There’s A New Dungeons & Dragons Series In Development At Netflix

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Summary

  • Fans missed out on a Dungeons & Dragons project, but now it’s shifting to Netflix.
  • Netflix greenlit the live-action D&D show called The Forbidden Realms.
  • The new show has potential and will please D&D fans, breaking free of past issues.

Fans of Dungeons & Dragons may have felt let down by the change in Paramount’s streaming strategy leading to Paramount Plus in 2023, but they struck it lucky when Netflix stepped up to provide an enjoyable experience instead.

In the past, “Dungeons & Dragons” was already highly acclaimed as the dominant leader among tabletop role-playing games. However, its fame and intellectual property have significantly grown in mainstream acceptance recently due to a strategic multimedia campaign from both official and unofficial channels. A significant factor behind this surge was the hit live-action adaptation called “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves,” a humorous fantasy heist movie that captivated audiences with its appealing characterization and surprising dexterity in portraying elements from the original content. This success sparked discussions about potential sequels or streaming series, but unfortunately, those plans for “Dungeons & Dragons” at Paramount+ didn’t materialize.

From the beginning, it was evident that the “Dungeons & Dragons” TV show fell short of expectations for both fans and those involved in its production, but now, according to Deadline, Netflix is taking steps to rectify this past mistake. Reportedly, Netflix has given the go-ahead for the development of a live-action “Dungeons & Dragons” series on their platform called “The Forbidden Realms“. This project originates from Hasbro Entertainment, with Drew Crevello serving as both pilot writer and showrunner. Additionally, Dan Levine and Shawn Levy, currently one of the most successful producers in the industry, will also be involved through Levy’s 21 Laps company. Contrary to earlier attempts at launching on Paramount Plus, this new project is not connected to any concepts proposed for that version or to “Honor Among Thieves“.

Crevello is particularly recognized for his contributions to the AppleTV+ miniseries titled “WeCrashed,” starring Jared Leto and Anne Hathaway. On the other hand, Levy has been quite active lately, with his latest significant achievement being the 2024 blockbuster hit “Deadpool & Wolverine,” which introduced these characters into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Additionally, Levy is involved in upcoming projects based on both the “Star Wars” and “Minecraft” franchises. He also enjoys a strong partnership with Netflix, rumored to have played a key role in bringing “The Forgotten Realms” to the streaming platform and securing its production via 21 Laps. However, there’s one drawback: the loss of connection to the “Honor Among Thieves” film, an issue that fans will need to attribute to Paramount for all time.

The project is safely managed by Crevello and Levy, who are well-equipped to tackle the association issue effortlessly due to their expertise. With Hasbro’s internal production team taking charge, it’s unlikely that the project will experience the same issues it did at Paramount. This is fantastic news for fans, as a live-action Dungeons & Dragons series holds significant potential as a fantasy offering on Netflix. Max is delving deeper into projects similar to Game of Thrones, while Amazon MGM Studios is strengthening Prime Video by intensifying its long-term plans for The Rings of Power, despite some controversy. This indicates that the fantasy genre remains popular. Notably, Netflix has taken several bold steps in this field, including greenlighting a rebooted Narnia film series with Greta Gerwig. However, the main competition is focused on television shows rather than feature-length projects. Among all the fantasy intellectual properties, Dungeons & Dragons stands out as the most creatively flexible and advantageous due to its emphasis on creative freedom.

In this scenario, Netflix, Hasbro, and fans of Dungeons & Dragons all stand to benefit, but it’s the fans who might gain the most. If the upcoming show meets even a fraction of its potential, it could easily become a must-watch fantasy series that rivals existing popular shows like Stranger Things. As Stranger Things comes to an end and Netflix seeks to fill the void left by this beloved series, The Forgotten Realms, executive produced by Levy, might just be the show to take center stage during this transitional period. Whether or not The Forgotten Realms will become the next must-see series remains to be seen, but things are definitely looking promising at the moment.

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is available to stream on Paramount Plus.

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2025-02-14 20:23