Persona 3 Reload, a remake of the classic 2006 RPG, is due to release on February 2. Between 2013 and 2016, AIC ASTA and A-1 Pictures released four animated films on Persona 3. The question is: are they worth watching before Reload's release?

For many, myself included, seeing your favorite franchises adapted into a new form is thrilling. So when I heard there were four full-length animated films based on Persona 3, I knew I had to watch them. It's too good to be true! Well, in a way, it kind of is.

Spoiler alert for Persona 3 and the films.

What are the Persona 3 movies?

Let's give a bit of context here. The Persona 3 films, under the banner Persona 3: The Movie, were mostly made by A-1 Pictures (with AIC ASTA doing #1). A-1 also tackled the animated scenes in Persona 4, so they've worked with Atlus in the past.

The films came out over four years, starting in 2013 and ending in 2016. They launched theatrically in Japan, and while they never made it to the West in terms of dubbing, you can buy them subtitled off Amazon Prime for around $5 each.

In honor of Persona 3: Reload's release, I decided to watch all four films and collect my findings here for you all to see. I'll talk about how the films adapt the source material and make it better, or in some cases worse.

For Better

As someone who played Persona 3 Portable, which had no animated cutscenes, the movies made up for that. Seeing the events of Persona 3 done justice through the great animation by AIC ASTA and A-1 Pictures is satisfying. The style is consistent with the original game and outmatched the animated cutscenes in-game, in my opinion. The fight scenes are also given a one-up, feeling just as snappy and rewarding.

The films also give Makoto Yuki, the once-silent protagonist, a full voice and lines. This helps speed things up story-wise and gives him more of a personality and arc. His character development throughout the four films is pretty good and goes deep into the themes of life and death. Furthermore, Yuki's humanization in Persona 3: The Movie #3. Falling Down with Ryoji creates some great moments of friendship the game never had, if I remember correctly.

From the start, you can tell the films were made by Persona 3 fans. Throughout the four films, you'll see cameos from Social Links like Akinari and Chihiro, as well as Makoto using fan-favorite Personas like Jack Frost and Thoth.

The S.E.E.S members also have their moments in the spotlight and translate well onto the screen. Junpei is still that lovable goofball, and Akihiko punches anything and everything near him. We even get an "I've been waiting for this", which is a must for any Persona 3 title.

For Worse

The story of Persona 3 is a long one. I mean, the game takes at least 88 hours to beat, and that's just sticking to the narrative. While the base story remains, small character moments and events are shaved to their bare bones or cut entirely. Even still, it hurts characters that didn't get much time in the original, like Shinji and Jin.

While what it adds is good, it doesn't elevate things as much as they could've. For example, the concept of Personas turning on their users is glanced over, being resolved the same way for both afflicted characters.

Another thing that felt off was the unchanged ending. I know some people didn't like the pacing of the ending and the events that transpire. And, while I was confused and surprised, it felt right. Persona 3: The Movie #4: Winter of Rebirth didn't change that, and it's a missed opportunity.

On that note, the pacing was quick and went too fast. This problem came up a lot, as events happen and end within minutes and get pushed to the side. The game had this issue, and to see that adapted doesn't suit the films well.

I do want to point out that each film has a different director. While the visions for them didn't change much from each version, it feels like there wasn't a lot of wiggle room to explore. For example, Persona 3: The Movie #1. Spring of Birth covered the beginning up to Fuuka's entrance, while Persona 3: The Movie #2. Midsummer Knight's Dream gave us the rest of the S.E.E.S squad and villains.

Each film was an hour and a half, give or take. I'm unsure if the plan was always four films, but deep down, I feel like adding a bit more time to each would help smooth the pacing and make them unique.

Consensus

The Persona 3 films are solid showings of the game's narrative. They stay true to the source material and add small yet welcoming changes. That said, condensing the story and translating its pacing problems to the screen hurt the films, especially the last two. As a fan of Persona 3 and its characters, it's great to see them as lively as they were in the game.

