I have just heard singer Rihanna will play a role in the future movie "Battleship". Do you rebember the clasic board game?
There is a projecto of a film about Monopoly... and everybody know about films of "Transformers" and "G.I.Joe" .
Hasbro hasn´t got interest of wish of a movie of D&D? I know the cartoon of Dragonlance...
..but I think D&D has got the potential of being the best franchise of Hasbro. I don´t hope a new trilogy of Lord of the Rings, but if Optimus Prime, Megatron... and Megan Fox became famous thanks by Michel Bay´s films...
What´s the matter? I meant... why not a adaptation can be a sucess? Rebember Blade´s (vampire slayer from marvel comics) trilogy or Spiderman by Sam Raini. I didn´t like Nicholas Cage´s Ghost Rider very much...
How had a new movie (or cartoon teleserie) of D&D to be made?
Think about it... cinema can be a great advertising of linas like videogames, toys or comics.. why not a new try? 80´s cartoon serie (Do you rebember Venger and Uni?) helpt a lot to the arrival of D&D rpg to Spain and other lands..
Drizzt and Dragonlace have got that potential of being a true gold mine.. What was it wrong about Dragonlance movie? I looked D&D movie (taht with Thora Birch and Jeremy Irons)... and for me it was perfect..... if was 8 years old. I haven´t seeb anything about second film. 80´s cartoon serie is my favorite.
A third option is a CGI miniserie for TV (like Star Wars: Clone Wars). I think graphics by computer is easier for producers.. because age of actors and actress isn´t problem. You can rebember now there is a new season of Futurama after any years?.
I wonder why Hasbro doesn´t action figures of D&D mithogy.
I rebember three cartoon series of Action Man and some ones of transformers for 90´s...
Wild.c.a.ts from Image comics was a cartoon serie too..
Why there are animes of duel master and yu-gi-oh but nothing about a new D&D cartoon?
The key is learning by mistakes and correcting them. Why is a film cool or boring? Why do public identifie this character o that one? Where is bad the script?
And don´t forget The hobbit and Warcraft are being worked to be seen on the screens.
Maybe D&D would luck out by not being a movie (especially when it already has two bad ones).
They have to focus on the story and characters instead of just making a movie with the DnD name in some generic fantasy world (which was their old strategy).
Really, though, I'd prefer if they totally gave up forever and ever. Even the friggin' Dragonlance cartoon - a cartoon with an established story - was turned into badly animated, worse acted trash. If they couldn't get it right there, they're simple incapable of getting it right. 'Sides, we don't need a D&D movie for the sake of having it be an official D&D movie. There are plenty out there - the best being Conan the Barbarian. Just love movies that remind you of D&D and be happy with them. It's been established that any film with that label attached will be painfully bad.
But I think the OP was suggesting a movie as a form of advertisement/product awareness. Maybe if it were popular (not to the degree of LOTRs, but decently), people would stop thinking DnD is just for fat, basement residents or devil worshipers.
Movies like LOTRs and Transformers now allows people to be fans without having a geek label. (Even though the Transformers movies were trash.)
Edit: And for the record, I don't know if I think if that's necessarily good (wider appeal).
Dragonlance, I liked it. It was nostalgic.
There have been two d&d movies. Although I think they were AD&D not D&D. If it was, then its a shame they couldnt get that right !
They also made Scourge of Worlds which was good.
Umm dare say it a TSR rendition of a D&D movie would have been more authentic than a WoTC movie.
Perhaps a movie based on fact rather than fiction would work better. A movie adaptation of "The Elfish Gene" is just an example. Or "The High and rolls of Gary Gygax" although the latter does not actually exsist it could be done with a title change. Did you see the Movie "King of Kong"? And proof that Micheal Moores docu-films have created a new market sector in the film industry. Pay me and I'll do an expo movie where I visit every expo in the world in one year and make it amusing to watch.
lulz
Good points both with the crappiness of the Dragonlance carton and having other movies that are DnD-like. I was a Dragonlance fan so I bought that movie and was pretty disappointed. And yeah, if you want inspiration, there's probably better movies out there.
