Pop Xulture Newsletter # 17

Focusing on "Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves." 9/30/23

I know, I know, I’m a little late with this Newsletter and you can’t live without it. But I think it’ll be worth the wait…something for everyone: Flamin’ Hot, Peter Pan (Goes Wrong), Philadelphia, The Nightmare Before Christmas, key fobs, kale chips, and Roman J. Israel Esquire (sorry, it was seeming like Stefon from Weekend Update there).

Xurrent News

As a staff writer at Christ and Pop Culture (CAPC), I recently published an article on Flamin’ Hot. There’s a good chance you haven’t seen this fantastic little film, so go see it now! It’s the true story of Richard Montañez who invented Frito Lay’s flamin’ hot recipe. My piece titled “The Slow Burnin’ Faith of Flamin’ Hot,” focuses on his rocky journey of faith and how he couldn’t have done it without his wife’s support.

I also published an exclusive article for you on the stage play “Peter Pan Goes Wrong.” Check out the piece I hilariously titled “‘Peter Pan Goes Wrong’ Goes Hilariously Right.” I had some friends just go see it and they said current narrator NPH is great. Get tickets for “Peter Pan Goes Wrong” here (reminder: I don’t get kick back for ticket sales, it’s just really, really good).

I (literally) just submitted the draft of my article on Philadelphia to my CAPC editor tonight. To give you an idea how long I worked on this one, I watched the film July 16^th and started outlining shortly thereafter. So yes, around ten weeks on and off to write the article. But I think it will be worth it.

Next up I’m working on The Nightmare Before Christmas and hope to have something ready by Halloween. It will be Part 5 for my series on 1993 films. I’m thinking about giving you an exclusive summary on each film’s groundbreaking advances in the next few months. Let me know if that sounds cool.

Xomposition Exclusive

Recently I posted a debonair yet relatable film on Instagram about a D&D article I wrote (watch the charming yet accessible video here). This got me thinking about that exclusive article on the film Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves. I’d heard about the film coming out since at least 2021 so I’d pre-written a few paragraphs at that time. The section on my “history” with certain celebs came from what I wrote a few years ago (as you’ll see shortly).

I wasn’t sure what my angle would be, but I thought about sharing how bad at D&D I was. This could contrast with being semi-knowledgeable about film. And that might make for a good article, hence my initial title “An Inept Gamer Watches the D&D Movie.”

You may want to review the final article here before you read the following exclusive. Either way, I wanted to share some of my behind the scenes writing that did or didn’t make it into the final article. Enjoy!

An Inept Gamer Watches the D&D Movie

I’m so bad I can’t remember the difference between races and classes but as a dad I try and fill in when my kids don’t have enough players for D&D. I believe this movie, and the corresponding TV show, have finally come about after forty-nine years of D&D existing, partly due to celebrity endorsement. Famous groups and players, who I happen to have some history with, such as “Critical Role” (Matt Mercer almost hit me with his car once), Vin Diesel (I was on the set of The Fast and the Furious…but didn’t meet him), and Joe Manganiello (my wife thinks he has big muscles).

But I do know something about movies, and good movies aren’t just made because celebrities are involved. They require a good production team and a studio who thinks there’s enough interest to make a profit. I would agree with the studio that now is finally the right time for D&D live action media.

NOTE TO SELF: My son is president of his D&D club, remembers every detail of rules and what transpires in a game, buys the graphic novels, and helps me hobble along. 

[END EXCLUSIVE ARTICLE CONTENT]

Xoncluding Thoughts

I’d forgotten that a live action TV show had been announced until I re-read my notes from above. Apparently, as of earlier this year, the show is still a “go,” heading to Paramount+. Anyway, thanks for reading this far, I really do appreciate your support. Until next time!

Thanks, in Him,

-Chris (the Bearded Wonder) Fogle