The D&D Movie Finds Its Director

The Dungeons & Dragons movie has found its director - Rob Letterman (Goosebumps, Monsters vs. Aliens, Shark Tale). The Warner Bros. movie, scripted by David Leslie Johnson (Wrath of the Titans), is being produced by Rob Lee (The Lego Movie, How To Train Your Dragon) and others after the longstanding legal dispute involving Sweetpea Entertainment and Hasbro was resolved. The script is based on Johnson's script Chainmail, itself based on D&D's precursor and will be taking cues, stylistically, from Guardians of the Galaxy.

There's more information on the Guardians of the Galaxy inspiration here. We know it is set in the Forgotten Realms, is an ensemble piece, and is hopefully the first in a franchise spanning multiple worlds. "This new Dungeons & Dragons will be a Guardians of the Galaxy-tone movie in a Tolkien-like universe. Because when you think of all the Hobbit movies and The Lord of the Rings, they have an earnestness to them, and to see something fun, a Raiders romp inside that world, I feel is something the audience has not seen before."

This latest info comes from Tracking Board. The other tidbit in that article is that "sources say that producers are eyeing a Vin Diesel-type for the film’s lead characters". Additionally, WotC staff has indicated occasionally that they have some involvement in the movie.

 

[Umbran]

One correction: The legal dispute was with "Sweetpea Entertainment".

 

[turkeygiant]

The people attached to this movie make it seem far more legit than I ever imagined a D&D movie being.

 

[Twiggly the Gnome]

I like the part about the cast including a "cunning gnome".

 

[Pjack]

[That should be "David Leslie Johnson", not "David Leslie Jones".]

Based on the director & the writer's past work, I'm guessing this is going to be terrible. Mind you, "terrible" might still mean "lots of fun for 10-13 year-old kids", which wouldn't necessarily be bad for the brand.

I know I shouldn't judge before it's even made, but I'm trying to set my expectations to a reasonable level. :/

 

[Pjack]

[Duplicate post; please delete.]

 

[DM Howard]

You know, I could see this being a good multi-media strategy for the D&D brand as a whole. "WotC Presents: The Sands of Athas, A Dungeons & Dragons movie. Like what you see in the movie? Check out D&D at our website and play the tabletop game with our new Athas sourcebook, or travel to Athas in Neverwinter the MMO, or Sword Coast Legends!" I can dig that. "Spanning multiple worlds at least gives me SOME sort of hope of Mystara love. Right? RIGHT?! *Goes and cries in the corner*

 

[Jester David]

The director of Shark Tale, Monsters vs Aliens, the Jack Black Gulliver's Travels, and Goosebumps. A tomato range of 76% (Goosebumps) to 20% (Gulliver's Travels) with an average of 50%. And half of which star Jack Black...

Not who I'd want for a action movie.

 

[trystero]

The director of Shark Tale, Monsters vs Aliens, the Jack Black Gulliver's Travels, and Goosebumps. A tomato range of 76% (Goosebumps) to 20% (Gulliver's Travels) with an average of 50%. And half of which star Jack Black...

Not who I'd want for a action movie.

Coupled with the writer of Wrath of the Titans (which I wouldn't watch if you paid me) and the producer of The LEGO Movie (which I wanted to like but didn't).

Well, at least it'll be better than the one with Jeremy Irons, right?

Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight?

 

[Brodie]

Well, Roy (not Rob) Lee was producer on a pair of movies I liked (Lego Movie and HTTYD 2) and I liked Monsters Vs. Aliens by Rob Letterman, but that doesn't really instill any hope in me for the movie. On the other hand, I don't really have a bad feeling about the movie (like I did with Batman vs Superman, which I did NOT like) so all I can do is hope that this turns out to be the masterpiece these guys have in them. Making this an ensemble story instead of choosing a lead is a smart move; it highlights - in my opinion - that D&D is always an ensemble story when you sit down to play.

Also... Why look for a 'Vin Diesel-type' instead of just try to get Vin Diesel? It's no secret the guy loves role playing so I doubt it would take much to get him to join.