But I think the OP was suggesting a movie as a form of advertisement/product awareness. Maybe if it were popular (not to the degree of LOTRs, but decently), people would stop thinking DnD is just for fat, basement residents or devil worshipers.
Movies like LOTRs and Transformers now allows people to be fans without having a geek label. (Even though the Transformers movies were trash.)
Edit: And for the record, I don't know if I think if that's necessarily good (wider appeal).
Yeah, the thing with that is that they tried it. I saw the movie in the theater. I was embarrassed to be sitting there when it was finally over. Embarrassed cuz it seemed to completely reinforce those wrong ideas about who plays and how the games are run. That movie had basement dweller written all over it. Because of this, I do not trust them to make anything new. They damaged the way outsiders see them with that crap and, in the process, made us look the worse for it, too. So yeah, they can keep the movies to themselves. Oh, and this is why a movie as advertising would be a terrible, terrible idea.
I think the key is a good story. Do you rebember Hercules: the legendary journeys (played by Kevin Sorbo) and its spin-off Xena the warrior princess? Today it´s be said it was a production B but they were very popular for 90´s.
A good story isn´t FXs.
WotC could try a flash cartoon serie for internet.. or a free webcomic.
I admit most of adaptions of videogames to cinema haven´t been good (Please, don´t mention Uwe Boll) most of times. Resident Evil saga has been a sucefull blockbuster but...
If you compare Batman & Robin and Batman: the dark knight... Some cartoons tv series of batman or spiderman weren´t bad Were they. Making good movies, or teleseries, has to be known by producer.
* Warners bros aren´t going to make a adaption of "space invaders" videogame?
WotC have already released a flash animation for the internet. Its interviews of various monsters that appear in 4.5 including a beholder, a red dragon, a kefling and the gnome (who has his own lair! and a minion!)
Order of the Stick is the more popular free web comic among D&D it used to be in Dragon magazine and it still is run online, created by Richard Burlew. If you can read it from issue 1 to when the party meet the Paladins, you have done well.
Often when dreaming of movies I always ask What would Thor Do ?
Thor as in classical mythology, Thor as in the OotS god, Thor as in the comic book hero, or Thor as in the god from Deities and Demigods from 3e?
I read the first story-arc of Order of the Stick... and do rebember it isn´t oficial D&D... (...have you forgoten that two lawyers, the mindslayer and that drow with two scimitars?)
* Asgardian pantheon (Thor, Loki, Odin, Sif..) are... "open licence"...like Sherlock Holmes, Dracula, some characters by Philip Dick, Julie Verne´s ones...If you make a best-seller others get your idea (and it would totally legal).
* Don´t you say "don ́t put all your eggs in one basket"? D&D can be miniatures, novels, rpg, videogame, comics... and movies, tv cartoon... toys.
Hasbro (WotC) and Disney (marvel) has got business agremeents. If stories are good D&D could be more popular that transformers, G.I.Joe, or world of warcraft.
(And ROM, the space knight could ... return like a limited edition of comic and toy).
D&D could be the best (blockbuster cinema) adaptation of a Hasbro franchise. And I suggest Hasbro might hurry because the future "the hobbit" movie(s) and "warcraft" (by Sam Raini?) could be a good indirect promotion.
D&D mythology is richer taht Star Wars Universe o Star Treck... It can not be fogorten by Hasbro.
Is there a DnD story that is really good and could fit in one movie? Not sure about that one.
I think that's the most important reason for many movie adaptations failures.
Please, I don´t want the classic topic of.... X numbers of pieces have to be reunited to the important ritual of summoning of...
* Ravenloft could be a try. If story is good the production of class B could be "forgiven". Why not the first novel of Dark Sun? ...
Spelljammer?
