Netflix has ceased development work on The Forgotten Realms, a Dungeons & Dragons-based TV show in the titular setting. Shawn Levy and Drew Crevello had been developing that project for around eighteen months before Netflix decided to move on. However, Netflix remain in the D&D game, as they have now pivoted to a new TV project based on the horror setting Ravenloft instead, with Alfonso Cuarón on board.
The move clears up a potentially complicated clash, as Netflix were developing The Forgotten Realms whilst HBO are working on Baldur's Gate, a TV show sequel to the popular video game sequel headed by Craig Mazin of Chernobyl and Last of Us fame (Baldur's Gate is a major city within the Forgotten Realms). Levy and Mazin had agreed to cooperate on a shared continuity, but it was always regarded as dubious that they'd be able to coordinate this across two separate production partners. Mazin's Baldur's Gate project remains in development at HBO and is likely to be his next project once work on the third and final season of The Last of Us wraps.
Whilst Netflix has passed on The Forgotten Realms, it's possible that project could be redeveloped elsewhere, maybe even at HBO as well, but that remains highly speculative.
The new Ravenloft project will instead be divorced from the wider D&D multiverse, and will focus on the tragic villain of Strahd von Zarovich of Barovia. Alfonso Cuarón, Richard Swartz and Gaby Rodriguez will produce for Esperanto Filmoj whilst Gabriel Marano produces for Hasbro. Frequent Tim Burton collaborator John August will be head writer and likely showrunner.
Ravenloft was created by Tracy and Laura Hickman as a stand-alone adventure for D&D 1st Edition back in 1983, but was expanded into a full campaign setting for 2nd Edition via boxed set releases in 1990 and 1994, expanded upon by additional sourcebooks and a line of novels. The setting was developed under licence by Sword & Sorcery Studios during 3rd Edition but the licence withdrawn so Wizards of the Coast could release their own version for 4th Edition. However, the early termination of 4th Edition saw that project cancelled. The setting returned to prominence through adventures and source material in both 5th Edition and the current 5.5 Edition.
No comments:
Post a Comment