Craig Mazin, the creator of HBO’s hit adaptation The Last of Us, is ready to tackle another major video game property, Baldur’s Gate.
Mazin and HBO are working on a series based on Baldur’s Gate 3, aptly titled Baldur’s Gate. It is the most recent installment of a very popular and critically acclaimed role-playing video game series that takes place within the Dungeons & Dragons universe.
The Last of Us creator will write, executive produce, and serve as showrunner for the upcoming series. He will be joined by executive producers Jacqueline Lesko, Cecil O’Connor, and Hasbro Entertainment’s Gabriel Marano. Chris Perkins, Hasbro subsidiary Wizards of the Coast’s head of story, will be a consultant on the show. His guidance will ensure that the TV adaptation of Baldur’s Gate will stay true to the spirit of the source material.
Although The Last of Us closely followed the narrative of the game, the planned Baldur’s Gate series will move the story forward rather than retell it. The show will pick up immediately after Baldur’s Gate 3 left off. This makes Perkins’ presence all the more important, as he would know exactly what comes next, or at least have a pretty good idea of where the story is heading. The TV adaptation will also see both familiar and new characters navigating through the aftermath of the most recent game.
In an interview with Deadline, Mazin revealed that, similar to The Last of Us, he is a big fan of Baldur’s Gate. He also admitted to being a “devoted fan” of Dungeons & Dragons, as well as a Dungeon Master for more than a decade. He even completed Baldur’s Gate 3 while playing on its most difficult level. His clear passion for the game and the entire franchise in general makes him a great fit for developing a series with such a huge and very passionate following.
After putting nearly 1000 hours into the incredible world of Baldur’s Gate 3, it is a dream come true to be able to continue the story that Larian and Wizards of The Coast created,” Mazin said. “I am a devoted fan of D&D and the brilliant way that Swen Vincke and his gifted team adapted it. I can’t wait to help bring Baldur’s Gate and all of its incredible characters to life with as much respect and love as we can, and I’m deeply grateful to Gabe Marano and his team at Hasbro for entrusting me with this incredibly important property.
While the show will draw heavily from Baldur’s Gate 3’s storyline, it won’t revisit the plots of the first two games. The adaptation will serve as a continuation instead of a remake. The events of the previous games also won’t be canon in the upcoming show. However, it will include elements that exist in the broader Dungeons & Dragons universe.
Head of HBO Drama Programming, Francesca Orsi, also expressed her excitement to have Mazin helm this project. She said in a statement that his love for the franchise and talent for world-building would be invaluable to the adaptation of Baldur’s Gate.
We’re thrilled to continue our partnership with Craig Mazin on Baldur’s Gate. His deep and long-standing passion for the source material paired with his remarkable talent for building immersive worlds filled with rich, compelling characters promises groundbreaking results.
There is currently no release date for the Baldur’s Gate TV series at the time of this article’s publication.
- Created by
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Ray Muzyka, Greg Zeschuk
- Video Game(s)
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Baldur’s Gate, Baldur’s Gate: Tales of the Sword Coast, Baldur’s Gate II: Shadows of Amn, Baldur’s Gate 2: Throne of Bhaal, Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance, Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance 2, Baldur’s Gate: Siege of Dragonspear, Baldur’s Gate 3
- Character(s)
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Gorion’s Ward, Minsc, Jaheira, Sarevok, Imoen, Viconia DeVir, Shadowheart, Astarion