Dungeons & Dragonswould have the perfectGame of Thronesreplacement if it adapted one fan-favorite campaign. Some signs indicate that anotherDungeons & DragonsTV series may not be coming for a while. TheD&DTV show being considered with Paramount was canceled.Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thievesearned rave reviews, but its slow-moving box office performance means anHonor Among Thievessequelis on the rocks. However, TV has been trying to recreateGame of Thrones’success since it ended, andDungeons & Dragonsmay have the answer.

Even despite setbacks like the Paramount show getting scrapped and Joe Manganiello’s Dragonlance movie idea being rejected,D&Dstill does seem to be having a moment.The Legend of Vox Machinais dominating on Amazon Prime Video with 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, proving the world’s readiness forDungeons & DragonsTV. R.A. Salvatore’sThe Legend of Drizztbooksare overdue an adaptation, and while theD&DTV show is still getting shopped, that adaptation remains a possibility. But studios may want to look toWaterdeep: Dragon Heistfor a gritty fantasy with a twist.

A ship with a red cross on its sails in the Waterdeep harbor.

A Waterdeep: Dragon Heist TV Show Would Make A Great Game Of Thrones Replacement

Waterdeep: Dragon Heisthas all the grit to provide TV with its nextGame of Thrones. Ever since the close of 2011’s iconic high fantasy, based on George R.R. Martin’sA Song of Ice and Fire, streaming giants have been trying to recreate its water cooler success. Sexposition (the reveal of crucial info via a sex scene), politics, andviolence could easily factor into aWaterdeep: Dragon Heistadaptation, making it perfectly suited to emulateGame of Thrones.ThisDungeons & Dragonscampaign could replaceGame of Thronesas the gritty story TV needs.

This D&D Campaign’s Heist Story Would Set It Apart From Other Big Fantasy Shows

A Waterdeep TV Show Would Be Entirely Original

AWaterdeep: Dragon HeistTV show would have a heist element, whichGame of Thronesdid not. Likewise, the TV series that have been launched sinceGame of Thronesended and were of a similar ilk have not contained this heist focus.Heists are a frequently chosen path for Dungeon Mastersand adventuring parties, with the Waterdeep campaign providing a blueprint for many homebrew campaigns. ATV show based on the Dragonlance campaign settingwould be amazing but wouldn’t have this unique feature that would make it stand out from the crowd.

10 Dungeons & Dragons Villains Who’d Be Perfect For Live-Action

Whether it’s because of their cruelty, their brilliance, or their sheer power, these foes could all challenge any party of plucky adventurers.

ForDungeons & Dragonsto choose Waterdeep: Dragon Heist as its next TV or movie adaptation would celebrate its history and the many fans running heist campaigns the world over. It would also move the dialogue on from high fantasy TV with generic heroes and villains.Mixing the heist into the formula enables crossover momentswith the thriller and action genres, with heist territory also a breeding ground for comedy gold.A live-actionD&Dshow should repeatHonor Among Thieves’strength- humor. Either way, a WaterdeepDungeons & DragonsTV show presents a promising premise toGame of Thronesfans.

Heads of a Tiamat dragon in a Dungeons & Dragons illustration

Dungeons & Dragons

TheDungeons & Dragonsfranchise is a fantasy adventure series based on the iconic tabletop role-playing game. The franchise includes both live-action and animated adaptations, with the most notable being the recent filmDungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves(2023), which brought the fantasy world of D&D to a broader audience with its blend of humor, action, and classic D&D elements. The franchise explores themes of heroism, friendship, and the unpredictable nature of adventuring in a magical world filled with dragons, wizards, and mythical creatures.

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (2023) Movie Poster