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For the Mighty Nein campaign of Critical Role, see Critical Role campaign two.

The Mighty Nein
Genre
Created byCritical Role
Based onCritical Rolecampaign two
ShowrunnerTasha Huo[1]
Voices of
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Executive producers
  • Tasha Huo
  • Sam Riegel
  • Travis Willingham
  • Chris Prynoski
  • Shannon Prynoski
  • Antonio Canobbio
  • Ben Kalina
Running time45-minutes[2]
Production companies
Original release
NetworkAmazon Prime Video
Related
The Legend of Vox Machina

The Mighty Nein is a forthcoming animated fantasy series being produced by Metapigeon, Titmouse and Amazon MGM Studios for Amazon Prime Video. The show is based on campaign two of Critical Role. Like The Legend of Vox Machina series before it, The Mighty Nein will adapt – rather than recreate – the source material.[4]

The show was announced in January 2023,[5] and work on the project had begun by March 2023.[6] In July 2025, it was announced that the first season is scheduled to premiere on November 19, 2025.[7]

Premise

[edit]

Setting

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The Mighty Nein is set in Exandria, a fictional world created by Matthew Mercer in 2012 for his personal Dungeons & Dragons campaign which then launched as the actual play web series Critical Role in 2015.[8][9][10] Most of the story takes place on the continent of Wildemount, which is located to the east of Tal'Dorei, the setting of The Legend of Vox Machina (2022). It takes place at a time of very high tensions between the Dwendalian Empire and the Kryn Dynasty—two of Wildemount's major powers, which are divided by the Ashkeeper Peaks mountain range—and war is imminent.[11][12]

Western Wildemount is governed by the Dwendalian Empire and is ruled by King Bertrand Dwendal. A council of powerful archmages called the Cerberus Assembly act as advisors to the House of Dwendal. The Empire regards the region of Xhorhas, which occupies the eastern side of the continent, as an inhospitable wasteland. Xhorhas is governed by the Kryn Dynasty, is ruled by the Bright Queen Leylas Kryn, and is primarily home to the drow and other races considered to be monstrous.[13][14][15] The Menagerie Coast occupies the southwestern coastline next to the Lucidian Ocean and is governed by the Clovis Concord, a coalition of eight city-states that includes Nicodranas and Port Damali.[16][17]

Synopsis

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The Mighty Nein follows a group of misfits with troubled pasts and secrets who find themselves drawn together by circumstance. They become entangled in a larger conflict and "must work together to save the realm" after a "powerful arcane relic known as The Beacon falls into dangerous hands".[18]

Cast and characters

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The cast will reprise their roles from the Critical Role actual play show:[4][1][18]

  • Laura Bailey as Jester Lavorre, a mischievous tiefling cleric who follows an unseen deity known as the Traveler
  • Marisha Ray as Beauregard "Beau" Lionett, a human monk from the Cobalt Soul, skilled in martial arts and investigative work
  • Taliesin Jaffe as Mollymauk "Molly" Tealeaf, a tiefling blood hunter who works as a tarot card reader in a traveling carnival
  • Ashley Johnson as Yasha Nydoorin, an aasimar barbarian and mercenary from the wastes of Xhorhas within the Kryn Dynasty
  • Liam O'Brien as Caleb Widogast, a scruffy human wizard with a command of fire-based magic
  • Travis Willingham as Fjord Stone, an orphan half-orc warlock and sailor who gains magical abilities after surviving a shipwreck
  • Sam Riegel as Nott the Brave, a goblin rogue talented in stealth and crossbow combat but also has a drinking habit
  • Matthew Mercer as Essek Thelyss, a drow wizard from the Kryn Dynasty who is involved in high level machinations between the Dynasty and the Empire

Episodes

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No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date [2]
11TBATBATBANovember 19, 2025 (2025-11-19)

Development

[edit]

Background

[edit]
Further information: Critical Role campaign two

The Mighty Nein is an adaptation of the second campaign of the actual play web series Critical Role.[5] As part of a sponsorship deal between Critical Role and D&D Beyond in 2018, an animated ad spot for the platform was produced which featured the Mighty Nein characters in combat.[19] The animated ad "opened doors" for The Legend of Vox Machina (2022), the first Critical Role animation adaptation, to be produced.[20]

Production

[edit]

