Dungeons & Dragonshas a new show in development for Netflix, and it should be amazing, but it will be even better if it gets its villain right.TheDungeons & Dragonsmoviesutilized Jeremy Irons to quite good effect, despite their catastrophic attempts at overall dramatic tension. This villain was sadly underused, butDungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, thankfully, stepped in with Sofina and the Red Wizards of Thay. The big bad of the movie was Szass Tam, which was excellent, meaning that the newD&Dshow probably won’t want to rehash this concept.
Drew Crevello will serve as showrunner onThe Forgotten Realms, the newD&Dshow in development, set to focus on the eponymous campaign setting that may have beenD&D’sbest-known for years. Working alongside Shawn Levy, who produced theD&D-inspiredStranger Things, the show is sure to bring a wealth ofD&Dwonders to the screen. And with aDungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thievessequelunlikely, it may be gamers' and readers' best shot at seeing classicD&Dvillains televised. Some of them could be on screens for the very first time within a few years.
5Acererak
Lich
One of Vecna’s most powerful acolytes could be a villaininThe Forgotten Realmsseason 1. Acererak is a great option for theD&Dshow, helping it avoid reusing Szass Tam as a main villain.Acererak is an associate of Vecna, a classicD&Dvillain. This link could tempt in hordes ofStranger Thingsfans, seeing how heavily Vecna featured inStranger Things. Acererak is also less powerful than Vecna, so the show could build to a Vecna appearance.
SinceThe Forgotten Realmswill share its producer withStranger Things, it seems unlikely that it will use Vecna as a main villain. However, if it did, Acererak would be the perfect precursor and could lean into the drama and betrayal between the two. Acererak is a terrifying lich of a villain.He could summon up images of Skeletor, playing into truly classic high fantasy imagery with his undead appearance.
4Halaster Blackcloak
Wizard
Halaster is far less renowned than villains like Vecna and Tiamat, but this may be why he is the perfect villain forThe Forgotten Realms.Halaster is an insane Wizardwho resides in the Undermountain. He is also one of thegreatD&Dvillainswho could have taken on the adventuring party fromDungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, no problem. This mainstay of D&D deserves to be explored in the Netflix show.
Halaster is also known as Haalvar the Mad.
Appearing in games since 2e,this character is popular with old-timers and new-timers alike. As a Wizard, this villain would have a Saruman-like charm, engagingLord of the Ringsfans and those thirsty for an evil Wizard to get enraged at. The lack of wider awareness about him among those who aren’t in theD&Dfandom would create a novel experience for new fans, which may be needed, considering there are actually quite a fewD&DTV shows on right now, includingThe Legend of Vox MachinaandStranger Things.
3Demogorgon
Prince Of Demons
Demogorgon is undoubtedly one of theperfectDungeons & Dragonsvillains for live-action, with his terrifying stature and multi-headed bite. This evil creature was popularized by Netflix’s flagship show,Stranger Things, but was not utilized to the same extent as Vecna. Therefore, audiences caught a glimpse of him and may well be hankering for more. Known as the Prince of Demons,Demogorgon would be a final boss for any adventuring party.
Demogorgon has run-ins with various characters in the Drizzt books.
Demogorgon is also one of thepowerful monsters Drizzt Do’Urden fought inDungeons & Dragons, which would entice readers of the Drizzt books into watchingThe Forgotten Realms. Demogorgon has run-ins with various characters in the Drizzt books, which would giveThe Forgotten Realmsinteresting source material.This demon lord would enable an exploration of the Abyss, a hellish realm to add a horror dimension to the upcoming show.
2Xanathar
Beholder
The Xanathar is a beholder and the insane boss of an underground crime ring inDungeons & Dragons.This huge, giant eyeball would be one of the most original monsters to hit TV screensin a long time. Sauron may have been a giant, disembodied eye, but the Xanathar is as bodily as monsters come, endowed with a gaping jaw full of fangs and writhing tentacles that could be delightfully repulsive.
Somewhat reminiscent of Jabba the Hut, this excellent creature would bring an atmosphere somewhere betweenStar Warsand classic Lovecraft.
This beholder features in the Waterdeep: Dragon Heist campaign, along with Jarlaxle Baenre, another crime boss of the Waterdeep city. Somewhat reminiscent of Jabba the Hut, this excellent creature would bring an atmosphere somewhere betweenStar Warsand classic Lovecraft. Inevitably inspired by Cthulhu,Xanathar has enough greed and personality to enliven any live-action arc.
1Lolth
The Spider Queen
Dungeons & Dragonshas a new best villainafter confirming Lolth’s fascinating position as a protector of Drizzt Do’Urden, despite being his enemy at the same time.This intriguing villain is a goddess of chaos, dominating the city of Menzoberranzan through her network of religious acolytes. Demanding worship from all drow and subjugating the males of the species, Lolth is a nasty villain by anyone’s standards.
Lolth is explored in Salvatore’sDark Elf Trilogy-Homeland,Exile, andSojourn.
Lolth has been a mainstay ofThe Legend of Drizztbooksby American author R.A. Salvatore since the first Dark Elf book, released in 1990. She is really the most cruel, bizarre, and enduring villain ofDungeons & Dragons’best book series, and for that reason alone, she is worthy of being the main villain ofThe Forgotten Realms. Also, she has never been televised before, making herDungeons & Dragons’potential next big thing.
Dungeons & Dragons
TheDungeons & Dragonsfranchise is a fantasy adventure series based on the iconic tabletop role-playing game. The franchise includes both live-action and animated adaptations, with the most notable being the recent filmDungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves(2023), which brought the fantasy world of D&D to a broader audience with its blend of humor, action, and classic D&D elements. The franchise explores themes of heroism, friendship, and the unpredictable nature of adventuring in a magical world filled with dragons, wizards, and mythical creatures.
