LOS ANGELES: “Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves,” the upcoming action comedy from Paramount Pictures, brings the titular role-playing game – first introduced in 1974 – to theaters for the first time in more than 20 years as the iconic game climbs gradually into mainstream pop culture.
Lead star Chris Pine, who plays the charismatic bard and party leader Edgin Darvis, told Arab News: “You don’t have to know anything about ‘Dungeons and Dragons.’ You have to, you know, have a desire to laugh and have a good time. And that’s what this film is about.
“The energy that you have off set comes on the set and vice versa. So yeah, things were light and fun, and it was a great time. And it’s one of those moments where you feel really grateful to get paid to play pretend and fight fat dragons,” he said.
Instead of showcasing established stories from the franchise’s lore, the film – which releases in Middle East theaters over the Eid weekend – follows a new group of characters attempting to save the world after accidentally dooming it by giving a powerful relic to an evil group of wizards, evoking the feeling of playing an original game.
“Bridgerton” breakout star Rege-Jean Page, who appears as the righteous paladin Xenk Yendar, said working on the movie was a blast.
“The game is about having fun and having wild adventures that you wouldn’t have in your real life with your mates. That’s the movie that we want to give folks.
“It’s not about dragons or magic or swords. Like, that’s all there, but it’s about that energy of playfulness and inventiveness and unpredictability,” he added.
To prepare for the project, the stars sat down to play an actual game of “Dungeons and Dragons.” As they rolled dice and improvised a story as their characters, the cast bonded and learned a few secrets about each other.
Pine said: “Rege knows a lot about role playing.” Michelle Rodriguez, who plays punchy barbarian Holga Kilgore, said: “Yeah, he does. That inner geek that’s hidden in there.”
On British actor Hugh Grant, who plays a famous adventuring hero and a respected leader of the Neverwinter city, Pine added: “Hugh has a past that’s complicated.” And Grant said: “Yeah, that’s better not spoken about.”
Pine said: “Michelle has bottled up anger that she uses in films as a catharsis.” Rodriguez said: “I’m pretty good at it. Made a whole career of it.”
The film also stars Justice Smith as sorcerer Simon Aumar and Sophia Lillis as the Tiefling druid Doric.