For those eager to hear more about the upcoming Dungeons & Dragons movie, one of its stars has helpfully offered a little insight into how things are going and what to expect. For those who didn't realize there's a Dungeons & Dragons movie coming out, hey there's a Dungeons & Dragons movie coming out.
Justice Smith, one of the many high-profile stars studding this warily-anticipated film, recently spoke about what curious audiences will experience when it finally releases. It's still a couple of years out from a proper premiere, but that doesn't mean the time is ripe for some good old-fashioned hype. Considering the people both in front of and behind the camera for Dungeons & Dragons, that hype may very well be warranted.
The film will be directed by Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley, whose 2018 black comedy Game Night proved their prowess at the oddly specific genre of making movie drama out of fun family game time. In a recent interview with Collider regarding his new Amazon Original feature The Voyeurs, Smith enthusiastically vouched for both directors as well as how the Dungeons & Dragons movie itself is shaping up. "They're so funny and they have such clear vision," Smith said. "I loved Game Night. That movie is so good and so funny. And it's such a clear, specific story. It doesn't try and be anything that it's not. I think they approached this the same way. I can't spoil too much but it's action-packed, thrilling, funny as hell… it's all of the things and yet it has a clear idea."
Smith's word could easily be trustworthy, considering his own ever-growing film pedigree that includes such gems as 2019's absolutely delightful Detective Pikachu and the slightly more divisive Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom. Aside from him and the directors, Dungeons & Dragons will also include Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, and Hugh Grant, adding some prized star power to the already intriguing concept. Each of these actors is more than familiar with both the drama and comedy worlds, so that's going to be one spicy meatball.
The idea of focusing a Dungeons & Dragons movie on humor frankly seems like the best idea. Many attempts have been made over the years to adapt the concept, from TV shows to films and everything in between. But these days, it seems the most popular media related to the legendary tabletop RPG tends to be all those comedy shows where funny people just sit around and play the game. Ongoing series like Critical Role, Dimension 20, The Adventure Zone, and countless others keep viewers coming back with a steady stream of the funny cut with the occasional genuinely heartbreaking tragedy.
Hopefully, the Dungeons & Dragons movie doesn't lean too much into the tragedy part. But considering the awesome power it's boasting from both sides of the camera, the whole project seems to be in good hands. The film still has a long way to go, but this knowledge might put a few minds at ease.
Dungeons & Dragons is currently shooting to release on March 3rd, 2023.
Source: Collider