‘Dungeons & Dragons’ Film Has Jonathan Goldstein & John Francis Daley In Sights To Direct

Mike Fleming Jr

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EXCLUSIVE: The long awaited screen adaptation of the massive role playing game hit Dungeons & Dragons is one step closer to happening. Sources said that Jonathan Goldstein & John Francis Daley are in discussions to direct the film for Paramount and Hasbro’s AllSpark Pictures banner.

Goldstein & Daley most recently directed Game Night, the New Line/Warner Bros dark comedy about a group of players when their usual game night collides with a kidnapping that may or may not be part of the game. They also most recently scripted Spider-Man: Homecoming. This is all coming together quickly, and will add more information as I get it. The duo had been attached to direct The Flash for Warner Bros and DC, but they exited that configuration and were available for this job.

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Like the game itself, mounting a screen version of Dungeons & Dragons has been a battle, including several years in the courts over a rights dispute. Warner Bros and New Line tried several incarnations, including one with Lego Batman helmer Chris McKay. He instead took Ghost Draft at Skydance with Chris Pratt, and the project lost steam when another smash video game title adaptation, the $160 million budget Warcraft didn’t work in the U.S. for Legendary and Universal. It got panned here, though it did well overseas, but it certainly didn’t help Dungeons & Dragons, which slipped loose, with Paramount stepping in to take the shot. If the film somehow captures even some of the rabid player audience, it could be a blockbuster. Michael Gilio wrote the most recent draft and Brian Goldner and Stephen Davis are producing for AllSpark.

UTA reps the filmmakers.

 

 

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