D&D 5E The Cinematic Future of DnD 5th edition

[Storyteller Hero]

Since the release of 5th edition, WotC has been pushing Forgotten Realms pretty hard. The Adventurers League has been FR-focused. The new DMGuild allows creators to use the FR setting in user-created content uploaded to the store. AL adventures are now going to be available through the Guild site from here on. The next movie for DnD is also apparently going to be set in the Realms, and this time it's going to be a theatrical release unlike the past couple of movies.

I got it. Brand synergy.

The more familiar they can get people with the Realms setting, the more they can have their products for FR work with each other for bigger profits.

The big deal in the current edition is that before there's any substantial talk of a 6th edition, we are going to see another Hollywood attempt at bringing DnD to the BIG screen. The cultural environment of today is very different from the era in which the first DnD movie flopped. The term "shared cinematic universe" wasn't even a thing back then, and comic book movies were still in their relative infancy. With Warcraft and Assassin's Creed on the way, we may be entering the historical era of the "good" video game movie, which is not too far from how a DnD movie would likely be hyped.

When the new DnD movie begins its marketing machine, it will most certainly attract attention to DnD, so WotC needs to solidify its FR identity within the DnD brand. New consumers attracted to DnD through the mainstream cinema will find a world that they are familiar with, fleshed out so that they can fill whatever gaps the movie's presentation does not cover.

I think that at least up until the movie arrives, FR will remain the most supported setting in 5th edition.

After the movie finishes its run however, and the new wave of consumers has hit its peak in growth, things may enter a new stage.

If the DnD brand can somehow create a "shared cinematic universe" franchise, then other settings may also become the backdrop for new movies. (Movies set on Athas of Dark Sun, Krynn of Dragonlance, Oerth of Greyhawk, etc.)

The span of movies across different settings could be unified through Spelljammer or Planescape, and we could end up seeing the biggest heroes of the various settings come together like Avengers: Infinity War in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

We could see a cinematic incarnation of the Wizards Three, or perhaps the movies will actually match the canon of the books.

A very big litmus test imo will be the upcoming Warcraft movie, because it's not just a video game movie, it's also a high fantasy movie. If Warcraft does well, then it would be a good sign for the swords and sorcery genre in cinema. The DnD Realms movie could get some pre-generated momentum from the aftertaste of the Warcraft movie.

This could all snowball into a huge rise in cultural popularity for DnD, or the movie could fall flat on its face like the terribly animated Dragonlance movie that never got a sequel.

What do you think?

 

[Quickleaf]

I love your optimism. But when the script is being done by David Leslie Johnson, it's hard to be optimistic...

This is the guy who did Red Riding Hood and Wrath of the Titans a couple years ago. Not exactly confidence inspiring material.

Roy Lee is producing, however. He killed it with The Lego Movie, and has done some very good remakes of Asian flicks. And it does sound like the people from Hasbro involved would be the ones you'd expect if they were dropping a lot of money into something they'd hope would develop into a multi-movie deal.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/dungeons-dragons-legal-settlement-paves-812674

 

[Storyteller Hero]

I love your optimism. But when the script is being done by David Leslie Johnson, it's hard to be optimistic...

This is the guy who did Red Riding Hood and Wrath of the Titans a couple years ago. Not exactly confidence inspiring material.

Roy Lee is producing, however. He killed it with The Lego Movie, and has done some very good remakes of Asian flicks. And it does sound like the people from Hasbro involved would be the ones you'd expect if they were dropping a lot of money into something they'd hope would develop into a multi-movie deal.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/dungeons-dragons-legal-settlement-paves-812674

There's still time before pre-production begins on the project. For all we know, a new better writer could replace Johnson. It happens.

If a real experienced/trained director can be attached, that could make a real difference. From what I've read, the first DnD movie wasn't directed by a real pro but rather some guy who was familiar with the game and was also a producer. The difference between being a player/DM and being a film director is far larger than people might expect, even though both films and RPGs are mediums for storytelling. That difference really showed in how the first movie was slapped together.