So, it begs the question: should you watch Persona 3: The Movie and its sequels before Persona 3 Reload? Personally, I would steer clear of them if Reload is your first. The game looks to correct some of the original's errors and the story flows much better with gameplay. If you're a returning Persona 3 player, the films would help refresh your memory of the story and characters. Plus, it gives some fun moments that fans will enjoy.

Overall, they act as mementos of the original. Whether they'll age well come Persona 3 Reload's release remains to be seen. 

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A PlayStation horror classic is being reborn as a film. The choose-your-own-nightmare from Supermassive Games, Until Dawn, is one of the latest video games announced to make the jump from your living room TV to the big screen, though this one seems far more straightforward.

According to Hollywood Reporter, PlayStation Productions and Screen Gems are adapting 2015’s Until Dawn with director David F. Sandburg and writer Gary Dauberman. The original tale revolved around eight teens surviving a fear-filled hell in the middle of a wintry retreat, entrusting their fate with the player.

The film doesn't have a release date or casting yet. Hollywood Reporter notes Screen Gems describes the apparent R-rated adaptation as a love letter to the horror genre and centers its ensemble cast. No details on Until Dawn's story have been revealed yet, either. It's safe to say there's a clear-cut formula there for a film to follow, but perhaps Hollywood has a few tricks in store for a proper homage to Until Dawn's interactivity.

Cabin in the (Wintry) Woods

For those who don’t know, Until Dawn, released in 2015 by Supermassive Games, is an interactive horror where your actions have dire consequences. The title, which came out during an onslaught of choice-heavy games like Telltale’s The Walking Dead and Dragon Age: Inquisition, was a hit for players. The vast ways events can play out, terrifying jumpscares, and great cast (including now Oscar-winning actor Rami Malek) made it a staple of the PlayStation 4. 

Fast forward to now, almost nine years since its release, it re-emerges thanks to PlayStation and Screen Gems. As previously mentioned, the film already has a director and writer attached. In the director’s chair is David F. Sandburg, who is most known for his Shazam films for DC.

David started in horror, directing Annabelle: Creation and Lights Out alongside writer Gary Dauberman. Gary is pretty big with horror, writing many of The Conjuring spin-off films like Annabelle and The Nun, as well as both It and It: Chapter Two. The script comes from a pass by Blair Butler (The Invitation).

Personally, the many lets-plays of Until Dawn (looking at you, Markiplier) convinced me to rent the game. It only took me some 30 minutes in to bail, thanks to the choice overload, so maybe watching someone else lead the way is more my speed. Therefore, I am curious to see what David, Gary, and the crew behind this new adaptation have in store. With the many game adaptations in the works right now, it's good to have some idea of where it'll go.

My biggest wish is for a killer cast, pun intended. Put some fresh and familiar horror actors in there and you'll have yourself a real strong horror film. And turn up the campiness. If it's going to be a love letter, you have to embrace the nostalgia and run with it. However, do be wary of branches. That's a QTE.

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Hideo Kojima's work is heading to the silver screen. Announced today, A24 is bringing Kojima Production's Death Stranding into live-action. The film is said to delve into the blurring between life and death, the titular “Death Stranding”, that brought horrific monsters into an ever-collapsing world.

The announcement comes days before the game's eighth anniversary. Speaking about the adaptation on his website, Kojima said:

"A24 was born into this world about 10 years ago, their presence is singular within the industry, they are like no other. The films they are delivering to the world are high in quality and very innovative. I have been attracted to their creations and they have even inspired my own work. Their innovative approach to storytelling aligns with what Kojima Productions has been doing for the last 8 years.

"Now, we are making a Death Stranding movie together," Kojima stated. "There are a lot of 'game adaptation films' out there but what we are creating is not just a direct translation of the game. The intention is that our audience will not only be fans of the games, but our film will be for anyone who loves cinema. We are creating a Death Stranding universe that has never been seen before, achievable only through the medium of film, it will be born."

No word yet on who will take the director's chair or other roles on the live-action adaptation.

Building Bridges

For those who don't know, 2019's Death Stranding is about Sam Porter Bridges, who delivers packages all around the broken United States. It's weird, twisted, and definitely the most memorable title of the last decade. The game bolstered an impressive celebrity cast, with the likes of Norman Reedus (The Walking Dead), Léa Seydoux (Spectre), Mads Mikkelsen (Doctor Strange), and Margaret Qualley (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood). It's unknown if any of the star-studded cast will reprise their roles for the live-action film.

