Ravenloft, the Movie

[MGibster]

Why wouldn’t they use Dracula, a similar but much better known and more popular—and copyright free—IP? There’s no advantage in using a more obscure vampire in a big gothic castle pining after a lost love in a Transylvania-esque land. You don’t need to use the lesser-known D&D version of Dracula when you can use the actual version of Dracula.

Who is the they? The filmmakers might use Strahd because WotC is willing to help finance the film. WotC might want to see a Strahd movie in the hopes of putting their under monetized IP to good use. D&D has a long history of flirting with mainstream media success.

 

[Zardnaar]

Who is the they? The filmmakers might use Strahd because WotC is willing to help finance the film. WotC might want to see a Strahd movie in the hopes of putting their under monetized IP to good use. D&D has a long history of flirting with mainstream media success.

I dont see WotC throwing good money after bad.

And Strahds essentially a Dracula knock off. I dont see anyone paying money to license him.

 

[overgeeked]

OP asked if it'd be a good movie. Not whether it's feasible.

That depends on everything between the idea and the release. Script, cast, director, special effects, competition, score, soundtrack, etc.

 

[Tonguez]

It would work better as a streaming series, IMO. I agree that the setting is the attraction, not discount Dracula.

But the setting is also pretty derivative, so you could do basically the same thing without paying WotC.

Penny Dreadful?

I think an Azalin Rex series could be interesting - Brilliant Draconian Lich Necromancer, who explores across the Domains of Ravenloft, gets in to ongoing conflicts with various Darklords, sets up his own Vampire Gestapo and then gets betrayed by it, all while fighting to escape from the Mist and overcome his own guilt and obsession

He's Not another Vampire, Lich have a distinct vibe, the story gets the Game of Throne politics and betrayal, Guilt and Obsession, Undead Horror, Magic and Weird 'Science', a wide exploration of different realms, and a metaplot driven by his quest to escape his Curse

 

[MGibster]

I dont see WotC throwing good money after bad.

Five years from now, who knows? You can make a Ravenloft movie on a relatively small budget compared to Honor Among Thieves. D&D is under monetized according to WotC, they’ve got all that wonderful IP sitting around not doing anything.

 

[Zardnaar]

Five years from now, who knows? You can make a Ravenloft movie on a relatively small budget compared to Honor Among Thieves. D&D is under monetized according to WotC, they’ve got all that wonderful IP sitting around not doing anything.

They sold off their movie assets.

 

[Clint_L]

OP asked if it'd be a good movie. Not whether it's feasible.

Then the answer is: yes. With a good script and filmmaker it could definitely be a good movie, because there are good Dracula movies and this is basically the same character. If focused on Strahd, that is.

 

[timbannock]

They sold off their movie assets.

They sold off their studio. That's very different from licensing IP.

 

[wicked cool]

There’s a Dracula movie basically every other year and most aren’t good plus vampire shows so strahd makes more sense than even Dragonlance! Plus it’s vastly different from the other 99%

Most Dracula movies - they go to Transylvania for purchase-the fight over 3 bites-maybe some renfeield stuff-Dracula dies

Strahd brings heroes plural to barovia-the heroine is targeted but isn’t as helpless-search for some artifacts and fights ensue with some cool monsters- the big fight at the castle. . Maybe all the heroes don’t survive/suprise scares etc.

In the last 5 years I just checked there’s been a ton of vampire movies as it’s something Hollywood likes
Sinners
Abigail
Midnight mass
Renfeld
Last voyage of Demeter
Others as well day shift, morbius the invitation. I’d. Count 20 more

Bring in the classic party plus some red shirts from the town. Add in van richten/maybe his son plus the other npcs you got a hit Done right