I've worked with professionals, and one very important thing (of many) a pro director will do is have a discussion with the writer about what will work and what won't work when bringing a script to life, whether it be for the stage or screen. The writer will then burn the midnight oil coming up with improvements to the script to better fit the medium it is being written for.

Even if the writer is bad or mediocre, it's possible for the movie to be good if a director can communicate a good vision to everyone involved, from the writer to the director of photography to the sound guy(s).

...so I want to believe. I really, really do.

 

[Jester David]

Having just watched Everything Wrong with Fantastic Four, I know that even a good property with a good director, good cast, and good budget can be an atrocity.

 

[DEFCON 1]

I think it is folly to equate any sort of movie success to a potential roleplaying game success. The movie will be the movie. If there's any residual goodwill rubbed off onto the game, that'd be an unexpected bonus... but nothing planned for nor concerned about. And there definitely won't be more money pumped into the D&D department of WotC even if the movie makes a buck, because the game at that point is merely one in a vast myriad of "tie-in" material. What'll actually happen is that we'll see more D&D branded products on the shelves all related to the characters in the movie, with little to none involving other Realms characters. I mean, have we seen the Marvel comic book company get more promotion and exposure now that the movies are huge? Not at all. Comic books are still a small subset of the Marvel empire that some fandom cares about, but the large swathe of MCU watchers have no idea or interest in. The same would be true for the RPG. A small niche and corner of the Hasbro universe that no one will be overly concerned with pushing.

 

[Jester David]

As [MENTION=7006]DEFCON 1[/MENTION] says, a successful movie does not always translate into a successful product. Novel adaptations often boost sales of the book, but games have seen uneven response and comic sales have not dramatically increased despite Marvel owning theaters.

 

[SunGold]

This could all snowball into a huge rise in cultural popularity for DnD, or the movie could fall flat on its face like the terribly animated Dragonlance movie that never got a sequel.

What do you think?

That second thing. Having seen the first three attempts at D&D movies, I just can't quite share your optimism.

Also, as far as the comparisons to the MCU and a potential rise in popularity for D&D: I think D&D has a higher bar to clear to get people into the hobby. Comics are still far more socially acceptable than pen & paper RPGs.

In any case, if the movie comes out and it's great and there's a surge in interest in the game, I'd be delighted to have to eat my words.

 

[Storyteller Hero]

That second thing. Having seen the first three attempts at D&D movies, I just can't quite share your optimism.

The biggest reason that I have even the least bit of optimism is that unlike the first three installments, Warner Brothers is going to be involved on this new one. That means potential access to bigger money than ever for funding the movie. WB is also already distributing the DC Cinematic Universe so they might at least be open to supporting the idea of a shared movie universe under the DnD umbrella.

The unholy alliance between Hasbro and Warner Brothers might actually produce something amazing. Fingers crossed for that.

 

[Giant2005]

Even if the writer is bad or mediocre, it's possible for the movie to be good if a director can communicate a good vision to everyone involved, from the writer to the director of photography to the sound guy(s).

The writer would be near meaningless if they adapted some of the stories they already have. Both the Baldur's Gate series and Planescape Torment have such compelling stories that it would be a challenge to find a way to screw them up - even a complete rank amateur could make a solid screenplay out of them.

 

[dave2008]

A very big litmus test imo will be the upcoming Warcraft movie, because it's not just a video game movie, it's also a high fantasy movie. If Warcraft does well, then it would be a good sign for the swords and sorcery genre in cinema. The DnD Realms movie could get some pre-generated momentum from the aftertaste of the Warcraft movie.

This a fear of mine, Warcraft kills the D&D movie. Not that the movie is good, the trailers look awful to me, but that it is so bad that it kills enthusiasm for the D&D movie.