Dungeons & Dragons (film series)
Fantasy film series based on the role-playing game.
The *Dungeons & Dragons* film series is an action-adventure fantasy franchise adapted from the role-playing game owned by Wizards of the Coast. The original trilogy includes one theatrical release, a television movie, and a direct-to-video film. A fourth film serves as a reboot, unrelated to the earlier entries.
The first film, released in December 2000, is set in the divided Empire of Izmir. The ruling Mages oppress commoners, while Empress Savina fights for equality. The evil Mage Profion plots to seize her throne and seeks the Rod of Savrille, an artifact that controls Red Dragons. Savina hires thieves Ridley and Snails, along with mage apprentice Marina, dwarf Elwood, and elf tracker Norda, to outpace Profion’s henchman Damodar and secure the rod.
The second installment, *Wrath of the Dragon God*, premiered on the Sci-Fi Channel in October 2005 and later received a theatrical release in Europe and parts of the Americas, followed by a DVD release in 2006. It is a standalone sequel featuring only Bruce Payne returning as Damodar. The story follows warrior Berek and sorceress Melora, who join four heroes representing Intelligence, Wisdom, Honor, and Strength. They must stop Damodar from using a stolen black orb to awaken a destructive black dragon.
The third film, *The Book of Vile Darkness*, was released direct-to-DVD in the United Kingdom in August 2012. It follows a young knight named Grayson who assembles a team to rescue his father from the warlord Shantrax, who seeks the magical Book of Vile Darkness for evil purposes.
The reboot, *Honor Among Thieves*, was released in March 2023 by Paramount Pictures. It stars Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Hugh Grant, Justice Smith, Regé-Jean Page, Daisy Head, and Sophia Lillis. The plot follows bard Edgin Darvis and barbarian Holga Kilgore as they recruit a team of unlikely heroes to steal an ancient relic, clashing with evil forces.
A spin-off television series has been in development since 2022. Described as the "flagship" live-action series of a multi-pronged television approach, it was intended to complement the films. Paramount+ initially ordered the series with Entertainment One and Paramount Pictures, but dropped it in 2024. The project is now being redeveloped by Hasbro Entertainment with a new creative team, and will be pitched to other buyers.
Wizards of the Coast released a Fast-Play Game, *The Se
- First film release
- December 8, 2000
- Number of films
- 4 (original trilogy plus reboot)
- Original trilogy
- Dungeons & Dragons (2000), Wrath of the Dragon God (2005), The Book of Vile Darkness (2012)
- Reboot
- Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (2023)
- Returning actor in original trilogy
- Bruce Payne as Damodar
- Television series status
- In development since 2022, with creative update after 2024
Lore & Background
The original trilogy began with Dungeons & Dragons (2000), set in the Empire of Izmir, where Empress Savina fights the Mage Profion for control of the Rod of Savrille. The second installment, Wrath of the Dragon God (2005), is a stand-alone sequel featuring Damodar as the villain, with Berek and Melora leading heroes to stop him from awakening a black dragon. The third film, The Book of Vile Darkness (2012), follows knight Grayson as he recruits a team to save his father from warlord Shantrax.
Reader's Guide
The Dungeons & Dragons film series represents a long-running attempt to adapt the iconic tabletop role-playing game to the screen. The original trilogy, spanning 2000 to 2012, received mixed reception and varied distribution—the first was theatrical, the second aired on the Sci-Fi Channel and had limited theatrical release, and the third went direct-to-DVD. The 2023 reboot, Honor Among Thieves, marked a fresh start with a major studio release and a star-studded cast. The series' significance lies in its persistence across two decades, reflecting the enduring popularity of the Dungeons & Dragons brand. The television spin-off, though not yet produced, indicates ongoing efforts to expand the franchise into serialized storytelling. The series also spawned a Fast-Play Game, The Sewers of Sumdall, based on the first film, included as a DVD-ROM feature.
Did You Know?
- The only actor to return from the first film to the second is Bruce Payne, reprising his role as Damodar.
- The third installment, The Book of Vile Darkness, was released direct-to-DVD in the United Kingdom on August 9, 2012.
- The reboot, Honor Among Thieves, has no relation to the previous films.
- A spin-off television series has been in development since 2022 and is currently undergoing a creative update.
More in part-1
Spotted an error? Know more?
This is a living reference — every entry is fact-audited, and reader corrections feed straight into our audit queue. Suggest an edit · See this site's audit record