Dungeons & Dragonshas a huge LGBTQI+ community, but it could reach a far wider segment of this audience with one character that is a queer icon waiting to happen. This character started life inThe Legend of Drizztbooksby American writer R.A. Salvatore. AlthoughDungeons & Dragonsis most famous as a tabletop game from the ’70s, it expanded into books, movies, TV series, video games, and more. And yet, the huge potential of this franchise lies significantly untapped. Adapting theDrizztbooks, and this character, is a great next step forD&D.
The Legend of Drizztbooks started with 1988’sThe Crystal Shard, the first ofThe Icewind Dale Trilogy. It introduceddrow Drizzt Do’Urden, although he wasn’t the focus of the trilogy. Realizing his popularity, Salvatore made Drizzt the main character of a prequel series calledThe Dark Elf Trilogy, which introduced a renegade drow named Jarlaxle. Throughout the Drizzt books,Jarlaxle is, in turn, an enemy to Drizzt, Drizzt’s friend, and a wild card. Fascinating, varied, queer, and key toThe Legend of Drizzt, Jarlaxle could be huge forD&Din a live-action TV adaptation.
Jarlaxle Could Be An On-Screen Icon For D&D’s Huge LGBTQI+ Community
Jarlaxle Has Huge Potential As A D&D Character
Jeremy Crawford (lead designer ofD&D5e) confirmed that Jarlaxle was pansexual (X). Vax’ildan fromThe Legend of Vox Machinais a bisexual hero, but aLegend of Drizztlive-action TV adaptation could pushD&D’squeer representation to new heights. This would drive sales and loyalty amongD&D’sLGBTQI+ community and reach out to new acolytes. 56% ofMonmouth UniversityD&Dclub identified as LGBTQI+, offering a glimpse of the potential. Despite teething issues,the game has long provided a safe space for queers, as explained in Thom James Carter’s excellentThey Came to Slay: The Queer Culture of D&D.
Jarlaxle Could Be One Of The Main Pillars Of A Drizzt TV Show Or Movie
Jarlaxle Is Both Enemy And Ally In The Legend Of Drizzt
Drizzt encounters many foes and many friends, but Jarlaxle, along withassassin Artemis Entreri, is the biggest character in the books to fluctuate between enemy and ally. This makes Jarlaxle, along with Artemis, the most versatile and useful character to include in anyLegend of Drizztlive-action adaptation, after the Companions of the Hall.A live-action adaptation would need strong heroes and villains,and Jarlaxle and Artemis could provide both. Focusing on these two while cutting some of the book series' myriad other heroes and villains may work well.
Casting A Drizzt TV Show: 10 Actors Who Would Be Perfect For Dungeons & Dragons' Dark Elf Hero
Drizzt Do’Urden, the Dark Elf of Dungeons & Dragons fame, is overdue for a TV show or movie, with certain actors seeming suitable for the role.
Fantasy TV adaptations often encounter the dilemma of a wide range of major and minor characters, andsplitting focus between too many different characters can reduce the emotional impact of the main characters. Focusing on building its key characters first is key to any adaptation’s success.A sharp focus on Jarlaxleand Artemis would be needed in an adaptation and would enable it to cut book heroes and book villains, since they can both fulfill either role. Jarlaxle, in addition, could address and growD&D’squeer community. Commercially and socially, this community offersDungeons & Dragonshuge rewards.
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.
