Dungeons & Dragons Sequel Already Has a Script, But May Never Be Made

A complete script already exists for the sequel to Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, the 2023 fantasy film based on Hasbro's role-playing game, but the project may never make it to the screen. Director and screenwriter Jonathan Goldstein said this at San Diego Comic-Con, explaining that he and his collaborators were hired to write a second chapter, but that its production is by no means certain.

"We did write a Dungeons & Dragons sequel. We were hired to do it," Goldstein told Screen Rant, adding that he doubts the film will see the light of day "for a variety of economic reasons." He explained that they are expensive films to make, while expressing confidence that he had written something fans would enjoy and a desire to work with the same cast again.

Goldstein directed and wrote the first film with John Francis Daley, with whom he was at Comic-Con to present their new action-comedy Mayday. Michael Gilio also collaborated on the original screenplay. Honor Among Thieves featured an ensemble cast led by Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Regé-Jean Page, Justice Smith, Sophia Lillis, and Hugh Grant, and received excellent reviews, with about 91 percent positive reviews from critics on Rotten Tomatoes.

The problem is commercial. Released on March 31, 2023, the film grossed approximately $208 million worldwide against an estimated production budget of $150 million, to which tens of millions in marketing expenses must be added. A result considered disappointing for such a popular brand. Timing also played a role: Honor Among Thieves arrived in theaters close to two phenomena like John Wick 4 and especially The Super Mario Bros. Movie, and several months before Baldur's Gate 3 brought Dungeons & Dragons back into mass attention. In short, it was penalized more by the context than by the quality.

Making the future even more uncertain is the corporate landscape. In 2023, then-head of Paramount Pictures Brian Robbins expressed interest in a sequel, but only if produced at lower costs. However, Robbins left the company after the merger between Paramount and Skydance, and in the meantime, the new group led by David Ellison announced the acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery in a deal worth approximately $110 billion, expected to be completed by the end of 2026. It is unclear what priorities the new management will have regarding the franchise.

The television expansion also remains suspended: a serial project set in the Forgotten Realms, after moving from Paramount to Netflix, is reportedly still in development and without a release date.