Netflix’s The Forgotten Realms Is the Fantasy Event of the Decade

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Despite a history of unsuccessful attempts, the popular roleplaying game Dungeons & Dragons might finally become a major hit with a new adaptation. Over the past twenty-five years, four movies and several TV series have tried to bring the game’s expansive fantasy world to life, but all have fallen short. Now, after many disappointments, fans are hopeful that a new series will finally do the game justice.

Currently in development at Netflix, The Forgotten Realms is a live-action series based on the popular Dungeons & Dragons universe. The show faced early hurdles, as Paramount previously decided not to move forward with the project. With Netflix now giving it the go-ahead, The Forgotten Realms has the potential to become a major fantasy hit – and could launch a full live-action franchise for D&D, similar to The Lord of the Rings or Game of Thrones.

The Forgotten Realms Is a Promising New Fantasy Series Based on Dungeons & Dragons

Most people familiar with Dungeons & Dragons know it’s set in a huge, imaginative fantasy world. While D&D has always been popular as a tabletop game, turning it into successful movies or shows has proven difficult. Now, Netflix is hoping to change that with The Forgotten Realms.

The Forgotten Realms is a new live-action TV series based on the world of Dungeons & Dragons. The show takes place in the fantastical setting of the Forgotten Realms, which is known from the popular tabletop game. Netflix hasn’t shared many details about the plot or characters yet. However, the series aims to showcase the richness and depth of this fantasy world, potentially becoming viewers’ next favorite obsession.

Viewers might recognize the world of The Forgotten Realms from other Dungeons & Dragons projects, especially the Baldur’s Gate video game series, which is set in the same place. This detailed world and its many characters give the new live-action Netflix series a great foundation to build a popular D&D adaptation.

A major draw of The Forgotten Realms is the talented team behind it. Ryan Reynolds, known for Deadpool & Wolverine, is an executive producer, along with Dan Levine. Levy also directed Stranger Things on Netflix, a show that takes a lot of inspiration from Dungeons & Dragons, especially in its depiction of the monsters from the Upside Down.

Drew Crevello, known for his work on films like X-Men: First Class and Deadpool, will lead the show as showrunner and head writer. This talented team excels at crafting compelling stories and relatable characters, and they have a deep understanding of the fantasy and gaming world that will help them authentically bring the universe of Dungeons & Dragons to the screen.

How The Forgotten Realms Can Build a Dungeons & Dragons Live-Action Franchise

Netflix’s new series, set in the world of The Forgotten Realms, could lead to a much larger Dungeons & Dragons franchise – something fans haven’t seen in live-action before. If the show proves popular, Netflix might create even more *D&Drelated movies and series in the future.

Despite several attempts, creating a successful film and television universe based on Dungeons & Dragons has proven difficult. Previous projects haven’t performed well, effectively ending hopes for any sequels or expanded stories. The Dungeons & Dragons movies released in the 2000s were particularly unsuccessful, receiving negative reviews from both critics and audiences and failing to attract a significant fanbase.

Despite getting mostly good reviews, the film didn’t perform well enough to launch a major, big-budget movie franchise based on the role-playing game. This setback likely means future adaptations will focus on television instead, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

Creating a truly epic adaptation of Dungeons & Dragons has been a challenge for filmmakers – it’s what fans have always hoped for. Honor Among Thieves got closer than any previous movie, but still didn’t quite capture the expansive feel of a full D&D campaign. A TV series, though, could really deliver on that promise. Like a Dungeon Master guiding players through a long adventure, a series can slowly build the story, allowing viewers to become invested in the characters and the world.

It’s quite a twist that this promising project could have been with Paramount. The story actually started at Paramount Pictures, the studio behind Honor Among Thieves. The film’s disappointing performance at the box office likely led them to decline further involvement. However, if Netflix succeeds in building The Forgotten Realms into a major franchise – which they’re aiming to do – Paramount will probably regret their decision for years to come, particularly given their recent conflicts with Netflix.

Fans of Dungeons & Dragons have a lot to look forward to with the upcoming Forgotten Realms series. The show’s longer format will allow for a more detailed adaptation than previous movies, and it will be brought to life with impressive live-action effects. This could be the start of a whole new wave of Dungeons & Dragons stories, exploring the rich history and characters of this popular fantasy world. While we don’t have a release date yet, expect more news about the series in the next year as it moves closer to completion.

There Are Other Dungeons & Dragons Series to Watch Before The Forgotten Realms

Dungeons & Dragons is becoming increasingly popular in mainstream culture. Several TV shows have drawn inspiration from its stories and creatures without being direct adaptations. The most famous example is Stranger Things, which includes monsters reminiscent of Dungeons & Dragons’ Demogorgons, the Mind Flayer, and Vecna, though the show makes it clear these are not the same characters from the game.

Lately, we’ve seen a growing number of TV shows based on actual Dungeons & Dragons game campaigns. Leading this trend is Critical Role, a group of tabletop role-playing gamers whose adventures have been adapted into several series. Their most popular show is a fantastic watch for everyone—you don’t need to know anything about D&D to enjoy it.

In addition to The Legend of Vox Machina, there’s another animated series called The Mighty Nein, based on Critical Role’s second campaign. Both shows are enjoyable and easy to watch all at once, and you don’t need to be a Dungeons & Dragons expert to appreciate them – though longtime fans will recognize lots of inside jokes! What makes these series great is how well they recreate the experience of playing a D&D game, and that’s key for any adaptation.

If you’re a fan of Dungeons & Dragons and want a truly immersive experience, consider watching actual gameplay. Critical Role’s campaigns on YouTube let you follow the stories of The Legend of Vox Machina and The Mighty Nein as they originally happened. For something similar, Dropout’s Dimension 20 is another great option. Both shows create their own unique worlds inspired by D&D, making them enjoyable even if you’re not familiar with the game’s backstory.

Dungeons & Dragons is becoming increasingly popular, and it looks like it’s finally gaining mainstream recognition. With shows like The Forgotten Realm on the way, fans can expect a detailed adaptation of the classic role-playing game. Until then, there’s already a lot of great D&D content available to keep fans happy while they wait.

The Forgotten Realms does not yet have a release date.

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2025-12-14 18:08