For a few months now, there has been a rumor circulating on the web that Netflix wants to make Baldur’s Gate 3 into a live-action adaptation. Film and series adaptations of popular video games are currently very much in trend, so the rumor even sounds credible. However, on Reddit, fans are already losing their minds at the mere thought. So what is true?
What is the rumor about? According to the rumor circulating online, Netflix is interested in the rights for a live-action adaptation of Baldur’s Gate, not specifically Baldur’s Gate 3. The streaming giant has already had contact with the Dungeons & Dragons
lore, on which the Baldur’s Gate games are based, through series like Stranger Things.
With the waning popularity of Netflix’s most important series cosmos The Witcher following Henry Cavill’s departure and the premature cancellation of successful series like Shadow & Bone, the streaming giant is said to be searching for a new flagship.
Where did the rumor come from? The rumor first appeared on September 20 on the website Giant Freakin Robots
. The site specifically states:
We have learned exclusively that Netflix is in talks to acquire the rights to a live-action adaptation of the Baldur’s Gate game series.
Giant Freakin Robot, 20.09.2023
However, it is not yet clear whether Netflix intends to create a series, a film, or even a film series. Furthermore, there is speculation that a Netflix adaptation of the Baldur’s Gate games would create an unofficial crossover between the games and the film Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves.
The specific source of Giant Freakin Robots is not named, so its validity cannot be verified.
The topic gained momentum again about two days ago when the news outlet Covered Geekly
picked up the rumor. The article specifically refers to Baldur’s Gate 3 rather than the entire series comprising three games.
The article from Covered Geekly is now being discussed in at least two posts on Reddit.
Fans say please no to a Baldur’s Gate 3 adaptation
How do fans feel about it? Fans are anything but enthusiastic on Reddit. Here’s one of the recent posts:
Players are mainly concerned that Netflix will not adapt Baldur’s Gate 3 properly. They worry that their favorite characters might be cut or rewritten.
In a second post, commentators refer to the series announced by Paramount Pictures and can only shake their digital heads: User cataclytsm sarcastically calls for Chris Pratt as Astarion and receives sarcastic, but also outraged reactions.
Here are a few voices from the community:
- Ennasalin via reddit:
Hell no… after what they did with The Witcher… no… double no.
- onemorekayaker via reddit:
Oh no! I would prefer a YouTube series where the VAs do a complete DND run based on the campaign. Netflix will butcher the whole thing.
- KrookedDoesStuff via reddit:
I hate Netflix. I want to go to Build a Bear!
The general sentiment among both posts is: Why do we need this
and please don’t.
How realistic is a Netflix adaptation of the game?
Should this rumor be taken seriously? It is absolutely plausible that a streaming provider is in discussions with the rights holders about an adaptation. Every film and series studio is free to contact Wizards of the Coast or its parent company Hasbro and inquire about the necessary rights.
Thus, it might be the case that Giant Freakin Robots’ source is correct and Netflix is currently trying to acquire the rights for Baldur’s Gate live-action adaptations.
What are the chances of this happening? Most likely, fans do not need to fear a potential Netflix Astarion. The background to this is that the film and series rights for adaptations of Dungeons & Dragons IPs are held by Paramount Pictures (take a look at your Blu-rays or the credits for the film on streaming services).
Paramount Pictures obtained the rights from Hasbro or Wizards of the Coast and has already produced the aforementioned film starring Chris Pine. As our colleagues from Filmstarts reported, they are also planning their own series for Dungeons & Dragons. This is set to air on their own streaming service Paramount+.
Since the Baldur’s Gate games take place in the universe created by Wizards of the Coast and would not work without the traditional Dungeons & Dragons lore, the rights for it should also be with Paramount Pictures.
Whether this is the case, we cannot say for sure, as we unfortunately do not have access to the contracts. However, since Baldur’s Gate is closely tied to Dungeons & Dragons, it would be surprising if it were otherwise.
Attention: On Amazon Prime Video, you can watch the highly recommended cartoon The Legend of Vox Machina. However, the rights here belong to the creators at Critical Role, a nerdy group of voice actors from the USA. The story, characters, locations, items, and spells are based on Dungeons & Dragons but do not draw these elements from the lore associated with Wizards of the Coast.
Think of it this way: Dungeons & Dragons, the pen and paper game, is the engine for the game The Legend of Vox Machina developed by Critical Role. While the engine is the foundation, it does not grant the engine developers any rights to the game developed within.
What do you think? Would you like to see a live-action adaptation of Baldur’s Gate 3? Or are you satisfied with just playing the game over and over again? Let us know in the comments.
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