In January 2023, it was announced that Critical Role Productions had signed a first-look deal with Amazon Studios to create film and television series, while also announcing an animated series based on the Mighty Nein campaign.[5][21] Variety reported that "under the deal with Amazon Studios, Critical Role will continue to produce under its production banner, Metapigeon".[5] The series will be animated by Titmouse, Inc.[22] In early March 2023, Critical Role cast member Liam O'Brien revealed to ComicBook.com that work on project had begun.[6] In a June 8, 2024 post on X; it was revealed that voice acting had begun.[23] In a October 2024 interview, cast member and executive producer Travis Willingham stated that the writing for the first season was completed and that progress on the show was "definitely more than halfway done".[24][25] In June 2025, Willingham stated that they had "recorded the entire first and second season".[26]

The cast were involved in the character design process.[27] Cast member and executive producer Sam Riegel commented that The Mighty Nein will be "tonally different" from their first animated adaptation The Legend of Vox Machina.[28] Showrunner and executive producer Tasha Huo similarly stated that the Mighty Nein "reflects a more mature, more elevated storytelling" than the previous series and this show has "more drama" and "more filmmaking involved".[1] Huo noted that they tried "to treat the show like a live-action show, which is tonally different than Vox Machina, but still keeping within the same world".[1] Willingham explained that this adaptation "is from the get-go a complete departure" and that "you're coming into the characters that you love, but a totally new story".[28] Entertainment Weekly highlighted that The Mighty Nein will take a similar approach to the character Essek Thelyss as The Legend of Vox Machina series did with its "more nefarious characters", such as the Briarwoods, by "showing story material that happened 'off screen' (metaphorically speaking, since there are no screens in a table-top campaign)".[1] Willingham commented that this approach will show the audience "the machinations both happening in the Empire and the Dynasty, all the things moving behind the scenes, and really who was Essek" and how he ended up "in the place where he was, moving these large pieces and affecting a large portion of the world in The Mighty Nein".[1]

Casting

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The main cast of Critical Role at WonderCon in 2017.

The Critical Role player cast reprise their roles from the second campaign.[4][1] On July 22, 2025, it was reported that Matthew Mercer, Critical Role's dungeon master, would reprise his role as Essek Thelyss.[1] On July 24, 2025, it was announced that Auliʻi Cravalho, Alan Cumming, Robbie Daymond, Jonathan Frakes, Rahul Kohli, Tim McGraw, Anika Noni Rose, Mark Strong, and Ming-Na Wen would be guest voice actors.[18]

Broadcast

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The upcoming series is set to be streamed on Amazon Prime Video.[5][22][29] The first season is scheduled to premiere on November 19, 2025.[7][18]

