HBO is Developing Baldur’s Gate TV Series With Craig Mazin

HBO has initiated development of a Baldur’s Gate TV series that will continue the story of the hit role-playing game Baldur’s Gate 3. The series will be created by Craig Mazin, best known for his work on HBO’s adaptation of The Last of Us and the Emmy-winning Chernobyl.

Mazin will create, write, direct, and executive-produce the upcoming series. In announcing the project, Mazin said the opportunity to expand the game’s world comes from his deep association with the property.

“After putting nearly 1000 hours into the incredible world of Baldur’s Gate 3, it is a dream come true to be able to continue the story that Larian and Wizards of the Coast created,” he said, framing the adaptation as a passion project rather than a purely commercial venture. The narrative of the series is reported to be a continuation of the plot after Baldur’s Gate 3 video game ends.

Baldur’s Gate is one of the most durable video game IPs, released in December 1998. The franchise is based on Wizards of the Coast’s tabletop role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons (D&D). Mazin, who called himself a “devoted fan of D&D,” aims to translate the commonalities between the game’s narrative and D&D lore.

HBO drama programming head and EVP Francesca Orsi further emphasized that his “deep and long-standing passion” for the source material, paired with his track record in building immersive worlds, made him a strategic choice to lead the Baldur’s Gate live-action project.

Vision Behind the Baldur’s Gate TV Series: Narrative Strategy and Creative Direction

Unlike HBO’s The Last of Us, which closely adapted the structure and events of Naughty Dog’s game, the Baldur’s Gate series will not retell the narrative of Baldur’s Gate games, as already mentioned. Instead, HBO and Mazin are positioning the show almost as a sequel to the narrative of Baldur’s Gate 3.

According to production statements, the series will combine new characters with returning figures from Baldur's Gate 3, navigating the aftermath of the game’s events while introducing fresh arcs.

Hasbro Entertainment’s TV head, Gabriel Marano, who is executive producing alongside Mazin, has endorsed this approach, framing the collaboration as a chance to build the game’s world with respect for both the game’s legacy and long-time fans of the Dungeons & Dragons universe.

Other executive producers for the project are Cecil O’Connor and Jacqueline Lesko. Wizards of the Coast’s former Head of Story, Chris Perkins, will serve as a consultant, highlighting the Hasbro subsidiary’s deep involvement in the Baldur's Gate TV series. The announcement did not mention any involvement of Larian Studios (the developer of Baldur's Gate 3).

As of this writing, HBO hasn’t confirmed other production details or a possible release window for the series. However, Mazin’s current HBO project, The Last of Us, will end with season 3, making it likely that production of the Baldur's Gate series might start after that.

For casting, Mazin plans to reach out to the voice cast of Baldur's Gate 3 to maintain the originality of the game. His decision mirrors the approach taken in previous game adaptations, such as The Last of Us.