FAQ

According to some interviews and articles, some of the cast members of Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves have played the game before or became interested in it after joining the film. For example:

• Chris Pine, who plays Edgin, said he played D&D as a kid and enjoyed creating stories with his friends.
• Michelle Rodriguez, who plays Holga, said she was not familiar with D&D before the film, but learned a lot from her co-stars and the directors.
• Regé-Jean Page, who plays Xenk, said he was a fan of D&D and other fantasy genres, and was excited to bring his character to life on screen.
• Justice Smith, who plays Simon, said he started playing D&D during the pandemic and loved the collaborative aspect of it.
• Sophia Lillis, who plays Doric, said she had never played D&D before, but was intrigued by the world and the characters.
• Hugh Grant, who plays Forge, said he had no idea what D&D was when he signed on for the film, but found it fascinating and fun.

The '80s cartoon of Dungeons & Dragons (1983) was a popular animated series that followed a group of kids who were transported to the fantasy world of D&D by a magical roller coaster. They had to find a way back home with the help of Dungeon Master and their magic weapons, while avoiding the evil Venger and the dragon Tiamat.

The movie Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is not a direct adaptation of the cartoon, but rather a new story set in the same universe. The movie features a different group of characters who are also thieves and adventurers in the realm of D&D. The movie is inspired by the game rules and lore, but also adds its own twists and humor.

However, the movie does pay homage to the cartoon by featuring a cameo appearance of the '80s characters in a scene where they run through a maze and pick up weapons and items. The scene is also a reference to a European car commercial that used the same premise and characters. The cameo is meant to be a fun Easter egg for fans of the cartoon, but it does not imply that the '80s characters die in the movie. They are simply part of a different story that happens in parallel to the main plot.

As for why they don't model the movie after the cartoon, I suppose it's because they wanted to create something original and appealing to a wider audience. The cartoon was very much a product of its time, and may not resonate with modern viewers as much as a new story with new characters. The movie also has more creative freedom to explore different aspects of the D&D world, such as different races, classes, monsters, and locations. The movie is not trying to replace or erase the cartoon, but rather to celebrate and expand on it.