Dungeons & Dragons Comments On Possibility of Future Movie Projects

Wizards of the Coast is "exploring" the possibility of new Dungeons & Dragons movie and TV projects. In the build up to the release of Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, Hasbro seemed to have an ambitious D&D Cinematic Universe plan in place. Although the movie underperformed, Paramount+ still picked up a Dungeons & Dragons television show with Rawson Marshall Thurber as the pilot script writer and director of the first episode and Drew Crevello as the showrunner.

However, Hasbro's sale of eOne, its in-house entertainment studio seems to have caused those plans to come crashing to a halt. The Paramount+ TV show was announced as no longer moving forward last year and other loose plans to continue a shared D&D universe seems dead in the water.

Despite the underperformance of Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, the movie was spoken fondly of and often during an EN World press visit to Wizards of the Coast headquarters last week. When asked if this talk meant we'd be getting an update on a possible sequel, Jess Lanzillo, the VP of the D&D franchise at Wizards, said "Not officially, no."

However, it appears interest remains high in possible future D&D projects. "After I joined the team at the end of Q1 2024, we kind of reestablished our relationship with a lot of studios and partners," Lanzillo said. "And we're doing a lot of exploration. We basically have aligned our philosophy to we want to pair up with the best creators and let them tell the best stories that they already know how to do, because all of these people started telling stories through playing D&D. And through that, there are a series of explorations that we are very, very excited about. When we're ready to announce them, we will let you know."

Reading in between the lines, it appears that decoupling from eOne has opened up the possibility of other studios and partners jumping into a D&D live-action or animated project. We'll have to see if it will be another 12 years in between Dungeons & Dragons movies.

 

[Smackpixi]

A movie that cost $150 million and sold $200 million in tickets definitely did not make a profit. At least not in it's theatrical run. Not even close. It hasn't even covered a normal marketing budget (typically around 50% more on top of the initial budget. And of that $200 million, a significant chunk goes to the theatres.

It probably needed around $400 million to edge towards profitability.

Probably not. But you, the producer, may still have made money even if it bombs. Maybe you sold the Australian distribution rights for $20MM, so the $5MM box office there isn’t your problem. Or whatever. Just saying, movie math isn’t as simple as people make it out to be.

 

[Eyes of Nine]

dadhat got crushed in week 2 by mario
Next time, don't release against mario

 

[Paul Farquhar]

dadhat got crushed in week 2 by mario
Next time, don't release against mario

The previous occasion, Mario sucked.

 

[delericho]

Cinema is dying, and streaming is ailing badly. And streaming is also replete with absurdly expensive and underwhelming fantasy fare.

I hate to say it, but right now any D&D project (except maybe animation) looks to be a good way to lose of whole lot of money.

 

[dbm]

The Secret Level episode on D&D is fantastic, and the Critical Role animation is also great fun to watch.

I think an animated streaming series is the natural home for a series based on D&D IPs - the costs must surely be less than a feature film with the live action and marketing costs that entails.

 

[Chaltab]

The previous occasion, Mario sucked.

So did the previous D&D movie. Doesn't have much bearing on what happened in 2023

 

[Clint_L]

Probably not. But you, the producer, may still have made money even if it bombs. Maybe you sold the Australian distribution rights for $20MM, so the $5MM box office there isn’t your problem. Or whatever. Just saying, movie math isn’t as simple as people make it out to be.

I am well aware that movie math is complicated. The film did not come close to profitability in its theatrical run, regardless of the Australian movie rights. I wish it did. I would love to see a sequel.

 

[LuisCarlos17f]

I would like to watch the return of the group, of those characters, if not in a new action-live production at least in other way like comic, novel or animation.

If they want something like Critical Role animated show it will have to be more "family friendly".

 

[TwoSix]

Cinema is dying, and streaming is ailing badly. And streaming is also replete with absurdly expensive and underwhelming fantasy fare.

I hate to say it, but right now any D&D project (except maybe animation) looks to be a good way to lose of whole lot of money.

Hollywood could shut down until the 2030s and that would give me just enough time to catch up on all the things that have been recommended to me by friends over the past 5 years.

 

[Dire Bare]

Cinema is dying, and streaming is ailing badly. And streaming is also replete with absurdly expensive and underwhelming fantasy fare.

I hate to say it, but right now any D&D project (except maybe animation) looks to be a good way to lose of whole lot of money.

Cinema is struggling and changing, but is far from dead. Streaming is brand-new really, and Hollywood is still trying to figure out how to milk it for profits efficiently.

There is plenty of good films and tv shows being made today, more so than ever before . . . plus, we've got most of the old stuff easily accessible too. Including sci-fi and fantasy stuff.

Hollywood is going through a rough time, but that's how it goes when technology changes. They'll figure it out eventually, just before holographic TVs are invented . . .