D&D Movie/TV Hugh Grant To Play Villain in the D&D Movie

hopeless · Mar 4, 2021

Just a thought but if Hugh Grant's villain is actually named Forge Fletcher that might support this is a Gamers style movie as that name would be fine in a game.
Is it possible this is about a group of teenagers meeting up for a game where their characters are these leads with their DM using Grant as his BBEG?
Is that possible?

Whizbang Dustyboots · Mar 4, 2021

Ralif Redhammer said:
The name Forge Fletcher does feel like it would be right at home in Eberron, though it also sounds like the kind of name a 13-year old would come up with and think sounded absolutely BA.

Let's be honest, aren't most first D&D character names kind of terrible?

Mallus · Mar 4, 2021

Whizbang Dustyboots said:
Let's be honest, aren't most first D&D character names kind of terrible?

First?

Dausuul · Mar 5, 2021

Arilyn said:
I remember the huge backlash when Tom Cruise was cast in Interview with a Vampire. It was the same cries of Cruise can't be villainous. Regardless of your opinion of the movie, he nailed the role.

I'd be far more concerned with the script. These games, toys, video games, etc. to movies are usually weak.

Exactly. Good actors are usually pretty versatile, and let's be honest, "fantasy villain" is not the most challenging role to play. Can you laugh maniacally? Can you lash out in unhinged fury when your plans are foiled? Can you monologue? Okay, that's the basics down. Anything you can add to that is gravy.

But the script is so often where everything falls apart. It's good that the studio likes it, but the whole problem with scripts is that most studio execs wouldn't know a good script if it bit them.

Sunsword · Mar 5, 2021

This casting worries me. I just don't understand why they don't adapt The Halfling's Gem? I assume it's some kind of rights issue or an unwillingness to pay Salvatore.

I'm just getting visions of a "beholder guard"

Sunsword · Mar 5, 2021

Dausuul said:
Exactly. Good actors are usually pretty versatile, and let's be honest, "fantasy villain" is not the most challenging role to play. Can you laugh maniacally? Can you lash out in unhinged fury when your plans are foiled? Can you monologue? Okay, that's the basics down. Anything you can add to that is gravy.

But the script is so often where everything falls apart. It's good that the studio likes it, but the whole problem with scripts is that most studio execs wouldn't know a good script if it bit them.

I don't know that I think of Grant as a good actor though.

Mort · Mar 5, 2021

Dausuul said:
Exactly. Good actors are usually pretty versatile, and let's be honest, "fantasy villain" is not the most challenging role to play. Can you laugh maniacally? Can you lash out in unhinged fury when your plans are foiled? Can you monologue? Okay, that's the basics down. Anything you can add to that is gravy.

But the script is so often where everything falls apart. It's good that the studio likes it, but the whole problem with scripts is that most studio execs wouldn't know a good script if it bit them.

Considering the last 3 movies (especially the last 2) there's no chance it's worse than the previous ones. Granted, that's about as low a bar as can be set - but it's something.

Mistwell · Mar 5, 2021

Sunsword said:
I don't know that I think of Grant as a good actor though.

I mean, he's won BAFTA and Golden Globe awards for his work, and nominated for SAG and Emmy Awards too. I think he will nominated for a SAG this year in fact for The Undoing.

JDR · Mar 5, 2021

Mistwell said:
I am a Los Angeles Clippers fan. Everything has always sucked. Since the team was founded. Our fans literally have PTSD from so many years of disappointment and heart break that it's a legit defense mechanism to rip down anyone expressing positive views about the team. Even when the team wins, they didn't win the "right" away and by "enough" points and we should just fire every player and every member of the coaching and GM staff and start over!

This is exactly how it feels to be an Atlanta Falcons fan...

Mort · Mar 5, 2021

Sunsword said:
I don't know that I think of Grant as a good actor though.

Granted, the question is somewhat subjective.

But if working (as an actor) nearly every year since 1985, most years with multiple movies and doing everything from Indie to high budget blockbusters and on top of that having an awards page that requires its own wikipedia page, doesn't qualify? Then what the heck does?

Thanks to this thread (and an epic bout of procrastination) I've been re-watching Clout Atlas. It's a large movie with 5 different plots that are only tangentially related. Grant has a small role in each plot (as 5 different characters) but each one is completely different (albeit all are different degrees of villain) and in some you would never know it was him unless you knew he was playing the part and looked very closely. Heck, in one of the roles, he essentially plays a D&D bad guy - and does a pretty good job