‘Dungeons & Dragons’ Documentary by eOne in the Works for 50th Anniversary
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Entertainment One (eOne), Hasbro’s entertainment studio, will produce a documentary feature about “Dungeons & Dragons,” the world’s greatest roleplaying game that will coincide with the game’s 50th anniversary in 2024, the company announced on Wednesday.
“Dungeons & Dragons” writer and official ambassador Joe Manganiello will co-direct with Kyle Newman and produce alongside his brother Nick Manganiello, Anthony Savini and Cecily Tyler.
Tara Long and Geno McDermott are executive producing for eOne alongside leading “Dungeons & Dragons” scholar Jon Peterson, Adam F. Goldberg and Newman.
“I have had the pleasure of working in the past with Joe on ‘True Blood’ among other projects and cannot think of a better more passionate person to dive headfirst into the world of ‘Dungeons & Dragons’ from both a player and fan perspective,” Michael Lombardo, eOne’s Head of Global Television said in a statement to TheWrap. “The addition of Kyle Newman, Nick Manganiello, and Jon Peterson also bring unique and multiple dimensions to the history we plan to document. As we approach 50 years of this incredible gaming universe, the time is right for an officially authorized telling of the game’s origins and current state of play to its passionate fan based from all walks of life and its global cultural impact.”
Manganiello added: “I couldn’t be more proud and excited to get back behind the camera for another documentary, this time with the D&D dream team of Jon, Kyle, and my brother and producing partner Nick. I lived through the rise and fall and rise again of this legacy brand that has not only meant so much to me but has served as the fountainhead of creativity for an entire generation of writers, artists, and creative minds, influencing so much of our culture. None of this would have been possible without Nathan Stewart at Wizards of the Coast and my eternally supportive boss from the HBO/True Blood days, Michael Lombardo and the fantastic team at eOne.”
“’Dungeons & Dragons’ has sparked the imagination of fans all over the world for nearly 50 years and we continue to bring exciting and engaging experiences to new generations,” added Cynthia Williams, Hasbro President of Wizards of the Coast and Digital Gaming. “As we approach this milestone celebration, I am excited to have a creative team with authentic passion for the brand producing what we hope will become a defining look at the World’s Greatest Roleplaying Game’s storied history.”
The film will draw from over 400 hours of archived, never-before-seen “Dungeons & Dragons” footage going back to the game’s creation in the early 1970s, to which the Manganiellos, Newman and Goldberg have spent the last years acquiring exclusive rights. It will also include exclusive interviews filmed during production with a variety of celebrity fans of the game. This footage, along with Wizards of the Coast’s agreement to give the production team inside access to highly confidential developments concerning the game and brand — the company’s first time authorizing such access — position this project to be the definitive documentary on the game’s soon to be half-century history.
“Dungeons & Dragons,” one of Hasbro’s key franchise brands, is a leading fantasy entertainment franchise, fueled by the imagination of storytellers around the world. More than 50 million fans have interacted with or played D&D since it was first published 48 years ago, including videogames and livestream entertainment on Twitch and YouTube. The Company is actively collaborating on a number of upcoming scripted film and TV projects based on Hasbro’s storied IP.
Manganiello’s career spans over two decades and includes roles in the “Spider-Man” and “Magic Mike” franchises, as well as such television series as “True Blood,” “How I Met Your Mother” and “Love, Death & Robots.” An avid “Dungeons & Dragons” fan and player, he is well known for hosting campaigns with a large rotation of celebrity guests, including some of the biggest names in Hollywood’s fantasy and superhero space.
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In 2012, Manganiello and his brother Nick launched 3:59 Inc., which has since feature titles including “Bottom of the 9th,” starring Manganiello opposite Sofia Vergara, and the documentary “La Bare,” -Manganiello’s well-received directorial debut.
Newman’s directorial credits include “Fanboys,” the Star Wars-centered comedy starring Seth Rogen and Kristen Bell, and “Barely Lethal,” A24’s action-comedy starring Academy Award nominees Hailee Steinfeld and Samuel L. Jackson, and this summer’s esports comedy “1UP” for Lionsgate/Prime Video. Newman earned critical acclaim for his documentary “Raiders: The Story of the Greatest Fan Film Ever Made,” as well as the book “Dungeons & Dragons: Art & Arcana,” the Hugo Award finalist he wrote alongside Peterson.
Manganiello is repped by CAA. Newman is repped by Wonder Street and Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz.
