HBO has confirmed it is developing a live-action series set in the world of the critically-lauded fantasy RPG, with Craig Mazin—the man behind the network's successful adaptation of The Last of Us—set to write and produce. According to reports, the show will not be a direct adaptation of the game's 100+ hour story, but will instead function as a sequel, exploring the aftermath of the Netherbrain's defeat.
The attachment of Mazin is a significant choice. His work on The Last of Us was widely praised, particularly for its handling of the queer love story between Bill and Frank, which expanded on the game's source material to create one of the most memorable television episodes of its year. That track record offers a sliver of hope for a faithful and nuanced handling of the queer themes that made Baldur's Gate 3 a phenomenon.
The Challenge: Canonizing Choice
Unlike The Last of Us, which follows a linear narrative, Baldur's Gate 3 is defined by player choice. The game's massive appeal, especially within the LGBTQ+ community, stems from this freedom. Players can create trans and non-binary characters, pursue relationships with nearly any companion regardless of gender, and even explore polyamory. This raises the central challenge for the series: how do you create a definitive story from a game with infinite variations?
Key questions remain unanswered:
- Will the show follow a pre-determined protagonist, or introduce a new cast of characters?
- Which of the game's many romantic paths, if any, will be considered canon?
- How will the series handle the moral ambiguity and wildly different outcomes that players experienced?
Mazin, a self-professed fan who claims to have logged nearly 1,000 hours in the game, stated he wants to continue the story that Larian Studios and Wizards of the Coast created with "as much respect and love as we can." While passion for the source material is a positive sign, it also risks falling into the trap of fan service, potentially alienating viewers who didn't spend their last six months romancing a snarky vampire elf.
High Stakes for a Queer Favourite
For many queer gamers in the Netherlands and across Europe, Baldur's Gate 3 was more than just a game; it was a space that allowed for complex, adult relationships and identity exploration rarely seen in mainstream media. The pressure on HBO and Mazin to get this right is immense. The project's success will depend not just on capturing the high-fantasy action of the Forgotten Realms, but on understanding and respecting the deeply personal, and often deeply queer, stories that players created for themselves.
