HBO Announces Baldur's Gate 3 Series Adaptation From 'The Last Of Us' Showrunner

HBO is developing a television adaptation of the critically and commercially successful fantasy role-playing game “Baldur’s Gate 3.” The project comes from Hasbro Entertainment and will be led by Craig Mazin, the co-creator and showrunner behind HBO’s other major video game adaptation, “The Last of Us,” as well as the limited series “Chernobyl.”

Mazin will serve as showrunner and an executive producer for the new series, which is planned to continue the story established in the video game. He is joined by executive producers Jacqueline Lesko and Cecil O’Connor, along with Gabriel Marano, Hasbro Entertainment’s head of television.

The adaptation follows the immense success of “Baldur’s Gate 3,” which launched in 2023, went on to win all five major Game of the Year awards, and surpassed 15 million players worldwide. Mazin confirmed his personal investment in the source material, revealing he had spent a significant amount of time playing the game.

“After putting nearly 1000 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, and I’m deeply grateful to Gabe Marano and his team at Hasbro for entrusting me with this incredibly important property.”

— Craig Mazin

HBO’s executive vice president and head of drama programming, Francesca Orsi, expressed confidence in the partnership, citing Mazin’s history with the network and his connection to the game. She noted his talent for creating immersive worlds and compelling characters as a key factor in the project moving forward.

“We’re thrilled to continue our partnership with Craig Mazin on ‘Baldur’s Gate.’ His deep and long-standing passion for the source material paired with his remarkable talent for building immersive worlds filled with rich, compelling characters promises groundbreaking results.”

— Francesca Orsi

The initial news, reported by Variety, prompted discussion about the involvement of Larian Studios, the developer behind the game. Larian officially finished its work on “Baldur’s Gate 3” in 2023 and has stated it is moving on from the Dungeons & Dragons franchise. Initially, The Games Awards’ Geoff Keighley posted on social media that Larian had no direct involvement in the series. Larian’s CEO, Swen Vincke, later clarified the situation. He confirmed that, to his knowledge, no writers from the studio were consulting on the adaptation. However, he also shared that Mazin had reached out to him to arrange a meeting to discuss the project, which gave him a sense of optimism about the adaptation's direction, noting that Mazin seemed to be a genuine fan of the game.

“We worked incredibly hard on making Baldur’s Gate 3 worthy of its legacy. Its characters and narratives are the result of many teams working together and I think I can speak for them all in saying that they'll think this is cool and hope that what comes next will enjoy the same level of passion.”

— Vincke wrote on X

Vincke also explained that the game’s conclusions were intentionally designed to allow for future narratives, leaving many potential paths for the television series to explore. He expressed his eagerness to see which direction Mazin and his team will choose for the story.

The director of publishing at Larian, Michael Douse, also commented on the announcement. He emphasized the dedication and skill of the creative teams who built the world of “Baldur’s Gate 3” over many years. He conveyed his hope that the television series would properly credit the original creators and treat the characters with the same depth and respect found in the game.

“I've spent the last eight to 10 years of my life with the writers and creators of Baldur's Gate 3 and they're the most incredible storytellers and creators in the space. Only hope is that they get both the credit deserved and the characters are represented at the same level as the game. Our stories are built by fierce comeraderie and resolve. I have watched them write and write and write and through respect for audience and material come up with some of the finest shit I have ever played. I hope TV allows for the same thoroughness.”

— Michael Douse

There is currently no timeline for when the “Baldur’s Gate 3” adaptation might air. Mazin remains involved with “The Last of Us,” which is preparing for its next season. While a four-season plan for that series had been previously mentioned by Mazin, recent comments from HBO executives suggest its story may conclude with its third season, though the final decision rests with the showrunners.

Read also, Larian Studios CEO Swen Vincke recently shared his thoughts on video game criticism, suggesting that reviewers should aim to be critical without being hurtful, and even floated the idea of critics being scored.