Better a totally new story, nor a adaptation from a novel. Do you rebember Dragon Ball or Street Fighter?
Urban Arcana?
Now I wonder, if transformers trilogy is end, and when G.I.Joe 3 would be made... D&D could be the next? I meant; the best in the last place?
My only issue is that there are still people who do not fully understand what D&D is and believe it and will always believe it to be a game for losers, which if you have a look at some of the people that play D&D is a complete myth.
Re-education of this myth is happening though, slowly through WotC new approach to the game, and remember we never had www before version 3 so perhaps this is a good sign because WotC have launched the D&D realm into the www without much critisism from its players.
So with a film, and most films these linked so heavily on internet advertising and internet discussions it would only make sense for WotC to sign a deal with one of their internet successes. Mostly I would say that Magic the Gathering is a bigger hit online than D&D so if I put my money on it, there would be a MTG movie way before another D&D movie, but what do I know, and who is to say a MTG movie wouldnt still fall under the critism of my first myth, that any game with fantasy involved is for nerds. I disagree but I would say that movies made from games often suck egg, and no hollywood actor would suitably portray Jace, Liliana, or any creature from Eberron. It would have to be a unheard of cast, hopefully with the omitting of Jeremy Irons. But with an A list director and more importantly an A list SFX production company it would be good. But how much you think it would gross in its first weekend. If your really confident then you could say it will be as popular as Harry Potter, but HP was based on a book series not a book series designed around a game.
Also will people always compare a book series designed around a game made into a movie to their expectations of the game itself. There the problem lies, we really are a fickle consumer when it comes to movies if you look at the opening gross of many movies.
Lord of the Rings did well because it was based on a Literary Classic not a game. Plus, the fact, LOTR fans had not had 20 years of supplements, articles, a dedicated online server, hundreds of proffesional staff, new gaming editions. Well they did, but if you get my point, most of those came after the movie not before. Those things were the merchandise. Will WotC produce a new campaign, new minis, new ideas and new dice based all around their new movie? They would really have to if you think about it.
But if you look at the last 5-10 years this is exactly what D&D HAS done. There is still critism, and none of it captivated the movie critics, the toy companies, the consumers, and the audience quite like LOtR and my opinion is that its not supposed to be the same, because D&D being a continuing realm should outlast LOtR because its a long term system, where as apart from Games Workshops LOtRs, the latter is not.
So I also think and go back to my last idea, that a factual docu-film should be made rather than a new D&D movie, for whatever reason audiences just cant "dig" D&D on the large screen, even the ones that admit its for nerds, still believe D&D to be a game based around pieces of paper, a dining room table, some much, and using your mothers ornaments for rare and mythical monsters.
Now if WoTC could tap into the fact that people would much rather see the shenangans of a Pro Tour Magic the Gathering final and the heats to get there, but the fans and the setting. They would see that people would much rather pay to see a film for $5 because they actually couldnt get to San Diego themselves that weekend. Thats my 10cents
Albeit saying that, Magic the Gathering could get away with making a large grossing weekend opener with a Magic the Gathering movie casting unknown actors ( or up and rising actors ) into the characters of the Planeswalkers, I would think more people would be interested.
I know this next point wont make much sense, but if you are agreeing with me then it might. "If a person has a certain rep, then that rep sticks with that person for life, no matter how many times they confess, or change they always revert back to their old ways and that is how they are known for life, D&D is that person, with a big "kick me" sign on its back"
Magic of the gathering is a slight bit more run of the mill. The history is it took the fantasy, and emotion from the roleplay world and traded it into a world of simplicity, competition and quick match play.
Wow what an post. Thats my longest ever ! ever ever !
P.S Hell I wouldnt mind seeing a Baneslayer on the big screen. Even in the ending credits. Potential potential potential !
Drizzt is the only one that could be made in a movie, but you know...he is black.
