D&D Movie/TV Spider-Man: Homecoming Writers Talk D&D Movie

Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley talked to Hollywood Reporter about the D&D movie, it's comedic themes, and how the directors are working directly with WotC.

They directed Game Night, and wrote Spider-Man: Homecoming. They mentioned that they had been supposed to fly here to the UK to scout locations in March, but the pandemic interrupted that.

They also mentioned comedic elements and characters in the movie, which currently has a projected release date of May 27th, 2022. No actors are yet cast.

It's not an out and out comedy, but it is an action-fantasy movie with a lot of comedic elements and characters we hope people will really get into and enjoy watching their adventures.

Daley plays a weekly D&D game, so he is familiar with the genre. But the pair are working directly with WotC.

We haven't been accosted by players yet, but we are working with the Wizards of the Coast, the brand holders of D&D. They are the experts. We have people there that we work with and it's pretty helpful, because as much as we know about D&D, it's a drop in the bucket compared to the 45 years of lore that's out there, so these guys are such a resource. If we need a particular spell that a [high]-level wizard could do, they could give us a list. It's a lot of fun.

 

[Dausuul]

Breaking the forth wall is explicitly a reference to theatre, where it is much more common, and where the performer can see and interact with the audience. I would argue that it isn't actually possible to break the forth wall in cinema, since it is not possible for the performer to see and react to the audience in the way they can in theatre. At most you can have a pre-recorded narrator why may show some narrative voice, and may also be a character in the story.

You're quibbling over semantics now. And your quibble is wrong.

 

[Levistus's_Leviathan]

I agree with those saying that breaking the fourth wall or any meta-nonsense in the D&D movie would be terrible.

 

[Snarf Zagyg]

I agree with those saying that breaking the fourth wall or any meta-nonsense in the D&D movie would be terrible.

But to slightly differentiate it:

A. Breaking the fourth wall (in the traditional way)? Bad. No direct acknowledgement of the audience. It destroys immersion, and usually only works in comedies or (very occasionally) in "artsy" movies. This is neither.

B. No meta-textual references. That means acknowledgements of the "this is a fantasy movie of this type" conceits. Either through framing (Princess Bride), in-movie references (Scream) or just playing with the genre conventions (The Cabin in the Woods). There isn't enough "there" to be sending up at this point.

C. On the other hand, I fully expect there to be "Easter eggs" and "fan service-y" moments; whether it's a passing reference to some character named Gygax or Drizz't, or perhaps Arneson's Inn, or Monty Haul's Magick Shoppe spotted on the street, I expect there to be a few bits for the hardcore D&D fans to get a kick out of so long as they don't take you out of the film.

 

[Levistus's_Leviathan]

C. On the other hand, I fully expect there to be "Easter eggs" and "fan service-y" moments; whether it's a passing reference to some character named Gygax or Drizz't, or perhaps Arneson's Inn, or Monty Haul's Magick Shoppe spotted on the street, I expect there to be a few bits for the hardcore D&D fans to get a kick out of so long as they don't take you out of the film.

Of course. Everyone likes easter eggs and a bit of fan service.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I agree with those saying that breaking the fourth wall or any meta-nonsense in the D&D movie would be terrible.

There's no reason to believe anyone intends that, of course.

I think we can also agree that we don't want anyone in the D&D movie to strap roller skates to their feet and a giant firework to their back, either.

Just because someone might crack a joke doesn't mean the movie is going to be Deadpool or a Looney Tunes cartoon.

 

[Dire Bare]

I did tell you why it matters. Because I think it would suck in a D&D movie. In Deadpool it's awesome.

Eh . . . I get that the fourth-wall breaking is part of the source material for Deadpool, but . . . going into the first movie, I was not familiar with the Deadpool comics, and if you had described the fourth-wall breaking style I might have just skipped it. But I'm glad I didn't, as I thoroughly enjoyed both Deadpool movies and I'm hoping for a third. Reynolds and crew gave me something I didn't know that I wanted!

There is a similar tradition in D&D gaming and fantasy storytelling, where the players are sucked into the fantasy world. It's got a whole page on tvtropes.org! The best example I'm familiar with is Joel Rosenberg's "Guardians of the Flame" series I read as a kid.

I'm not really hoping that the new D&D movie uses this trope, I'd rather them not. But it is totally possible for them to use and do it well. Use of the trope does not equate with the D&D movie sucking.

 

[Parmandur]

Eh . . . I get that the fourth-wall breaking is part of the source material for Deadpool, but . . . going into the first movie, I was not familiar with the Deadpool comics, and if you had described the fourth-wall breaking style I might have just skipped it. But I'm glad I didn't, as I thoroughly enjoyed both Deadpool movies and I'm hoping for a third. Reynolds and crew gave me something I didn't know that I wanted!

There is a similar tradition in D&D gaming and fantasy storytelling, where the players are sucked into the fantasy world. It's got a whole page on tvtropes.org! The best example I'm familiar with is Joel Rosenberg's "Guardians of the Flame" series I read as a kid.

I'm not really hoping that the new D&D movie uses this trope, I'd rather them not. But it is totally possible for them to use and do it well. Use of the trope does not equate with the D&D movie sucking.

I definitely agree they could go that route and it could work. Given the history, recent and not so recent, if the D&D brand in fiction, I reeeaaaally don't expect it.

 

[Fenris-77]

I definitely agree they could go that route and it could work. Given the history, recent and not so recent, if the D&D brand in fiction, I reeeaaaally don't expect it.

No, me neither. That said, Rosenberg's Guardians was the first thing that popped into my head when I was thinking about this exact point when I was talking about the meta-ness of the Princess Bride upstream. I think it might be a bit too Jumanji-adjacent at this point, even if Rosenberg did it first.