HBO Develops ‘Baldur’s Gate’ Series as Direct Sequel to Baldur’s Gate 3 with Craig Mazin as Showrunner

HBO is developing a television adaptation of the acclaimed video game Baldur’s Gate 3, with Craig Mazin—best known for co-creating HBO’s The Last of Us—attached as creator, writer, executive producer, and showrunner. Unlike many video game adaptations that retell existing stories, the Baldur’s Gate series will serve as a direct continuation of the game’s narrative, taking place immediately after the events of Baldur’s Gate 3. The story will explore the consequences of the game’s ending while introducing new protagonists who must navigate a world shaped by the actions of powerful, established characters.

The series is being produced in collaboration with Hasbro Entertainment, with additional executive producers including Jacqueline Lesko, Cecil O’Connor, and Hasbro’s Gabriel Marano. Chris Perkins, former Head of Story at Wizards of the Coast, will act as a consultant to ensure fidelity to Dungeons & Dragons lore. While the show will primarily draw from Baldur’s Gate 3 rather than the earlier games, it will still incorporate broader Forgotten Realms mythology under an agreement with Wizards of the Coast.

Mazin has emphasized his deep personal connection to the material, noting that he has spent nearly 1,000 hours playing Baldur’s Gate 3, completed the game on its challenging Honor Mode, and has been an active Dungeons & Dragons Dungeon Master for over 15 years. With no new Baldur’s Gate game currently in development, the creative team has significant freedom to shape the series as an ongoing narrative, potentially spanning multiple story arcs and seasons.

The show is expected to feature both familiar characters from the game—now extremely powerful—and new heroes who begin their journeys relatively weak, in keeping with classic D&D tradition. Mazin also plans to reach out to voice actors from the game for possible involvement in the series, following a similar approach used on The Last of Us. Designed to coexist with other Dungeons & Dragons projects, including a separate Forgotten Realms series at Netflix, HBO’s Baldur’s Gate aims to expand the franchise’s presence on television while respecting its rich source material.