Why You Should Be Excited About The Upcoming 'Dungeons & Dragons' Movie
“Truth be told, we helped the wrong person steal the wrong thing.”
Thanks to Netflix’s Stranger Things and internet sensation Critical Role, the tabletop roleplaying game Dungeon & Dragons (DnD) has recently gained popularity among the general public. There had been talks about a DnD movie. However, other than a few set photos back in June 2021, there has not been much traction. In April 2022, the official title and cast were announced for Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves. During the panel at San Diego Comic-Con this past Thursday, casual viewers were wowed by the theatrics brought about by stars like Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Regé-Jean Page, Hugh Grant, and Sophia Lillis. Others are a little apprehensive. After all, the 2000 movie Dungeon & Dragons was a big flop. Fans of the game can breathe a little easier, though, after the panel.
A promising sign for a film adaptation of anything, whether it be a book, comic, or videogame, is when its creators are well versed in the source materials. For example, co-director Jonathan Goldstein discussed playing DnD when he was younger under the merciless dungeon master that was his brother. On the other hand, co-director John Francis Daley started playing the game a little later when he was filming Freaks and Geeks. The main cast members also professed their love for the game, with Chris Pine saying that it “should be played in every school” as it brings together all the different groups like the nerds and the jocks.
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Another main concern of DnD players is whether the movie will stay true to its source materials or whether it will take certain liberties and veer onto a completely different path. The directors emphasized that they are working closely with Wizard of the Coast, the company behind the original DnD game, on bringing the lore and creatures to live on screen.
The exclusive clip shown at the panel is a good sample of what the audience can expect to see come March 2023. In order to search for a mystical helm, they must start by asking the corpses long dead in the ground. They cast what must be the third-level spell Speak with Dead, and the inquiry begins (Justice Smith must be playing a divine soul sorcerer). Hilarity ensues as the bard (played by Chris Pine) has difficulty phrasing his five questions correctly and fails to gain useful information. This footage exemplifies Hugh Grant’s comment.
“[The script] makes me laugh. [It] has a real Monty Python vibe to it.”
While the five questions limit is mainly used for comedic purposes, one has to appreciate the details the production team put into accurately depicting the spell’s verbal, somatic, and material components (the sorcerer appears to be using a spellcasting focus here in place of burning incense).
At many tables, players have to rely on their imagination and the dungeon master’s ability to describe the scene. Creatures are usually just static pictures that someone found. The second exclusive clip showcases Goldstein’s promise to bring the creatures of the Monster Manual to life, using practical effects as much as possible with some CGI help from Industrial Light & Magic. The adventuring team had to battle the myriad of creatures stalking in a convoluted maze. In addition to barely escaping the displacer beast and getting stuck in the gelatinous cube, the team discovers what happens when you open a treasure chest without doing a proper investigation check first.
Goldstein neither denies nor confirms whether the mind flayer (recently featured in Stranger Things) would make an appearance. However, he did say there will be Easter eggs and at least one cameo by a well-known DnD player. For now, fans of the game and the genre will have to contend with the official trailer until the movie’s release date of March 3, 2023.
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Source(s): Game Informer, Screen Crush, GamesRadar+