D&D General What Are Dragonlance's Weis & Hickman, and Actor Manganiello Cooking Up?

Actor and D&D superfan Joe Manganiello and Dragonlance co-author Tracy Hickman have both posted a cryptic image on their respective social medias showing themselves, along with Margaret Weis standing together in front of a large dragon statue at Wizards of the Coast's offices in Renton, Washington.

Hickman's image was accompanied by the words "Something is coming...", and in Manganiello's case "WE'RE BACK", to which Wizards of the Coast replied "Welcome back to the table!" A later photograph from Weis also included Laura Hickman and Dan Ayoub, who was named head of Dungeons & Dragons back in July of this year.

The posts have sparked speculation as to what they might mean, with guesses ranging from a revival of Manganiello's Dragonlance TV show project--which was no longer in development after he stated in February 2024 that "Dragonlance is not a property WotC are interested in developing further currently"--to a new Dragonlance-based D&D adventure.

Weis and Hickman co-wrote a new Dragonlance trilogy in recent years following a legal dust-up with Wizards of the Coast which was ultimately dismissed without prejudice, so it would seem that any bad blood from the dispute has been left in the past.

The question now remains--what are they all cooking up this time?

 

[Morrus]

My mother in law (yes, shes old, huge LotR fan) gave up on it even, I dont know maybe its just not great?

Maybe some people like it. I do.

Always remember that your personal opinions are not universal truths. It can be hard to get out of your own head, but one’s own perspective is no more than that.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

My mother in law (yes, shes old, huge LotR fan) gave up on it even, I dont know maybe its just not great?

It’s not “great” but it’s entertaining enough, and I’m enjoying it more than I enjoyed GoT and WoT.

Of course the “huge LotR fans” are the people who review bombed it for not being sufficiently pure.

 

[Scribe]

Maybe some people like it. I do.

Always remember that your personal opinions are not universal truths. It can be hard to get out of your own head, but one’s own perspective is no more than that.

Of course, I like plenty of things which are not objectively great.

Then you have people who hate joy Kender, we cannot please everyone.

 

[Scribe]

It’s not “great” but it’s entertaining enough, and I’m enjoying it more than I enjoyed GoT and WoT.

Of course the “huge LotR fans” are the people who review bombed it for not being sufficiently pure.

Yeah, pretty sure she's not out there review bombing, but I suppose all things are possible lol

 

[MockingBird]

Not that opinions matter but joining in regardless. My roommate in college turned me on to WoT. I wasnt an avid reader before then, so those books were intimidating by size and number. I got hooked though. I was super excited that a show was coming. I bounced off it hard. There were things I liked and thought was cool to see but they strayed too far from the source for me. I didn't even bother with season 2.
I know there's fans that absolutely do not like RoP. I thought I wouldn't, but I have really enjoyed it. Season 2 was even better in my opinion. Can't wait for whats next.
I wont even attempt to discuss the Witcher. It had such great potential to rival GoT. The Witcher seems to have self destruct.
GoT has set the bar (man, those last couple of seasons...ugh). I really hope the DL show will be made. I just hope it takes itself seriously and is why i feel it should be live action. I feel thats what the brand could use right now, show the uninitiated that D&D can be serious and mature.

 

[Parmandur]

I thinks its surviving on brand alone.

Well, also being well reviewed and making money.

 

[Parmandur]

It’s not “great” but it’s entertaining enough, and I’m enjoying it more than I enjoyed GoT and WoT.

Of course the “huge LotR fans” are the people who review bombed it for not being sufficiently pure.

There are no huger LotR fans than me (my user name is the Quenya name I chose when I took a Tolkien language course in College, I own and have read the whole History of Middle Earth series), and I love it.

The critical consensus of 7-8 out of 10 is probsvly objectively fair, but to be honest I love everything they are doing, and think they are building up to quite the pay-off.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

I thinks its surviving on brand alone.

I think the opposite is true. It’s the toxic fanbase that is running the show down. On its own, it’s a slight, but very pretty-looking, fantasy show.

 

[Parmandur]

Not that opinions matter but joining in regardless. My roommate in college turned me on to WoT. I wasnt an avid reader before then, so those books were intimidating by size and number. I got hooked though. I was super excited that a show was coming. I bounced off it hard. There were things I liked and thought was cool to see but they strayed too far from the source for me. I didn't even bother with season 2.
I know there's fans that absolutely do not like RoP. I thought I wouldn't, but I have really enjoyed it. Season 2 was even better in my opinion. Can't wait for whats next.
I wont even attempt to discuss the Witcher. It had such great potential to rival GoT. The Witcher seems to have self destruct.
GoT has set the bar (man, those last couple of seasons...ugh). I really hope the DL show will be made. I just hope it takes itself seriously and is why i feel it should be live action. I feel thats what the brand could use right now, show the uninitiated that D&D can be serious and mature.

For Wheel of Time, a long-form animated show like Frieren: Beyond Journey's end would be a much better model than GoT.

Probably the major advantage Rings of Power has is being essentily original, a fan fiction riff on some established lore sure, but really being it's own original creation.

And I think a Drsgonlance show could pull that off, too, getting at what ianfun in the novels without being overly reverant to every detail that maybe hasn't aged well in 40 years.

 

[payn]

I think the opposite is true. It’s the toxic fanbase that is running the show down. On its own, it’s a slight, but very pretty-looking, fantasy show.

Could be. I’m not a big fan of Tolkien and couldn’t really get into it. I never run into anyone who likes or hates it.