LOS ANGELES - Felicia Day and Wil Wheaton are teaming up for a new tabletop gaming series called Conludo, but the project’s debut comes with a bittersweet twist for fans of their seminal web series The Guild. The pair confirmed the new show’s launch this week, while also revealing that a long-rumored Guild reunion movie has hit a major financial roadblock after California denied its application for a film tax credit.
The new series, Conludo, will see Day and Wheaton hosting a mix of gameplay, strategy discussions, and celebrity guest appearances focused on tabletop role-playing games. While specific network or streaming details remain under wraps, Day described the show as a natural evolution of her longtime passion for gaming culture, which first gained mainstream attention through The Guild nearly two decades ago. “Conludo is about celebrating the joy of gathering around a table, rolling dice, and telling stories together,” Day said in a statement provided to USA Film News. “It’s a space where gamers of all levels can feel welcome.” Wheaton, a prolific tabletop enthusiast and host of his own gaming content for years, added that the series aims to bridge the gap between casual players and hardcore fans, with an emphasis on humor and accessibility.
However, the excitement around Conludo is tempered by the news that the proposed The Guild reunion movie will not move forward as initially planned. According to multiple insiders close to the project, the filmmakers had applied for a California Film and Television Tax Credit, a common incentive for productions shooting in the state, but the request was denied. The rejection stems from a combination of the film’s projected budget falling below the state’s minimum threshold for the credit program - which typically favors larger-scale productions - and a crowded applicant pool during the latest allocation period. Without the credit, the production’s financing gap has widened significantly, forcing the studio to pause active development.
Day addressed the setback directly, emphasizing that the movie’s status is “delayed, not dead.” She noted that the cast - which includes original Guild members Sandeep Parikh, Jeff Lewis, Robin Thorsen, Amy Okuda, and Vincent Caso - remains fully committed to reuniting if a viable path forward emerges. “We all love these characters and this world,” Day said. “California’s decision is frustrating, but it doesn’t change our belief in the story we have to tell. We’re exploring other production locations and alternative financing options as we speak.” Wheaton, who is not part of the Guild ensemble but is a close friend of the cast, echoed that sentiment, noting that the creative team has already received interest from out-of-state incentives in Georgia and New Mexico, though no formal agreements have been signed.
The original The Guild, which premiered on July 27, 2007, was a low-budget web series that chronicled a group of online gaming addicts attempting to manage their real-world relationships while navigating a massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG). Each episode ran roughly seven minutes, and the show’s quick wit and relatable depictions of internet culture earned it a devoted following and a solid 7.124/10 rating on TMDb. Day starred as Codex, the group’s reluctant leader, alongside Parikh as Zaboo, Jeff Lewis as Vork, Robin Thorsen as Clara, Amy Okuda as Tinkerballa, and Vincent Caso as Bladezz. The series ran for six seasons, concluding in 2013, but its influence on subsequent web-to-mainstream media has remained significant.
The tax credit denial is particularly galling for the production team because The Guild was a pioneer of digital-first storytelling, and its reunion film would have marked a symbolic return to the Los Angeles area where the series was shot. Industry analysts note that California’s incentive program allocates a fixed amount annually - currently around $330 million - and prioritizes projects deemed to create durable local jobs and economic impact. Smaller, indie-scale features often struggle to compete with major studio blockbusters in the same application window. A representative for the California Film Commission declined to comment specifically on the Guild application, citing standard confidentiality policies.
For now, Day and Wheaton are focusing their energy on Conludo, which they describe as a collaborative effort with several gaming companies and content platforms. The show’s format will include multi-episode campaigns, one-shot adventures, and behind-the-scenes interviews with game designers. Wheaton said the timing feels right for a return to analog gaming amid a digitally saturated media landscape. “People are craving authentic connection, and tabletop games provide that in a way few other mediums can,” he explained. “Conludo is our love letter to that experience.” In the meantime, the Guild reunion movie remains in limbo, with Day promising fans that rumors of its death are premature. “If there’s one thing gamers know,” she said, “it’s how to keep trying until the respawn.”
Source: Variety
