Netflix Is Making a Live-Action Dungeons & Dragons Series About Darklord Strahd Von Zarovich’s Origin Story
Netflix has announced a live-action adaptation of Dungeons & Dragons based on the Ravenloft campaign setting. The series, titled Ravenloft, will serve as an origin story for Strahd von Zarovich, the iconic vampire lord and primary antagonist of the gothic-horror D&D campaign. The show is being developed by screenwriter John August and director Alfonso Cuarón alongside Hasbro Entertainment.
Netflix describes the project as a “prestige fantasy series where adventure collides with gothic horror and tragic romance,” marking a departure from traditional high-fantasy D&D storytelling. Ravenloft represents the game’s darker corner, emphasizing haunted castles, cursed lands, tragic monsters, and supernatural intrigue rather than heroic adventure. The series will explore the tragic events that transformed Strahd into the feared vampire count.
The Ravenloft project succeeds Netflix’s previously announced but ultimately canceled D&D series, The Forgotten Realms. The involvement of acclaimed director Alfonso Cuarón suggests Netflix is positioning this as a high-quality prestige production, leveraging both the franchise’s established fanbase and broader appeal of gothic horror storytelling adapted for television.