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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Steel_Wind" data-source="post: 3628635" data-attributes="member: 20741">I honestly think the problem with D&D movies is that nobody cares a god damn about a geeky game turned into a movie. If it's financially successful with that tag on it - then I'd call that more a matter of good luck than good management.Game rules don't make for a good movie. Loveable and interesting characters, villains and settings make for a good movie. Characters are what sell movies - not "brands" and certainly not rules. You don't need to turn the PhB into a movie - nor does someone need to write a story for White Plume Mountain . You need a movie to feature the best novels WotC has published in your leading campaign setting. And by "best" I mean the "best-selling".If you are going to make a movie - you lead trump.The best candidate is still your best seller overall and a no brainer. A  movie based on the classic DragonLance series. Seeing as we have Dragons of Autumn on the way, albeit in animated form, I'll guess we'll see how that does.  Given that it's animated, I'm not bullish.But if the well is being turned to for the classic DragonLance trilogy, then surely the next place to turn to is Drzz't Do'Urden and the Forgotten Realms?I can't say as I am a great fan of the iconic Drow Ranger - but it would certainly appear that millions of fans are. Millions of them are far more important than one of me. If you are going to roll the dice on Margaret and Tracy - the next throw is surely on Bob Salvatore.Working title: ExileDirector: Peter Weir.  A director who excels at action as well as drama, Peter Weir is never ordinary, never safe, and never boring.  He also has something that few other directors have - instant critical credibility.  Peter Weir is a heavy weight. Peter Weir does NOT make crappy films. Your movie will not only NOT be crappy, reviewers will assume it is NOT going to be instantly crappy and will give it a chance. You can't ask for more than that.Pter Weir's credentials: Nominated for the Academy Award for Best Director1985 Witness1989 Dead Poets Society1998 The Truman Show2003 Master and Commander: The Far Side of the WorldStoryline: A young dark elf is exiled from his cruel homeland and must make his way through the Underdark to the sunlit world. Drizz't is forced to make a choice to defend his new world from the forces of the Underdark. (Essentially a blending of the novels Exile and Sojourn)Cast: Avoid a large overpaid ensemble cast. Go smallish and pay less money for your "big" names, while putting the dough behind your star with star attraction power.Everything I know about Drizz't says Will Smith is too tall and too charming for that role. Everything I know about movies tells me Will Smith puts asses in seats and sells tickets. I'll go for asses in seats and tickets every time.Yes, I'm serious. In case you were laughing, I really am serious. Will Smith. If you can manage Alan Rickman he'll do too in a supporting role.  Paul Bettany is good for a smile and is a critical favorite. He also knows and works well with both Peter Weir and Bruce Helgeland.Writer: Frank Darabont.  An accomplished screenwriter who works well in adapting novels as well as writing original material. Credits include: The Green Mile and The Shawshank Redemption. Took a pass and polished the scripts for Minority Report and Saving Private Ryan. Has worked on genre films such as A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors, The Blob and The Fly II. Small screen credits include the Young Indiana Jones.  Format: Live Action Producer:  Bruce Helgeland.  A solid capable producer used to working on a budget. Experience in contracting in Eastern Europe as well as with genre films. Good scriptwriter as well as Director who can polish Darabont where he needs to and has a good eye for action. Film Credits include: A Knight's Tale, LA Confidential, Mystic River. Involved in two current fantasy/medieval genre films (The Serpent and the Eagle and Nottingham). He knows his props and contracting for same and knows the problems of shooting on location.  And lets face it, without a location shoot for much of this film - it can't be made for the budget you want.  Helgeland is your man.Effects house (eg ILM vs WETA): Neither. Choose Imax based in Toronto and do the whole freaking thing in Imax 3D. All of it. Virtually every supposed Imax 3D movie is really a standard movie title with 15 to 20 mins in 3d. Let George Lucas and Peter Jackson make their own movies to make their money. Imax 3d has done Superman Returns,  Several Spiderman pics, and Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix due out in a few weeks - rebuilt in 3d from scratch in CGI.  They are capable, professional and, above all,  Imax has their own screen deals which also opens up significant possibilities with their becoming involved in financing for something like this. Having a financing partner with a stake in both the effects and the film's distribution success seems a wise move to me.  But what do I know? <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f600.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":D" title="Big grin    :D"  data-smilie="8"data-shortname=":D" />Budget: 90 million, all-in.  Projected revenues? 140 million domestic, 100 million foreign, 120 million DVD and 8 million in licensed toys and game products. Sequel possibilities? But of course.Rating: PG-13</blockquote>

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