D&D Movie/TV Joe Manganiello: Dragonlance TV Show No Longer In Development

Actor Joe Manganiello has confirmed that the anticipated Dragonlance TV show that he had been working on is no longer being developed. In an interview with ComicBook.com. According to Manganiello, following poor sales of Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen and the Warriors of Krynn board game last year, "Dragonlance is not a property [WotC] are interested in developing further currently". This decision was also prompted by Hasbro's sale of its media studio, eOne.

In March last year, Manganiello confirmed during an official D&D video update that he was working on a TV show for WotC, and a D&D live action series was greenly by Paramount in January. It's not clear if these are the same property.

Manganiello also talked about his approach to the property, and the new designs he had for the world, the dragons, and even the casting. "I want to make [the show] because I want to see it and I just want to feel that excited and electric about something. The characters...like the casting, I have a look book with over 1,000 pages, but it's not what you expect. The design concepts I had for the world, for the armor, for the swords....I had a fresh take on what the dragons were going to look like, it was going to be nothing like anyone has ever seen."

He has been working on a script for years, and was told by TV executives that his pilot was one of the best fantasy scripts they had ever read. He even offered to buy Dragonlance from WotC.

You can watch the whole interview at the link above.

 

[bedir than]

One thing that doesn't get mentioned is "does Hasbro have the bandwidth to manage FOUR different D&D TV shows at the same time?"

I think the answer is a definite no.

Thurber's project is already in pre-production and was picked up by Paramount+ prior to Joe trying to slide into things.
Kolstad seems to be back-burner, but he's a bigger name in show-running/producing than Joe.
Netflix+BG3 is a must make.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Netflix+BG3 is a must make.

Given how horny BG3 is (mindflayer tadpoles apparently make everyone incredibly frisky), it feels like it would have been a good fit for Starz 10 years ago, back when Starz had money to fund TV shows.

 

[bedir than]

Given how horny BG3 is (mindflayer tadpoles apparently make everyone incredibly frisky), it feels like it would have been a good fit for Starz 10 years ago, back when Starz had money to fund TV shows.

Rest in Black Sails (which finally got picked up by a streamer I have).

But also, Netflix is the one rumored to be exploring the purchase of D&D/BG3 licensing for a show. They carry The Magicians, so they're cool with horny and atypical relationships (include a reference to consensual bear-human partnerships)

 

[Zardnaar]

Given how horny BG3 is (mindflayer tadpoles apparently make everyone incredibly frisky), it feels like it would have been a good fit for Starz 10 years ago, back when Starz had money to fund TV shows.

Sex and violence perpetually popular.

Stuff causing backlash online is funny when other IPs and BG3 use them.

Hell BG 3 also has domestic violence, mild BDSM, slavery, mind control, ind wipes, torture porn, soft porn etc.

 

[Queer Venger]

Heh, Vox Machina is more true to D&D than Dragonlance ever will be . . . . as it's played at the table!

Fantasy stories can be told well in animation. Fantasy stories can be told well in live action. They can also be told poorly in both mediums. Personally, I'd prefer a well-done live action adaptation of Chronicles than another animated one. But I'd certainly take a well-done animated series if it comes to fruition.

Have you seen the existing animated Dragonlance Chronicles movie? It is . . . not good.

Not talking about VM, talking about the animated adaptation.

But to the point, I may have judged Mr. Manganiello too harshly. The guy really really loves DL; I just saw his interview on comic book resources and the guy looks really disappointed, and Im disappointed for him.

He mentions his script and now I wish we could read it.

 

[Queer Venger]

It's both. Obviously. But it's very much D&D, as is Delicious in Dungeon.

the CR animated VM amazon prime show is not D&D, its an animated generic fantasy story; really no different than all the other animated fantasy stories on Netflix (Dragon Age, etc). Beautifully animated, expertly voice acted, hilariously funny--not D&D

 

[nyvinter]

the CR animated VM amazon prime show is not D&D, its an animated generic fantasy story; really no different than all the other animated fantasy stories on Netflix (Dragon Age, etc). Beautifully animated, expertly voice acted, hilariously funny--not D&D

What are your requirements for it to count as D&D then? Because from what I can see and since a lot of the game is set in own campaign worlds: an official logo. But that says nothing about the contents really.

 

[Queer Venger]

What are your requirements for it to count as D&D then? Because from what I can see and since a lot of the game is set in own campaign worlds: an official logo. But that says nothing about the contents really.

None of the monsters or spells are D&D. In fact the whole beholder story from first campaign was scratched because it's a D&D monster, as are Mind Flayers.

 

[Incenjucar]

D&D is a bit hard to pin down because the lore changes with every edition, but generally to feel D&D it needs to adhere as close as possible to the way the game works in practice without homebrew or DM fiat.

 

[Zardnaar]

D&D is a bit hard to pin down because the lore changes with every edition, but generally to feel D&D it needs to adhere as close as possible to the way the game works in practice without homebrew or DM fiat.

They've tweaked the lore but the Gith, Illithid, Shar/Selune stuff has spaned decades.

It's also the stuff OGL can't touch.