Diablo Animated Series in Development at Netflix
"Baldur's Gate" is also becoming a series
"Diablo" is coming to Netflix! Blizzard Entertainment officially confirmed at this year's BlizzCon that an animated series based on the popular action role-playing game series is in development at Netflix.
This news is certainly welcome for fans, as the first rumors about a possible "Diablo" series began circulating back in 2018. However, nothing came of it at the time. The announcement also coincides with a special occasion: This year, "Diablo" is celebrating its 30th anniversary. The first game was released in 1996 and laid the foundation for one of the most famous action-RPG series of all time. Over the years, the universe has been steadily expanded and enriched with numerous characters, classes, and stories.
At the heart of "Diablo" lies the world of Sanctuary. This realm is situated between the forces of Heaven and Hell and regularly becomes the scene of fierce battles. The so-called "Great Evils" in particular wreak havoc. In addition to Diablo himself, his brothers Mephisto and Baal also belong to this powerful group of demonic beings. Their goal is to corrupt Sanctuary and ultimately bring it under their control.
However, there is no fixed main character. Instead, depending on the installment and chosen class, players take on the role of a hero from Sanctuary. Possible character classes include, among others, Wizard, Barbarian, Monk, Paladin, Crusader, Druid, and Necromancer. The "Diablo" universe thus offers more than enough material for a series adaptation. Which aspects of the games Netflix will focus on – and when the project will finally be unveiled – remains under wraps.
Baldur's Gate is also becoming a series!
In addition to "Diablo", another role-playing game adaptation is making its way to our screens: "Baldur's Gate"! Craig Mazin, who was also behind "The Last of Us", will serve as creative director.
In terms of plot, the series is set to pick up where "Baldur's Gate 3" left off and will be heavily based on the world, characters, and narrative structure of the game by Larian Studios. "Baldur's Gate 3" is a fantasy role-playing game set in the "Dungeons & Dragons" universe. The story revolves around a group of characters who have been infected by a mysterious force – and have thus become a potential threat themselves.
However, the earlier games won't be completely left out. There are numerous narrative and thematic connections between the individual installments in the series that are closely tied to the "Dungeons & Dragons" lore. Mazin intends to specifically draw on these shared elements. According to Mazin, we'll see both new and familiar characters from previous installments. Fans can therefore hope that beloved companions like Shadowheart or Astarion – two of the most iconic characters from the fantasy universe – will become part of the series' storyline.
There is currently no official information regarding the cast. Neither the lead nor supporting roles have been cast yet, suggesting that the project is still in an early stage of development. The series will air on HBO Max.