Overview of The Mighty Nein:
- Scheduled for release on Prime Video in November 2025
- The animated series is inspired by the D&D campaign from the Critical Role web series
- Amazon has unveiled the first trailer for the show
If you fell in love with the mercenaries of Vox Machina, then The Mighty Nein will surely capture your heart as well. This group is set to lead their own animated series, thanks to the partnership between Critical Role and Amazon Prime Video.
The success of The Legend of Vox Machina has opened the door for adaptations of other Dungeons & Dragons campaigns that have been gaining traction on Critical Role’s social media channels.
The Mighty Nein will feature the original cast from the web series that voiced the characters in Vox Machina. Tasha Huo, the show’s showrunner, will ensure that it captures the original’s dark humor and wit.
Is The Mighty Nein associated with Dungeons & Dragons?
Absolutely. While Vox Machina represents the first campaign of the Dungeons & Dragons web series known as Critical Role, The Mighty Nein is the second installment. It began in January 2018 and wrapped up in June 2021, comprising 141 episodes in total.
Similar to Vox Machina, The Mighty Nein is set in a high fantasy realm called Exandria, but on a different continent. This series will take us away from the familiar landscape of Tal’Dorei and into the diverse continent of Wildemount, which is home to various states and geographical features.
The Dwendalian Empire is a notable nation in the west, recognized for its frigid climate. Xhorhas, home to the Kryn Dynasty, is inhabited by dark elves, orcs, goblins, tieflings, and kobolds. The Menagerie Coast is a collection of free city-states engaged in trade and cultural diversity. Additionally, the floating archipelago known as Draconia was once a stronghold for the Dragonborn humanoids.
When is The Mighty Nein launching?
The Mighty Nein is set to premiere on Prime Video on Wednesday, 19 November 2025.
This spin-off of Vox Machina was officially announced in January 2023. By October 2024, Travis Willingham, co-producer of The Legend of Vox Machina, shared that production on The Mighty Nein was halfway completed (via Polygon):
We have completed writing all of season 1. The storyboards should be finalized shortly, if they aren’t already. It’s off to our overseas studio. We’re receiving animation tests and seeing characters come to life in color. All characters have been designed, and we’re currently fine-tuning magical spells and effects. We are discussing music and how it will differ from Vox.
Who are the main characters in The Mighty Nein?
The animated series boasts seven primary characters:
- Nott The Brave, voiced by Sam Riegel, was a halfling woman transformed into a goblin due to a curse.
- Caleb Widogast, voiced by Liam O’Brien, is a troubled human wizard who was trained as an assassin by the Dwendalian Empire.
- Fjord Stone, voiced by Travis Willingham, is a half-orc sailor who harbors mysterious magical abilities.
- Beauregard Lionett, voiced by Marisha Ray, is a human monk affiliated with the Order of the Cobalt Soul.
- Jester Lavorre, voiced by Laura Bailey, is a tiefling cleric devoted to an unseen deity known as the Traveler.
- Mollymauk Tealeaf, voiced by Taliesin Jaffe, is a tiefling tarot reader operating within a traveling circus.
- Yasha Nydoorin, voiced by Ashley Johnson, is a barbarian exiled from her homeland, Xhorhas, due to clan marriage traditions.
Additionally, Matt Mercer lends his voice to Essek Thelyss, a dark elf and wizard from the Kryn Dynasty.
The series also includes voice performances from:
- Mark Strong
- Alan Cumming
- Tim McGraw
- Anika Noni Rose
- Ming-Na Wen
- Auli’i Cravalho
- Rahul Kohli
- Jonathan Frakes
- Robbie Daymond
What is the story of The Mighty Nein?
The new series takes place roughly 20 years after the events of Vox Machina. The official synopsis for the series reads:
The Mighty Nein follows a group of misfits and fugitives, each carrying their own secrets and scars. When a potent arcane artifact called ‘The Beacon’ falls into perilous hands, they must collaborate to save the realm and prevent reality from unraveling.
According to Willingham, the series will depict the characters’ initial encounters rather than presenting them as a pre-formed group (via Entertainment Weekly):
We aim to explore various facets. In The Legend of Vox Machina, we presented the heroes together immediately. In The Mighty Nein, we want to delve into who these characters are and how they come together incrementally — in pairs or as lone wolves for extended periods — while each pursues their individual objectives. This will distinctly set The Mighty Nein apart from Vox. You will witness them striving for their own aspirations while initially resisting teamwork.
Tasha Huo, the showrunner, further commented:
A significant attraction for me was the characters’ trauma. The narrative reflects a more sophisticated and mature storytelling style. Expect more drama and cinematic elements, treating the series as if it were live-action while preserving the tonal essence of Vox Machina.
Recent photos released by Entertainment Weekly reveal that season 1 will introduce Essek Thelyss, a captivating elven wizard known as Shadowhand, recognized for his expertise in dark mysteries and arcana. According to Critical Role, the television adaptation is set to enrich Essek’s character through details that weren’t disclosed during the campaign.
Willingham shared:
Viewers will witness the intricacies within the Empire and the Dynasty, how events unfold behind the curtains, and the journey of Essek — uncovering his rise to power and his influence over significant realms in The Mighty Nein.
As expected, the Amazon series will sprinkle in plenty of humor and Easter eggs that will delight long-time Critical Role enthusiasts. Sam Riegel, a voice actor and co-executive producer, noted:
While I won’t spoil anything, rest assured that beloved gags, inside jokes, and peculiar moments from Campaign 2’s gameplay will be preserved in the animated series. I won’t reveal when and how these callbacks emerge, but if you adored them in the campaign, they will definitely make a return!
Is there a trailer available for The Mighty Nein?
Yes — check out the trailer introducing the band of unexpected heroes:
Amazon has also released three clips as teasers for the show.
During Comic-Con 2025 in San Diego, Amazon showcased a humorous sneak peek:
A clip from 2023 offers a look at the series’ characters:
Additionally, Amazon revealed a sneak peek into the animation process:
