The Guild: Renfaire’d Exceeds Fundraising Expectations, Raising $2.5 Million in Under 24 Hours

Long before crowdfunding and web series became the norm, Felicia Day utilized PayPal donations to kickstart the first season of The Guild, a series centered around a group of MMORPG enthusiasts. Now, fans are rallying once more, having pledged over $2.5 million in under 24 hours to fund a feature film celebrating The Guild’s 20th anniversary in 2027.

“I’m honestly overwhelmed by the support this campaign has received,” Day expressed. “This community has been part of The Guild since the very beginning, and the fact that fans are once again coming together to help us tell this story means more than I can say. Reaching our goal is an incredible first step, and I cannot wait to reunite the Knights of Good and make this movie together.”

While no stretch goals have been announced yet, the campaign has already surpassed the $1.5 million target needed to produce The Guild: Ren Faire’d. The original cast will come together for a journey to the renaissance faire, featuring guest appearances from stars like Wil Wheaton, who portrays Fawkes, the leader of the rival guild, the Axis of Anarchy.

A digital copy of the film is available for just $20, but fans are splurging on premium packages. A $1,000 premiere bundle, which includes two tickets to a screening, access to an after-party with the cast, and a signed script, has already sold out with 150 backers. There’s only one of 10 spots remaining for the $25,000 guild master bundle, which offers a role as an extra, a seat at a pre-premiere dinner with the cast, and an hour-long gaming session with Day.

In a virtual interview, Day shared that the script is already written and expressed confidence that fans would help her bypass Hollywood to create the film on her terms.

“I wish I could have a script reading publicly and just show how cool these characters are, but I want to save all the surprises,” Day noted. “If you want to support some fun, funny people making stuff and sticking it to the man, please sign up and help us.”