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?

 

[pukunui]

Jon being a Targaryan was pretty obvious from the first novel, too.

Haven't read the books, but yeah ... when the media made a big deal about how GRRM had agreed to let D&D make the show because they'd correctly guessed Jon's parentage, that was basically GRRM confirming what everyone already knew.

Was it season 6 when we finally see the Tower of Joy flash back (Ned's fever dream)?

Had to Google it, as I thought it was later than that, but you're right. It's in S6. Is that flashback really in the first book?

I didn't read the books until after the show finished.

I have no desire to read a book series that may never be finished. LOL.

The level of adaptation that season 1-3 used was perfect in my opinion. By season's 4-8 they really threw away some interesting story archs.

Yeah, even though I've never read the books, I had read about Lady Stoneheart, and I was really looking forward to seeing her on screen. There were numerous points in the middle seasons where it seemed like they were teasing her appearance, but then it turned out they cut that subplot entirely because they didn't want to lessen the effect of Jon's resurrection.

I'll admit that it took me most of S1 to get into the show because it was too slow and not focused enough on the supernatural elements, like the White Walkers, which is what I found the most fascinating about the show. S5 E8 "Hardhome" was the high point of GoT for me.

We still dont know how GRRM plans on finishing it, and may never know haha. I heard the show runners really wanted to make a Start Wars movie so they rushed the last couple of seasons. They didn't even get to make their SW movie either. Looking forward to Knight of the Seven Kingdoms though. Still on the fence about HoTD.

Wasn't it partly the sour reception of GoT's ending that lost them their Star Wars movie trilogy, too? Like, maybe if they hadn't rushed the ending, they might have still managed to get those movies. (I know they said it was because of the Netflix deal and feeling like they couldn't do both Netflix shows and a Star Wars movie at the same time, but that seemed like it was partly them trying to save face. Disney certainly used the reaction to GoT's ending as an excuse to cut them loose from SW.)

Let's not forget D&D's silly cameo in Westworld either.

 

[Parmandur]

Had to Google it, as I thought it was later than that, but you're right. It's in S6. Is that flashback really in the first book?

Spoiler alert, but Eddard Stark doesn't have any viewpoint chapters after the first novel, flashback or otherwise.

 

[pukunui]

Spoiler alert, but Eddard Stark doesn't have any viewpoint chapters after the first novel, flashback or otherwise.

That's a good point ... but isn't the flashback in the show presented as Bran "time traveling" into the past? GRRM could have done that in the book, too, and since I haven't read them, I wouldn't know!

 

[Zaukrie]

That's a good point ... but isn't the flashback in the show presented as Bran "time traveling" into the past? GRRM could have done that in the book, too, and since I haven't read them, I wouldn't know!

I don't recall that in any book. But it's been a lifetime since I read the last one.

 

[Parmandur]

That's a good point ... but isn't the flashback in the show presented as Bran "time traveling" into the past? GRRM could have done that in the book, too, and since I haven't read them, I wouldn't know!

I haven't seen the show, lol, so I don't know the other way. In thr book, it's a fever dream Ned has.

And in the first book, just in Ned's chapters and we'll beyond thst one flashback...lots of hits. He keeps remembering his sister asking him to promise something when he us around Jon or thinks about Jon, or thinks about the Targaryans. It is not subtle at all.

 

[Parmandur]

I don't recall that in any book. But it's been a lifetime since I read the last one.

I think the time travel thing comes out in the part of the plot that gets past the printed novels, though I stopped after Feast for Crows.

 

[pukunui]

O think the time travel thing comes out in the part of the plot that gets past the printed novels, though I stopped after Feast for Crows.

Yes, possibly. I guess Bran first starts visiting the past in season 6. I thought it was later because it's not until season 8 that he reunites with Sam, who has also been able to confirm the truth via the Maesters' records in Oldtown, and one or the other of them tells Jon ...

 

[Zaukrie]

O think the time travel thing comes out in the part of the plot that gets past the printed novels, though I stopped after Feast for Crows.

Agreed. I have so many thoughts about those last years of episodes.... But no interest in rehashing that conversation. I'll never read another of his books, if he writes more anyway.

 

[Parmandur]

Yes, possible. I guess Bran first starts visiting the past in season 6. I thought it was later because it's not until season 8 that he reunites with Sam, who has also been able to confirm the truth via the Maesters' records in Oldtown, and one or the other of them tells Jon ...

So, here's the thing...in the books as published, Jon is believed to be dead...he has come back yet. Amd the text has not yet actually revealed his parentage, though the revelations on the show were figured out in the fandom a couple decades ago now, based on just the first couple novels.

But the books might not ever get to that part.

 

[pukunui]

So, here's the thing...in the books as published, Jon is believed to be dead...he has come back yet. Amd the text has not yet actually revealed his parentage, though the revelations on the show were figured out in the fandom a couple decades ago now, based on just the first couple novels.

But the books might not ever get to that part.

Right. Yeah, I'm not waiting for GRRM to ever finish.