Summary
It’s bittersweet knowing The Duffer Brothers' well-planned path to the finale ofNetflix’sStranger Thingsis nearing its end. In one way, it’s going to be a thrill to watch plot points planted throughout the series come to fruition in spectacular fashion. In another, it’s sad that it has to end at all. Thankfully, it seems the decision makers atNetflixfeel the same way, and they’ve laid out their own plans to make sureStranger Thingsfans don’t end up disappointed.
The Forgotten Realmsis a live actionDungeons and Dragonsseries and Netflix’s next big 20-sided dice roll followingStranger Things. The streamer has attached a familiar face to oversee it. Shawn Levy,Stranger Thingsexecutive producer and director, will produce the upcoming project.Stranger Thingswas heavily influenced byDungeons and Dragons, which makes it a perfect follow-up project for the streamer.
Why Dungeons and Dragons?
The tabletop role playing game was created in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules and acquired by Hasbro in 1997.The Forgotten Realms, likeStranger Things’Demogorgon and Mind Flayer, will be based on the fantasy RPG world ofDungeons and Dragons. D&D has seen its popularity skyrocket of late, with highly successful books, video games, and TV shows spawned from its source material.
2023’s Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Themes was received very well critically, though it underperformed at the box office. Still, the film garnered more than 3 million views on Netflix outside the United States, not including its domestic release on Paramount Plus. Netflix is clearly sure of the IP’s forward momentum and looks to D&D to match, and possibly exceed,Stranger Things' viewership on the platform.
Dungeons and Dragonsharbors a wealth of characters to play with for Levy and company. As everyone knows who played a tabletop game or video game iteration of D&D, the process of choosing and customizing your character can be a full session’s worth of entertainment alone. Warlocks, wizards, rogues, and barbarians are just a handful of the many character classes Netflix and company have to work with.Elves, Dragonborns, and humans not only populatethe world ofDungeons and Dragons, but color it with deep skill sets and cultural backgrounds upon which to craft a player’s own character.
One of the hallmarks of D&D’s real-world appeal is its role in community building for fantasy role-play fans. Players are able to work together to tell stories influenced by each player’s imaginative contribution to the game. Netflix has bet on the buying power of the D&D community, as more than 50 million people are estimated to have played the game.
The Forgotten RealmsPlays A Big Role For Netflix
The Forgotten Realmswill be one of Netflix’s biggest investments yet, as Levy is fresh off co-writing and directingDeadpool Vs. Wolverineand currentlydirecting episodes ofStranger Things' final season. Audiences are yet to learn who will star in the series, though it’s safe to assume a couple of big names will be in the mix. The series is, of course, almost a direct successor to Netflix’s second-most viewed series of all time.
Dungeons and Dragons has seen success with other streaming properties,including Critical Role’sVox Machina.Amazon Prime Video’s animated D&D-inspired series is a mainstay of Prime Video’s top television shows.Vox Machinaenjoys an outlandish 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes through three seasons and an 8.4/10 on IMDB. Netflix hopes the ripe source material, enthusiastic fan base, and capable creative team behindThe Forgotten Realmswill produce similar results for their platform.
The Forgotten Realmswill potentially feature the game’s most famous locations, including The Underdark and Baldur’s Gate.Netflixhas not yet set a release date for the project, but it’s anticipated for late 2026.
