A LORE UNTO THEMSELVES

Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves boasts a star-studded cast that includes Hugh Grant, Chris Pine and Regé-Jean Page. RACHAEL DAVIS finds out how they brought the beloved role-playing game to the big screen

- RACHAEL DAVIS

WHEN directors Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley set out to create a Dungeons Dragons film, they wanted it to be as much fun for seasoned Dungeon Masters as it is for those who’ve never even heard of a d20, let alone rolled one.

With a stellar cast including Chris Pine, Hugh Grant, Michelle Rodriguez and Regé-Jean Page, Dungeons Dragons: Honour Among Thieves gives the famous role-playing game the Hollywood treatment.

Based on nearly 50 years of D&D lore, Jonathan and John’s blockbuster follows the story of a bard named Edgin played by Chris) and his barbarian best friend Holga Fast Furious star Michelle), who once led a band of well-meaning thieves but whose luck changed after a heist went very wrong.

They were betrayed by Hugh’s rogue Forge Fitzwilliam who, having allied himself with the powerful Red Wizard Sofina Daisy Head), took Edgin’s daughter under his wing and installed himself as ruler of the metropolis Neverwinter leaving Edgin determined to do whatever it takes to get her back.

Enter his allies: insecure sorcerer Simon played by Detective Pikachu’s Justice Smith), paladin Xenk Bridgerton star Regé-Jean), and druid Doric Sophia Lillis) adventurers who set out on a quest through battles, magic and general chaos to defeat Forge and reunite Edgin with his beloved daughter.

“Our hunch was that if we delivered a movie that captured the spirit of playing the game, the fans would feel that and be satisfied, without having to make it so complicated that you need to know a lot to come in,’ says Jonathan, 54.

Not only did Jonathan and John have to entice potential new fans to the Dungeons Dragons universe, they had to initiate the cast many of whom had never played a D&D campaign.