It appears that Dragonlance, one of Dungeons & Dragons‘ most iconic settings, might be poised for a significant return. Dan Ayoub, the relatively new head of the D&D franchise at Wizards of the Coast, has signalled the return of the setting’s original creators, Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman, alongside actor and notable D&D enthusiast Joe Manganiello.
Ayoub shared a photograph on X featuring himself, Weis, Tracy Hickman, Laura Hickman (co-creator of Ravenloft), and Manganiello at the Wizards of the Coast offices. His caption strongly hinted at a reunion project.
Dan Ayoub, Head of D&D Franchise at Wizards of the Coast, said in a caption,
When I took over D&D, I had some very specific folks I wanted to bring back to The Table. Today, I had the honor of welcoming these folks back home. Amazing things ahead.
While no specific project was announced, the presence of Weis and the Hickmans, who co-created the world of Krynn for TSR in 1984, is significant. Adding fuel to the speculation is Manganiello, who was pictured wearing a Dragonlance T-shirt. Manganiello has a known affinity for the setting and previously worked with Weis and the Hickmans on a Dragonlance television series project, which was confirmed cancelled last year.
The potential “amazing things” could span various media. Weis and Tracy Hickman are prolific novelists but also have experience authoring tabletop gaming products. Manganiello is not only an actor but an avid D&D player and Dungeon Master, famous for his character Arkhan the Cruel, a dragon highlord devoted to Tiamat (known as Takhisis in Krynn), who has appeared in actual play shows like Critical Role.
This collaboration could signal new tabletop roleplaying game products for Dragonlance. The last official 5th Edition release for the setting was 2022’s Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen, an adventure module criticised by some fans for containing limited setting information (around 20 pages, according to Polygon). A renewed focus with the original creators could address this.
The timing aligns with Ayoub’s efforts to steer the D&D franchise following the departure of former creative director Chris Perkins and game director Jeremy Crawford to Darrington Press, Critical Role’s publishing imprint. Bringing back legendary figures like Weis and the Hickmans, along with a high-profile fan like Manganiello, could be a strategic move to reinvigorate interest in classic settings and potentially bridge the gap between tabletop gaming and other media, such as television and film.
Fans will undoubtedly be watching closely for official announcements regarding what this reunion might bring to the world of Krynn.
