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Hasbro Shops Dungeons & Dragons 2 After Paramount Passes

Hasbro is seeking a new studio partner to try to turn a finished sequel script into a film given the first movie's weak theatrical returns and high fantasy production costs.

Overview

  • The directors John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein confirmed Thursday on The Discourse Podcast that a sequel screenplay is complete and that Hasbro is actively shopping the project to other studios.
  • Paramount-Skydance has declined to finance a follow-up, a decision the filmmakers say was driven by financial concerns about the project.
  • The original film earned about $205–$209 million worldwide against a reported $150 million production budget, leaving little margin once marketing and distribution costs are counted.
  • Despite the box-office shortfall, Honor Among Thieves drew strong critical reviews and built a sizable audience on streaming and home video, which Hasbro and the filmmakers cite as a reason to keep pursuing a sequel.
  • Major hurdles remain: no casting or production commitments have been announced, the sequel will need a studio or financier willing to accept large VFX and production costs, and Hasbro’s ability to secure that partner will determine whether the script is filmed or shelved.