Vecna Won’t Work As The Dungeons & Dragons Show’s Big Bad, But 1 Of His Most Powerful Acolytes Could
The Dungeons & Dragons television show has a great bet for a villain, and it isn’t Vecna. When it was announced that Netflix was bringing out The Forgotten Realms on Netflix, attention immediately turned to what characters and locations would feature. From drow ranger Drizzt Do’Urden to the Harpers, heroes have been contemplated. But few have pinned down the most likely villain for the show, with Vecna a possibility based on his D&D credentials. But the right villain for The Forgotten Realms isn’t quite as well-known to most fantasy fans.
The Dungeons & Dragons movies offered the world a snarling Jeremy Irons as the evil Mage Profion, opposing Empress Savina. As great as Irons was and always is, it couldn’t save the movies from an uninspiring tour of D&D that was somehow trite and overserious at the time. Meanwhile, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves gave fans a brilliant Szass Tam, emerging from the shadows of the Red Wizards of Thay. The Forgotten Realms is unlikely to repeat these villainous attempts at world dominion for a few reasons, and likewise, Vecna.
Vecna Is A Great Villain, But The Dungeons & Dragons Show Can’t Use Him As Its Big Bad
Dungeons & Dragons Has Had Its Fun With Vecna, For Now
Across the four seasons of Stranger Things, Vecna was proven as one of D&D’s best villains, but this is exactly why he probably won’t be The Forgotten Realms’ big bad. To provide some important context, Netflix’s Dungeons & Dragons show is named The Forgotten Realms after what may be D&D’s most famous campaign setting, arguably neck and neck with Dragonlance. So only the villains native to the Realms will really be in the running for the show’s big bad, and Vecna is one of these, but centering on him in the new show would likely be an overuse of the character.
The new show’s team will have already executed their Vecna idea, and very well at that.
Especially because Amazon Prime Video’s excellent animated D&D show, The Legend of Vox Machina, based on the actual play web series Critical Role, will be diving into Vecna in its fourth season. While The Legend of Vox Machina season 3 teased the Whispered One, Stranger Things and The Forgotten Realms share some crew. This makes it even more likely that The Forgotten Realms won’t repeat Stranger Things’ villain. The new show’s team will have already executed their Vecna idea, and very well at that, with a memorable fifth season certain.
Acererak Makes A Powerful Alternative To Vecna For Netflix’s Upcoming TV Show
Dungeons & Dragons Has A Few Lichs Who Could Fit The New Show
There are a few Dungeons & Dragons villains who’d be perfect for live-action, and Acererak is one of them. Acererak has reached Vecna-levels of infamy among gamers, just not among the general populace, who were informed of Vecna’s existence via the brilliant Stranger Things. Vecna and Acererak are both licks, although Acererak is sometimes seen as a demilich. Sometimes called lichnees, these beings are undead spellcasters of great power. Stranger Things warmed up the world for Acererak, who may appear familiar to those who enjoyed it, building on cultural momentum.
Wizards of the Coast also released a popular Tomb of Annihilation board game.
This strand of familiarity could increase engagement, interest, and viewership. Meanwhile, Acererak is different enough to warrant his own story, feeling new at the same time as familiar. On The Forgotten Realm‘s most frequently explored planet, Toril, Acererak left the Soulmonger in the Tomb of the Nine, forming the basis of the brilliant Tomb of Annihilation adventure module. Unquestionably one of the best modules of 5e, the Tomb of Annihilation could be a great storyline for The Forgotten Realms. Although, the show is bound to invent a lot of original characters and arcs.
There’s One Problem With Using Acererak, But Dungeons & Dragons Season 1 Can Get Away With It
Acererak May Not Be A Flawless Dungeons & Dragons Villain
Acererak isn’t quite as powerful as Vecna, so he may not be as compelling as far as villains go. Drew Crevello, who wrote the pilot for The Forgotten Realms and will serve as showrunner, will be bouncing ideas back and forth with Shawn Levy. Shawn Levy will produce the Dungeons & Dragons show, as he produced Stranger Things, so he will understand the value of an age-old villain, rich in lore, with a superior statblock. The Legend of Vox Machina also realized this wisdom, and its inventive Thordak villain was worthy of any D&D campaign.
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Acererak isn’t as lethal as Vecna and, therefore, may not pull the same audience, but Levy and Crevello are creative enough to embellish the narrative enough to make it work. However, The Legend of Vox Machina built up to Vecna (also known as the Whispered One), with Thordak whetting the appetites of drama-hungry fans everywhere. The Forgotten Realms could easily take the same approach, seeding excitement for a bigger villain in its first one or two seasons while using a smaller one. Acererak would fit this bill, occupying a big season 1 plotline.
Acererak’s History With Vecna Could Still Set Up The Villain’s Appearance Later On
Acererak & Vecna Could Both Appear In The Forgotten Realms
Acererak and Vecna are related in Dungeons & Dragons lore, giving both an opportunity to appear in The Forgotten Realms. Both villains appear in the high-level Vecna: Eve of Ruin 5e adventure, which could provide The Forgotten Realms with some season 1 source material, or even a wider plot winding along multiple seasons whereby Acererak is the first boss for heroes to tackle before moving onto Vecna. The history between the two villains could provide a fertile ground for a rich and detailed backstory to conflict, serving up betrayal and double-crossing.
If Dungeons & Dragons has learned anything, it should be the potential of Vecna and his associates in uplifting a TV show.
This could preclude some spy-thriller-style arcs or episodes. Acererak appeared to rescue Vecna from certain defeat when he was attacked by Pelor, the Oerthian god. However, this was a cover-up in Acererak’s wider plan, which was to ingratiate himself with Vecna to reap intel. As such, it was actually Acererak himself who set up the attack. The Forgotten Realms has numerous villains and campaigns to play with, but if Dungeons & Dragons has learned anything, it should be the potential of Vecna and his associates to uplift a TV show.
The Dungeons & Dragons franchise 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 film Dungeons & 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.
- Created by
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E. Gary Gygax, Dave Arneson, Jonathan Goldstein, John Francis Daley
Summary
The Dungeons & Dragons franchise 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 film Dungeons & 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.
