10 Drow Who Could Lead A Drizzt Dungeons & Dragons Spinoff TV Show

Speculation surrounds the potential for a Dungeons & Dragons live-action TV series, and The Legend of Drizzt books have been cited as potential subject matter, with many drow indicating spinoff series. The drow is a species invented by D&D co-creator Gary Gygax for the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Monster Manual of 1977, inspired by Norse mythology. But it was American author R.A. Salvatore who popularized them with his novels, introducing Drizzt as an abnormally good drow in the violent culture of the Underdark. This character is more than fit to lead the dormant TV show, with other drow deserving spinoffs.

Drow ranger Drizzt Do'Urden first appeared in 1988's The Crystal Shard, the first book of The Icewind Dale Trilogy and the first book ever published by Salvatore. He was not the main character of Legend of Drizzt then, but Salvatore soon changed that, writing The Dark Elf Trilogy, a prequel series outlining Drizzt's troubled past in Menzoberranzan of the Underdark. Myriad drow, many villainous, were introduced in this series that would go on to inspire the 30 million or so buyers of Salvatore's Legend of Drizzt books over the years, many of whom could easily lead their own spinoff show.

10 Galathae

Aevendrow Warrior

A lot of Salvatore's 2023 release, Lolth's Warrior, was spent on Galathae, and her time with Zaknafein. This expanded upon the work done by Starlight Enclave, the book where R.A. Salvatore responded to Dungeons & Dragons drow controversy by adding good drow to the mix. The violent drow drew criticism for the potential to draw real-world parallels, and Salvatore used the Aevendrow in his books to start telling the story of the far more civilized drow of Callidae, many of whom worshiped Eilistraee.

Centering a spinoff around Galathae would nod to this move. Eilistraee is a historical D&D goddess that would be awesome to adapt and welcomed by many players of the tabletop game, so bringing in Galathae's arc seems like a good start. However, Galathae is tied in with a complex section of the Salvatore books, so an adaptation may use her as more of a blank-slate character and offer a prequel story. It seemed a shame for Galathae to leave the story so fast, so prequel content to flesh her out would make her part in the books feel more solid.

9 Dinin Do'Urden

Devious Brother Of Drizzt

Dinin is secretly one of the most interesting characters in the Dungeons & Dragons world. He began life as a devious counterpart to Drizzt's kindness and a nasty man accepting the fate imposed on him - kill or be killed. But like many characters in the Salvatore books, he grew up over many books and many years. He is certainly one of the drow that a Drizzt Dungeons & Dragons show must include, and may even be the right candidate for its next spinoff.

Growing up in the problematic city of Menzoberranzan, a city ruled by an abusive Lolthian matriarch, Drizzt didn't have the best time with his family. Drizzt's home life was torment at worst and educational at best, and Dinin was no help. Emerging from his 1990 debut into the 2020s, Dinin softened, partially due to his transformation into a drider, which could be an amazing fantasy moment on-screen. His lizard steeds would make great TV as well. Dinin's story is far from over in the books, and he teeters on the brink of redemption or final damnation, making him one to watch.

8 Pharaun Mizzrym

Powerful Drow Wizard

Custom image by Yeider Chacon

Pharaun Mizzrym is one of the funnier drow in the book series and has serious antihero appeal. The skilled drow wizard is one for casting spells and taking names, putting him above many of the warriors in the book series and ensuring a hero-level stat block, if he had one. His cutting jibes and dark sense of humor make him an entertaining lead for any TV series, while his supporting role may mean that his leading a spinoff could minimize the risk of confusing or contradicting other arcs.

All drow have a level of magic, which is begging to be adapted into a dark fantasy series led by D&D icon Drizzt Do'Urden. Among these abilities are levitation, faerie fire, and globes of darkness. While these skills can be introduced in a Drizzt live-action TV series, a spinoff could deep dive into the potential of a drow mage like Pharaun, who has far more impressive spells up his sleeve. This would create CGI sequences of fantasy's wildest dreams.

7 Valas Hune

Bregan D'Aerthe Scout

Custom image by Yailin Chacon

Valas Hune is in Jarlaxle's employ and therefore a great entry point to the world of Bregan D'Aerthe, which would be a solid basis for a spinoff of a live-action D&D show about Drizzt Do'Urden. Jarlaxle's mercenary band has needed its own TV series for decades, and Valas Hune is as good a way to introduce new fans to it as any. This core member of the team was one of the highlights of War of the Spider Queen.

This book series by multiple authors plays in Salvatore's Underdark sandpit. Utilizing characters and settings that Salvatore wrote about, this series gave new writers a chance to platform their work, so Salvatore eventually agreed to it. Appearing on an epic quest in Insurrection, Valas Hune proved his mettle as a leading man. This heroic drow is a loyal scout and a fierce warrior with a tragic past that deserves more exploration.

6 Zaknafein Do'Urden

Weapons Master & Drizzt's Father

Reading The Legend of Drizzt books in chronological order will soon introduce readers to the legendary Zaknafein Do'Urden, who is Drizzt's father. Normally an ally, but not always the most obvious one, this character occupies the grayscale morality that makes these books what they are. The conflicted and embattled warrior has a distinctly adult sexual abuse arc with Matron Mother Malice Do'Urden, providing some chunky themes for a spinoff series to get into.