Another thing with making the LoD books into movies: you'd have to be accurate. People who know the books (i.e. me) will want to see an accurate movie, and maybe, maybe some touching up done (like Arwen's intro in LotR). And you'd have to make a lot of movies. Hell, there's 19 Drizzt novels. Who's gonna wanna go see a 19-movie series other than me? Plus, there would have to be a crapload of CGA. Possibly the whole thing.
D&D for nerds? I don´t agree. Is Conan a nerd franchise? And Dark Sun or Ravenloft?
Rebember the movies of Cronicles of Narnia (the third one is coming soon).
If a D&D movie is too expensive I think a new cartoon teleserie could be a great succes (and if producter and scripwritters does well their work). Hasbro could get more money with oficial action figures of the new cartoon serie.
My opinion is fantasy is a softer way to talk about reality. Today stories about elfs vs orcs is more politically correct what a movie about crusades or Spanish Recoquest. Do you understand? I like "revenge of sith" because for me it´s a allegory about the fall of democracy... Do you see the remake of V (where Anna role is played by Morena Baccarin)?
* Second option: a reboot of a famous D&D franchise. Do you rebember the last Star Treck movie? Time travel is canon in Dragonlance (and Ravenloft)... let´s imagine a time traveller create a new time line of Krynn. (Sometimes I want develop a idea about poket universes or semiplane like because time travels cause a effect like the famous Schrödinger's cat (paradox is prevented because A reality and NoA are true simultaneously.
A freak idea? I see new posibilites for gamers... what if lord soth´s son didn´t die... and Kitiara was mother of some children... what if Raistlin became a deity.. fith age didn´t start ...or Laurana didn´t went to rescue to Tanis?
Movies about a diferent parrallel Krynn could be a great oportunity if things are done well. I meant... we haven´t got to worry about the oficial cannon.
* Second option: a reboot of a famous D&D franchise. Do you rebember the last Star Treck movie? Time travel is canon in Dragonlance (and Ravenloft)... let´s imagine a time traveller create a new time line of Krynn. (Sometimes I want develop a idea about poket universes or semiplane like because time travels cause a effect like the famous Schrödinger's cat (paradox is prevented because A reality and NoA are true simultaneously.
A freak idea? I see new posibilites for gamers... what if lord soth´s son didn´t die... and Kitiara was mother of some children... what if Raistlin became a deity.. fith age didn´t start ...or Laurana didn´t went to rescue to Tanis?
Movies about a diferent parrallel Krynn could be a great oportunity if things are done well. I meant... we haven´t got to worry about the oficial cannon.
That would be kind of cool. I'd be down with that, especially if Raistlin somehow had a role (either as a god, villian, or character).
Problem with trying to make a D&D movie is that D&D isn't a story, it is a medium for telling stories. Saying "a D&D movie" is kinda like saying "a comic book movie".
Cinematography: the Movie
a 2-hour silent film of a guy, a camera & a mirror.
it's "art".
but in all seriousness, i wouldn't mind a brain-cell killing stupid action film set in eberron. i mean you have plenty of places for kick-ass fight scenes (sharn in the rain and all it's towers+bridges goodness, atop a lightning rail car, on an airship in flight, on a pirate ship, ect...) and many adventure-"friendly" locals (mournland, demon wastes, xendrik, frostfell, the pirate-heavy lahazaar principalities, ect...). now add magic, a warforged who only really spouts one-liners, a gruff (but soft-hearted) dwarven veteran, the chick (probably elf or human), the party face and a comic relief halfling...
the main issue is that you usually have 90-120 minutes of film and you can't really pace it as you would a D&D game so it would probably need to focus on a pre-established set of archtypes and give them a task of sorts... the lord of blades's machinations take life and have him storm out of the mournlands and our group of adventurers have to stop him, maybe?
or something.
The Forgotten Realms will be the DnD movie setting. Because it is popular and has imagery linked to a more traditional view of DnD. Remember movies cost a lot of money, so compagnies won't take a lot of risks with the story or the setting. Eberron or Dark Sun are too alien and FR is more popular then DL.
