D&D Movie/TV D&D TV Show By John Wick Creator

From Hollywood Reporter — “Derek Kolstad, the creator and writer behind the John Wick franchise, has been tapped to pen and develop a pitch for a live-action series based on the Dungeons & Dragons universe.”

‘Dungeons & Dragons’ Series in the Works With ‘John Wick’ Writer (Exclusive)

Derek Kolstad, the creator and writer behind the John Wick franchise, has been tapped to pen and develop a pitch for a live-action series based on the Dungeons & Dragons universe.

www.hollywoodreporter.com

The article doesn’t say anything more, unfortunately, other than describing what D&D is — “Affectionately referred to by fans as D&D, the game is known for its wars, treasure hunts, campaigns, camaraderie, and reversals of fortune, all in a setting that combines humans, elves, orcs and hundreds of other creatures. The game famously uses multisided dice in gameplay to further the imaginary story and is overseen by a host known as the Dungeon Master.”

 

[Paul Farquhar]

You know, i don't see anything there that's not do-able on a modern, high-end tv budget. Star Trek: Discovery has had some repeated, featured guest characters with intensely blue or green skin, and I think it's not just make-up - there's post-production color correction going on there. And the ears don't have to be that big to get the point across.

Heh - "point".

The thing is, because elves (and space elves) have been seen on TV before, they really really need to be done differently. Could you get close with prothesis, digital post-processing and radio controlled wiggly ears? Sure. Would it look as cool as an Avatar style mo-capped character? Nope.

If I was limited by budget to prosthesis I would rather go for something more radical, such as Gith.

 

[Oofta]

The thing is, because elves (and space elves) have been seen on TV before, they really really need to be done differently. Could you get close with prothesis, digital post-processing and radio controlled wiggly ears? Sure. Would it look as cool as an Avatar style mo-capped character? Nope.

If I was limited by budget to prosthesis I would rather go for something more radical, such as Gith.

Two thoughts. First, I think dog-eared elves just look stupid. Making them moving antenna like they did with Andoreans on Enterprise? Meh.

Second, I don't see why they would have to be different. IMHO D&D isn't popular because it's always different, it's popular because it leans into the common mythos that it helped create. I guess I just don't have a problem with simple prosthetic ears, it's such a small part of what makes an elf an elf.

Have a bodybuilder pro wrestler type play an elf? Yeah, that would be weird. Have Spock ears? Nobody's going to blink an eye.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Two thoughts. First, I think dog-eared elves just look stupid. Making them moving antenna like they did with Andoreans on Enterprise? Meh. /

No living creature has large that ears that stick up that are immobile. They just look dead. They wouldn't necessarily have to move much, although it didn't do Grogu any harm.

Second, I don't see why they would have to be different. IMHO D&D isn't popular because it's always different, it's popular because it leans into the common mythos that it helped create. I guess I just don't have a problem with simple prosthetic ears, it's such a small part of what makes an elf an elf.

It's a cliché, and it's also not how D&D elves have been drawn for at least the last three editions.

Have a bodybuilder pro wrestler type play an elf? Yeah, that would be weird. Have Spock ears? Nobody's going to blink an eye.

When a character is supposed to be not-human the audience should blink an eye.

 

[Oofta]

No living creature has large that ears that stick up that are immobile. They just look dead. They wouldn't necessarily have to move much, although it didn't do Grogu any harm.

It's a cliché, and it's also not how D&D elves have been drawn for at least the last three editions.

When a character is supposed to be not-human they should blink an eye.

Which is why I think dog ears are, well, dumb.

But there's a difference between this

or even

and

But it's just a personal preference. I associate the oversized dog ears with WOW, not D&D.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

The third (minus eyebrows) is how D&D elves are drawn. But the characteristic D&D upward-slopping eyes is harder to do with prosthesis.

 

[Oofta]

The third (minus eyebrows) is how D&D elves are drawn. But the characteristic D&D upward-slopping eyes is harder to do with prosthesis.

Umm ... image of an elf from the PHB clearly showing ears

Slightly bigger than Legoland Legolas, but not WOW (or other video game) extreme dog ears.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Umm ... image of an elf from the PHB clearly showing ears

View attachment 131805

Slightly bigger than Legoland Legolas, but not WOW (or other video game) extreme dog ears.

Sure, and if you look at 1st and 2nd edition you can find lots of elves with smaller ears, and 3rd and 4th edition elves (and eladrin) with bigger ears. My point is Mr Spock was acceptable in the 1970s, but now he is a tired old cliché, and if you want to make a character who is not human it just isn't enough.

 

[Azzy]

Deedlit says, "Am I nothing to you, Parn?"

 

[Oofta]

Sure, and if you look at 1st and 2nd edition you can find lots of elves with smaller ears, and 3rd and 4th edition elves (and eladrin) with bigger ears. My point is Mr Spock was acceptable in the 1970s, but now he is a tired old cliché, and if you want to make a character who is not human it just isn't enough.

Didn't seem to be an issue in the LOTR movies. Or, well, the art I just pointed out.

But, end of the day it's just a preference. I think smaller ears work better visually if you have real actors. We probably just need to agree to disagree, especially because I simply don't care all that much since it's such a small part of the overall visuals and design.

 

[MNblockhead]

D&D Elves:

Volume 1, OD&D.