D&D Movie/TV D&D Cinematic Universe. What would it be like? What do you want to see?

[Oofta]

I'd like to see an animated series similar to the clone wars. Over multiple episodes show the PCs leveling up, facing greater dangers and so on.

Setting wise? There's so many options, but I'd probably want anything but FR. Maybe take advantage of animation and do something crazier like Spelljammer or Planescape. Or go old school and do Greyhawk.

 

[Stormonu]

I'd love to see an anthology series. Something between Metal Hurlant and Love and Robots. Maybe Dark Sun?

Under A Dark Sun?
Echoes from the Forgotten Realms?
Tales From the Yawning Portal?

 

[payn]

Under A Dark Sun?
Echoes from the Forgotten Realms?
Tales From the Yawning Portal?

Love it! You could even have doomed parties trying to accomplish some goal. Then, have a movie where the characters reference it. "Didnt those guys get wiped out?"

 

[Stormonu]

Love it! You could even have doomed parties trying to accomplish some goal. Then, have a movie where the characters reference it. "Didnt those guys get wiped out?"

“Welcome to the Yawning Portal. We’ve got adventurers here from every profession; from every world. Yes, world. So sit back, have a drink and perhaps listen to a tale or two…”

 

[Nikosandros]

I want the franchise to be so successful that they can do weird stuff. At that point, I want a series of animated shorts based on the AD&D 1e DMG cartoons. I want to know what's the deal with those fellows with the mouse masks and I want to witness the power of a +2 backscratcher.

 

[Ralif Redhammer]

If you look at just about every failed cinematic universe in the last two decades, that's where they've failed. They've been so concerned with setting up down the line that they didn't pay enough attention to what was happening now. Iron Man succeeded because up until the after-credits scene, all it cared about was being a single, good movie.

I want to see them focus on making one good, self-contained movie.

I'd love to see Dragonlance come to life as a TV series. If they are to expand the franchise beyond the first movie, that seems one of the most logical choices.

I just want Eberron, and eventually a Dragonlance premium tv series.

Pie in the sky dream, get George Miller to direct a Dark Sun movie. Or for a sequel to HAT, take that party and introduce Count Strahd as the villain. Give us a Ravenloft movie.

 

[darjr]

I want the franchise to be so successful that they can do weird stuff. At that point, I want a series of animated shorts based on the AD&D 1e DMG cartoons. I want to know what's the deal with those fellows with the mouse masks and I want to witness the power of a +2 backscratcher.

View attachment 255578

I think I’d love it if it was animated in this style.

 

[Shades of Eternity]

Anybody remember the old disney psas.

I want something similar when it comes to dungeonhack.

Some legendary adventure comes on board (going with the icewind dale gang) and explains how to properly survive the dungeon.

Part 1 - the 10 foot pole.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

An Eberron TV series would be cool. Investigation type

Yep, or a group funded by The Twelve being sent on missions and eventually having to challenge their patrons.

Or, basically Leverage, but make it D&D.

Gotta have an artificer. Preferably not Cannith, unless the internal struggle in Cannith is going to be a major plot focus.

 

[Stormonu]

Anybody remember the old disney psas.

I want something similar when it comes to dungeonhack.

Some legendary adventure comes on board (going with the icewind dale gang) and explains how to properly survive the dungeon.

Part 1 - the 10 foot pole.

Hah! Goofy for the win.

”Ah, here we have the average explorer with his trusty map bought from the reputable patch-eyed loner at the local inn. But wait, it looks like he’s forgot his ten-foot pole”

[pit trap opens] ”Yaaaaaahooooooeeeeee”

”Careful there…[leans over pit edge to see Goofy near the bottom, desperately clinging to upright spikes he’s contorted around] “Mind the spikes.”

 

[John R Davis]

Yep, or a group funded by The Twelve being sent on missions and eventually having to challenge their patrons.

Or, basically Leverage, but make it D&D.

Gotta have an artificer. Preferably not Cannith, unless the internal struggle in Cannith is going to be a major plot focus.

