The Legend of Drizzt books by American writer R.A. Salvatore. Although Dungeons & Dragons is most famous as a tabletop game from the '70s, it expanded into books, movies, TV series, video games, and more. And yet, the huge potential of this franchise lies significantly untapped. Adapting the Drizzt books, and this character, is a great next step for D&D.

The Legend of Drizzt books started with 1988's The Crystal Shard, the first of The Icewind Dale Trilogy. It introduced drow Drizzt Do'Urden, although he wasn't the focus of the trilogy. Realizing his popularity, Salvatore made Drizzt the main character of a prequel series called The Dark Elf Trilogy, which introduced a renegade drow named Jarlaxle. Throughout the Drizzt books, Jarlaxle is, in turn, an enemy to Drizzt, Drizzt's friend, and a wild card. Fascinating, varied, queer, and key to The Legend of Drizzt, Jarlaxle could be huge for D&D in a live-action TV adaptation.

Jarlaxle Could Be An On-Screen Icon For D&D’s Huge LGBTQI+ Community

Jarlaxle Has Huge Potential As A D&D Character

Jeremy Crawford (lead designer of D&D 5e) confirmed that Jarlaxle was pansexual (X). Vax'ildan from The Legend of Vox Machina is a bisexual hero, but a Legend of Drizzt live-action TV adaptation could push D&D's queer representation to new heights. This would drive sales and loyalty among D&D's LGBTQI+ community and reach out to new acolytes. 56% of Monmouth University D&D club identified as LGBTQI+, offering a glimpse of the potential. Despite teething issues, the game has long provided a safe space for queers, as explained in Thom James Carter's excellent They Came to Slay: The Queer Culture of D&D.

Jarlaxle Could Be One Of The Main Pillars Of A Drizzt TV Show Or Movie

Jarlaxle Is Both Enemy And Ally In The Legend Of Drizzt

Drizzt encounters many foes and many friends, but Jarlaxle, along with assassin Artemis Entreri, is the biggest character in the books to fluctuate between enemy and ally. This makes Jarlaxle, along with Artemis, the most versatile and useful character to include in any Legend of Drizzt live-action adaptation, after the Companions of the Hall. A live-action adaptation would need strong heroes and villains, and Jarlaxle and Artemis could provide both. Focusing on these two while cutting some of the book series' myriad other heroes and villains may work well.

Fantasy TV adaptations often encounter the dilemma of a wide range of major and minor characters, and splitting focus between too many different characters can reduce the emotional impact of the main characters. Focusing on building its key characters first is key to any adaptation's success. A sharp focus on Jarlaxle and Artemis would be needed in an adaptation and would enable it to cut book heroes and book villains, since they can both fulfill either role. Jarlaxle, in addition, could address and grow D&D's queer community. Commercially and socially, this community offers Dungeons & Dragons huge rewards.

Source: X, Monmouth University