After years of failed video game adaptations, times have changed. Over the last two years, video game adaptations have found both commercial and critical praise. In television, The Last of Us became an award-winning TV show, while Fallout received 17 Emmy nominations. When it comes to movies, hits like “Detective Pikachu,” “Five Nights at Freddy’s” and “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” showcased their box office potential. With more adaptations on the horizon, studios will be looking for other games to adapt. Where should they look, though?
Already In Development
There are many adaptation in development that people who do not follow the film industry may not realize. In February of 2022, Netflix announced its intentions to create a movie based on the BioShock games. A24 announced that they began work with Hideo Kojima and his game company to make a Death Stranding movie. Chad Stahelski, the director of the John Wick films, has talked openly about wanting to adapt Ghost of Tsushima. While in the early stages of development, Takashi Doscher is currently the screenwriter. Additionally, a Silent Hill 2 adaptation wrapped filming earlier this year and should come out in 2025. The final notable movie in development is tied to The Legends of Zelda. Wes Ball, the director of the “Kingdom of the Planet of The Apes,” is currently attached to direct that adaptation. Derek Connolly, the writer of the “Detective Pikachu” movie, is currently writing that script.
Mass Effect
Mass Effect is widely considered one of the crown jewels for video game storytelling due in no small part to the immense lore in the game. If done correctly, given its millennium spending timeline, the studio behind it could have a decade-spanning franchise. The future of this property is a little murky, however.
After successfully adapting “The Wheel of Time” in 2021, pundits viewed Mass Effect as Amazon’s next potential adaptation target. However, since then, the news has run dry on the property. No news of a showrunner, writer or even any rumors of intention to adapt. In the aftermath of their successful adaptation of Fallout, maybe they look up to space once again. Mass Effect could not only be a television property, but also double as a large-scale movie franchise. In that case, they would release films theatrically through Amazon-MGM Studios or United Artists.
Life is Strange
Speaking of adaptation news that went cold in 2021, the Life is Strange franchise possesses immense potential. The latest news stems from a 2021 report that Shawn Mendes was joining the project as an executive producer. However, since then, Amazon signed a first-look deal with the production studio behind the rumored adaptation and nothing has happened.
Ideally, Life is Strange would be a television show or limited series. Not only does that serve its temporal manipulation, but it is also a story that would feel wasted condensed into two hours. That long-form storytelling, paired with a relatable main character for younger audiences, makes this an ideal game to adapt.
Red Dead Redemption II
Arguably the most cinematic game in recent years, RDR2 presents a unique opportunity to expand upon an already cinematic adventure tale. The adventures of outlaw Arthur Morgan possess the potential to grow into a string of Western films and series.
While no company currently appears to hold the rights, there is one clear choice for the showrunner: Taylor Sheridan. The Texas-native screenwriter, director and cowboy understands the West, outlaws and moral ambiguity better than any other voice today. When it comes to movies, Sheridan wrote “Sicario,” “Hell or High Water” and served as writer/director on “Wind River.” However, his most significant contribution to the genre is on television and streaming services. As the creator and showrunner of “Yellowstone,” as well as “1923” and “1883,” Sheridan has painted an almost two-century-long tale of a family operating in the West.
Alan Wake
Alan Wake, the classic psychological adventure game, centers on an author and his psychological demons while on a rural getaway. A mere reading of the reveals the DNA of engaging Hitchcokian thrillers with ambiguity at their core. Two notable comparisons include “Rebecca” and “Spellbound.”
As this section was written, Annapurna Pictures announced a deal with Remedy to adapt their games. While a timeline on a potential adaptation is unclear, this is a good sign for any potential adaptation. For a little over a decade, Annapurna Pictures have been a bastion for mid-budget and indie filmmakers. Their work with acclaimed directors to make films like “The Master,” “Everybody Wants Some,” “Her,” “Booksmart,” and “Everybody Wants Some!” should make any Alan Wake fan confident about the potential end product.
SOMA
Without spoiling the plot, SOMA would make a fantastic A24 or Neon horror film. Frictional Games’ philosophical and existential masterpiece about the end of the world and human consciousness would cause more than a few audience members to spin into an existential crisis after witnessing this underwater hellscape. For perspective, the first two films that came to mind when considering an adaptation of SOMA were “Sunshine” and “Underwater.” If SOMA can be more of the former than the latter, an adaptation has the potential to be a cult classic hit.
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