Full Breakdown
Felicia Day’s “The Guild: Ren Faire’d” Sets New Crowdfunding Record
8/21/2026, 2:19:01 AM
Record-Breaking Campaign
The Kickstarter for *The Guild: Ren Faire’d*—the reunion film of Felicia Day’s web-series *The Guild*—surpassed the previous movie-funding high-water mark set by the 2013 *Veronica Mars* film. In the campaign’s final hours the project raised more than $5 million, becoming the most-funded movie ever on the platform.
Background and Series History
*The Guild* debuted as a comedy web series in 2007 and ran until 2013, following the misadventures of an online gamers’ guild called the Knights of Good. The show cultivated a dedicated fan base that helped it “defy the system” and later secured a five-season run on Amazon Prime Video. To celebrate the series’ 20th anniversary slated for 2027, Day announced a reunion film set at a Renaissance Faire, titled *The Guild: Ren Faire’d*.
Funding Data and Milestones
- Amount raised: reports range from $5.70 million to $5.81 million.
- Backers: between 37,455 and 38,169.
- Previous record: *Veronica Mars* raised $5,702,153 from over 91,000 supporters in 2013.
- Stretch goals: the campaign also funded a Dungeons & Dragons supplement and a tabletop bonus series called “Conludo.”
Official Statements & Responses
She also noted that the project was denied a California film-tax credit, arguing that the credit should be automatic for productions under $10 million and that the current allocation heavily favors large-budget projects. Day warned that without the credit she may have to relocate production to another state.
Amazon Prime Video, which previously picked up the animated series, has not issued a separate comment on the film’s financing.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Omg World record broken. You guys…..thank you. Thank you!” — Felicia Day, Hollywood executive
- “Felica and The Guild were the butterfly that flapped its wings and meant we're all here today” — Verity Lane, designer at Hit Point Press
- “With adapting IPS in the D&D space, it's all about finding the balance - making sure those references people are expecting are there, but also that they're fun and playable” — Verity Lane, designer at Hit Point Press
- “There were a lot of conversations about how to adapt such an inherently ridiculous comedic style into what's often a very structured, stylistically specific medium” — Vincent Caso
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Total amount raised: Variety cites $5,704,000; TheWrap reports $5,770,628; Nerdist lists $5,809,479.
- Backer count: Variety notes 37,455 supporters; Nerdist mentions 38,169.
- No source provides a final, audited figure, leaving the exact total and precise backer count unresolved.
Impact and Future Plans
Beyond the film, the Kickstarter’s success funds a D&D sourcebook that expands the series’ fictional MMO world and the “Conludo” tabletop series, a collaborative game-night show co-hosted by Day and Wil Wheaton. The record demonstrates the purchasing power of niche fandoms and may influence how studios and states consider financing models for independent, fan-driven projects.
