Direct the Dungeons & Dragons project.

Dungeons & Dragons

Created by

E. Gary Gygax, Dave Arneson, Jonathan Goldstein, John Francis Daley

First Film

Dungeons & Dragons

Latest Film

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves

First TV Show

Dungeons & Dragons

Latest TV Show

Dungeons & Dragons

Cast

Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Rege-Jean Page, Justice Smith, Sophia Lillis, Hugh Grant, Chloe Coleman, Daisy Head, Bradley Cooper, Jason Wong

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