Dungeons & Dragonshas finally gotten a TV series in the pipeline, but I’m worried about one thing, based on what little we know about it.TheDungeons & DragonsmoviesgotD&Dadaptations off to a bad start in 2000 withDungeons & Dragons, withDungeons & Dragons: Wrath of the Dragon Godfollowing in 2005. These joyless and derivative fantasy movies probably won’t form the template for the TV show, which has an exciting director, producer, and showrunner attached. Still, the small screen project may have other issues of its own.
Drew Crevello is set to runThe Forgotten Realms, theD&DTV show set in the eponymous campaign setting of Baldur’s Gate fame and commissioned to stream on Netflix. The video games are just an example usage of the Realms inD&Dreleases.R.A. Salvatore’sThe Legend of Drizztbooksbrought theD&Dspecies of drow to public knowledge, introducing the legendary Drizzt character. Despite all the exciting lore that the show could bring, I am concerned that Netflix may ruin the fun for everyone by repeating a pattern it has exhibited in the past.
Netflix’s Dungeons & Dragons Show Is Exciting, But The Streamer’s Track Record Makes Me Nervous
Netflix Has A Concerning Habit That Could Affect Dungeons & Dragons
I am excited about the continuation of the on-screen development of theDungeons & Dragonsfranchise, but worried that the disappointingfuture of anHonor Among Thievessequelmay materialize in this instance too, in its own way.Honor Among Thieveswas adored by critics and audience members, earning 91% on Rotten Tomatoes. Despite that, its box office response was disappointing. This didn’t help it secure a sequel.I worry that the disappointing lack of a follow-up toHonor Among Thieveswill be repeatedin the form of a cancelation ofThe Forgotten Realmsafter season 1.
Honor Among Thievesstar Sophia Lillis can also be seen inI Am Not Okay With This.
Netflix has a habit of canceling great showsafter just one season. This seems to particularly apply to fantasy shows.The Bastard Son & The Devil Himselfwas one of my favorite TV shows of 2022, and that’s because it was one of the best. It was a genuinely original low fantasy story empowering young people to embrace their natural abilities, no matter what they were.Lockwood & Co.,The Society, andI Am Not Okay With Thiswere also devastatingly canceled.A potentialHonor Among Thievesfranchisewas stifled, and I hopeThe Forgotten Realmsdoesn’t get stifled too.
Canceling The Forgotten Realms Show After 1 Season Would Repeat Honor Among Thieves' Sequel Disappointment
Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves May Never Get A Sequel
I’m not convinced by Netflix’s renewal strategy, and I don’t want it to impactThe Forgotten Realms. Big streamers like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video aren’t normally totally transparent about their key metrics, performance, and reasons for renewal or cancelation. ButNetflix appears to value hard metrics like viewershipthat don’t necessarily reflect the potential return on investment of a show. Taking a more long-term view of their critically-acclaimed shows would probably help Netflix grow its service, allowing shows to blossom over multiple seasons and prove that they can drive ongoing subscriptions.
Joe Manganiello was working on aDungeons & DragonsTV series, but this plan was canceled.
Honor Among Thievesbombed at the box office, butHasbro had encountered the financial difficulty associated with the fallout of COVID-19 and had to sell eOneall before that. There are many reasons behind the extreme fan disappointment of the absence of a sequel. However, there are totally different circumstances surrounding the possible lack of a continuation ofThe Forgotten Realmsafter season 1. I’m worried Netflix will cancel the show if it shows any sign of slow viewership growth, considering its habit of canceling fantasy shows after just one season.
Bringing Dungeons & Dragons To The Screen Requires A Long-Term Commitment
Dungeons & Dragons Deserves Multiple Releases
TheDungeons & DragonsTV series coming up on Netflix has huge potential, but it needs Netflix to commit to it in the long-term. The movies necessitatedDungeons & Dragonsto reassess its strategy, and thankfully, it did emerge with the incredibly strong offering that wasHonor Among Thieves. But a sequel is unlikely, and that means thatThe Forgotten RealmsisD&Dfans' strongest hope of an ongoingD&Don-screen project. It could bring back the feeling of gameplay created byHonor Among Thieves, which was the movies' biggest asset.
The Forgotten Realms Dungeons & Dragons TV Show Doesn’t Have To Break The Bank To Adapt Drow Like Drizzt
The Dungeons & Dragons Forgotten Realms TV show is coming to Netflix, and it may note some key tips for adapting fantasy species like drow.
Capturing the feeling of saving the world with friends,Honor Among Thievescan see its legacy continued byThe Forgotten Realms, but Netflix should let this roll out over multiple seasons. Even if viewership figures are slow to pick up, the value of a franchise likeD&Don Netflix’s roster would reveal itself over time. Not only can the show attract the viewers ofStranger Things, which has the same producer and director attached (Shawn Levy), but it could adaptdrow ranger Drizzt Do’Urdenonto screens for the first time.
IfThe Forgotten Realmsis done right, season 1 is the start of a longDungeons & Dragonsjourney.
If Drizzt made a cameo inThe Forgotten Realmsthat proved popular, he could get his own series or spinoff. This represents the best strategy forThe Forgotten Realmsin general. With such a huge wealth ofD&Dlore for the show to pull from, from theHarpersbooks to the numerous campaigns,The Forgotten Realmscan scatter its episodes with Easter eggsand lore references while including some mind-blowing new lore drops that keep age-old fans intrigued. IfThe Forgotten Realmsis done right, season 1 is the start of a longDungeons & Dragonsjourney.
Dungeons & Dragons
TheDungeons & Dragonsfranchise is a fantasy adventure series based on the iconic tabletop role-playing game. The franchise includes both live-action and animated adaptations, with the most notable being the recent filmDungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves(2023), which brought the fantasy world of D&D to a broader audience with its blend of humor, action, and classic D&D elements. The franchise explores themes of heroism, friendship, and the unpredictable nature of adventuring in a magical world filled with dragons, wizards, and mythical creatures.
