Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves producer Jeremy Latcham reveals that Wizards of the Coast was originally against making Themberchaud "chunky." The Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves team worked closely with Wizards of the Coast to bring the world of Dungeons & Dragons to life. This included consultants to help get the facts of the lore and visuals right, as well as Wizards of the Coast running a Dungeons & Dragons game for the cast and directors.
Screen Rant spoke with Latcham about working with Wizards of the Coast for Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves. He revealed Wizards of the Coast was worried about making Themberchaud "too chunky." Latcham also shared why they fought for Themberchaud to be fat and how it doesn't make fun of him. Check out Latcham's full quote and interview below:
Jeremy Latcham: They sometimes gave us a hard time about making the dragon too chunky. Which we just kind of said, Trust us, it's gonna be fun. The fatter he is, the better he is. I promise. You're gonna like it." It's not fat shaming. No one is out to fat shame Themberchaud. He is a ferocious guy who'd like to eat a lot of people, and other things too. He eats whatever comes his way, but it was a fun line to walk there. We're not making fun of Themberchaud. We're scared of him. He's not the object of derision in any capacity, which was kind of fun.
Why Themberchaud Works So Well in Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves
Themberchaud encapsulates everything that makes Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves work: comedy, danger, action, and lore. The dragon is so fat that it has trouble flying, breathing fire, and moving, choosing to slide down the pile of bones from his victims to eat those intruding on his home. While Themberchaud being large is comedic, it also serves the story well by giving the adventurers a chance to survive and escape, which, given their propensity for screw-ups and failures, could have been impossible otherwise.
The balance of high-stakes danger, fast-paced action, and hilarious comedy brings the spirit of Dungeons & Dragons to life. Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves features three different dragons, but Themberchaud has been at the center of every conversation because they stand out as unique. This is not the expectation when a deadly fire-breathing dragon is described, which works in the film's favor.
Wizards of the Coast's concern is understandable, but the creators behind Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves clearly love the game and make sure not to make fun of it or those that play it. Being overweight also taps into the Dungeons & Dragons lore of Themberchaud, further fleshing out the world for players familiar with this dragon. Dragons are at the heart of great fantasy, and Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves manages to find a way to make their version stand out.