This is big news for Kojima fans. The creator of Metal Gear is a gigantic cinephile, if his Twitter is anything to go by. This isn't his first film, as he had a documentary, titled Hideo Kojima: Connecting Worlds, which premiered at Sundance Film Festival. It's also expected to be released on Disney+ early next year. Kojima, in gaming, just revealed his newest (and weirdest) project, OD, at this year's Game Awards. Last year, he announced a sequel to Death Stranding, which looks to continue the abstract horror the original had.

A24, the company behind the production, is one of Hollywood's biggest up-and-comers. Last year, the studio released Everything, Everywhere, All at Once, which took home seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture. Other films they have made include Moonlight, Ex Machina, Hereditary, and Midsommar.

As one of my favorite studios in the game, it's weird seeing them take on a big project like this. However, it does fit with their abstract aesthetic and flair for the unique. To be honest, I think that, on paper, it's a definite match. However, it remains to be seen if it'll translate into live-action. I'll see you all on the beach.

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The Minecraft movie is adding more stars to its lineup. Peacemaker star Danielle Brooks, according to Deadline, has been cast in the live-action adaptation in an unknown role, as well as Sebastian Eugene Hansen.

The Jared Hess-helmed film, which also stars Aquaman’s Jason Momoa, is set to release on April 5, 2024. Filming is underway in New Zealand and is expected to ramp up by the end of the month.

Around the Block

An adaptation of Minecraft has been in the works for a while, dating back to 2014. Directors like Deadpool 3's Shawn Levy and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia's Rob McElhenney took turns in Creative Mode before quitting. The movie even had Steve Carell attached to star back in 2016, but he left at a later time.

Now, Napoleon Dynamite's Jared Hess has taken the reins after several delays. The director has a certain type of awkward comedy that may give Minecraft a little flair. However, we still have to see if the two mix. It does help that, earlier this year, What We Do in the Shadows' Matt Berry was in talks to star, so the comedy may actually be funny.

Warner Bros. is producing the adaptation and it seems they took some notes with their two big cast members. Both Jason Momoa (who's also producing) and Danielle Brooks have roles in the DCEU. Brooks is a more recent addition to the universe, playing secondary protagonist Leota Adebayo in the John Cena-led Peacemaker series (which I enjoyed, to be honest). Momoa, on the other hand, is King of Atlantis himself, Aquaman. He's set to reprise the superhero in the upcoming Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, out December 22. Funnily enough, three days later, Danielle Brooks is reprising her Tony-nominated role as Sofia in the musical adaptation of The Color Purple.

The idea of a live-action Minecraft film is a bit bewildering. Personally, an animated film would make more sense since it fits better with the game's aesthetic. There are no story details regarding the film's narrative yet. Therefore, we don't know what route they may be taking, whether it'll be in the Minecraft world or the real world.

Telltale Games did do a more narrative-driven take with Minecraft: Story Mode, so maybe it'll be like that. Or perhaps be like Adam Sandler's Pixels. It's certainly a scary thought, but I'm hopeful things work out. I mean, the cast is pretty solid and Minecraft is one of the best-selling games of all time. They wouldn't just make it a cash grab, right? Right? Yeah, maybe I need to know the story first.

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Throughout the Spider-Verse

The latest Spidey film Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse opened over the weekend. Amid the action, some have noticed gameplay footage of Marvel's Spider-Man 2 casually playing during one scene.

When this was pointed out, fans posted on Resetera about it. In response, as spotted by Eurogamer, Insomniac community director James Stevenson confirmed "it is new."

It's a relatively small, tucked-away cameo that appears on a television early in the movie. I saw Spider-Verse over the weekend and noticed some gameplay, but figured it was just a plug of some already seen footage. It's hard to actually discern anything major out of it, aside from seeing some mechanical arms on Peter's suit.

