D&D Novels that should become movies?

[Ogre Mage]

Of the published D&D novels (FR, Dragonlance, et al.) which book/series do you think would work well as a movie?

My selection would be the Dragonlance Chronicles. There is a "fellowship" of sorts which sets off on a quest, but the particulars are quite different from LoTR. The drama is largely kept on an external, quick-paced level which I think would translate well visually. While some of the characters lean towards caraciture, several (Tanis, Raistlin, Kitiara) would be strong opportunities for the right actor.

 

[Dark Jezter]

My pick would be the Icewind Dale trilogy by R.A. Salvatore. Those three novels capture the "feel" of D&D much better than the Dungeons & Dragons movie did. The Icewind Dale trilogy features a somewhat archaetypical party of adventurers (a dwarf, a human, a halfling, and a (dark) elf), lots of action and adventure, dragons and evil wizards, and good fight scenes. Basically, it has everything that a good D&D campaign should have.

 

[Trainz]

I agree with you both: Dragonlance and Icewindale. They both have very good movie potential.

That said, the canon D&D movie should have a long dungeon crawl, as the dungeon crawl is the root and basis of D&D. The D&D movie didn't have that (a little, with the thieve's guild challenge, but it wasn't a dungeon crawl per se).

My two coppers.

 

[Hypersmurf]

My selection would be the Dragonlance Chronicles.

Teeheeheeheehee!

-Hyp.

 

[Taelorn76]

I will second the Icewind Dale trilogy as a good movie(s). That begs the question of would you try to squeeze it into one long movie, or spread it out over a trilogy. :\

I also like the Avatar trilogy. Not the best book to screen D&D novels but I think the story could work.

 

[Hypersmurf]

I will second the Icewind Dale trilogy as a good movie(s).

Ahhhh.

-Hyp.

 

[Alzrius]

I think that the best book to become a D&D movie are the three Greyhawk books that Paul Kidd did, White Plume Mountain, Descent into the Depths of the Earth, and Queen of the Demonweb Pits.

These books are quite possibly the best D&D novels (in terms of how good a read they are) that I've ever read, and I've read dozens upon dozens of them. The author keeps closely enough to D&D conventions that the books work well for anyone who has played the games, but at the same time he knows when to bend/ignore rules, change GH history to suit the story, etc.

Best of all are the characters; the cast he has in his books would work so well on the silver screen that you can easily visualize them after even a single read-through. You can just see Escalla as she says "Hey man, I'm an adventurer! I demand fiscal compensation for acts of homicide!"

 

[diaglo]

I think they should do:

Saga of Old City (1985)
Artifact of Evil (1986)
City of Hawks (1987)
Night Arrant collection (1987)
Sea of Death (1987)
Come Endless Darkness (1988)
Dance of Demons (1988)


by E. Gary Gygax

 

[CrusaderX]

I think that the best book to become a D&D movie are the three Greyhawk books that Paul Kidd did, White Plume Mountain, Descent into the Depths of the Earth, and Queen of the Demonweb Pits.

These books are quite possibly the best D&D novels (in terms of how good a read they are) that I've ever read, and I've read dozens upon dozens of them. The author keeps closely enough to D&D conventions that the books work well for anyone who has played the games, but at the same time he knows when to bend/ignore rules, change GH history to suit the story, etc.

Best of all are the characters; the cast he has in his books would work so well on the silver screen that you can easily visualize them after even a single read-through. You can just see Escalla as she says "Hey man, I'm an adventurer! I demand fiscal compensation for acts of homicide!"

Agreed. And wouldn't Vin Diesel make a great Justicar? Seriously, he'd be absolutely perfect for the role.

 

[AFGNCAAP]

I second Icewind Dale Trilogy: it'd be a bit more manageable with the smaller group of core characters, obviously has sequel potential, and it'd have quite a different feel than LotR, IMHO. Dragonlance has a bit of a "fated forces" feel to it; plus, LotR was lucky to be made in a 3-movie format instead of a 1-movie format. I'm not sure Dragonlance would be so lucky.

Also, with Icewind Dale, the first movie could be Crystal Shard, & I think it'd work as a stand-alone if the franchise didn't take off. The movie trilogy could be the initial book trilogy, and any other movies could spawn from that.