New D&D Movie To Go Ahead - Produced By Lego Movie's Roy Lee

The long dispute between Hasbro and Sweetpea Entertainment has come to and end, opening the door for a brand new Dungeons & Dragons movie! The deal between Warner Bros, Hasbro, and Sweetpea, will see a movie set in the Forgotten Realms, written by Wrath of the Titans' David Leslie Johnson, and produced by The Lego Movie's Roy Lee.

Lee, who also produced How To Train Your Dragon, will be producing the film which has been written by Wrath of the Titans' David Leslie Johnson. It'll be set in the Forgotten Realms (of course). At Hasbro's end, there is involvement from Brian Goldner (Hasbro's chief executive) and Stephen Davis (chief content officer). Warner Bros' Greg Silverman said that "[D&D] is far and away the most well-known brand in fantasy, which is the genre that drives the most passionate film followings."

More details on the lawsuit and its resolution can be found here. Full press release:

Warner Bros. Pictures, Hasbro’s Allspark Pictures and Sweetpea Entertainment are moving forward on a feature film franchise based on Dungeons & Dragons, the world’s most popular role playing game. Hasbro’s Brian Goldner and Stephen Davis, Courtney Solomon and Allan Zeman of Sweetpea Entertainment, and Roy Lee (“The LEGO Movie,” “How to Train Your Dragon”) are attached as producers.

Highlighting the priority being given to the project, Warner Bros. Pictures already has a script, written by David Leslie Johnson (“The Conjuring 2,” “Wrath of the Titans”).

“We are so excited about bringing the world of Dungeons & Dragons to life on the big screen,” said Greg Silverman, President, Creative Development and Worldwide Production, Warner Bros. Pictures. “This is far and away the most well-known brand in fantasy, which is the genre that drives the most passionate film followings. D&D has endless creative possibilities, giving our filmmakers immense opportunities to delight and thrill both fans and moviegoers new to the property.”

“This is such an enormous opportunity to bring the rich fantasy setting of the Forgotten Realms to life and, together with the creative powerhouse of Warner Bros., use movies to tell the stories that have enchanted passionate D&D fans for decades,” said Stephen Davis, Executive Vice President and Chief Content Officer of Hasbro, Inc. “D&D is the role-playing game that started it all and now we have the opportunity to ignite a franchise for its legions of avid fans in a way never done before.”

Dungeons & Dragons first became popular in 1974, and since then has amassed millions of players and fans worldwide. The hugely popular property has also influenced numerous writers, directors, game designers, and other creative professionals throughout its four decades.

“We are thrilled that this beloved property can finally make its way to the big screen after 20 years, and that it can be realized by Warner Bros., which has been responsible for the biggest fantasy franchises over the past two decades,” said Courtney Solomon of Sweetpea Entertainment.

Today’s announcement reflects the resolution of Hasbro and Wizards of the Coast LLC’s complaint against Sweetpea Entertainment, Inc. and Sweetpea BVI, Ltd. and the counterclaims filed by Sweetpea against Hasbro in May 2013 related to the Dungeons & Dragon brand. Solomon and Zeman will be attached to produce all Warner Bros.-produced Dungeons & Dragons film and television productions. All rights for future Dungeons & Dragons productions have been unified and returned to Wizards of the Coast, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hasbro.

 

[Charles Rampant]

Three words:

Game

of

Thrones.

Sure. We are getting D&D movies in part thanks to Lord of the Rings. I'm simply noting that being derivative in whole or in part has never stopped Hollywood before, and the Shannara series simply shows a very prominent example. Fantasy is quite fashionable, especially if we accept the Netflix interpretation which would include superheroes.

 

[Umbran]

I'm simply noting that being derivative in whole or in part has never stopped Hollywood before...

This is an *excellent* point. Derivative movies are all over the place, and are often quite successful.

 

[Ryujin]

This is an *excellent* point. Derivative movies are all over the place, and are often quite successful.

At the risk of being derivative, I'll point out that I made a post about the cyclical nature of genre in movies a little while back

 

[Charles Rampant]

At the risk of being derivative, I'll point out that I made a post about the cyclical nature of genre in movies a little while back

I wasn't being derivative of your post. I was rebooting it. With a hip, modern spin! And lens flair. Lots of lens flair.

 

[Remathilis]

"Dutch angle" sounds like a euphemism for something filthy.

Ever watch Battlefield Earth, no euphemism about it.

But its a reference for film technique, seen here. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutch_angle Battlefield Earth is entirely filmed in this sort of angle, making it look ridiculous and over pretentious.

 

[Ryujin]

I wasn't being derivative of your post. I was rebooting it. With a hip, modern spin! And lens flair. Lots of lens flair.

Don't forget the 'splosions, or you won't get into the Michael Bay hall of fame.

 

[Tonguez]

I seriously doubt that they will go for a 'real people enter the world' angle, simply because that doesn't lend itself to the critical word in the press release: franchise. They don't want to make one film. They want to make TEN films, and toys and games and blankets and books and hats and kids bicycles and whatnot for every single one of them. You don't base a franchise on a gimmick; you base it on a solid mythos

We've already had 3 Narnia movies out of that gimmick despite the fizzle and Disney dumping it like trash.
fourth due next year (maybe).

as to merchandising who wouldn't want a Dungeon Master plushy?

 

[Xavian Starsider]

Isn't, "to work, it needs to be well-written, well-directed, and well-produced" true for the majority of movies?

To be fair, I've seen movies that have done well without being any of these things (most of Michael Bay's catalog for instance). Also interesting to note that the OP doesn't feel well-acted is a requirement.

 

[Dausuul]

So this movie will be, essentially, a duel between the Producer of Awesome and the Writer of Suck.

 

[Umbran]

To be fair, I've seen movies that have done well without being any of these things (most of Michael Bay's catalog for instance). Also interesting to note that the OP doesn't feel well-acted is a requirement.

To be fair, he didn't exactly define what "to work..." meant.

If by, "For the movie to work," meant, "for the movie to make money" then yeah, you're probably right. Sad to say that's the nature of movies.

If he meant more like, "For many of us on EN World to not want to gouge our eyes out watching it," maybe I'm more correct