Film, TV + Theatre

5 Cool Easter eggs in ‘Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves’

A quest of a lifetime

28.03.2023

By Marissa Chin

IMAGES: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
5 Cool Easter eggs in ‘Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves’

If you’re an avid board game player, Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) needs no introduction. It’s an American fantasy tabletop role-playing game (RPG) that is considered to be a pioneer in the role-playing genre since its inception in 1974. It was instantly popular due to its extensive lore, strategic gameplay and most importantly, its emphasis on storytelling and imagination. One person is appointed the Dungeon Master who has the task of making up story events or choosing them from existing published adventures. Other players respond to it in various manners which creates a unique gaming experience every time. Its reach in pop culture is far and wide, with the characters of Stranger Things and ET.

Almost 50 years later, D&D is still leading the RPG industry with Wizards of the Coast reporting that it had 50 million players worldwide as of 2020, a 33 per cent increase globally. Its popularity has spawned a franchise, with plenty of D&D spinoff RPGs, books, television shows and films. With Dungeons and Dragons: Honour Among Thieves premiering on 31 March 2023, fans of the iconic game are excited to see how the Forgotten Realms will be rightfully brought to life (we don’t talk about the 2000 adaptation). 

We’ve had the pleasure of viewing it at TGV’s IMAX theatre ahead of its release and what an adventure it was! From devious monsters to stunning locations, here are five cool easter eggs that any D&D fan would recognise.

 

THE MIMIC

Illustration courtesy of D&D Beyond

The Mimic monster is an ancient relic of the D&D game, dating all the way back to the game’s first edition. It’s an amorphous monster that has the ability to shapeshift into everyday objects in order to lure unsuspecting prey. Once touched, the mimic will spring to life, still retaining the form of the object it’s turned into, but this time with the appearance of sharp teeth, a long tongue and even limbs to capture its target whilst excreting flesh-dissolving acid. Players of the tabletop game are always on the lookout for this creature as it can be anything from a treasure chest and chair to books. Be on your toes while watching the film as one could spring out at any time! 

 

A FAMILIAR SQUAD…

One really cool blink-and-you-miss-it easter egg comes from this clip released by Paramount Pictures. In the video, the squad is about to enter into a death tournament with other competitors. We don’t need to care about the second team but at around the 0:59 mark, D&D fans would recognise the third team to be original characters of the 1980s cartoon! Aired from 1983 to 1985, long-time gamers would pick out Eric the Cavalier, Hank the Ranger, Presto the Magician, Bobby the Barbarian and Diana the Acrobat. It doesn’t take away from the story for viewers who don’t know them but is a great nod to fans, making this a fun and rewarding easter egg.

 

REVEL’S END

In the trailer, protagonists Edgin Darvis and Holga Kilgore are seen in prison. Interestingly, this prison, known as Revel’s End, was actually invented for the movie as such a location does not exist in the game. Chris Perkins, the story designer of the RPG, worked together with directors Johnathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley to bring this new location to fruition. To make it feel even more like it was a part of the D&D universe, Revel’s End was included in the 2020 D&D adventure Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden in which a map and description of Revel’s End were provided. Therefore, Revel’s End was created with the film always in mind, making it a rewarding easter egg for those who played the adventure quest to see it now included in the movie.

 

THE GELATINOUS CUBE

While this can also describe one after a food coma or the brain of someone after a long day’s work, the gelatinous cube also refers to a staple creature in the D&D lore. It may not look like much but it’s a giant cube of corrosive flesh-eating jelly that people could walk right into without knowing. Though not impossible, it’s also really hard to get out of so unless you’re quick-thinking, you’ll be a half-dissolved hunk of flesh in no time. The cube makes a brief appearance in the trailer and no doubt, fans are already excited at seeing how this classic monstrosity will be used to capture our main squad of thieves.

 

THE UNDERDARK

Known as one of the game’s greatest adventure locations, the Underdark is an inevitable place one ends up in during a quest. Fans also call it ‘The Deep Below.’ Located in the Forgotten Realms, it is home to many ravenous and terrifying creatures such as dragons, dark sorcerers and more. Contrary to its name, the depiction of it is not always dreary and evil. Rather, the Underdark is fantastic and filled with glorious scenic elements such as waterfalls, towers and crystal rock formations. In Honour Among Thieves, look out for how this fan-favourite location will be brought to life.

 

For more reads on film and TV shows, head here.

SHARE THE STORY
Explore More