Drizzt Do’Urden will venture out of the Underdark once again in a brand new animated short narrated by Benedict Cumberbatch and a new set of Magic: The Gathering cards.
During a live D&D stream this week, Wizards of the Coast announced several exciting new projects featuring everyone’s favourite Drow ranger, Drizzt Do’Urden. The biggest news perhaps is the release of a new animated short, entitled Sleep Sound, which has been written by Drizzt’s creator, R.A Salvator and narrated by the legendary Benedict Cumberbatch. The short introduces new fantasy fans to the Drizzt and his companions and debuts as part of a longer celebration of the hero, taking place throughout the summer.
In Sleep Sound, you see a young drow born into a cult of an evil Spider Queen but when given the choice to do what is right and leave the only family he has ever known he escapes to the harsh surface world. His choice isn’t without hardships but ultimately he forms his new family with Bruenor Battlehammer, Wulfgar and Cattie-brie and together they fend off whatever evil may come after Drizzt.
The stream, which was hosted by B. Dave Walters provides an exclusive look at all of the Drizzt offerings this summer including interviews with the developers of the Dark Alliance video game starring Drizzt and the Companions (June 22) and details about R.A. Salvatore’s newest Legend of Drizzt novel (August 3).
The stream also featured a preview of the upcoming Magic: The Gathering release, Adventures in the Forgotten Realms, which is actually the first time D&D has featured in the trading card game. Due out in July (8 July on MTG Arena and 23 July in game stores), Adventures in the Forgotten Realms features some iconic characters, monsters and items, including the rather disgusting Tiamat (disgusting said in a good way), the dangerous vorpal blade and of course Drizzt himself.
In addition to videogames and novels, the Legend of Drizzt has action figures, Funko POP figures, Halloween costumes, t-shirts, replica scimitars and more. A live-action tv show is in development with eOne entertainment and, although not focused on Drizzt, a movie set in the Forgotten Realms starring Chris Pine, Hugh Grant, Rege-Jean Page, Michelle Rodriguez, Sophia Lillis, and Justice Smith is in production.
Keep your eyes peeled over the coming months for more releases around the legendary Drow. In the meantime, go and check out any of R.A Salvatore’s books (a particular favourite of mine being The Dark Elf Trilogy).