So while it's a neat little easter egg, I don't think you need to buy a movie ticket just to see some new gameplay.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrPZSq5YXqc

Doing whatever a spider can

It's not like we need new gameplay right away, anyways. We got a pretty big spotlight on the new Spider-Man game from Insomniac at the recent PlayStation Showcase. We saw both Peter and Miles, and how the game will swap between the two at key moments for its story.

Kraven, Lizard, and more also pop up during the spotlight too. It's certainly not as laden with Spider-People as Across the Spider-Verse is, but it's looking like Insomniac has a lot of Spidey action planned for this fall.

Meanwhile, while you shouldn't pick up a ticket for the gameplay cameo, you should definitely still go see Across the Spider-Verse. It was an absolutely phenomenal achievement in animation and a great follow-up to one of my personal favorite super-hero films. It's worth your time, with or without the Spider-Man 2 gameplay tease.

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Henry Cavill's last Witcher outing will be split into two parts

Netflix's The Witcher is heading into Season 3. Today, we got dates for both of its premieres across volumes one and two, as well as a look at Henry Cavill's last season as Geralt of Rivia.

The new teaser trailer confirms that Volume One of Season 3 premieres on June 29, containing episodes 1 through 5. Then, on July 27, Volume 2 will go live with episodes 6 through 8.

In today's teaser, we see Cavill's Geralt down a concoction and seemingly prepare for combat. We also see Yennefer (Anya Chalotra) and Ciri (Freya Allen), too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUlC8ue8NFI

Season 3 will mark the last season for Henry Cavill as Geralt of Rivia, before the mantle passes to Liam Hemsworth starting in Season 4. While there isn't much to glean from this teaser, I do think I spy some riders of the Wild Hunt pursuing Ciri at one point.

Here's the official plot synopsis:

"As monarchs, mages, and beasts of the Continent compete to capture her, Geralt takes Ciri of Cintra into hiding, determined to protect his newly-reunited family against those who threaten to destroy it. Entrusted with Ciri's magical training, Yennefer leads them to the protected fortress of Aretuza, where she hopes to discover more about the girl's untapped powers; instead, they discover they've landed in a battlefield of political corruption, dark magic, and treachery. They must fight back, put everything on the line — or risk losing each other forever."

Toss a view to your Witcher

It's wild to me that we're already on Season 3 of The Witcher. It felt like one of the early series, in what's become a wave of adapted series. (I know, it's not really a video game adaptation because it's still in book territory, but it's adjacent at least.)

With Cavill exiting the series, I'm curious what note this ends up leaving the series on. There's still much more Witcher to cover, and the video game series trend has not slowed down.

The post Netflix’s The Witcher gets new teaser and premiere dates for Season 3 appeared first on Destructoid.

'Sally, I hear something... stop... stop...'

Gun Media has reiterated the release date for its upcoming The Texas Chain Saw Massacre — noting that the down 'n' dirty multiplayer title will launch August 18 on PS5, PC, and Xbox Series X as well as reminding Xbox Game Pass subscribers that they will be able to dive into the action day one.

Adapted from Tobe Hooper's magnificent 1974 picture, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre will pit a party of hapless survivors — all hippie hair and booty shorts — against the terrifying Sawyer family, consisting of members either directly pulled from, or inspired by, Hooper's seminal horror classic.

The survivors, (or "Victims" to use the game's lexicon), will be required to complete objectives and gather key items from several recognizable locales while staying one step ahead of family members The Cook, The Hitchhiker, and, of course, the horrifying, chainsaw-wielding Leatherface. All new original characters, including "Johnny" and "Sissy", have also been created to... flesh out the roster of cannibalistic killers.

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is clearly hoping to carve itself a piece of the assymetrical horror pie established by titles such as Behavior Interactive's Dead by Daylight and Illfonic's Friday the 13th: The Game. These releases were, in turn, followed by Illfonic own Predator: Hunting Grounds, Saber Interactive's Evil Dead: The Game, and the currently in-development Killer Klowns from Outer Space.

https://twitter.com/XboxGamePass/status/1649488264343048200?s=20

It's admittedly something of a risky proposition, given that Dead by Daylight has all but completely cornered the market on multiplayer horror movie mashups, but developer Sumo Digital will be looking to capture the distinct (and suspicious) flavor of the original movie to provide an experience that — aesthetically at the very least — will be quite unlike its contemporaries.

