MOVIE NEWS – Despite being based on one of the most iconic role-playing games ever, featuring a star-studded cast, and finding success on streaming platforms, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves did not become the billion-dollar franchise-launching hit Paramount Pictures had hoped for during its theatrical release. Hugh Grant, who plays the secondary villain Forge Fitzwilliam, thinks he has finally figured out why. Alongside Grant, the film starred Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Justice Smith, and Regé-Jean Page—a lineup that seemed almost certain to draw crowds.

However, in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Hugh Grant suggests that market research teams could have done a better job determining whether audiences even wanted the movie. Grant said he loves Honor Among Thieves, calling it “a really good film.” But while Dungeons & Dragons fans may have been excited, he believes the general public just wasn’t interested enough when the movie was released. He said:

“Why didn’t anyone do market research beforehand? I think that’s where things went wrong: basically, people just thought, ‘I don’t want to see a movie about this game.’ Why didn’t anyone ask the audience?”

The ending of Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves set up the potential for the ragtag group of adventurers to return for another adventure. Many of the cast members have shown interest in reprising their roles, but given the original film’s box office performance, it could be a long wait. Assembling the cast seems to be just as challenging for Hollywood’s A-listers as it is for regular D&D players.

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves wasn’t a total box office failure. It grossed $208 million worldwide, making it technically profitable. However, the returns dashed hopes for a franchise. It’s unfortunate because the studio originally had ambitious plans for a franchise. Alongside a potential sequel, a live-action series was greenlit by Paramount+ before the film even premiered. But earlier this year, Paramount+ canceled the order. The series isn’t entirely dead, as another distributor might pick up the rights, but nothing has been confirmed.

Much like the live-action series, many fans assumed a second movie was just a fantasy, given the first film’s box office numbers. However, Chris Pine remains optimistic, saying there’s always a chance to roll a natural 20. While the odds of a sequel are uncertain (two dice jokes in one sentence), Pine believes Hasbro will eventually greenlight a second film that might achieve greater critical acclaim (okay, that one was a stretch). Pine commented:

“I think there’s a really good chance we’ll make another one because I believe Hasbro owns the rights. I think there’s a good chance, and if they can figure out a financial way to make it work, they’ll do it.”

While fans continue crafting countless character sheets they’ll likely never use, we must accept that Honor Among Thieves might be a one-shot adventure for now. Meanwhile, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves continues to find an audience on its permanent streaming home, Paramount+.

Source: MovieWeb