Summary
Producer Roy Lee has offered a cautious update onRyan Reynolds' Netflix adaptation of the classic fantasy video gameDragon’s Lair, revealing more details about how the project has evolved. Released in 1983, the successful arcade game follows knight Dirk the Daring as he tries to save Princess Daphne from Singe, a dragon holding her captive in a wizard’s castle. The well-remembered fantasy experience is one of manyupcoming video game adaptationsin the works, with Reynolds previously expected to star as Dirk.
Speaking withCollider, though, Lee has given a rather cautious update about theDragon’s Lairadaptation, indicating the number of changes made to the film’s format so far. Originally envisioned as a choose your own adventure story, the producer revealedit is being retooled into a more traditional movie format.Check out what Lee had to say about the project below:
The status has changed a lot. Originally, it was gonna be one of the movies that was gonna be like a choose your own adventure. Like that Black Mirror episode where you could decide the fate of the characters, and that’s the way we had originally developed it. We had a 400-page script because you could go different directions and go different ways, and Ryan Reynolds was gonna play Dirk the Daring, but they pulled the plug on that format. Now we’re reconfiguring it as a straight, linear movie.
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What Will The Dragon’s Lair Adaptation Look Like Now?
The original version of the movieLee describes was inspired by theBlack Mirrorepisode “Bandersnatch,“which involves choices audiences can make to achieve different paths through the story. However, the movie becoming more streamlined means it’s unclear what route the plot will take, or how different it will be in contrast to the original script. The producer also mentions Reynolds' involvement in the past tense, making it unclear if the actor is still involved in this iteration of the project. Given hispassion forDragon’s Lair, though, it would be surprising if he’d left the film entirely.
However, with the format now changing into a more linear experience, any other announced elements of the movie could change in the process.Reynolds previously praised the movie for its ambition, but if these elements are being shaved off, it could result in him having a smaller role moving forward. Coupled with the success ofDeadpool & Wolverine’s box office, and it seems the actor could have other big projects in the future. Although this doesn’t mean he won’t star in the movie, which could still reveal him as Dirk as development progresses.
The movie’s evolution into a standard video game adaptation is slightly disappointing, given the hundreds of pages of plans that had been written for a more interactive experience. However, getting to see the story ofDragon’s Lairin movie form will still be an interesting experience, even if the unique elements it once had are being reworked.Perhaps one route of the original plans will be streamlined into this new rendition, possibly with Reynolds starring. But nothing will be known for sure until production ramps up on the fantasy film.
The Ryan Reynolds version of theDragon’s Lairmovie has been in development since 2020.
