The amount of games that are being adapted as movies, television series or animated projects is staggering. But just like the superhero genre, as Marvel proved, there is an active fan base for nearly every popular game in existence. Companies like Netflix, Amazon and Warner Bros. Pictures (among many others) have wised up to that fact and are now developing projects based on popular games. So here are the top 13 game-based projects that are in development (or are stalled in some cases), out of the almost 35+ video game adaptation we have found so far:
Pokemon: Detective Pikachu 2
The second highest-grossing video game adaptation of all time is getting a sequel, to the surprise of no one. Although Legendary Pictures created the first part, Warner Bros. Picture bought film rights for the Pokemon franchise for the next 30 years (when they bought it back in 2018) and will be developing the next film (very possibly, films). The sequel was announced back in 2019, but since the Covid 19 pandemic, we haven’t heard much about this sequel. But with the strong box office performance, we expect Warner Bros. Pictures to turn their attention to this possible franchise film soon. Oren Uziel from 22 Jump Street is penning the screenplay.
Mortal Kombat Reboot
This Warner Bros. Pictures production was actually supposed to drop in theaters in January 2021, but the coronavirus pandemic halted that decision. It will now drop in theaters and HBOMax simultaneously on April 16th. The reboot is directed by Simon McQouid and produced by James Wan. This upcoming movie will feature Tadanobu Asano as Raiden, Mehcad Brooks as Jackson “Jax” Briggs, Ludi Lin as Liu Kang, Jessica McNamee as Sonya Blade, Hiroyuki Sanada as Scorpion, Joe Taslim as Sub-Zero and Lewis Tan as a new character named Cole Young.
Resident Evil Reboot
The highest grossing zombie film series (and the highest grossing horror film series at one point) is in need of a dire reboot, and it is finally getting one. Milla Jovovich will always be remembered as Alice (almost in a similar fashion to Hugh Jackman and Wolverine), but it was time for a change after 2016’s Resident Evil: The Final Chapter. This Screen Gems and Constantin Film production will focus around the game series’ iconic protagonist Rico Rodriguez and the new movie is expected to be extremely scary.
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners
This game adaptation was announced even before the much anticipated game was even released. Netflix is preparing an animated series that is set in the same universe as the 2020 released game – Cyberpunk 2077, which will come out in 2022. Japan based animation company, Studio Trigger will work on the animation, with the original developer, CD Projekt Red on board as the series producer. Hiroyuki Imaishi (Gurren Lagann, Kill la Kill, Promare) will direct the 10-episode series while Akira Yamaoka (Silent Hill) will compose the score.
Minecraft: The Movie
Another much anticipated live-action Swedish-American movie will be directed by Peter Sollett and written by Allison Schroeder and was slated to release in March 2022. We do not know how the coronavirus pandemic has affected those plans for now, but with proper guidance and development, Minecraft has the potential to even rival The Lego franchise.
Borderlands
While this brilliant game adaptation has been in the works for almost 5 years now, its true pre-production stage took off in February 2020, with Eli Roth joining to direct the live-action film. Cate Blanchett and Kevin Hart also got added to portray the Siren, Lilith and the mercenary Kevin Hart. But the Covid-19 virus slowed down production again. With the pandemic dying down, more cast members have been added with Jamie Lee Curtis set to portray the scientist/ archaeologist Tannis while Jack Black will voice the witty robot, Claptrap.
Contra
This 8-bit run and gun classic is getting a live-action adaptation in China. This Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone look-a-like protagonists-set game will also have a television series produced by the same company – Beijing Starlit Movie and TV Culture.
Duke Nukem
This Gearbox Software game adaptation has been in development for over four years, with John Cena set to star as the titular character – Duke Nukem. But back in 2019, the actor came out and said that no adaptation was yet in production. Movie producer Jean-Julien Baronnet from the Assassin Creed movie was set on creating this movie, but might not be returning to this game adaptation until he finishes his other Assassin’s Creed projects. Hopefully this much awaited movie will finally get the attention it deserves after the pandemic dies down completely.
Gears Of War
This game adaptation has been a long time coming. Since 2007, the film has gone through multiple producers, directors and writers, and shifted hands from New Line to Universal. There is now a script being developed for the film by F. Scott Frazier, which will not be based on the game franchise. There has been an ongoing tussle between producers and fans of the franchise to get Dave Bautista to portray the lead protagonist Marcus Fenix.
Halo
While an exact game to movie adaptation is not in the cards, we will still get to see an adaptation of the game as series for Showtime. Pablo Schreiber has been cast as Master Chief, while Otto Bathurst from Peaky Blinders will direct and produce the series. The series was expected to come out in Spring of 2021, but we have to see how the coronavirus pandemic affected the release date.
Portal
One of the biggest original games of the 2000s, this movie was supposed to be adapted for the big screen by JJ Abrams, just like another popular game Half-Life. But just like Half-Life 3, both these game adaptations are currently on hold and its progression is anybody’s guess.
Assassin’s Creed TV Series (Reboot)
Assassin’s Creed game developer Ubisoft has announced its partnership last year with Netflix to create a multi-layered, multi-platform Assassin’s Creed project. The main adaptation will be a television series, but there is also an animated series in the works as well. We have been told to expect an epic, genre-bending live action web series.
Uncharted
Well, we all knew this one was definitely coming. The game development was announced back in 2009. Sony has brought in and lost six directors during that time, while the gaming franchise added two more brilliant sequels and a few spin-offs by that point. But this time we have two heavyweight actors set to portray a young Nathan Drake and his mentor Sully – Tom Holland and previously considered Nathan Drake frontrunner, Mark Wahlberg respectively. The movie is directed by Venom’s Ruben Fleischer and is said to draw inspiration from Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End. The movie was expected to release by the end of 2020, which then got pushed to July 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Playstation Productions movie is now expected to release in February 2022.
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