HBO has officially greenlit a live-action series based on the juggernaut RPG Baldur’s Gate 3, with The Last of Us showrunner Craig Mazin set to lead the project. While the production’s pedigree is high, the news has arrived alongside a “Critical Fail” in relations with the game’s original creators. Larian Studios, the independent Belgian developer that spent nearly a decade crafting the award-winning game, has confirmed that it is not formally involved in the adaptation.
According to Deadline, the series will not be a direct retelling of the game’s events but a continuation of the story, picking up immediately after the game’s conclusion. The show is expected to feature a mix of established fan-favourite companions and new characters, charting their journey through the Forgotten Realms.
Craig Mazin, who reportedly spent nearly 1,000 hours playing the game, expressed his excitement in a statement:
After putting nearly 1,000 hours into the incredible world of Baldur’s Gate 3, it is a dream come true to be able to continue the story that Larian and Wizards of the Coast created. I am a devoted fan of D&D and the brilliant way that Swen Vincke and his gifted team adapted it. I can’t wait to help bring Baldur’s Gate and all of its incredible characters to life with as much respect and love as we can.”
However, the lack of a formal partnership with Larian Studios has sparked immediate concern among the fanbase. Swen Vincke, CEO of Larian Studios, admitted on social media that his team’s involvement was “not to my knowledge,” though he noted that Mazin had reached out personally to discuss the project. More vocal was Michael Douse, Larian’s Director of Publishing, who highlighted the risk of moving forward without the original writers, stating that no one knows these characters better than the team that brought them to life.
The move appears to be a direct result of Hasbro’s recent internal shift. As Geek Native previously reported, Wizards of the Coast has transitioned to a “franchise model” under Dan Ayoub, a veteran of the Halo franchise. This strategy unifies books, video games, and film/TV under a single internal umbrella. While Larian developed and published the game, the Dungeons & Dragons intellectual property remains firmly with Hasbro, allowing them to license the world of Baldur’s Gate 3 for television without the developer’s participation.
For tabletop fans, the announcement raises the “canon” problem. Baldur’s Gate 3 is celebrated for its reactive, branching narrative where every player’s journey is different. By creating a TV continuation, HBO will effectively have to decide on a “true” ending for the game – a move that risks alienating those whose personal stories ended very differently.