My curiosity for this plucky release is piqued, just add Stretch as a playable character, (complete with Caroline Williams providing the voice), and I'll be buzzin'. I think, for the title to have legs among its kin, it might have to paint itself as a full tribute to the entire franchise, eventually adding locations, characters, and "skins" (no pun intended) from the film's scattershot sequels, spin-offs, and remakes.

But I'm perhaps jumping the gun a little. Let's get the title through the steel-shuttered door first.

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre launches August 18 on PS5, PC, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Game Pass. A "technical test" is currently scheduled for May 25.

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This is our new song

Content creator Markiplier has announced that he’ll be writing, directing, and starring in a film based on David Szymanski’s short-form horror game, Iron Lung.

Released in 2021, Iron Lung became a surprise hit. Oh, hey, I’m even quoted on the Steam page. I absolutely loved it, as it was everything short-form horror should be. It was short, inventive, and also horror. It was more atmospheric than scary, so some people told me they found it boring, which hurt my ego. My recommendations are a lot like my children. I send them out in the world without fulling preparing them, and if they don’t succeed immediately, I feel unreasonably disappointed.

In any case, this adaptation of Iron Lung aims to be a theatrical feature. I’m not sure how you turn a 30-45 minute interactive experience into a 90+ minute feature without losing some of the mystique, but here we go. While Markiplier is writing and starring in the film, David Szymanski has been involved and assisting, and that includes helping create the script.

https://twitter.com/DUSKdev/status/1649452805818658817?s=20

Many of the details surrounding the adaptation are under wraps, but we do know it will co-star Caroline Rose Kaplan. Markiplier is financing the film by himself. While it hasn’t been revealed if the film will follow the plot of the game – which involved using a submarine to explore an ocean of blood in a universe where all habitable planets abruptly disappeared – David Szymanski says he “couldn't be happier with how it's turning out so far.”

I don’t have many strong feelings here. I play things, but I rarely watch them. Therefore, both Markiplier and films as a whole are in my periphery, along with sports and human interaction. There’s no reason an Iron Lung movie couldn’t work, so here’s hoping the team can pull it off.

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The actor left his mark on both games and the silver screen

Lance Reddick, the actor who garnered much acclaim for his roles in The Wire and John Wick as well as his work in games, has died at age 60.

TMZ reported the news earlier today, with its sources saying it appears to be of natural causes. Reddick's representative at Portrait PR confirmed the news to Deadline, declining to offer further details.

Reddick studied music at the University of Rochester's Eastman School of Music, and earned a Master of Fine Arts from the Yale School of Drama. He first started acting in 1996, taking on a number of TV roles and series appearances, as well as hitting the big screen in films like Great Expectations. His portrayal of Cedric Daniels in The Wire was, frankly, incredible. From there, he starred in many more projects, including Fringe, John Wick, the live-action Resident Evil series, and more.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDcs5hQ2Pcg

Reddick was also quite a prolific actor in the gaming space. He played major roles in the Horizon series, as well as in games like Quantum Break and 50 Cent: Blood on the Sand.

But for Destiny 2, Reddick voiced Commander Zavala, the Titan leader of the Vanguard and arguably the cornerstone for both The Tower and the Guardians. He would often take to social media and other platforms to share messages with Destiny fans. As you can see in the tweet below, Guardians have already started to gather at the Tower around Zavala's avatar, forming impromptu memorials.

https://twitter.com/timothydclark/status/1636822084625023005

It's hard to put into words what Reddick brought to media, be it film, television, or games. There's a clear love and enthusiasm that comes across in all of his appearances, and a genuine kindness in his off-camera persona. He's truly someone I can say brought everything to every role, in a way that elevated so much of whatever he was in, whether it was as Wesker, Daniels, Charon or anyone else, even appearances on shows like Eric Andre's. Both his on-screen work and the notes about him being shared today speak volumes.

There is still some unreleased work due to arrive, including his role as Zeus in the upcoming Disney+ series Percy Jackson and the Olympians.

