D&D Movie/TV D&D Movie: 'A Sigh of Relief' & Regé-Jean Page Plays A Paladin

One of the stars of the upcoming D&D movie -- Regé-Jean Page of Bridgerton fame -- spoke to Variety about the production. He also reveals he is playing a paladin!

According to Variety --

Page was immediately drawn to the project based on the film’s script, predicting that it will be a “huge sigh of relief for ‘Dungeons & Dragons’ fans everywhere,” noting that in a post-MCU world, genre storytelling has been elevated and, in his estimation, this film steps up to and continues to raise the bar.

While he hasn't played D&D, Page thinks of himself as a 'second-generation Dungeons and Drgaoner" --

“I’ve listened to a couple of ‘Dungeons and Dragons’ podcasts in my time. I played a ton of JRPGs [Japanese role-playing games] and basically everything that’s come out of it,” he explains. “I played a ton of ‘Diablo’ as a teenager, so I’m used to the fact that I play a paladin — that’s just what I do, and I know what that means, to a degree. I watched my friends play ‘Baldur’s Gate,’ so I’m like a second-generation ‘Dungeons and Dragoner.”

Variety also spoke to the directors, Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley, about Page's role and performance in the film --

When asked if Page, who’s mostly been seen in dramas, like “Roots,” “For the People” and “Bridgerton,” will get to show off his comedy chops, Goldstein teases: “[The role] allows him to show a full spectrum of his talent.”

“He naturally exudes a sense of dignity and heroism that is fitting for the fantasy genre, and is perfect for the role we cast him in,” Daley adds, explaining what made Page a good candidate for the film’s ensemble, which features Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Justice Smith, Sophia Lillis, Chloe Coleman, Daisy Head, Jason Wong and Hugh Grant[/callout[

 

[payn]

This isn’t going to be a goofy comedy. I’m thinking the movie will primarily be a fun, action-packed adventure movie with the occasional bits of subtle, organic, humor, clever sarcastic one-liners, etc.

Think Indiana Jones or the best MCU movie for examples ...

Setting that bar sky high, I like it!

 

[bulletmeat]

This isn’t going to be a goofy comedy. I’m thinking the movie will primarily be a fun, action-packed adventure movie with the occasional bits of subtle, organic, humor, clever sarcastic one-liners, etc.

Think Indiana Jones or the best MCU movie for examples ...

The first movie was described this way as well. And then there's the Crystal Skull...

No one will know until they see it.

 

[Dausuul]

hm, little bit frightened now.. "comedy" ? we've seen comedy in a D&D movie before, we all know where that went..

It was the interviewer who asked about his "comedy chops," and the response was that he would get to show off the "full spectrum" of his talents.

I think a lot of us develop an instinct to bristle when someone suggests "comedy" in the context of D&D, because there is such a long history of D&D being treated as a mean-spirited punch line by mainstream culture. But there is a difference between lighthearted action (Indiana Jones, Pirates of the Caribbean) and parody.

 

[hopeless]

I was more hoping for him to playing Sergeant Knox, but you never know who he's playing a Paladin of after all!

 

[thomkt]

I think a lot of us develop an instinct to bristle when someone suggests "comedy" in the context of D&D

I know I'm quoting your full statement, but this part is odd since every D&D (and every PnP RPG) I've played in have had a dose of comedy - from sarcasm to full-on slapstick

 

[Wolfram stout]

Setting that bar sky high, I like it!

I have said before that for 99% of the population this movie is going to be compared to Guardians of the Galaxy not the first D&D movie. Now I don't think it will hit that bar, but I love the ambition.

I have seen nothing to dampen my enthusiasm for this movie.

 

[Baron Opal II]

The comedy I'm dreading is not what goes on in games but that of the first D&D movie.

 

[pumasleeve]

I played a ton of JRPGs [Japanese role-playing games] and basically everything that’s come out of it,” he explains. “I played a ton of ‘Diablo’ as a teenager

...may be the most encouraging thing I have heard about the upcoming movie so far

 

[jmartkdr2]

It was the interviewer who asked about his "comedy chops," and the response was that he would get to show off the "full spectrum" of his talents.

This reads a bit like a misdirect - if he was going to be funny, they would have said that.

But a good paladin is a fantastic strait man, and that will probably be needed.

 

[hopeless]

Depends on who he is a paladin of mind you.
He could easily be playing a Thayan Knight for example, until we learn something more concrete all we can do is assume what they might be playing.