John Hammmight have just received two Emmy nominations for his work onThe Morning Show, andFargo, but the 53-year-old actor is turning to the world of podcasting for his next venture. Hamm first became a star in the eyes of many thanks to his portrayalof Don Draper on the AMC seriesMad Men, which led to him having a successful career in both film and TV, with one of his latest appearances being in the blockbuster hitTop Gun: Maverick. Now, Hamm is venturing into the fantasy genre, so to speak, with his next project focusing on the massively popular TTRPG, Dungeons & Dragons.
PerDeadline, Hamm will executive produce and star inDungeon Masters, a scripted, true-crime podcast series that willexplore the world of Dungeons & Dragons through the lens of a private investigatorin 1979. Also starringStar Trekalum Wil Wheaton as Dungeons & Dragons creator Gary Gygax, the series is written and directed by journalist and author David Kushner. Check out the full synopsis below.
“Set in 1979, the series gives listeners a behind-the-curtain look into the world of Dungeons & Dragons, told through the lenses of private investigator William Dear (Hamm), a swashbuckling style tough guy, and creator of the game Gary Gygax (Wil Wheaton). The series follows Dear on his quest to find Dallas Egbert, a Michigan State student, who supposedly disappeared in the steam tunnels under his University while enacting a real-life version of D&D.”
“It was great to delve into the mystery of Dallas Egbertwith this talented team and group of actors. I’m excited for listeners to follow the journey of William Dear and immerse themselves in the series,” said Hamm, who, in addition to Wheaton, also stars inDungeon Mastersalongside the likes of Felicia Day (Supernatural), Kristian Nairn (Game of Thrones), Emily Axford (Adam Ruins Everything), Anjali Bhimani (Ms. Marvel),and Mark Daugherty (Captain Marvel).The series is set to make its premiere on July 11, 2025.
Haven’t We Heard This Dungeons & Dragons Story Before?
If you’re scratching your head wondering why this story seems familiar, it’s because the James Dallas Egbert case was loosely explored in the 1982 made-for-TV movieMazes and Monsters. Starring a young Tom Hanks as Robbie Wheeling, the film focused on a group of college students who get mixed up in the world of D&D, leading to tragic results. Based on author Rona Jaffe’s 1981 novel of the same name, it was a contributing factor tothe Satanic Panic of the ’80s, when everyone and their grandmother thought that things like D&D and heavy metal music wouldlead to kids worshiping Satan.
For author andDungeon Masterscreator David Kushner, he says that Dungeons & Dragons and the Egbert case has always been fascinating to him, and that with his new podcast series he’s looking to shed more light on the case, and how it influenced a generation of gamers.
“I’ve been obsessed with the disappearance of Dallas Egbert since I was a kid playing D&D. When I was interviewing the game’s co-creator Gary Gygax forWired, he told me how influential Dallas’s disappearance was on the game. I always thought the real story of William Dear’s search for Dallas would be an amazing way to immerse people into the world of the game and the gamers who play it. And since the game is built on storytelling, it felt perfect for a podcast.”
Dungeons & Dragons: Why We Need to Visit Planescape
Planescape being incorporated into future Dungeons & Dragons films would be a huge treat for fantasy fans.
With series such asCritical Role, which features a group of voice actors sitting around a table playing D&D, and the successof the 2023 filmDungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, the role-playing game has never been more popular than it is now. Plus, with 2024 being the 50th anniversary of D&D,Dungeon Masterscomes at the perfect time, as people can’t seem to get enough content exploring what makes their beloved game so unique.
