Craig Mazin, the mastermind behind HBO’s critically acclaimed The Last of Us, is stepping back into the world of video game adaptations.
This time, he’s tackling Baldur’s Gate 3, one of the most celebrated role-playing games in recent memory.
HBO is developing the series with Mazin attached to create, write, executive produce, and showrun.
But here’s where things get interesting: unlike his previous adaptation, this won’t be a retelling—it’s a direct continuation of the game’s story.
A Continuation, Not a Retelling
While The Last of Us faithfully retold the PlayStation game’s narrative, the Baldur’s Gate series will pick up immediately after the events of Baldur’s Gate 3.
Characters—both familiar and new—will grapple with the fallout from the game’s conclusion. This approach gives Mazin unprecedented creative freedom compared to his previous work, where the source material dictated the show’s trajectory and endpoint.
The Last of Us is expected to conclude with its upcoming third season, largely because the existing games determine its natural lifespan. Baldur’s Gate, however, is designed as an ongoing series that can explore different stories within the game’s sprawling universe.
Nearly 1,000 Hours of Research
Mazin’s commitment to authenticity runs deep.
He’s logged nearly 1,000 hours in Baldur’s Gate 3 and even completed the game on honor mode—the most challenging difficulty setting available. His passion for the source material isn’t limited to the video game, either.
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.
Mazin has been a devoted Dungeons & Dragons player for 15 years, serving as a Dungeon Master and playing weekly games—including on the very night his involvement with the project was announced.
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.
Old Heroes, New Protagonists
The series will honor D&D tradition by introducing new characters who begin their journey with limited power.
Viewers will follow these protagonists as they grow stronger through adventures and challenges. Along the way, they’ll encounter beloved characters from Baldur’s Gate 3—now incredibly powerful—who will either help or hinder their progress.
Some of these returning characters will be heroes. Others will be villains. Some will be literal devils.
While the series draws primarily from Baldur’s Gate 3, Mazin plans to incorporate elements from broader Dungeons & Dragons lore under his agreement with Wizards of the Coast. The first two Baldur’s Gate games aren’t considered official source material for the series, though certain commonalities tied to D&D mythology may appear.
Voice Cast May Return
Mazin has expressed interest in bringing back voice actors from Baldur’s Gate 3 to participate in the TV adaptation.
He successfully employed this strategy with The Last of Us, most notably with Merle Dandridge, who reprised her role as Marlene from the games. Now that his deal has closed, Mazin plans to reach out to the game’s voice cast with ideas for their potential involvement.
This approach could create a seamless bridge between the gaming experience and television adaptation, satisfying longtime fans while introducing newcomers to these characters.
Executive Support and Production Details
Joining Mazin as executive producers are Jacqueline Lesko, Cecil O’Connor, and Gabriel Marano from Hasbro Entertainment.
Chris Perkins, longtime Head of Story at Wizards of the Coast (a Hasbro subsidiary responsible for Dungeons & Dragons), will serve as consultant. This ensures the series maintains fidelity to established D&D lore while exploring new narrative territory.
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, EVP and Head of HBO Drama Programming, expressed confidence in Mazin’s ability to translate the game’s complex world to television.
Part of a Larger D&D Universe
HBO’s Baldur’s Gate will coexist alongside another Dungeons & Dragons project: The Forgotten Realms live-action series at Netflix, produced by Shawn Levy.
Both shows share the same campaign setting—The Forgotten Realms—which is expansive enough to accommodate multiple concurrent series without overlap. This signals Hasbro Entertainment’s broader strategy to build a connected television universe around their gaming properties.
The fans have been eagerly awaiting an adaptation of Baldur’s Gate, and we could not ask for better partners than HBO and the incomparable Craig Mazin to build this world with.
Gabriel Marano, Head of Television at Hasbro Entertainment, emphasized the significance of this partnership.
The Game’s Massive Success
Baldur’s Gate 3 launched to extraordinary critical and commercial reception.
Over 15 million lifetime players
More than 34 industry award wins
First game ever to win all five major Game of the Year awards
The franchise originated in 1998 and became known for its mature themes, including crime, political intrigue, and morally complex storytelling. This rich narrative foundation gives Mazin substantial material to work with as he crafts television’s next chapter.
What’s Next for Mazin
Currently in final preparation for Season 3 of The Last of Us, Mazin has only just begun his journey with Baldur’s Gate material.
With an overall deal at HBO, the Emmy-winning creator of Chernobyl is positioning Baldur’s Gate as his next major series for the network. His track record suggests viewers can expect the same meticulous attention to detail and emotional depth that characterized his previous adaptations.
For fans of both the game and quality television, this collaboration represents something potentially groundbreaking: a video game adaptation that respects its source while charting entirely new territory.
