HBO's New Fantasy Epic Is The 'Lord Of The Rings Meets D&D' Series Fans Have Wanted

Published Nov 7, 2026, 10:00 PM EST

Faith Roswell is a Senior Writer on Screen Rant's Classic TV team. Since earning her degree in Creative Writing over a decade ago, Faith has written articles on film and TV from a variety of different angles. Faith now combines her knowledge of psychology with her love of monster movies to give more insight into what makes the best ones. 

You may have read her Screen Rant lists and features covering horror, sci-fi, and fantasy, or read her Amazon Top 10 book, "Movie Monsters of the Deep."

Faith has had an extensive career as a writer, appearing on BBC live radio, researching true crime for Rotten Mango podcast, and writing for publications including Mental Floss, Atlas Obscura, and The Daily Jaws before beginning here at Screen Rant. 

HBO's reputation for prestige TV speaks for itself, but it has not yet found a fantasy TV show that comes close to Game of Thrones in terms of its impact on the fantasy genre and the TV landscape. However, this may be about to change, with its upcoming Lord of the Rings-inspired series. J.R.R. Tolkien's influence is still felt in many fantasy franchises, including the Dungeons & Dragons games, which have one of the most passionate fanbases of all time and are currently dominating the fantasy landscape, with several upcoming Dungeons & Dragons projects in progress.

One of these is the highly-anticipated Baldur's Gate TV series, which marks a new era for Dungeons & Dragons. Announced in February 2026, Baldur's Gate is going to be a continuation of the story after the events of the game Baldur's Gate 3. This does not necessarily mean that viewers must be familiar with the games to enjoy the series, but it has raised questions over how the creative team will adapt a story with so much lore. That said, the series is in good hands, with Craig Mazin (The Last of Us) writing, executive producing, and showrunning the series.

HBO's Baldur's Gate Is The Fantasy Epic We've Been Waiting For

The best high fantasy TV shows of the decade might be visually stunning and feature a highly talented cast, but many still contain enough common genre tropes that they can end up being predictable. On the other hand, the Dungeons & Dragons franchise is a sprawling multiverse with virtually unlimited possibilities, making HBO's Baldur's Gate adaptation one of the most exciting upcoming fantasy TV projects in decades. While Baldur's Gate shares The Lord of the Rings' epic feel and central theme involving diverse characters on a quest, it is full of genre blends that set it far apart from Tolkien's masterpiece.

This is where HBO's reputation for quality can really come into its own. Giving Baldur's Gate a high budget for visual effects will allow the show to bring a new landscape to life, while both talented veteran actors and new faces can play the mix of fan favorite and new characters. Mazin has confirmed that the series will continue Dungeons & Dragons' tradition of following the journey of everyday people to heroes, which is likely to provide viewers with the same satisfaction as The Lord of the Rings, while bringing something different and innovative to the screen.

Baldur's Gate 3 won six awards out of nine nominations at The Game Awards 2023, including Game of the Year.

Now that HBO has found its next big fantasy series, the show has the potential to be everything that fans of the genre have been waiting for. Mazin's experience with series like Chernobyl has proven that he can tell a character-driven story that combines smaller-scale drama with looming existential threats, and this storytelling approach is largely missing from recent high-budget fantasy productions. Baldur's Gate must feel like a real adventure rather than another expensive set piece, and Dungeons & Dragons is reassuring source material, as it already places the characters' development at the center of the story.

What Baldur's Gate Can Learn From Similar Fantasy Shows

Image via MovieStillsDB

The fantasy genre has struggled in recent years, with some potentially great fantasy TV shows being canceled before their time, while others have been allowed to continue, with their quality dropping over time for a variety of reasons that include drastic departures from the source material, like The Witcher, and rushed pacing, like Game of Thrones. The failures of these TV series might be frustrating for fans of the source material, but they give the Baldur's Gate adaptation a blueprint for what not to do, and Mazin has given fans reassuring news on this front.

Question 1 of 3

In an interview with Deadline, Mazin explained, "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." This can reassure fans that, unlike The Witcher, which was criticized for hiring a team that reportedly did not like the source material, Baldur's Gate is intended as a faithful adaptation that can take its time. While details are under wraps, this is an encouraging sign.

Source: Deadline