D&D Movie/TV What would a good D&D movie be like?

[Ahrimon]

Hide the game references. Don't say someone is casting a spell or point out the mechanics of things just to cater to the players. The story should flow naturally and these things should be behind the scenes.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

I wouldn't so much aim at iconic protagonists for the most part, so much as make the plot revolve around an iconic antagonist and/or macguffins. Seeing someone like Vecna or an item like the Rod of Seven Parts on the screen would definitely let the long-time D&D players in on the movie's gaming origins, while providing enough hooks to generate a bunch of potential plots in the hands of a skilled team of writers.

 

[dracomilan]

You use familiar names to establish a franchise. Why would you avoid them hoping the franchise would grow strong without them?

Names, yes. Of places, items, people. Characters, nope. I would never make a movie about famous NPC X, but about Adventurers band Y (they can be you and your friends).

See also [MENTION=19675]Dannyalcatraz[/MENTION] answer.

 

[Jester David]

I'd make it a soft sequel to the '80s D&D cartoon.

No. Really.

I'd have a group of 20 somethings pulled from our world into "the world of Dungeons and Dragons" where they find four magic items. Likely a sword, wand, holy symbol, and dagger to fit the four iconic character roles (and not overlap with the existing items). This works because magic items allow the "heroes" to be badasses despite having no skill. So a sword that cuts anything, a wand that cast spells, a holy symbol that heals, and a dagger that returns when thrown even the playing field between the everymen protagonists and all the monsters they fight.
The characters should likely find some local (an elf maybe?) to explain the world and plot as they stumble into adventure, while trying to find their way home. Throw in a nice mix of D&D monsters and classic beasts, a simple dungeon crawl, and generic quest. Volia.

The advantage of this would be the "metaphor" for the game, with regular people entering a fantasy world where they can be heroes. It also sidesteps the generic nature of the game worlds, which are advantageous for the game (hitting all the tropes) but would make a movie seem, well, cliche. It provides a hook to separate the D&D movie from all the more generic fantasy movies, which have the advantage of being based on a book or other property with a firm story and known characters.
Plus, it would enable the protagonists to make pop culture references and crack wise despite the serious trouble they're in. Which feels a lot like how the game plays.
It'd almost be advantageous to have the plot be generic. "Gather ye the seven parts of the rod of wonder. Then ye may use it to open the portal to get home. Keep them away from the forces of darkness." Just so the protagonists can lampshade the plot. "But, y'know, what if we throw the parts in the ocean? Or in a really, really deep hole?" And, of course, one of the people sending the heroes on the quest turns out to be the villain and betrays the party. Which, of course, the heroes knew and anticipated. "Oh come on: you're bald, dressed in all black, and have a goatee. You might as well have cackled maniacally."

I'd also slip in a reference to the original cartoon series, suggesting the fate of the old heroes. Likely with the new heroes' mentor revealing himself to be from the real world, but having chosen to stay behind and be a hero. Which, of course, the new group would do as well, opting to remain and be heroes and get home "someday". Because sequels.
And since we're fanwanking already, lets throw in a "lost" episode of the cartoon as a bonus feature on the DVD. Although, I imagine the rights to that are a hellish muddle.

 

[Shiroiken]

There's two good way to do it, IMO.

1) You turn one of the best novels into a movie (ideally under the consultation of the author), bringing the biggest named characters. This uses the existing IP in a new way, bringing in D&D players and new people alike. The downside to this is determining the "best" novels, as each person is going to have their own opinions. Sales might be the best way to go.

2) You set up a brand new group of PCs to fight the forces of evil in a known D&D world, aided by some well known NPCs. In FR, you could base it in Waterdeep, with Mirt the Moneylender as their patron, or in the Dalelands with Elminster as their adviser. The downside to this is you don't really want new PCs to defeat a well known bad guy, since that will probably annoy fans of that setting.

 

[Celtavian]

Names, yes. Of places, items, people. Characters, nope. I would never make a movie about famous NPC X, but about Adventurers band Y (they can be you and your friends).

See also [MENTION=19675]Dannyalcatraz[/MENTION] answer.

That would lead to failure like the previous D&D movies. Fantasy movies that succeed are those with an established fan base outside of a game.

 

[dracomilan]

That would lead to failure like the previous D&D movies. Fantasy movies that succeed are those with an established fan base outside of a game.

You sure seem pretty sure about that.

I do not agree.

You could establish the Forgotten Realms, the Zhentarim, the Harpers as a household name without using any of the established uberpowerful NPCs as main characters.

The previous D&D movies failed for a LOT of reasons, starting from a terrible plot and no reference to ANY relevant place/organization/item. Most fantasy films didn't have a fan base before the movie made that world famous (a quick IMDB search will make that clear).

 

[delericho]

Most fantasy films didn't have a fan base before the movie made that world famous (a quick IMDB search will make that clear).

Most fantasy films have also been abject failures. Even known properties such as the Conan remake or the Narnia series (after "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe") haven't done terribly well.

 

[iserith]

As long as it involves a villain sporting purple lipstick and a Wayans brother, you basically can't go wrong.

 

[Alzrius]

It would use the Drizz't novels that showed how lived in the Underdark. Those books have an established fan base outside of D&D. People are familiar with elves, it would not be a leap to have dark elves. The story is interesting as is the environment and the character is attractive with cool fighting abilities.

You can't put drow on the big screen, at least not right now. It would be too "triggering" regarding racism and sexism.