Summary
One of the factions featured inDungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieveswould provide an excellent framework for a TV spinoff. Set in the world of the popular tabletop game,Honor Among Thieveswas rich with existing concepts, races, and locations from the Forgotten Realms campaign setting. This also extends to the variousDungeons & Dragonsfactionsthat make up its world, such as the Red Wizards of Thay, the Emerald Enclave, and the Harpers.
Despite all that it encompassed, there’s obviously only so much one live-action installment can cover, leaving plenty of ground for future entries to explore. Unfortunately, though, there’s still no word onHonor Among Thieves 2,and theDungeons & DragonsTV series at Paramount+ was canceled before it could even get off the ground. That said, another attempt at a TV show set in theDungeons & Dragonsuniverse is hardly unfeasible. If it happens, it could make the most of a key aspect ofHonor Among Thieves’story.
Every Dungeons & Dragons Spell & Ability Used In Honor Among Thieves
Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is full of real D&D TTRPG spells - here’s all the DnD spells that made it from the tabletop to the big screen.
Why The Harpers Could Easily Carry A Dungeons & Dragons TV Show
The Harpers Deserve Their Own TV Show
The group to which Edgin once belonged to inHonor Among Thievesoffers a ton of storytelling potential, and more than enough for a TV show to work with.Honor Among Thievesmade the Harpersa key part of his backstory, revealing that he was a member of the well-knownDungeons & Dragonsorganization before the death of his wife. Apparently, he went on missions for the Harpers, who he described in the film as a “network of spies.” As Edgin accurately explained,the goal of the Harpers is to “fight tyranny, defend the oppressed, and to ask nothing in return.”
While the Harpers were only used to flesh outEdgin’s past inHonor Among Thieves, another project could actually go much further with them, actually showcasing in full the sorts of escapades Edgin only touched on in the film.
Edgin summarized his activities by discussing his efforts to eavesdrop on conversations, stop bandits, and catch Red Wizards. His tale fits in nicely with the loreDungeons & Dragonshas already built for the Harpers, and goes to show why they could work with their own stories in live-action. While the Harpers were only used to flesh outEdgin’s past inHonor Among Thieves, another project could actually go much further with them, actually showcasing in full the sorts of escapades Edgin only touched on in the film.
In the Forgotten Realms, the Harpers have a long-held reputation for the kinds of heroic acts that Edgin briefly mentioned.They send operatives to different cities on a wide variety of secret missions, ranging from thwarting a political coup to preventing a demonic summoning. The number of things they involve themselves with inDungeons & Dragonscreates a wide range of locations and concepts it could hinge on. The scale of the story could vary considerably as well.
A TV show could benefit greatly from a Harper-centric storyline, perhaps by using a full season to follow a handful of its agents on one of these adventures, letting it unfold gradually throughout the season. In this way, the Harpers could become entangled in an overarching mystery or conspiracy that takes time to unravel. Alternatively, it could devote each episode to a different mission for its Harper protagonists.
More Than A Dozen Dungeons & Dragons Books Could Be Adapted For A Harpers TV Series
There’s Plenty Of Source Material A Harpers TV Show Could Use
As for what to expect from the characters in a TV show about the Harpers, there’s a good chance it would take the same direction asHonor Among Thievesand introduce an original cast of heroes. However, that’s not the only available path, asdecades ofDungeons & Dragonsmedia have yielded a multitude of stories with Harper connections. Across many of these, Harpers are just a piece of a wider narrative, with theBaldur’s Gatevideo game series serving as a notable example of this. But, there are indeed books that place the Harpers front and center. In fact, there are several that take this approach.
In the 1990s, Wizards of the Coast publishedThe Harpers, a series of 16 books featuring members of the organization as their main characters. The majority of them are standalone entries, complete with their own protagonists. Because of that,a potential Harpers TV series has no shortage of existing characters it can look to for its leads. It could also turn to Elminster, a prominent Harper and a character who headlined his own Forgotten Realms books series. It’s important to note that reimagined version ofElminster himself had a small role inHonor Among Thieves.
Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thievesis streaming on Paramount+.
Among the most interesting candidates to carry a Harpers TV series have starred in a small handful of books. The second entry inThe Harpersseries,Elfshadowby Elaine Cunningham, introduced two characters to the Forgotten Realms world: human bard Danilo Thann and half-elf rogue Arilyn Moonblade. Despite both being experienced Harper agents, their backstories and personalities contrasted sharply, making them a great duo. Whereas Arilyn was a no-nonsense assassin, Danilo was a competent spellcaster who passed himself off as a carefree, smooth-talking noble.
The pair started out as unlikely allies with a “will-they-won’t-they” dynamic that persisted as they tried to root out an assassin targeting Harpers. After the events ofElfshadow, Cunningham penned four sequels, allowing their stories to continue. The central mystery ofElfshadow, one of the other books, or perhaps an original story, could be utilized to craft an exciting, character-driven adventure for Danilo and Arilyn, whose history inDungeons & Dragonscould lend itself well to a series set in their corner of the Forgotten Realms.
A Harpers TV Series Could Feature An Edgin Cameo
Edgin Could Meet The Main Characters Of A Harpers TV Show
Regardless of who a possible Harpers TV chooses to center as its main characters, it would have an opportunity to build off its connection toHonor Among Thieves. While the film was not considered a box office success, it did generate additional interest inDungeons & Dragonsand could be of benefit to any additional live-action projects. And sinceHonor Among Thievesdid indeed feature the Harpers, emphasizing that link in a TV show about them would certainly feel like a logical move, with Edgin - as a former member - arguably being the best way of pulling that off.
Considering the enthusiasmChris Pine has voiced toward reprising his role as Edginin aDungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thievessequel, it’s not hard to imagine the character appearing again, albeit on the small screen. Possibly through a scene that features Edgin as a past acquaintance of one of its Harper heroes or a flashback of an adventure together, the show could organically use the star of the franchise’s most high-profile movie to cement its connection to the film, its stylistic tone, and humor.
Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves
Cast
Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves follows a cunning thief and a group of unlikely adventurers on a quest to recover a lost relic. The film details their epic heist, which takes a perilous turn as they encounter formidable adversaries, adding complexity to their mission.
