We’ve had a ton of big-budget high fantasy on TV recently. Game of Thrones kicked the doors open, and followed up with House of the Dragon and its many beasts, but The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, The Wheel of Time series, and more have all followed up with excellent TV outings. But get your swords ready and learn your spells properly. Because now the iconic roleplaying game Dungeons & Dragons is heading for TV as well. Paramount Pictures has ordered an eight-episode, live-action Dungeons & Dragons TV series for Paramount+. Here’s what we know so far.
We first heard this news in 2021, at that time, Derek Kolstad, the creator behind the John Wick series, was developing a Dungeons & Dragons series for Paramount and Hasbro. But now, Variety reports that Rawson Marshall Thurber will bring the show to life. Thurber has written the pilot for the Dungeons & Dragons TV series and will also direct the show. According to Variety, “the series is a co-production between eOne and Paramount Pictures.” While we don’t know much about the plot yet, or which aspects of Dungeons & Dragons‘ world the series will pull from, it is important to note that this is a separate project from the Chris Pine-starring D&D movie, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves.
In addition to Thurber, Deadline reports that Drew Crevello will serve as showrunner of the series.
This would actually be the second time a D&D show made it on the air. A kid’s cartoon show ran for two seasons in the ’80s. The roleplaying game was a sensation, selling millions by the early ’80s. It also coincided with the “Satanic Panic” gripping the nation at the time. Parents wanted it banned. In an effort to make the brand “kid safe,” a Saturday morning cartoon was produced.
The popularity of Dungeons & Dragons continues to skyrocket. So one can see why Paramount wants to attempting to strike while the iron is hot. We know we can’t wait to see Beholders, Displacer Beasts, and Tiamat fighting off warriors and wizards on our TV screens.
And if you want more D&D, please relive the amazing time Vin Diesel sat down with us for a campaign.
Originally published on January 15, 2021.
