Dungeons & Dragonshas to confront its drow problem so it can finally reward the adventuring parties loyal toThe Legend of Drizztbookswith an adaptation, which has been overdue since 1988. Dark elf Drizzt Do’Urden was introduced in 1988 in R.A. Salvatore’sThe Crystal Shard, the first book inThe Icewind Dale Trilogy. Drizzt is the center of a lot ofD&Dgameplay and is also important to many who have never played aD&Dgame in their lives. Adapting Drizzt for the screen may beD&D’sbiggest commercial opportunity, but a drow controversy stands in its way.
Salvatore’s books frequently appear on The New York Times bestseller lists and have sold upwards of 30,000,000 copies. Thepowerful drow ranger Drizzt Do’Urdenis a dark fantasy institution in his own right beyondD&D, and a movie or TV adaptation may be the awareness spike thatD&Dneeds to finally break the mainstream in a meaningful way. Vox Machina is slaying dragons and competition on Amazon Prime Video’sThe Legend of Vox Machina, butD&Dwon’t unlock the next level with all these skeletons in its closet.D&Dmust tackle its problematic drow before it can adapt Drizzt.
Dungeons & Dragons Has To Address Its Drow Controversy Once & For All
Dungeons & Dragons Has A Drow Problem
A live-actionLegend of Drizztadaptationwould entail confronting the nature of drow and the color of their skin, which have been divisive inDungeons & Dragonssince 2020. However,the politically dubious nature of the drow started being discussed in the fandom long before 2020. Based on Norse folklore, drow were invented byD&Dco-creator Gary Gygax and first introduced in 1977’sAdvanced Dungeons & DragonsMonster Manualas an evil, black-skinned race. Needless to say,D&Dhad to rethink that. In a 2020 blog post they have since removed, Hasbro finally addressed the mounting controversy over its drow problem:
Throughout the… history ofD&D… drow… have been characterized as monstrous and evil, using descriptions that are painfully reminiscent of how real-world ethnic groups have been and continue to be denigrated. That’s… not right… Despite our conscious efforts to the contrary, we have allowed some of those old descriptions to reappear in the game… If we make mistakes, our priority is to make things right… We present… drow in a new light in two of our most recent books… In those books… drow are just as morally and culturally complex as other peoples. We will continue that approach in future books…
A Drizzt Do’Urden TV adaptationwould draw attention to this and could create more problems forD&Dthan sales. Cancel culture looms large.D&Dpublisher Wizards of the Coast LLC - bought by Hasbro in 1997 - didn’t just make drow less evil, it also retreated from presenting drow as a race.D&Dbegan using the word “species” instead of “race"for all its peoples to closer align with their real-world parallels and avoid uncomfortable comparisons. This is another skeleton that a Drizzt adaptation could free from the closet. But the flesh hasn’t even rotted off the bones of the drow skin color scandal.
A Drizzt Adaptation Needs Honor Of Thieves’ Wry Tone To Address Its Dark Past
Dungeons & Dragons Is Capable Of Sensitive Humor
D&Dhasn’t yet tackled drow nature or skin color as openly as it should have, but it can do so through aLegend of Drizztadaptation with a wry sense of humor. TheDrizztbooks are dark fantasy and an adaptation would wear gothic styling well. ButD&Dtried dark and gritty in its first three movies, which didn’t have the depth to pull it off.Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among ThievesandThe Legend of Vox Machinaprove satirical fantasy asD&D’sstyle.Satire would allow a Drizzt adaptation to make fun of itselfand expunge its dark past.
D&Dcan’t hide its skeletons in a closet anymore.
D&Dgradually shifted its depiction of drow skin color from black to purple and gray but never issued a clear, enduring declaration of what it actually is.ALegend of DrizztTV show - which would probably work better than a movie - should make drow varying shadesof purple to avoid the complications of real-world parallels. Or, it can fully embrace its ebony-skinned drow and use a majority black or PoC cast, a laBlack Panther, as a statement against whitewashing. Either way, it can make meta jokes with strong in-universe logic that allude to the checkered past of the drow’s appearance.
Legend Of Drizzt Stands Against Racism & Smart Writing Would Make This Abundantly Clear
Legend Of Drizzt Has Strong Principles
The Legend of Drizztintended an anti-racist message, and an adaptation’s script, in the hands of smart writers, would be strengthened byD&D’sdark past, not weakened by it. Smart writers could tease out the liberating story that there is to tell here. Whether its drow are purple or black,a Drizzt adaptation has to stand against racism loudly.D&Dcan’t hide its skeletons in a closet anymore. If it wants to be an ally, it must own up to its mistakes and compensate. In an awakening world,D&Dmay not reach its full potential unless it takes this vital step.
1 Overused Hollywood Trend Is The Surprising Way To Make A Drizzt Dungeons & Dragons Show Fantasy Gold
There is a perfect D&D Drizzt Do’Urden TV show waiting in the wings, but one overused Hollywood trope may be key to bringing it to life.
Toril is a wide world, and it holds space for stories just as liberating as the drow are problematic. Despite its dark past,D&Dhas become a beloved space for many uniting through a shared interest, becoming whoever they choose to be.D&D’sdrow problem notwithstanding, R.A.Salvatore’s story is about someone facing racial prejudiceand trying to break free from it.Honor Among Thieveswas going to include Drizztbut backed out due to its drow controversy, and he became Xenk instead. This was a mistake. A bold showrunner would make this the empowerment story thatD&Dneeds.
The Aevendrow Are Not The Answer To D&D’s Drow Problem
The Aevendrow Are A Good Start To The Solution, But Not A Good End
D&D’s2020 overhaul included changes toD&D5e that allowed more flexible Player Characters and the introduction of good drow cultures like the Aevendrow and Lorendrow, but this was a faltering start to correcting its errors. R.A. Salvatore addressed his part in the drow problem by adding Aevendrow toThe Legend of DrizztinStarlight Enclavein 2021, confirming that “if the drow are being portrayed as evil, that’s a trope that has to go away” (Polygon). Butthe 5e changes didn’t nipD&D’ssystemic racial stereotyping in the bud, they just allowed players to make exceptions to the rule.
A truly self-aware Drizzt adaptation would demonstrate that all drow are complex from the start.
Meanwhile, Aevendrow and Lorendrow diluted the logic of former stories somewhat.D&Dcould have amplified its complex drow goddess Eilistraee in some other way, but this would have been difficult without huge retcons.Aevendrow and Eilistraee are both vital inThe Legend of Drizztand must be included in any adaptation along withDrizzt and his Artemis rivalryand the Companions of the Hall. But a truly self-aware Drizzt adaptation would demonstrate that all drow are complex from the start. With sensitive writing, a goth-tinged aesthetic, and a heart of gold, this adaptation could be just whatDungeons & Dragonsneeds.
Dungeons & Dragons
TheDungeons & Dragonsfranchise is a fantasy adventure series based on the iconic tabletop role-playing game. The franchise includes both live-action and animated adaptations, with the most notable being the recent filmDungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves(2023), which brought the fantasy world of D&D to a broader audience with its blend of humor, action, and classic D&D elements. The franchise explores themes of heroism, friendship, and the unpredictable nature of adventuring in a magical world filled with dragons, wizards, and mythical creatures.
