Intro

The pen-and-paper role-playing game "Dungeons & Dragons" has delighted millions of fans all over the world since 1974. Thanks to the Netflix series "Stranger Things" in particular, the game has been on everyone's lips again for the past few years. The last movie adaptation was made more than 20 years ago and was not very convincing. Nevertheless, a new "Dungeons & Dragons" movie has been in production for a while, and is now supposed to bring the role-playing game back to the big screen and make fans go to the movies. In today's Original, we tell you everything you should know ahead of the release of the upcoming "Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves". After this video, you will then be up to date on the plot, cast, crew and production. 

Plot

Let's begin with the storyline. As has been clear since the July trailer, a group of young thieves is at the center of the action. The morally questionable and diverse group has a charming thief as its leader, according to the official synopsis. They set out in search of an ancient, lost relic that is supposed to enter the group's possession during an epic heist. 

It further states that the great variety and fun of the legendary pen-and-paper role-playing game will be brought to the big screen in the form of an amusing and action-packed film. This also makes it clear that no specific adventure from the game original will be produced. Instead, the world of "Dungeons & Dragons" will simply be adapted into a film with its own unique story. A meta level like in the popular "Jumanji", where the players know they are in a game, is thus rather unlikely. Mentions of manuals, dice or other game elements are therefore also not to be expected. 

Back in March, lead actor Chris Pine talked about the role-playing adaptation in an interview with Collider and hinted at a first course of action. As he announced at the time, the film is going to be very funny and resemble a mixture of "Game of Thrones", "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" and the comedy "The Princess Bride" from 1987. In addition, there is also supposed to be an undertone that is a little reminiscent of the 80s cult film "The Goonies". So you can definitely look forward to a bit of 80s aesthetics in the finished film - as the Netflix series "Stranger Things" has already done with great success. The reference to "Game of Thrones" is also obvious, since the hit series itself was heavily influenced by the pen-and-paper role-playing game. Much more interesting are the mentions of "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" and "The Princess Bride". Whereas the former is a cult comedy that consists of a series of sketches, "The Princess Bride" is a romantic comedy based on a fantasy fairy tale.

Monster

Another important theme, whether in the role-playing game or in the upcoming movie, is of course the monsters. The focus here is on the dragons, which play a key role. They are huge, winged reptiles with extremely perceptive minds. Each dragon also has unique powers that it can use. The original ten types of dragons have since grown into many more, so it is impossible to really guess which dragons will appear in the upcoming film. In the trailer, you can see three types of dragons: The acid-spitting black dragon, the fire-breathing red dragon, and the white dragon that is capable of moving on smooth surfaces like an insect and creating an ice fog.

Also confirmed by the trailer are the Mimics. These are shapeshifters that can take the form of various immobile objects. They usually turn into traps that can kill inattentive travelers within seconds. Especially tricky is that they enjoy assuming the form of a bulging treasure chest, waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike. In the trailer we see how Michelle Rodriguez's character has to deal with such a Mimic. 

Also among the monsters is a somewhat unusual representative: the Gelatinous Cube. Not only does it sound quite odd, it actually is. The wobbly cube traps its prey inside and slowly decomposes it with acid. If you cannot free yourself immediately from the cube's clutches, only bones, clothes and armor will remain. So, in spite of its weird appearance, it's a creature that should not be underestimated. 

The next one is the so-called Displacer Beast, also known as the Tentacle Cat. This monster is also shown in the trailer as it attacks the group of thieves. At first sight, the monster might look like a panther with huge claws, but a closer look reveals gigantic tentacles growing out of its body. Unlike a real panther, the Tentacle Cat kills its victims very slowly and sometimes even tortures them before they die. Moreover, not only does it attack to eat, but it also often hunts its prey for fun. Absolutely not a monster you want to mess with. 

The Owlbear is no less terrifying. However, it is not an enemy of the thieves, in fact, it is the transformation of one of the protagonists. We are talking about the group's druid, who is embodied by Sophia Lillis. She prefers to transform into the powerful creature in order to defeat opponents. And indeed, the monster consisting of a bear's body and an owl's head should not be taken lightly, since it is an extremely challenging opponent. 

Besides the five aforementioned creatures confirmed by the trailer, there are also other monsters from the world of "Dungeons & Dragons" that fans of the role-playing game would love to see. One of the most longed for by fans is the Rust Monster, which is definitely one of the most terrifying beings of the D&D universe. Even though its appearance is closer to that of a simple, gigantic insect, the monster is a real beast. As its name suggests, the creature uses rust to its advantage. More specifically, it can instantly corrode metal objects through its antennae. When you consider that not only the majority of weapons, but also the armor of most travelers is made of metal, you become fully aware just how powerful the visually unimpressive Rust Monster is. 

Another frightening creature is the Mind Flayer. Most people probably recognize the name from "Stranger Things", where a monster bears the same name. In the D&D universe, these are beings that aspire to completely control the thoughts of their opponents. Moreover, they are able to extract their enemies' brains in order to become even stronger. By the way, for reproduction, they place tadpoles in the victims' brains, which then slowly consume them so that the Mind Flayer has full control over the individual. 

Another powerful creature is the so-called Oblex. The monster is a result of the Mind Flayer's experiments and a cross between a wobbly cube and the Mind Flayer itself. Therefore, you have to deal with a twice as dangerous opponent, who combines the best of both worlds and can in turn produce extensions of itself from the absorbed memories of its victims. The Oblex can thus create a deceptively real replica of a human and even access their memories in such a way that the foul play is hardly noticeable. The unsightly Oblex himself, in the process, lingers in the background, pulling the strings of his human puppet. 

Cast

A bit of information about the cast is also known already. So far it consists almost exclusively of A-list actors from Hollywood. First and foremost, we have Chris Pine as the group leader and bard Edgin. Alongside him we see Michelle Rodriguez as the barbarian Holga, Sophia Lillis as the druid, Regé-Jean Page as the paladin, Justice Smith as the sorcerer and Hugh Grant as the rogue. Grant embodies the antagonist Forge Fitzwilliam, who will give the group a hard time. In addition to the named actors, "Marry Me" actress Chloe Coleman and "Strangers" actor Jason Wong are also part of the cast in as yet unknown roles. 

Production

To conclude, let's take a look at the production of the "Dungeons & Dragons" film adaptation. Behind the camera, "The New Adventures of Christine" director Jonathan Goldstein and "Spider-Man: Homecoming" author John Francis Daley will direct the blockbuster. The basis is a script written by the two as well as "Justice League Dark" writer Michael Gilio. Shooting officially began in April 2021 in Belfast, Northern Ireland, while initial footage was shot in Iceland beforehand. Already in August 2021, over a year ago, the filming was officially pronounced finished. After numerous postponements, mainly due to the pandemic and empty cinemas, "Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves" is finally scheduled to hit theaters on March 3, 2023. Meanwhile, work on a "Dungeons & Dragons" series was also revealed in February. This is to appear in live-action format and provide the basis for even more spin-offs from the D&D universe. So far, however, there is little information about the series, something that is sure to change quickly if the movie proves to be successful.

Outro

That was our new Originals episode for "Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves". If you enjoyed this video, feel free to leave a like. And tell us your hopes for the movie as well as your opinions about the trailer in the comments below.