Netflix may have just rolled a Nat 20 with the recent announcement of an upcoming live-action fantasy series, Ravenloft.
Taking place in the world of Dungeons & Dragons, the Ravenloft campaign setting is as dark as it gets with gothic horror, wicked curses, and the immortal vampire, Strahd von Zarovich. Deadline broke the news this week, reporting that Ravenloft will be replacing The Forgotten Realms, which is no longer in development for the streamer.
Just as Game of Thrones has been HBO's lucky charm, Netflix may have found their own pot of gold with Ravenloft. After the wrap-up of Stranger Things, which weaved D&D themes into the hit sci-fi show, the tabletop roleplaying game has accumulated a larger audience than ever. If Netflix can snag the D&D demographic, it may just be able to rival some of the biggest genre shows currently on TV.
John August and Alfonso Cuaron are on board to executive produce Ravencroft for Netflix
While very few names have been attached to Ravenloft as of yet, the two we have so far sound very promising. John August has signed on as a writer for the series, as well as an executive producer. August has previous experience co-writing with the king of goth himself, Tim Burton, with credits that include Big Fish, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and Dark Shadows.
Oscar-winning director and writer Alfonso Cuaron will also serve as an executive producer. Cuaron's Roma released on Netflix in 2018, and his other celebrated titles include Gravity, Children of Men, and Y Tu Mama Tambien. As the IP holder of Wizards of the Coast and the D&D franchise, Hasbro Entertainment will also have an executive producer credit.
In Dungeons & Dragons lore, Ravenloft takes place in a dimension called the Demiplane of Dread. The area is cloaked in a dangerous mist that creates and houses all kinds of wicked monsters. Each domain is ruled by a Darklord, the most famous being Strahd. Strahd's origin story is filled with romantic tragedy, and he is one of the most dangerous and formidable villains in the D&D universe. While there is no official premise yet for Ravenloft, it is highly likely that Strahd will be at the center of it.
It may be too soon to tell, but Ravenloft could potentially evolve into an enormous IP for Netflix. If all goes well for the upcoming series, it could open all sorts of opportunities to revisit the Forgotten Realms, possibly leading to the creation of even more D&D-based shows. While HBO may have the works of George R.R. Martin to fall back on, the stories taken from the world's most popular TTRPG are basically infinite.
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