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Netflix’s D&D Show Doomed: How Honor Among Thieves Sets It Up to Fail

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The upcoming TV series for Dungeons & Dragons could face challenges due to the success of “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves.” Previous Dungeons & Dragons movies didn’t do much for the franchise, often appearing dull and reinforcing stereotypes about the game being unexciting. These films, released between 2000 and 2012, tended to be overly serious. However, “Honor Among Thieves,” which premiered in 2024, has helped to improve Dungeons & Dragons’ reputation.

The predicament lies in the fact that a sequel to “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves” seems unlikely, given its underperformance at the box office. However, it’s important to note that the film was hugely popular among fans of the original content and received positive reviews from critics. Simultaneously, Amazon Prime Video is producing a highly acclaimed “Dungeons & Dragons” series, titled “The Legend of Vox Machina”. All these successful “Dungeons & Dragons” adaptations are beneficial for the franchise as a whole, but they could potentially create challenges for the upcoming Netflix show, “The Forgotten Realms”.

Honor Among Thieves’ Popularity Means Netflix’s D&D Show Will Be Compared To It

The Forgotten Realms Won’t Escape Comparison To Honor Among Thieves

It’s quite possible that the creators of The Forgotten Realms are mindful of the similarities to Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, given the expectations set by the community’s long-standing high standards for Dungeons & Dragons adaptations. Maintaining these standards has been a challenge for previous D&D movies, and it will undoubtedly pose a challenge for The Forgotten Realms. Honor Among Thieves did many things well in adapting its universe, and the new show will need to cater to the same audience with similar success.

Even though “The Legend of Vox Machina” seems like it could make the D&D show worth watching, it faces high expectations following the renewed popularity of “Honor Among Thieves” on Netflix, despite its low box office earnings. This boost in viewership shows that a larger audience than initially thought appreciated the movie. These viewers and critics will undoubtedly engage in discussions about the show and the recent film, often comparing them unfairly to both. However, it’s important to note that it may prove challenging to compare the two constructively, considering the significant differences between a TV series and a motion picture.

Unfair Comparisons Could Set Netflix’s Dungeons & Dragons Show Up To Fail

The Forgotten Realms Will Be Best Appreciated In Its Own Right

The Forgotten Realms might be subject to biased comparisons that could set it up for failure if viewers and critics cling too tightly to preconceived notions of what it should embody. Given the hint in its title, the series is likely to delve into Dungeons & Dragons’ most renowned campaign setting – the Forgotten Realms. The successful film Honor Among Thieves took place within this world, so it’s plausible that the show will make use of similar locations. Notably, Neverwinter, a city governed by Hugh Grant’s character in Honor Among Thieves, is a significant city in the Realms and could potentially be featured in the series.

In a notable spin-off series of R.A. Salvatore’s “The Legend of Drizzt” book collection, the dark elf ranger Drizzt Do’Urden makes an appearance in Neverwinter. While Drizzt might not be the central figure in this show, he could potentially make a significant guest appearance due to his prominence in Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) folklore and status as one of the most adored D&D characters. This move might add intrigue to the series, but there’s a risk that it may seem like a less expensive adaptation of Neverwinter compared to an original production. Such concerns have led some to suggest that the show could have developed an entirely fresh narrative, featuring new characters, similar to “Honor Among Thieves.

The New Dungeons & Dragons Series Shouldn’t Be Too Similar To Honor Among Thieves

The Forgotten Realms Should Be Unique

Shawn Levy’s active role in the “Dungeons & Dragons” series suggests it’s an innovative project, as intended. Not much information about “The Forgotten Realms” has been disclosed yet, but what we know so far is intriguing. Given the wealth of iconic locations and characters, there’s plenty for the show to delve into beyond what was covered in “Honor Among Thieves.” In essence, it seems unlikely that there will be extensive overlap between the movie and the series, if any at all. The teams responsible for each production are distinct entities.

Previously owned by Hasbro, Entertainment One (eOne) played a role in producing the film “Honor Among Thieves”. The most unanticipated standout character from this production, Jarnathan, would be an exciting addition to any future Dungeons & Dragons projects, including “The Forgotten Realms”. However, it’s highly unlikely that the main cast of the movie will make an appearance in the upcoming TV series. This is a positive development since it means a fresh batch of creative talents will be handling the Realms, although the show may tread on similar grounds to the movie, but with its unique take.

Shawn Levy’s association with the show is thrilling due to his past work on “Stranger Things,” another exceptional Dungeons & Dragons production from recent times. Comparable to “Honor Among Thieves” and “The Legend of Vox Machina,” “Stranger Things” is a dark fantasy live-action TV series, making it the closest equivalent to “The Forgotten Realms” currently available. If “The Forgotten Realms” seeks inspiration, it might find it more fittingly in “Stranger Things” than in “Honor Among Thieves.” Thankfully, Levy can assist Dungeons & Dragons in achieving this.

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2025-04-19 01:08

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