Home TV News 8-Episode Dungeons & Dragons Series in Development at Paramount+

The straight-to-order Dungeons & Dragon series could become part of a D&D universe and is being written by Red Notice helmer Rawson Marshall Thurber.

Wizards of the Coast 

Dungeons & Dragons fans are eagerly awaiting this year’s new attempt to bring the table-top role-playing game to the big screen in Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, but the franchise may well be coming to the small screen too. As reported by Deadline, Paramount Pictures are developing a new eight-episode series for Paramount+ based on the franchise. The script for the pilot is being written by Red Notice director Rawson Marshall Thurber, who will also direct the first episode of the straight-to-series order.

The project came from eOne, who solicited interest in the series, which ended with Paramount+ landing the show. With Paramount Pictures having already co-financed this year’s movie, it seems that this may not be the last D&D-themed project we see in the near future, providing both do well. Of course, there is a wealth of source material to be plundered, and eOne has been eager to get the ball rolling since acquiring the rights to the Hasbro franchise. With the series being called the largest-scope TV project that eOne has embarked on, there seems to be a lot riding on the Dungeons & Dragons franchise finally becoming a success on screen.
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More than 50 million players have played Dungeons & Dragons since its launch 49 years ago. It has become a part of pop culture with dozens of branching extension packs, video games, live-stream tournaments, and an 80s animated cartoon series. In addition to this, D&D has been given another lease of life as a central part of Netflix hit Stranger Things, and now could be exactly the right time for the franchise to take flight in its own right.

Related: How Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves Could Set Up a Cinematic Universe

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves Will Attempt to Win Where Other Versions Have Failed

Paramount Pictures

This is not the first time that Dungeons & Dragons has made its way onto the big screen, but it is attempting to be the first to be a big success. Previously, the franchise was adapted in 2000 into a movie starring Jeremy Irons, among others. Unfortunately, the film was not a commercial or critical success, and even though it spawned two straight-to-video sequels, the franchise was in no way a roaring success. This time around, Paramount Pictures, eOne, and everyone involved in the production will be hoping that this will be the start of a new franchise.

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is directed by Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley, who co-wrote the screenplay with Michael Gilio; Chris McKay and Gilio crafted the story. The film stars Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Regé-Jean Page, Justice Smith, Sophia Lillis, Chloe Coleman, Daisy Head, and Hugh Grant. It is produced by Jeremy Latcham, Brian Goldner, and Nick Meyer. The film will arrive in theaters on Mar. 31, 2023, and according to director Goldstein, it will be a fun ride. He previously teased:

“We tried to capture the spirit of what it is to play a D&D game, which is life and death stakes one minute, and then you’re laughing your heads off the next. That’s what this movie hopefully is.”