After the film \u201cDungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves\u201d became a hit, topping $200 million at the worldwide box office, Hasbro wants more. Hasbro-owned production company eOne announced Thursday that it is launching a new free, ad-supported streaming television (FAST) channel dedicated to the widely popular role-playing tabletop game. Variety was the first to cover the announcement.
\nThe Dungeons & Dragons Adventures is a 24-hour FAST channel set to launch this summer. It will feature original programming based on campaigns played by content creators, third-party content from top influencers, as well as older stuff like the 1983 animated Dungeons & Dragons series.
\nShows coming to the new channel include:
\nEncounter Party: Based on the podcast of the same name, the show features six members, including \u201cThe Walking Dead\u201d star Khary Payton. The campaign occurs in the Forgotten Realms, a common setting in the game.
\nFaster, Purple Worm! Kill! Kill!: Variety improv show where special guests and celebrities act out as first-level players in battles against high-level monsters and beasts. The series was co-created by actor Matthew Lillard, mainly known for his role as Shaggy in the 2002 live-action \u201cScooby-Doo\u201d movie.
\nHeroes’ Feast: cooking competition\/talk show based on the recipes of the bestselling cookbook, \u201cHeroes’ Feast.\u201d The show is co-hosted by \u201cInsecure\u201d actress Sujata Day and chef and internet personality Mike Haracz.
\nHasbro said the Dungeons & Dragons Adventures FAST channel will live on several platforms, but the company hasn’t established any deals yet for which specifically, reported Variety.<\/p>\n
Paramount+ orders a live-action \u2018Dungeons & Dragons’ series<\/p>\n
Dungeons & Dragons made a massive comeback in recent years and is more mainstream nowadays. This is thanks to the many content creators that host livestreams featuring creative storytelling and impressive dice rolls.
\nFor instance, \u201cCritical Role,\u201d a weekly show featuring a group of voice actors, has gone on to make millions, signing multiyear deals with Amazon to produce TV series based on its two campaigns, Vox Machina and Mighty Nein.
\nIt’s nice to see more content creators \u2014 like Encounter Party, which arguably has less recognition than a high-paying show like \u201cCritical Role\u201d\u2013 get a platform to showcase their collaborative stories. However, we’re curious whether the shows will draw a large audience.
\nThe FAST market may be booming, but viewers mainly use the services to watch old movies and shows, like episodes of \u201cThe Twilight Zone\u201d or \u201cTeen Mom.\u201d Is the FAST space an optimal place for Dungeons & Dragons content? We’re not sure.
\nAlso, it will be interesting to see what other content creators appear on the new channel, given the backlash from fans earlier this year.
\nIn January, Dungeons & Dragons publisher Wizards of the Coast (WoTC) received backlash for updating its Open Gaming License, which appeared to threaten creators’ livelihoods.
\nShortly after the protests, however, WoTC announced that it is licensing the game’s core mechanics under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license, allowing everyone to publish and sell works based on Dungeons & Dragons. (Hooray!)
\nWhile the issue has been resolved, content creators may still be wary of partnering with WoTC.
\nEither way, the Dungeons & Dragons Adventures FAST channel is certainly a fascinating move on WoTC’s part, and it might be a pleasant surprise for fans.
\nOr it could flop. Who knows?<\/p>\n
Dungeons & Dragons’ publisher will put the game under a Creative Commons license<\/p>\n