‘Dungeons & Dragons’ Movie in Works at Warner Bros. as Lawsuit Ends
August 3, 2015 | 10:47AM PT
Maane Khatchatourian
News Editor, Variety.com @MaaneKhat

A movie based on the widely popular game “Dungeons & Dragons” is in the works at Warner Bros., the studio announced Monday, 10 months after the trial ended over who owned the rights to the fantasy game.

After months of negotiation, Warner Bros., Hasbro’s Allspark Pictures and Sweetpea Entertainment revealed that they had come to an undisclosed arrangement, ending the two-year old lawsuit, and are moving forward with the feature film franchise.

David Leslie Johnson (“The Conjuring 2”) has already written the screenplay set in the “D&D” fantasy world of Forgotten Realms. Hasbro’s Brian Goldner and Stephen Davis, Sweetpea Entertainment’s Courtney Solomon and Allan Zeman, and Roy Lee (“The Lego Movie”) are producing the high-priority project.

“This is far and away the most well-known brand in fantasy, which is the genre that drives the most passionate film followings,” said Greg Silverman, Warner Bros. president of creative development and worldwide production. “‘D&D’ has endless creative possibilities, giving our filmmakers immense opportunities to delight and thrill both fans and moviegoers new to the property.”

“Dungeons & Dragons” first became popular in 1974, and has amassed millions of avid fans worldwide since then.

“We are thrilled that this beloved property can finally make its way to the big screen after 20 years, and that it can be realized by Warner Bros., which has been responsible for the biggest fantasy franchises over the past two decades,” said Solomon of Sweetpea Entertainment.

The studio is behind the “Harry Potter” and “Lord of the Rings” franchise, two of the highest grossing movie series of all time.

Goosebumps director Rob Letterman is set to direct the highly-anticipated adaptation of the iconic role-playing game DUNGEONS & DRAGONS for Warner Bros., sources close to the Tracking Board have confirmed. Letterman will be working from a script by Wrath of the Titans scribe David Leslie Jones.

Based on the popular fantasy role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson and first published in 1974, the action-adventure tale centers on a warrior and his band of mystical creatures – including a half-dragon and a cunning gnome – as they embark on a dangerous journey to find a mythical treasure.

The film is being producing by Roy Lee of Vertigo Entertainment, along with Stephen Davis and Brian Goldner of Hasbro and Courtney Solomon through his Sweetpea Entertainment. John Middelton will executive produce for Vertigo, while Allan Zeman will executive produce for Sweetpea. Cate Adams and Drew Crevello are overseeing for Warner Bros., while Coral Wright and Josh Feldman will oversee for Hasbro. Solomon also directed the 2000 Dungeons & Dragons adaptation for New Line, starring Justin Whalin, Marlon Wayans, and Thora Birch.

No casting announcements have been made, but sources say that producers are eyeing a Vin Diesel-type for the film’s lead characters (it’s worth noting that Diesel himself is a professed fan of the game, having played it for over 20 years).

Last year, Letterman steered R.L. Stine’s cherished children’s book series Goosebumps adaptation to a solid $150 million worldwide against its estimated $58 million budget, breeding confidence in the director’s ability to handle an international franchise with a large – and potentially vocal – built-in fanbase. That could prove to be crucial, given the fact that Dungeons & Dragons is reported to be the best-selling role-playing game of all time, with over 20 million having played the game internationally and more than $1 billion in book and equipment sales. Goosebumps also showcased Letterman’s ability to handle a myriad of special effects creatures on screen, which ought to come in handy in bringing the expansive DnD world and its inhabitants to life. Letterman got his start working in animation, with additional writing and directing credits that include Monsters vs. Aliens and Shark Tale.

Paramount also carved out a July 23, 2021 date for Dungeons & Dragons, based on the table top roll playing game.

As for Dungeons & Dragons, Jeremy Irons appeared in an ill-fated 2000 adaptation for New Line. More recently, property became embroiled in a legal battle over who had the rights to make a film based on it, with a 2015 settlement appearing to pave the way for Warner Bros. to move ahead with a long-gestating project. As recently as last year, Warners was developing a project, with Ansel Elgort in early talks to star, however, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed the property is no longer with the studio.

‘Nightwing’ Director Eyed for ‘Dungeons & Dragons’ at Paramount and AllSpark Pictures (EXCLUSIVE)
By Justin Kroll @krolljvar

Chris McKay, who recently directed “The Lego Batman Movie” pic for Warner Bros., is in negotiations to direct “Dungeons & Dragons” for Paramount Pictures.

Michael Gillio will be penning the script. Hasbro’s Brian Goldner and Stephen Davis, Courtney Solomon and Allan Zeman of Sweetpea Entertainment and Roy Lee will produce. David Leslie Johnson has written a script for the pic.

The pic will be one of the first projects to go into production for the newly created AllSpark Pictures. Launched last October, production company aims to transform itself into an industry player to rival Marvel Studios.

Hasbro’s lines of toys and games include Mr. Potato Head, Monopoly and My Little Pony. Its products have inspired films with varying degrees of success. Paramount and Hasbro could not be reached for comment.

The film has been in development for some time but the lawsuit between Sweetpea Entertainment and Hasbro about ownership of sequel rights delayed progress. Once the settlement was finalized in 2015, Hasbro moved the project from Warner Bros. to Paramount and eventually to AllSpark after announcing the new studio.

McKay has been high on various studios’ lists since helming “The Lego Batman Movie” movie last year; he went on to land the coveted directing job for the Warner Bros. and DC movie “Nightwing.” McKay is also an exec producer on the “The Lego Sequel” which is currently filming.

McKay is repped by UTA and Rise Management.