Netflix is making a big move in the fantasy genre with a live-action Dungeons & Dragons series called The Forgotten Realms. The project is being developed by Shawn Levy (who worked on Stranger Things and Deadpool & Wolverine), Drew Crevello (WeCrashed), and Hasbro Entertainment.
The show will take place in the Forgotten Realms, a famous fantasy world introduced in 1987 as part of the Dungeons & Dragons universe. Many well-known D&D characters and adventures come from this setting, and it was also the inspiration for the 2023 movie Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves.
Drew Crevello wrote the first episode and is the showrunner for the planned series. He will also executive produce alongside Shawn Levy and Dan Levine from Levy’s production company, 21 Laps, according to sources. Netflix and Hasbro Entertainment have not commented on the project.
Also Read: ‘Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves’ Releases on Netflix on February 26
In 2021, when Hasbro’s subsidiary eOne prioritized a live-action Dungeons & Dragons series, Netflix seemed like a natural home. The streaming platform has already helped boost interest in the classic fantasy role-playing game by featuring it heavily in Stranger Things.
At first, the series was led by Rawson Marshall Thurber (Red Notice) and Drew Crevello as showrunner. Paramount+ picked it up in early 2023 with a straight-to-series order, co-produced by eOne and Paramount Pictures, the studio behind Honor Among Thieves.
However, the series did not move forward due to changes at Paramount+ and a shift in ownership at eOne, which Lionsgate bought. Now, with Hasbro Entertainment entirely in charge, the Dungeons & Dragons series has been reimagined under Crevello’s leadership with a wholly new concept without connection to the earlier Paramount project or the Honor Among Thieves movie.
The project caught the attention of Shawn Levy, who joined the team in what seems like a perfect match, considering his role as a director and executive producer on Stranger Things.
With Shawn Levy joining the project, The Forgotten Realms series was pitched to Netflix, where 21 Laps has an existing deal. After lengthy negotiations—typical for a high-profile franchise like this—sources say the fantasy series is now in development at Netflix. If successful, it could lead to a larger Dungeons & Dragons universe.
Read More: Duffer Brothers Confirm No Spin-Offs: Stranger Things Characters Won’t Return After Season 5!
The Dungeons & Dragons game, created by Wizards of the Coast and one of Hasbro’s biggest franchises, features humans, elves, orcs, and other fantastical creatures battling in wars, hunting for treasure, and going on epic quests.
A Dungeon Master leads the game, while players use multisided dice to determine their actions. Since its launch 49 years ago, more than 50 million fans have played D&D, and its universe has expanded into novels, comic books, video games, and live-streamed content on Twitch and YouTube. The Forgotten Realms setting has played a significant role in that expansion, providing a vast library of stories and characters to inspire the new series.
Levy recently co-wrote, produced, and directed Marvel’s upcoming blockbuster Deadpool & Wolverine. He is also working on the fifth and final season of Stranger Things.
Drew Crevello, the showrunner and executive producer of the D&D series, previously created and produced Apple’s limited series WeCrashed, starring Jared Leto and Anne Hathaway.
Source: Deadline