"How the 2000 first big-screen adaptation of Dungeons and Dragonsoriginated was almost as fantastical as the RPG itself. Indeed, a decade earlier, a 19-year-old obsessive named Courtney Solomon had brazenly enquired about obtaining the rights to turn his favorite board game into a feature film. Remarkably, despite his tender age and complete lack of Hollywood experience, publisher TSR, Inc. eventually handed them over. Unfortunately, this dream scenario soon turned into a nightmare."
"It would take years for the project to start gathering pace, with Solomon spending 18 months seeking further funding alone. There was also a struggle to find a director - James Cameron, Francis Ford Coppola, and Stan Winston were just a few of the hotshots who chose not to act on their early interest - and a studio willing to take a punt on a genre which pre-Harry Potter/Lord of the Rings et al had become box office poison."
"The fanboy was certainly ambitious. Dungeons and Dragons was intended as the first part of a trilogy specifically designed to become fantasy's answer toand he promised to provide the wow factor at least 10 times in the opening half-hour. It could be argued he achieved the latter, although the gasps from the audience were more of second-hand embarrassment than wondrous amazement."
At 19, Courtney Solomon obtained rights to adapt Dungeons and Dragons despite no Hollywood experience. He spent 18 months raising funds while directors such as James Cameron, Francis Ford Coppola and Stan Winston declined. Studios were wary of fantasy before the success of Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings. Solomon and partner Allan Zeman blocked straight-to-video and TV plans and raised $30 million after Joel Silver joined as executive producer. Filming moved to the Czech Republic to reduce costs, and Solomon assumed the director's chair. The film, intended as the first of a trilogy, suffered from a shoddy script and lack of filmmaking knowhow.
Read at Inverse
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