FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION

IFTA AWARDS 2024

Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves

A charming thief and a band of unlikely adventurers undertake an epic heist to retrieve a lost relic, but things go dangerously awry when they run afoul of the wrong people. "Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves" brings the rich world and playful spirit of the legendary roleplaying game to the big screen in a hilarious and action-packed adventure.

Director: John Francis Daley, Jonathan Goldstein
Writer: Jonathan Goldstein, John Francis Daley, Michael Gilio (Screenplay), Chris McKay (Story)
Producers: Brian Goldner, Jeremy Latcham, Nick Meyer

Filmmaker Q&A

Q: What was the genesis of this film, and how did it evolve over the course of development to production and completion?

• Jeremy Latcham (Producer): "I joined the film when it was at the first draft stage.  I had worked with John and Jonathan on Spider-Man: Homecoming, which I Executive Produced, and we had a great time while they were writing on the film.  They joined Dungeons & Dragons and once they had a sense that it was going to moving towards something that they were interested in actually directing, they reached out to me and asked me to join them.  I had gotten calls from Hasbro and Paramount about the film around the same time and it felt like fate that we should all join forces. We worked together hand-in-hand to turn their First Draft into a shooting script and the movie evolved greatly from a character standpoint. But the guys had a structure and a framework that was incredibly sound from the outset, so it was truly a joy to make.  And of course, movies always evolve as they come to life – so as we met cast, the guys and I worked hard to craft the movie to accommodate our wonderful cast.  Chris Pine, in particular, had a lot of wonderful ideas that he brought to the table.  It was a truly collaborative process and I enjoyed every minute of it!"

Q: What did you feel was the most fulfilling element of working on this film?

• Jeremy: "I think the most fulfilling element to me was working so hard to ensure that the film was full of heart.  It felt to me that people would expect the film to have spectacle and to have sweeping action.  We were all really focused on brining heart and humor to the forefront so that the action was something that audiences would be invested in versus just consuming. And I think the guys and the cast did an incredible job of balancing heart with humor and spectacle. When I saw a daughter and father crying at the first screening of the film, I knew we were onto something interesting and deeply fulfilling."

Q: What’s the most interesting/inspiring piece of feedback you’ve received from people who have seen the film?

• Jeremy: "I think my goal is to always have people cry unexpectedly in a film. And I have been amazed by the number of people that have told me they have cried. I have also loved hearing how many people have invited the film into their homes and made it a regular part of their families. I had a Presbyterian pastor call me recently and tell me he had seen the film seven times with his family. I certainly wasn’t expecting that and it made me very happy. And finally, shocked by the love for Jarnathan."

Q: Can you speak to the growth in the Irish film industry in recent years and how it helped your film get off the ground? 

• Jeremy: "The incentives and the locations and the warm and talented people in Ireland made this film possible.  We had the greatest crew we could have ever imagined. It was a wonderful experience from top to bottom. And we did it in middle of a pandemic. The grace and warmth of the people really made things possible!"

Q: Why is it important to see your work represented at the IFTAs and to be acknowledged by your peers in the Irish film community?

• Jeremy: "I think it is less about me and more about seeing the work of the wonderful Irish people in front of and behind the camera and the beautiful landscapes and craftwork on display!  The community gave us so much during such a hard time in history and I think it is only fair to see that work honored for the truly miraculous effort that it was.  What a blessing it was to make the film in Ireland!"