Zaknafein rises above indoctrination and coercion to become one of the best Weapons Masters in the history of Menzoberranzan. His zombie storyline is a highlight of The Dark Elf Trilogy, dabbling in mysterious magic and demonstrating the power of humanity, emotion, and love in overriding seemingly insurmountable control and oppression. This arc needs its own TV show if a Drizzt-focused adaptation chooses not to lead with The Dark Elf Trilogy. Regardless, Zaknafein has more than enough content in later books to warrant a whole series.

5 Yvonnel Baenre II

Bad Drow Turned Good

Custom image by Yailin Chacon

Yvonnel Baenre is a rare female drow who becomes a hero, despite her checkered past, making her an interesting focus for a spinoff. Presuming a live-action show would eventually get to the content featuring Yvonnel II, it would likely soon tackle her alien childhood. Yvonnel grew up fast, to say the least. This could make Yvonnel the perfect vessel for introducing viewers to drow culture, who would see the world through her eyes for the first time, but with an adult perspective.

Yvonnel's extensive memories, embedded into her, combined with the innocence of her newness, would allow for a unique exploration of the morals of drow culture as well. Salvatore understood this and used her as a foil for those around her. She becomes not just a powerful player in the turbulent affairs of Menzoberranzan, but an ally of Drizzt. Yvonnel's crush on Drizzt is an emotional hook throughout the complex wars of the story, and could create a strong link between a Drizzt Do'Urden TV show and a Yvonnel spinoff.

4 Gromph Baenre

Archmage Of Menzoberranzan

Custom image by Yailin Chacon

Gromph Baenre is one of the best characters in The Legend of Drizzt books by the end of Lolth's Warrior, and could definitely sway fans into watching a spinoff about him. The powerful drow mage is Yvonnel's father and a huge presence in Archmage and Dissolution, book one of War of the Spider Queen. He becomes a grim, determined figure of ironic humor and a calm ability to process extreme difficulty.

More to the point, Gromph is an ideal leader, and his subtle heroics shine through. His journey from oppressed male caught in Lolth's politics to the most powerful man in the city is an inspiring study of how to survive and thrive in appalling conditions. Gromph becomes Master of Sorcere, which would enable a spinoff to look into this school of magic in the Underdark, which could tap into the popularity of dark academia like Wednesday, which is popular on Netflix.

3 Breezy Do'Urden

Drizzt's Innocent Daughter

Brienelle Zaharina Do'Urden is the daughter of Catti-brie and Drizzt Do'Urden in The Legend of Drizzt, leading her to be perfect spinoff material. Purpah and Ryan Maniulit are planning a webtoon called Brie and the Borrowed Blade that offers Brienelle, otherwise known as Brie or Breezy, as a protagonist. This proves Dungeons & Dragons' enthusiasm for content around Breezy, despite the comic being "uncertain" as of September 2024.

Betwixt Two Worlds points the Drizzt books the right way, demonstrating Breezy's suitability to front a Legend of Drizzt miniseries. This, in turn, confirms that she can be a fascinating and empowering main character in a Drizzt TV spinoff. Betwixt Two Worlds is audiobook only, which works well due to its short, sweet, standalone nature. Although, Salvatore confirmed that it was due to emerge in print later. This story shows how Brie's naive outlook could generate the perfect character development for a hit TV series.

2 Kimmuriel Oblodra

Psionicist & Bregan D'Aerthe Lead

Kimmuriel is one of the best characters of the later books written by R.A. Salvatore, sometimes taking up more story than Drizzt himself. This unique character offers more brains than brawn, presenting as a uniquely delicate drow and a powerful psionicist. Liaising with the traditionally evil illithids, Kimmuriel is often as cold and detached as them, creating a personality that is in turn terrifying and darkly funny. Kimmuriel's mind-reading arguably makes him the most powerful drow character by the end of The Way of the Drow.

Knowledge is power, and a spinoff would highlight this interesting fact in the world of swords and violence, which is the Forgotten Realms. Kimmuriel ends up disembodied in Lolth's Warrior, which seems like an unresolved plot point and is one of the main indicators that The Legend of Drizzt isn't over. Kimmuriel's key importance to the ongoing story makes him a dead ringer for a Drizzt TV show spinoff lead. Now that Kimmuriel couldn't go any further into illithid culture, the tantalizing character development of bringing Kimmuriel's body and emotion back is lingering over the story.

1 Jarlaxle Baenre

Head Of Bregan D'Aerthe

Jarlaxle could be the icon Dungeons & Dragons needs on TV, as shown time and time again by his extravagant role in The Legend of Drizzt. Not only is he the perfect face-heel-turn character for a villain-to-hero arc in the Drizzt TV show, but he has more than enough heroics to spill out into a spinoff. Along with assassin Artemis Entreri, he is the main subject of the Sellswords books and One Eyed Jax, as well as "Uncle Jax" to Brie in Betwixt Two Worlds.

Smiling and laughing aren't the usual way of the drow, but Jarlaxle makes their dark stories fun, giving them an incredibly human standpoint that would resonate with viewers, even if they were unfamiliar with the lore of the game or books. With R.A. Salvatore confirming Jarlaxle's omnisexuality, he is also a queer icon with style and sass (Facebook). Not to mention, Jarlaxle is a major NPC in the critically acclaimed Waterdeep Dungeons & Dragons campaign, so his spinoff series would speak to gamers and readers alike.

Source: Facebook

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