The post Lance Reddick, prolific actor and voice talent, dies at 60 appeared first on Destructoid.

Flee from 8-bit Colin Farrell

The Oscars celebration may be over, but The Banshees of Inisherin live on in video game form. Over on this site, you can play Banshees: The Game, a pixel-y game based on the Academy Award-nominated film.

Created by Cogs & Marvel, this little retro-style game does indeed take after The Banshees of Inisherin. It's got some lovely pixel work, including great illustrations of Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson.

How exactly does it play? Well, it's basically Pac-Man. And that leads me to my first big point: for full disclosure, I have not seen this film. I'm only vaguely aware of The Banshees of Inisherin, mostly in that it stars Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson, is a bit of a dark comedy, and is set on a fictional Irish isle. It's also, as I've learned in the course of writing this article, from the same star pairing and director (Martin McDonagh) that created In Bruges, which has certainly piqued my interest.

That unfamiliarity did not help when I found that this video game is essentially Pac-Man, but with Brendan Gleeson's character steadily picking up fingers before heading to the pub. Certainly a far cry from little dots and cherries.

[caption id="attachment_369326" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Yeah, I've got no clue. Now, at this juncture, I must assume that The Banshees of Inisherin is about Brendan Gleeson desperately trying to reclaim the fingers he needs to hold his pint at the pub, before Colin Farrell catches up to him.

As deeply relatable as that sentiment is, I'm sure folks who have actually seen and enjoyed this award-nominated film find some dark humor in this set-up. It's certainly made me curious what it's all about. And really, a Pac-Man clone where you pick up fingers isn't even close to scraping the depths of movie-to-game adaptations. You can play Banshees: The Game yourself here.

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Returning to Silent Hill

The Return to Silent Hill has locked in its James and is ready to start filming. Christophe Gans' follow-up to his 2006 film is scheduled to start filming next month, via Deadline.

Konami revealed a ton of Silent Hill news at its special presentation last October. While there were many games, there was also confirmation that Gans would be returningto direct Return to Silent Hill, a follow-up to 2006's Silent Hill.

The sequel looks to be based on the game Silent Hill 2, with Jeremy Irvine (War Horse) cast as James. After being separated from his one true love played by Jigsaw's Hannah Emily Anderson, he'll head to Silent Hill in search of her. Of course, things don't really go as planned from there on out. Deadline's report doesn't specify, but I'm guessing that "one true love" will see Anderson portraying both Mary and Maria.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_FOVN-UkEI

While there was a follow-up to 2006's Silent Hill released in 2012, subtitled Revelation, this new sequel marks Gans' return to the film series. Victor Hadida is producing, under Davis Films, alongside Hassell Free Productons' Molly Hassell and David Wulf.

According to Hadida (via Deadline), he and Gans have been working closely with Konami to create a version of Silent Hill "for the theatrical audiences of today." There will be "iconic" monsters, alongside new designs.

The Hills come to life

After a pretty lengthy silence on the series, Silent Hill has really sprung back into action. Last October's announcements locked in a slew of new productions alongside Return to Silent Hill. Bloober Team is currently working on a remake of Silent Hill 2, and two third-party studios are getting their own stabs at the series.

No Code and Annapurna are working on Silent Hill: Townfall, while NeoBards Entertainment is working on Silent Hill f, set in '60s Japan with Umineko author Ryukishi07 on board. There's a lot of Silent Hill in store, which still feels really strange to say.

The post Return to Silent Hill casts its leads, and will start filming next month appeared first on Destructoid.

Let's-a-go slightly earlier than expected

Universal and Illumination are moving up the premiere date of The Super Mario Bros. Movie. The animated film is now hitting theaters on April 5 in several markets including the U.S., up from April 7.

While it hits two day earlier in the U.S., other regions will still have to wait a bit longer into April and May; Japan, specifically, will see The Super Mario Bros. Movie debut on April 28.

https://twitter.com/supermariomovie/status/1630599058564976641

Nothing's been indicated as to why the date shifted. But hey, that's a little bit of Mario slightly earlier than expected.