Marketing

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During 2024 San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC), Amazon Studios released the first sneak peak of series with a voiced animatic showing Jester and Fjord meeting for the first time.[30][31][32] At the next SDCC in 2025, character art and a clip from the first season was released along with the premiere date announcement.[2][7][18] Polygon highlighted that the group is called the Mighty Nein "despite there not being nine" adventurers in the group and the SDCC panel clip "riffs that there are, in fact, only seven of them".[3]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Romano, Nick (July 22, 2025). "'The Mighty Nein' exclusive first look: Meet Critical Role's misfits in 'Vox Machina' spinoff". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
  2. ^ a b c Carter, Justin (July 24, 2025). "'Mighty Nein' Rolls 'Critical Role' Into a New Animated Era". Gizmodo. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d Hart, Aimee (July 24, 2025). "Critical Role's The Mighty Nein animated series premieres this November". Polygon. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
  4. ^ a b c Hoffer, Christian (August 22, 2024). "The Mighty Nein Animated Series Teases Big Changes From Original Storyline". ComicBook.com. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
  5. ^ a b c d e Spangler, Todd (January 25, 2023). "Amazon Inks Critical Role to Overall TV and First-Look Film Deal, Greenlights 'Mighty Nein' Animated Series". Variety. Archived from the original on January 25, 2023. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
  6. ^ a b Tyrrell, Caitlin (March 4, 2023). "Liam O'Brien Teases A Different Kind Of Story With Mighty Nein Series". ScreenRant. Archived from the original on March 30, 2023. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  7. ^ a b c Cruz, Christopher (July 24, 2025). "Critical Role's New Animated D&D Series Gets Fall Release Date, Teases Sexy Tieflings". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
  8. ^ Durham, Madison (January 13, 2022). "The Critical Role animated series is right around the corner, here's how to prepare". Polygon. Archived from the original on January 13, 2022. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
  9. ^ "Critical Role's Animated Dungeons & Dragons Series Is Kickstarter's Highest-Funded Project of All Time". Paste. March 7, 2019. Archived from the original on December 1, 2021. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  10. ^ Duncan, Emily A. (March 9, 2021). "An Introduction to Critical Role: Prepare Your Emotions". Tor.com. Archived from the original on October 8, 2021. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  11. ^ Grebey, James (May 1, 2020). "Dungeons & Dragons' latest setting, Wildemount, helps solve the problem of 'evil' races". SYFY WIRE. Archived from the original on February 23, 2021. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
  12. ^ Haeck, James (March 17, 2020). "Welcome to Wildemount: The Regions of Wildemount". D&D Beyond. Archived from the original on February 8, 2021. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
  13. ^ Grebey, James (May 1, 2020). "Dungeons & Dragons' latest setting, Wildemount, helps solve the problem of 'evil' races". SYFY WIRE. Archived from the original on February 23, 2021. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
  14. ^ Haeck, James (March 17, 2020). "Welcome to Wildemount: The Regions of Wildemount". D&D Beyond. Archived from the original on February 8, 2021. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
  15. ^ Mercer, Matthew (2020). "Ch. 2: Factions and Societies, Ch. 3: Wildemount Gazetteer". Explorer's Guide to Wildemount. Haeck, James., Introcaso, James., Lockey, Chris., Amundsen, Even. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast. pp. 35–158. ISBN 978-0-7869-6691-2. OCLC 1139657849.
  16. ^ Haeck, James (March 17, 2020). "Welcome to Wildemount: The Regions of Wildemount". D&D Beyond. Archived from the original on February 8, 2021. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
  17. ^ Mercer, Matthew (2020). "Ch. 2: Factions and Societies, Ch. 3: Wildemount Gazetteer". Explorer's Guide to Wildemount. Haeck, James., Introcaso, James., Lockey, Chris., Amundsen, Even. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast. pp. 35–158. ISBN 978-0-7869-6691-2. OCLC 1139657849.
  18. ^ a b c d e Yin-Poole, Wesley (July 24, 2025). "Critical Role's Prime Video Show The Mighty Nein Finally Has a Release Date — and a Star-Studded Guest Voice Cast | SDCC 2025". IGN. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
  19. ^ Bolding, Jonathan (June 6, 2018). "Dungeons & Dragons has a peppy new trailer, announces upcoming adventures". PC Gamer. Archived from the original on June 12, 2024. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  20. ^ Marsham, Liz; et al. (Cast of Critical Role) (October 20, 2020). The World of Critical Role. Ten Speed Press. pp. 27–108. ISBN 9780593157435.
  21. ^ "Critical Role's Mighty Nein Heads to Prime Video". Gizmodo. January 25, 2023. Archived from the original on January 25, 2023. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
  22. ^ a b Field, James (January 26, 2023). "Amazon and Critical Role Announce New Deal and 'Mighty Nein' Series". Pajiba. Archived from the original on January 27, 2023. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
  23. ^ Hoffer, Christian (June 8, 2024). "Mighty Nein Animated Series, Based on Critical Role, Gets Big Update". ComicBook.com. Archived from the original on June 9, 2024. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
  24. ^ Robinson, Tasha (October 27, 2024). "We asked the Critical Role cast the meanest question we could think of". Polygon. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
  25. ^ Randall, Harvey (October 28, 2024). "The Mighty Nein animated series is 'definitely more than halfway done', says Critical Role CEO—which'll make not one, but two famous D&D campaigns turned into TV". PC Gamer. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
  26. ^ Goldman, Eric (June 7, 2025). "Critical Role Celebrates 10 Years and Tease Future Animation and Games Projects". IGN. Retrieved June 9, 2025.
  27. ^ Tyrrell, Caitlin (April 19, 2024). "Critical Role's Laura Bailey Teases A "Grittier" Mighty Nein Series & New Vox Machina Clothing Line". ScreenRant. Archived from the original on April 19, 2024. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  28. ^ a b Romano, Nick (August 22, 2024). "'The Legend of Vox Machina' first look: 'Season 3 is going to leave a mark' (exclusive)". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on August 22, 2024. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  29. ^ Petski, Denise (January 25, 2023). "Amazon Studios Inks Overall TV & First-Look Film Deal With Critical Role, Sets 'Mighty Nein' Animated Series As First Project". Deadline. Archived from the original on January 25, 2023. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
  30. ^ Hoffer, Christian (July 27, 2024). "The Mighty Nein Animated Series First Look Revealed". ComicBook.com. Archived from the original on July 27, 2024. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
  31. ^ McCauley, Tara (July 26, 2024). "Critical Role Offers First Look at Mighty Nein Animated Series". The Escapist. Archived from the original on July 27, 2024. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
  32. ^ O'Rourke, Ryan (July 26, 2024). "The Gang Is in Big Trouble in First 'Legend of Vox Machina' Season 3 Sneak Peek". Collider. Archived from the original on July 27, 2024. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
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