Vin Diesel, the enigmatic presence in Hollywood, has finally brought his original Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) character, Kaulder, to the spotlight in the film “The Last Witch Hunter,” following his long-standing success in the Fast & Furious saga. While studios have found a few roles that he can embody for over a decade, most projects associated with his name have encountered various challenges and fallen apart. However, his attempt to add his beloved D&D character to his list of iconic roles did not meet the desired success.
Dungeons & Dragons, once considered a nerdy game that labeled characters in movies, has undergone a significant cultural shift over the years. What was once a shorthand for depicting nerds is now a critical darling, with the game’s film adaptation receiving praise. Additionally, a group of nerdy voice actors playing Dungeons and Dragons has become a prominent name in streaming entertainment.
“The Last Witch Hunter” delves into a captivating narrative set in the 14th century, during
the devastating Black Plague that claimed the lives of millions. According to the film, this nightmarish pandemic was the result of the actions of the evil Witch Queen. Kaulder, portrayed by Vin Diesel, leads a brave group of warriors who attack the Witch Queen’s lair and successfully end her life. However, in her final act of vengeance, she curses Kaulder with eternal life. Having accomplished his life’s mission, Kaulder is condemned to wander the Earth for centuries, endlessly mourning the loss of his beloved wife.
In the modern era, Kaulder becomes employed by a group known as the Axe and Cross, dedicated to maintaining a fragile peace treaty between humans and witches. Kaulder’s role is to eliminate any witch who steps out of line, ensuring the balance is maintained. However, a new threat emerges—a plan to resurrect the Witch Queen and unleash a new plague upon humanity. With the assistance of a priest and a friendly witch, Kaulder must now risk his eternal life to protect the world from the vengeful wrath of evil witches.
Contrary to popular belief, “The Last Witch Hunter” is not based on any existing source material like “The Witcher.” Instead, it is a fully original story. The film’s inspiration arose from conversations between the original screenwriter, Corey Goodman, and Vin Diesel himself. As a young man, Diesel became enthralled with Dungeons & Dragons and developed a fondness for his favorite character, a witch hunter named Melkor, whose name he borrowed from J.R.R. Tolkien’s works. These conversations led Goodman to write a script centered around the character. However, due to copyright concerns with the name Melkor, the character was given a new moniker, Kaulder. Ultimately, Kaulder embodies everything Diesel loved about his original character, allowing him to bring his icon to life on the big screen—a privilege enjoyed by few big Dungeons & Dragons fans, primarily Diesel and the entire cast of Critical Role. Diesel even had the opportunity to play Kaulder alongside characters Vexhalia and Grog in a memorable Dungeons & Dragons session.
Although “The Last Witch Hunter” achieved moderate financial success, grossing $146 million at the box office against a $90 million budget, it fell short of expectations. Considering conventional wisdom in Hollywood, which suggests doubling the production budget to account for marketing expenses, it is estimated that the film resulted in a loss of approximately $40 million for Lionsgate. Its release coincided with other films such as the sixth “Paranormal Activity” installment and a live-action reboot of “Jem and the Holograms,” placing it behind successful competitors like “The Martian,” “Goosebumps,” and “Bridge of Spies.” In addition to its disappointing financial performance, the film received
unfavorable critical reception, with a meager 17% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The audience score was slightly more forgiving at 44% positive. While Tara Brady of the Irish Times provided one of the few positive reviews, describing it as “Harry Potter for emo kids” and recommending it, overall, “The Last Witch Hunter” failed to impress both critics and audiences.
The film relies heavily on archetypal characters, familiar scenarios, and generic story beats. While there are occasional nods to D&D, most elements of the story feel borrowed rather than original. However, Diesel’s portrayal of Kaulder stands out, as he brings authenticity and depth to the character despite his humorless and grim demeanor. For those willing to embrace a brainless entertainment experience, there are moments of enjoyment, but the film’s excessive focus on mundane lore details makes it challenging to care about the overall plot. It feels as if Vin Diesel or the film’s three credited screenwriters anticipated launching a franchise from this idea, although it remains a bizarre possibility.
Since the release of “The Last Witch Hunter,” Diesel has tantalized fans with the idea of a sequel. In 2020, he confirmed that the project was still in progress at Lionsgate. However, there has been no further news in the three years since. Whether the story will continue remains uncertain, but it is heartwarming to witness Vin Diesel living his dream of portraying his cherished 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥hood D&D character on the big screen. Fans of the actor owe it to him to witness him at his happiest. Although this passion project did not achieve the desired success, more performers should follow their dreams of bringing their favorite original characters to blockbuster films. The result may be amusing every time.
