After many decades witnessing numerous movie adaptations of video games, most have not achieved significant success. Major studios have started to pivot towards animated series – a promising field that has shown potential in recent years. This area is regarded as quite appealing, given the blockbuster game titles that often boast complex narratives and can be adapted into a film format, typically requiring around 2 to 3 hours of runtime.
Currently, there are numerous game-to-series adaptations being undertaken by major brands. Notable examples include animated series such as Castlevania on Netflix, Halo on Paramount+, and The Last of Us on HBO, which just premiered on January 16 and has received high praise from both critics and audiences alike. This new wave is merely the beginning for a future with many more adaptations inspired by leading game franchises.
Assassin’s Creed
Assassin’s Creed was first brought to the screen in a film adaptation in 2016. However, the initial attempt to adapt this sci-fi game franchise, inspired by historical events, did not achieve the success expected, earning only around $241 million at the box office. The film received a lot of criticism from fans of the franchise, even with the presence of famous actor Michael Fassbender.
Before the movie adaptation was released, Ubisoft had already partnered with Netflix to produce a series of animated films based on its game brand. By 2020, Netflix revealed that it was working on several different Assassin’s Creed projects, including a live-action film, an anime, and an animated series. Recently, a source indicated that producer Jeb Stuart had exited the live-action adaptation due to creative differences.
Fallout
Fallout is a renowned sci-fi video game series from Bethesda Softworks. In its recent iterations, Fallout has provided players with a completely open world, offering multiple choices for exploration and experiences. Soon, Fallout will be adapted into a series for Amazon Prime Video.
Geneva Robertson-Dworet, the writer of Tomb Raider and Captain Marvel, has been selected as the main producer for Fallout. Meanwhile, Walton Goggins and Ella Purnell will also star in this film, though their roles have not yet been revealed. The image above is the first teaser released by Amazon in October 2022.
Mass Effect
Like Fallout, Mass Effect is a game franchise deeply rooted in storytelling, world-building, and character development, potentially making it a blockbuster series. This RPG series revolves around Commander Shepard, a character created by the player, on a mission to explore humanity’s place in the galaxy. Throughout this journey, Shepard will encounter and interact with many different characters, each with unique personalities and goals.
In 2021, EA and Amazon conducted several discussions regarding the rights to produce a series based on Mass Effect. Amazon hopes to broaden the scope of this franchise, while also securing a significant investment into its adaptation. Although the negotiations are ongoing, no official announcements regarding the production of Mass Effect have been made so far.
Alan Wake
The game Alan Wake has made a notable return with a remake released in 2021, heavily influenced by the eerie aesthetics reminiscent of Twin Peaks and the gaming landscape. This return is even more significant as Remedy Entertainment has confirmed that a sequel is in development for 2023, alongside a series adaptation being developed by AMC.
In fact, Remedy Entertainment has been collaborating with Contrarian Films on this adaptation since 2018, based on the upcoming Alan Wake sequel. In 2022, the rights to Alan Wake were sold to AMC, which is currently working to bring the intriguing mysteries of this game series to the screen.
Knuckles
In recent years, the Sonic franchise has made a remarkable resurgence with the release of the game Sonic Frontiers and the unexpected success of the animated film Sonic the Hedgehog. This has led Paramount Pictures to decide to expand the brand, with a dedicated series for the character Knuckles, voiced by Idris Elba in Sonic the Hedgehog 2.
According to forecasts, this series is expected to be released in 2023, although no specific release date has been confirmed yet. Additionally, an unrelated animated series titled Sonic Prime was released by Netflix in December 2022.
Life is Strange
Life is Strange by Dontnod Entertainment once created a sensation in the gaming community with its beloved characters and intricate narrative intertwined with numerous existential choices. Unlike many other complex narratives, Life is Strange could potentially be transformed into a more accessible series due to its strong story foundation.
Hulu has won the rights to produce the Life is Strange series. In 2021, it was announced that singer Shawn Mendes would be the producer of this adaptation. This could be seen as a good sign for Life is Strange, given that the original game has brought forth a significant amount of memorable music for gamers. However, at this point, it remains difficult to determine whether this series will follow the original story of Max and Chloe or explore a different narrative altogether.
A Plague’s Tale
While many game titles selected for film adaptations have longstanding franchises, A Plague’s Tale offers a relatively new perspective in the gaming community. This game follows the tale of siblings Amicia and Hugo de Luna as they navigate survival during a devastating plague ravaging France in the 14th century.
The adaptation of A Plague’s Tale was announced in early 2022 and is being directed by French filmmaker Mathieu Turi alongside production companies Mediawan, Asobo, and Focus Entertainment. This series will also be filmed in France to stay true to the original source material. However, as of now, A Plague’s Tale has yet to announce a release date.
Twisted Metal
In recent years, Sony has become a major player in developing adaptations from video games. Just in the past year, they have released the film adaptation of Uncharted and the series The Last of Us, both of which are significant brands in the gaming industry. In August 2023, they are expected to release a project based on the game Gran Turismo.
In addition, Sony is actively developing a series based on the beloved game brand Twisted Metal, set to premiere on the Peacock platform. This series will feature stars like Stephanie Beatriz, Anthony Mackie, Thomas Haden Church, Richard Cabral, and wrestler Samoa Joe, who will portray the iconic character Sweet Tooth. This project was greenlit in August 2022, and several teasers are expected to drop later this year.
Horizon
The latest game brand from Sony, Horizon, is also slated for adaptation into a series in the near future. The story revolves around a post-apocalyptic world where robotic creatures roam, providing a rich backdrop for a sci-fi adventure series. The protagonist of this game series is Aloy, a hunter who uncovers the mysteries of the “Old Ones”, helping her navigate the complex world around her – a world she must ultimately understand.
This adaptation is still relatively new, as Netflix announced it in early 2022. All we know so far is that Horizon will be developed by Steve Blackman, who is known for his work on series like Fargo and The Umbrella Academy.
God of War
God of War stands as one of the most famous and longstanding game franchises from Sony, with its popularity still reigning strong today. This game series follows the journey of Kratos as he navigates through intriguing stories steeped in Greek mythology, with the latest installments exploring Norse mythology.
In December 2022, Sony officially greenlit a series adaptation of God of War. Some information suggests that this series will be set in a Norse mythology context, with a script crafted by Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby. Rafe Judkins, the producer of The Wheel of Time, has been selected as the showrunner for God of War. Meanwhile, Cory Barlog, the creative director of the original game series, will play a key role in the production of this adaptation.
