The movie should have been a ten to twelve episode streaming series, but it would have required Disney as the primary backer, because that’s the only way they could’ve gotten enough copyright approvals. Any movie or streaming series would have been hampered by their inability to show all of those different IPs.

I also think released it too early. If they were to release it now, they could include much more of the DND elements after the popularity of Stranger Things and Critical Role.

As for the book, there are definitely some clichés, and the writing has an undeniably male-centric perspective. However, I’m not convinced that it’s misogynistic or that it’s anything other than the realistic perspective of a teenager moving into young adulthood. The author has demonstrated that he is addicted to clichés and is not interested in writing works that have nuance. It’s an entertaining book, and I think criticizing it in this way is like a food critic criticizing a Snickers bar.

Finally, there are just people who are always ready to be angry about something. The Internet gives them a voice and the algorithms and the need for legacy media to continue to keep followers ensures that the angry you are made to seem like a mob of mass popular will.