Summary
- Netflix and Ryan Reynolds finally have movement on their Dragon's Lair adaptation.
- Director of Disney's The Muppets, James Bobin, looks to be in talks to helm Dragon's Lair.
- The Dragon's Lair movie was announced in 2020, but is still in early stages.
Netflix and Ryan Reynolds may have finally hired a director for their Dragon's Lair video game adaptation. Dragon's Lair is a video game created by Rick Dyer and Don Bluth in the early 1980s that featured a distinct animation and play style. The game saw gamers playing as Dirk the Daring as he battled a dragon named Singe and a wizard named Mordroc while attempting to rescue Princess Daphne. The unique gaming style was meant to revolutionize the arcade gameplay experience. While the style didn't catch on like the creators hoped, Dragon's Lair dominated arcades, spawning a few games that fans fondly remember.
Netflix first announced plans for the Dragon's Lair adaptation in 2020, though plans surrounding the feature film have been slow in recent years. Reynolds was expected to star in the feature when it was initially set up at the streaming service. However, the actor is said to have stepped back to a producing role, with the movie looking for someone else to star. While it has been years since the Dragon's Lair movie was first announced, the project seems to be finally circling a director.
As reported by The InSneider (via The Hollywood Reporter), the Dragon's Lair production is in talks with James Bobin to helm the project. Bobin is known for directing Disney's The Muppets and Muppets Most Wanted, and the streaming service is eyeing the filmmaker to take the reins on its planned video game adaptation.
A Dragon's Lair Adaptation Could Make For A Fun Movie
A Dragon's Lair animated series in 1984 featured Dirk in a series of adventures. However, it only lasted a single season, failing to capitalize on the game's success. However, fans still know Bluth's work to this day, with movies like All Dogs Go to Heaven and An American Tail. Bobin makes for a perfect choice to help translate Dragon's Lair's unique aesthetics, especially in live-action contexts, which his career has shown he can handle, as beyond Muppets movies, he's directed Alice Through the Looking Glass and several episodes of Disney's Percy Jackson series.
With Reynolds producing, Dragon's Lair is also likely to play out in various ways. While it could be a direct retelling of the game's story with a live-action twist, Reynolds is known for clever tweaks on known concepts, like his movie Free Guy's viewpoint on gaming. However, as the project is still in the early stages, numerous details are still under wraps. As Dragon's Lair develops at Netflix, word will be forthcoming on the film's specifics.
Source: The InSneider (via The Hollywood Reporter)