Sneak Peek of New Dungeons & Dragons Blockbuster Movie

Meeting the Stars of the New D&D Movie

It was an incredible experience to attend the SXSW premiere of the new Dungeons & Dragons movie Honor Among Thieves. As huge fans of D&D and hosts of the women-led Gals & Goblins podcast, getting a sneak peek at the latest big-screen adaptation of the legendary tabletop RPG was a dream come true.

The Excitement Builds

From the moment we arrived at the Paramount Theater in Austin, the energy amongst D&D fans was palpable. Cosplayers dressed as their favorite druid, rogue, and of course, mind flayer characters posed together capturing the moment on their phones. The line wrapped halfway around the block, packed with longtime players of the game eagerly awaiting this pop culture milestone for “the world’s greatest roleplaying game.”

As we were ushered inside and directed to our seats, we couldn't believe we were getting an advance viewing before the film’s wide release on March 31st. The lights dimmed, the crowd roared in anticipation - this is what the community lives for, those rare moments when our niche hobby enters the mainstream spotlight.

Impressions of the Film

We won’t spoil too much about the movie here, but suffice to say that as avid D&D fans, we were thrilled to see the franchise handled with such care and attention to detail. Chris Pine leads the cast and brings charm and wit to the cunning bard he portrays, while the script captures that unique blend of high fantasy action with tongue-in-cheek humor that makes D&D so endlessly appealing.

The visuals are simply stunning as well, from sweeping CGI vistas down to tiny nuances like the intricacies of a spellbook in a wizard’s hand. Several scenes elicited cheers and applause from the pumped up Austin crowd, especially the perfectly-realized mind flayer who serves as the main villain. It was remarkable how faithful this adaptation stayed to the essence of the source material while successfully translating it to the big screen.

Hobnobbing with Celebrity Guests

After the emphatic reactions during the screening died down, the spotlight shifted to the post-movie Q&A panel with cast and creators. It felt surreal to see huge stars like Chris Pine and Hugh Grant rub shoulders with our community. Pine regaled us with behind-the-scenes stories from the production alongside co-stars Michelle Rodriguez and Justice Smith.

The film’s director, Jonathan Goldstein, also spoke enthusiastically about his personal connection to tabletop RPGs and how vital it was that they “get D&D right” for both for hardcore fans as well as newcomers. His co-director John Francis Daley chimed in saying, “We put everything we had into this, we wanted to reflect the diversity and spirit embodied by the remarkable D&D community.”

Celebrity Encounters

As the panel discussion came to an end, we nervously mustered up the courage to approach some of the stars in hopes of snapping a quick selfie. Michelle Rodriguez flashed us a grin as she signed an autograph. Justice Smith, who plays a quick-witted rogue, kindly indulged our request to record a short shoutout for our podcast fans. We were starstruck!

The highlight came when Pine, fresh off promoting the Wonder Woman sequel, waved us over. We could hardly string a sentence together but managed to gush about our women-led podcast and D&D’s positive impact. He listened intently and thanked us for our work supporting inclusion and diversity. As we posed for a photo, he even suggested he may have to come on as a special guest on our show one day!

Building Community

Beyond the celebrity sightings and movie preview, the most meaningful part was connecting with fellow passionate fans. The Austin showing attracted D&D groups from all over Texas and beyond. We bonded over our favorite escapades playing fifth edition and swapped stories both hilarious and poignant about how this pencil-and-paper pastime has shaped our lives.

Cosplayers traded tips on crafting intricately detailed costumes and props. Parents with young children just discovering RPGs spoke about passing the torch to the next generation. Podcasters like us talked shop and discussed collaborating. It was incredibly affirming to be immersed in a community that across all backgrounds shares the qualities that make D&D so exceptional - creativity, teamwork, inclusion.

The Magic Continues

As we reluctantly departed from our fellow con-goers as the night wound down, the passion for this legendary game was ever apparent. Though the sneak preview has concluded, the magic is just beginning. Judging by fan response, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves should be poised for success when it launches widely March 31st.

We’re grateful to Paramount and the creative minds behind this production for doing right by the fans. Most of all, it was a privilege to spend an evening among people from all walks of life brought together by their love of roleplaying adventure. Wherever our separate quests take us next, the D&D community will always be bonded by the kind of honor among thieves portrayed onscreen.

FAQs

When is the new Dungeons & Dragons movie released?

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves hits theaters nationwide on March 31, 2023.

Who stars in the Dungeons & Dragons movie?

The cast includes Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Justice Smith, Hugh Grant and Regé-Jean Page in leading roles.

Will there be a movie sequel or franchise?

The filmmakers expressed strong interest in continuing the story in potential sequels if the first movie succeeds at the box office and resonates with fans.