So traditional fantasy story: A boy from Shadow Dale or Waterdeep discovers he has some task or destiny to accomplish. Probably saving the Realms from a plot by a follower of Bane, Shar or Cyric. He meets a elf wizard, a dwarf fighter, an inspirational paladin that dies by sacrificing himself for the group and a lard eating halfling. Look for that cameo of Elminster. He will also have to save a runaway princess from Cormyr and they will probably fall in love. Maybe they need something in the ruins of Myth Drannor.
Budget: 50 million$
Interest: None.
Pretty much.
If I were cinema producer the D&D movie wouldn´t be made for geek public but ordinary people...and I would wonder: why would be these charater so popular?
I would create a script about the team.. where members aren´t perfect but they complement each other (warrior is strong but no clever, wizard is inteligent but weak, roughe is astute but foolish, careless, cleric is wise and has got good advices but bad social skills.
A balance of "exotisc" and familiar is necesary. The goal isn´t only geek public.
* Everybody knows who is Superman, but "Superman returns"... wasn´t a good blockbuster.
* Please, no more topic about... "heroe has to get magic jewel to avoid dark ritual of summoning Chulthu"...
* Heroes could be exiled because are accused unjustuly by a conspiration.
* What does heroes and public learn for the story? A good story muest have got message (or a good question what it make you thinking).
Problem with trying to make a D&D movie is that D&D isn't a story, it is a medium for telling stories. Saying "a D&D movie" is kinda like saying "a comic book movie".
I am just going to leave it and agree with you.
Yeah, the thing with that is that they tried it. I saw the movie in the theater. I was embarrassed to be sitting there when it was finally over. Embarrassed cuz it seemed to completely reinforce those wrong ideas about who plays and how the games are run. That movie had basement dweller written all over it. Because of this, I do not trust them to make anything new. They damaged the way outsiders see them with that crap and, in the process, made us look the worse for it, too. So yeah, they can keep the movies to themselves. Oh, and this is why a movie as advertising would be a terrible, terrible idea.
Fun fact: The D&D movie was written and directed by gamers who got the rights long before the WotC buy-out of TSR.
Sure, not all DnD adventures are about a unaligned party simply trying to get money, in fact many of you may only have played heroes, but it would be the only plot that is uniquely DnD and different from standard fantasy fair.
So plot:
A party of petty thieves and thugs have to earn enough money to quell the anger of a wizard who's magic orb, precious scroll or somesuch the party broke by accident.
The first few scenes might be them going around this magic city trying to make money, stealing from an ogre, a pit fight against a dwarf etc. but when they learn from an old traveler of a ~tomb full of riches~ (could be the wizard in disguise), they set out for it.
Next couple of scenes is them getting there through a forest full of tribal elves perhaps? Pull the old they think of them as gods and then they're gonna throw them in a volcano trick?
Most of the film is in the tomb. Skeletons of past dungeon crawlers, goblins and the rest. A big bad at the bottom, oh heck, a dragon on it's hoard of course.
In the end it'll turn out the wizard just wanted them to defeat the dragon and might even let them keep the gold, since he can make gold if he needs too.
The final scene would leave the party much as they started, on the streets as thieves and thugs, but just as they're about to rest, someone begs them to defeat blah blah roll credits.
The Party:
Human Rogue - Pickpocket
Human Fighter - Thug
Tiefling Warlock - A moody ally, maybe knows a bit about the arcane side of the world and can explain it to the audience - Maybe a bit like Hellboy? Everyone loves Hellboy!
Half-Elf Barbarian - picked up on the way? Tricked into service? Perhaps knows a bit about the gods and can explain more mystical things
Revenant Avenger - Everyone loves vampires! A revenant can be like one only not so sappy. Also a bit like Batman too.
One important bit I should mention is the film would be lit like a film noir, or a gangster film. The city is always dark and rainfilled.
The comedy would come from how world weary some of the party are and their own backfiring schemes.