A disappointing theatrical run did not completely close the book on a sequel to Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves. Dungeons & Dragons 2 already has a finished screenplay, and its creators still see a route back to the screen if Hasbro can convince another studio to pick up the tab.
There’s still hope for Dungeons & Dragons 2
As it turns out, Directors John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein have already written Dungeons & Dragons 2, but Paramount-Skydance declined to finance it for financial reasons. Hasbro and the producers remain interested in finding another studio willing to bankroll the project.
Goldstein told The Playlist’s Mike DeAngelo on Playlists’ The Discourse Podcast that Hasbro remains “a big believer in it,” provided the economics can work. Daley shared that thought, calling the project “near and dear to our hearts” and noting that the sequel can move faster because audiences already know the characters.
Daley also blamed the original movie’s release circumstances for some of its struggles. The March 2023 launch arrived four days before The Super Mario Bros. Movie, while a D&D licensing controversy had already frustrated portions of the gaming community. He also felt the marketing failed to “tell people who weren’t already fans that this movie might be for them.”
The first adventure earned plenty of goodwill from viewers despite missing Paramount’s financial expectations. Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Justice Smith, Regé-Jean Page and Sophia Lillis led the fantasy comedy, which mixed tabletop-game chaos with a character-driven story. Fans particularly responded to its humor, likable ensemble and willingness to embrace the spirit of D&D without requiring newcomers to know the game inside out.
Commercially, however, the picture looked less magical. Paramount and its partners spent roughly $150 million on the production, while the film brought in about $205 million worldwide. Its current reception tells a different story: IMDb lists it at 7.2/10, while Rotten Tomatoes shows a 91% critics score and 92% audience score. That gap between financial performance and fan response helps explain why the sequel still has supporters.
Originally reported by Rishabh Shandilya on ComingSoon.
