Unless a D&D film somehow makes use of the gameplay experience, like dungeon masters, dice rolling, creation and upgrading of characters, and so on, then how would a supposed "Dungeons and Dragons" film differ from any old fantasy tale involving dungeons, dragons, elves, halflings, gnomes, orcs, and so forth? Is there anything more to it than cashing in on name brand recognition?
share"Is there anything more to it than cashing in on name brand recognition?"
Aside from that there is a chance that it will be based on some of the "official" Dungeons and Dragons fiction. There's actually a good deal of it and it's some that if you're not really into the D&D subculture it would just appear as random fantasy culture. I won't go into it much myself since I'm not really into the entire culture of the game but I have played it. When I was in high school (late 80s) I knew a number of people who read a lot of the trademarked D&D fiction works. I don't know how popular it is today.
I appreciate the answers. It was a genuine inquiry. I played D&D long ago, but am unaware of the various official stories and literature surrounding the game. Nonetheless, my guess is that cashing in on the brand name is probably by far the biggest motivation. Imagine that Hollywood did something surprising and made a faithful rendition of one of the most popular D&D stories. What fraction of people who saw the film, I wonder, would recognize the story or would otherwise care if the exact same film had been titled "Elves vs. Halflings vs. Dragons"?
shareYeah but that story is someone's creation using Dungeons and Dragons canon. Why the need to change it? I'm sure a good deal of the reasoning is brand recognition but I'm not getting why that's a bad thing. Do you think as many people would have gone to the Harry Potter films or Lord of the Rings if the original creation wasn't attached to the film?
shareIt all depends on how faithful the film adaptation is to whatever elements made the source material a phenomenon in the first place. My original question was rooted mainly in my ignorance about whether there was any D&D canon from which one can judge whether the filmmakers were true to the source. Straying from the original material need not necessarily be bad (e.g. "Blade Runner" was very different from P.K. Dick's book but great nonetheless), but often it's clear that the producers were just crassly using a recognizable brand (e.g. Will Smith's garbage film "I, Robot" and most films based on video games).
shareI agree. Any D&D movie would have to incorporate the gaming or just be another fantasy epic. I would recommend starting the film in present day reality with nerded-up actors and actresses in fat suits or CGI-skinny treatments sitting down at the gaming table. We then transition to the game world where the same actors look athletic and adventurous. The movie would continue to intercut scenes between the nerds and their idealized characters.
shareThat's what they did in Jumanji, basically.
shareI'd rather not watch a bunch of nerds sitting around a table playing D&D. I'd like to see a movie based on the lore featured in the various video games and books. Dragonlance and Forgotten Realms had some really popular stories and characters. Raistlin Majere from Dragonlance and Drizzt Do'Urden from Forgotten Realms would be cool characters on the big screen. I enjoyed the animated Dragonlance movie.
https://youtu.be/H99J-XbKv2E ** Animated Dragonlance movie **
"I'd rather not watch a bunch of nerds sitting around a table playing D&D."
They could subvert our expectations and have a bunch of stunningly beautiful, ultra cool, super wealthy and healthy junior investment bankers playing the game while snorting coke and getting serviced by high-priced escorts.
Some people do enjoy watching people playing D&D so there is a market for it. Acquisitions Inc had a pretty big following and the Daredevil actress started a D&D show. I might watch models in lingerie playing D&D with breaks for stretching or calisthenics every five minutes.
https://youtu.be/f8waHIcrDFU ** Acquisitions Inc **
They could do movie versions of the Dragonlance story, or the Icewind Dale or Baldur's Gate stories, which were successful games. There are a number of excellent novels set in the various D&D universes that could serve as the basis for a movie or series. I don't see how dice rolls, armor class or a dungeon master is needed. Those are part of OUR world, so unless this going to be some kind of Tron like thing, that's not needed.
share> Is there anything more to it than cashing in on name brand recognition?
I believe that’s the only reason this movie was green-lit. But D&D’s rich lore and bestiary give screenwriters a lot to work with. I don’t have high hopes for the movie but I’d be happy to be surprised.
So far there has been no point. if they went heavy on D&D mechanics instead of lore then there is a hook for fans. Who ever became a D&D fan because of a D&D book? People liked their own personal adventures. So screw the huge story lines and go with a party of adventurers that find each other for differing motivations in a pub. Then they go to some cave and the shit starts. Show the Cleric praying for spells. Show the Magic User studying his books or maybe charming someone early in the movie. Show the Fighter displaying some feats. Show the Thief trying to disarm a trap. Let them find a Deck of Many Things, potions of healing, a ring of protection vs fire, and other items that will add interesting angles and totally please fans.
The story doesn't have to be grand or even complex. It only needs good acting and directing. Yes, a bad writer could ruin it like previous D&D movies but I only mean that they don't have to try writing a Star Wars with its own Darth Vader (something they have done every time).
I think the idea in here of it being half real world story could work if done skillfully. Like no running story in the real world but some interludes that show the guy playing the ranger, who just lost his trained horse in the battle we just saw, sitting quietly in a drive through looking sad and distracted. Or someone spreading uncommon joy, being nice to those they hadn't been after a successful combat session. Or even a person breaking down in tears once alone after the tragic death of a loved NPC. Some cause/effect vignettes that give a brief window into the bleed-over from role playing into real life. It could work if they didn't overdo it.
2 points:
1. D&D hasn't had a decent film made.
2. It's an easy property to make money. Because it's had a rep for being a game ayed by a niche market, and there's no past competition of decent films, a mediocre movie can do well enough and drive a new audience to get into the games.
Thanks for your perspective Anotherday. My understanding is that D&D continues to have fluid sales and is still one of the most popular board games around. According to Wikipedia it's never been more popular than in the past 5 or so years. A decent film would likely make good money, as you say.
shareWhen I worked at Barnes and Noble (2004-2009), it wasn't a great seller, but that was due to the stick being kind of lame. I bet they'll have a few end caps and tables set up when the movie comes out.
shareUnless a D&D film somehow makes use of the gameplay experience, like dungeon masters, dice rolling, creation and upgrading of characters, and so on, then how would a supposed "Dungeons and Dragons" film differ from any old fantasy tale involving dungeons, dragons, elves, halflings, gnomes, orcs, and so forth? Is there anything more to it than cashing in on name brand recognition?
Getting Hugh Grant a paycheck, now that the rom coms aren't being churned out the way they were in the 90s and the 2000s