Very light on the Nouns though other you get a confusing WOT moments.
Basically an investigator who over early episodes joins with artificer, a warforged and such, slowly adding the odd Word each episode.

 

[MichaelSomething]

Adam Sandler could make a good D&D movie!

 

[Levistus's_Leviathan]

I think characters like Themberchard are inspired. Maybe the bad guys and adventure locations are D&Ds “characters” for a DCU.

That's a great point. The villains in D&D are central to the experience, and if you cast that right (I think Hugh Grant was a stroke of casting genius for the first film) the rest may fall into place easier. And this dovetails with how 5e runs APs anyhow.

Yeah, this is a really great point. While D&D doesn't really have the huge roster of popular pre-tested heroes like the MCU has (excluding the Drizzt, Elminster, and Dragonlance novels), it certainly does have quite a few pre-tested villains that could work very well. A lot of people complain about the MCU having boring villains with identical power sets to the main heroes. That's not a problem for many of the main villains in D&D's history, like Orcus, Demogorgon, Vecna, Strahd, and Tiamat.

Obviously making the villains not "boring" will mostly be down to acting, choreography, and how the character is written, but I strongly doubt that anyone would accuse Demogorgon or Tiamat of being boring in live-action.

 

[OB1]

Yeah, this is a really great point. While D&D doesn't really have the huge roster of popular pre-tested heroes like the MCU has (excluding the Drizzt, Elminster, and Dragonlance novels), it certainly does have quite a few pre-tested villains that could work very well. A lot of people complain about the MCU having boring villains with identical power sets to the main heroes. That's not a problem for many of the main villains in D&D's history, like Orcus, Demogorgon, Vecna, Strahd, and Tiamat.

Obviously making the villains not "boring" will mostly be down to acting, choreography, and how the character is written, but I strongly doubt that anyone would accuse Demogorgon or Tiamat of being boring in live-action.

With just 4 pieces of info we could probably come up with a few dozen potential entries into the DaDCU.

Setting: Sigil
Genre: Political-thriller
Villain: Asmodeus
Played by: Keanu Reeves

 

[doctorbadwolf]

I'd love to see Dragonlance come to life as a TV series. If they are to expand the franchise beyond the first movie, that seems one of the most logical choices.

Agreed.

Whatever adjustments need made, let Joe Mangienello have his dream!

 

[doctorbadwolf]

Very light on the Nouns though other you get a confusing WOT moments.
Basically an investigator who over early episodes joins with artificer, a warforged and such, slowly adding the odd Word each episode.

I disagree. Treat it like a sci fi show. The audience doesn’t need to know what an artificer is, they’ll figure it out as they watch, via context.

 

[TwiceBorn2]

The advantage they have (IMO) is that they don't have to tightly tie the stories together, but still have a chance for a Tier IV crossover event to save the 'fundamental order of the multiverse' with heroes from different settings/movies coming together, but that still requires the audience falling in love with those characters in the first place.

I'm really tired of "save the world/universe/multiverse" type stories. I much prefer a localized focus -- defend the village, the barony, or a small realm. I prefer personal stakes to global/universal/multiversal stakes. Those kinds of over the top stories make it harder for me to fall in love with the characters... just because I start out annoyed by the main premise underlying the script.

I realize that I'm probably part of a small minority that feels that way.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

An Eberron TV series would be cool. Investigation type

You would need a Rings of Power level budget to do the visuals justice on the small screen.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

With just 4 pieces of info we could probably come up with a few dozen potential entries into the DaDCU.

Setting: Sigil
Genre: Political-thriller
Villain: Asmodeus
Played by: Keanu Reeves

Keanu Reeves isn't - flexible enough for Asmodeus. And everyone knows Asmodeus is British.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

I strongly doubt that anyone would accuse Demogorgon or Tiamat of being boring in live-action.

Outside of combat, yeah, they would be pretty boring. It would be difficult to portray them as anything other than big scary monsters, no matter how smart they are in their stat blocks.