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.

 

[tuxgeo]

I hope you're correct. But, I thought most often for the powerless bone they more typically use "executive producer" (like Stan Lee gets for Marvel movies, though he's not involved in the production).

I note the statement is that "Solomon and Zeman will be attached to produce all Warner Bros.-produced Dungeons & Dragons film and television productions." Which implies that there can be non-WB productions.

We can hope that the agreement is basically since WB already paid money for rights, they are involved initially, but under some conditions they cease being involved. Maybe they get right of first refusal?

This. A million times this! (Oh -- and emphasis added, above.)

As long as I'm reading more into this announcement than is actually stated there, I'll add:

The only thing Hasbro needs to do now is to refuse to green-light any more D&D movies for a decade after this -- and the rights should revert to Hasbro, solely, because Solomon will have failed to execute a sequel within that time.

 

[Hand of Evil]

I would also go TV route, aka STARZ's Ash vs The Evil Dead, Spartacus, Black Sails, Dare Devil, Game of Thrones, etc.

 

[skotothalamos]

I hope you're correct. But, I thought most often for the powerless bone they more typically use "executive producer" (like Stan Lee gets for Marvel movies, though he's not involved in the production).

FWIW, an Executive Producer credit is generally reserved for someone who contributes to the film's budget, up to and including the person who signs the checks. Sometimes it's a legal bone (in that they contribute financially by not suing us for using the property), but usually it's someone who put money up to get the project done, and can stop putting money up if they don't like what they see... Hardly powerless!

 

[Kaodi]

Having a group of gamers be transported to the Forgotten Realms and suddenly become the heroes is way too meta and cheesy, even if most of us have fantasized about something like that now and again.

If I were seriously going to go with a main character from the real world, I think I would go with something like a war reporter. Someone who has not fought themselves in the past (except maybe some defencive martial arts), but who knows how to stay alive in the middle of combat. Someone like that, who has a mindset based on our world, could go a long way to making modern values in a fantasy world seem more plausible, but in turn would be someone who still has to have the world explained to them (and thus the uninitiated in the audience).

If I could I would cast Charlize Theron in that role.

 

[MechaPilot]

They have a LOT of work to do with this movie.

I can't remember a film franchise where the fans of the source material were dead-set that any film about it was going to suck. WB is going to have to really pull the lead out just to win over D&D fans disgruntled by the previous films, and then they have to sell it to regular people.

 

[neobolts]

Having a group of gamers be transported to the Forgotten Realms and suddenly become the heroes is way too meta and cheesy, even if most of us have fantasized about something like that now and again.

I agree. This sounds hideous! Kids cartoons from the 80s are great, but this needs the modern sensibilities and self-respect of film series like Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings.

 

[Scottius]

I know I shouldn't be surprised they're going to set a potential movie in the Realms but I'm still disappointed. Plus add in the fact this is being written by the person responsible for that atrocious Titans movie and I pretty much have no faith in this project from the outset.

 

[garnuk]

I don't understand why D&D movies get treated so differently than D&D novels.

 

[TrippyHippy]

Who they choose as a director is key.

 

[Saxon1974]

Courtney Solomon, did he direct the crappy 2000 version? If so, I want him far away from this!

I think animated could work, kind of done in a dark tone like the animated spawn series.