Director Chris McKay is looking to add even more geek cred to his résumé.
The filmmaker behind The Lego Batman Movie is in negotiations to helm Dungeons & Dragons for Paramount, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed. The film, based on the tabletop role-playing game, has a release date of July 23, 2021.
Dungeons & Dragons was previously adapted by New Line Cinema in a poorly received 2000 film starring Jeremy Irons. In recent years, the property was at the center of a legal battle over its film rights, with a 2015 settlement appearing to have paved the way for Warner Bros. to make a movie on the property (Ansel Elgort was in early talks to star). However, it came to light late last year that the rights had left Warners for Paramount.
Hasbro’s movie arm, AllSpark Pictures, is producing.
Michael Gillio is writing the script.
McKay is also working on Warner Bros.’ comic book movie Nightwing, centering on the classic DC superhero. The Lego Batman Movie earned $311 million worldwide and was a hit with critics.