Warp pipe to the future

Before April arrives, we're due for at least one more blast of information about the upcoming film. Nintendo has confirmed that the final trailer for The Super Mario Bros. Movie will air on March 9 in a special movie-focused Direct. The company also says no game information will be included in this Direct, so bad news for anyone hoping for a Mario game to pop up out of the warp pipe.

And honestly, I'm not sure how much more I need to see about the film before I walk into a theater. While I'm still a little iffy on some aspects, I was already in for a viewing when I heard Jack Black's Bowser for the first time. Anything else, all the fun jokes and references, that's just bonus.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie hits theaters in the U.S. on April 5, 2023.

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Just shy of Mar. 10

Nintendo has announced a new Super Mario Bros. Movie Direct, which will host the final trailer for the animated film. This Direct will air on March 9 at 5 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. PT.

The stream is being hosted on Nintendo's channels, and will specifically focus on the final trailer. Nintendo notes in the description:

"Join us at 2:00 p.m. PT on 3/9 for the world premiere of The Super Mario Bros. Movie's final trailer! No game information will be included in this #NintendoDirect."

Bad news for any Mario game hopefuls out there, I suppose. But hey, it looks like we'll get a good glimpse of what's in store for this animated Mario adaptation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66j31wFLB_s

The trailer image does tease many of the central characters, including Mario, Peach, Toad, and Donkey Kong, racing along the Rainbow Road. And I'd pump the brakes if I were Mario, because that Blue Shell is coming in hot.

Drifting along the rainbow highway

The Super Mario Bros. Movie is pretty well lined-up for its April premiere, which isn't all that far off. This animated version of the Mushroom Kingdom looks to put its own spin on the story, with Mario as an isekai'd plumber transported into the wild, wild world of the Mario games.

And honestly, it's looked pretty alright through most of the trailers. Chris Pratt's Mario voice is one thing, but I'd spend the movie theater ticket price just to see more of Jack Black's Bowser. It really does seem like produciton studio Illumination is having fun digging back through the years of the Mario franchise, too.

At the very least, I'm hopeful for an entertaining romp that's light-hearted, got some good gags, and isn't over three hours long. Seriously, that's become my least-favorite trend in blockbuster movies lately. The Super Mario Bros. Movie premieres on April 7.

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2 Player Productions delves into the PsychOdyssey of Psychonauts 2

The collaboration that created Double Fine Adventure is back with a new documentary. Today, 2 Player Productions and Double Fine Productions premiered Double Fine PsychOdyssey, a detailed documentary following the development of Psychonauts 2.

Up on both YouTube and the Internet Archive, Double Fine PsychOdyssey is 32 episodes long, with some pretty hefty runtimes. Alongside following the development of Psychonauts 2, there's also a mini-movie in the middle following Amnesia Fortnight, the studio's special brainstorming and prototyping event it holds every so often.

Much like Double Fine Adventure did with the development of Broken Age, Double Fine PsychOdyssey looks to be a pretty deep and also human look into the creation of a game. You can see a little bit of it in the trailer here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRlI72bsNRc

Making the game

It's good to see transparency in how games are made, and how the people who make them go through the process. You'd be hard-pressed to find as interesting a subject as Double Fine, too.

The development of Psychonauts 2 took a while, and a lot happened for Double Fine over the course of it. Getting a look into how those events panned out, as well as how the team tackled making a sequel to the original Psychonauts, certainly sounds like it would be an interesting watch.

Most of the Double Fine PsychOdyssey episodes are pretty long, so settle in for a watch. But hey, with the weekend ahead, it seems like a great time to settle in and watch a game get made. Find all of the episodes in the playlist here.

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Kojima is partnering with Hammerstone Studios for a strand adaptation

The strand genre is moving to the silver screen. Kojima Productions is teaming up with Hammerstone Studios to produce a film adaptation of Death Stranding.

Hideo Kojima will produce alongside Hammerstone Studios' Alex Lebovici, who executive produced this year's surprise horror hit Barbarian. The film is being fully financed by Hammerstone (per Variety), with Kojima Productions US and Allan Ungar as executive producers.

The plot, according to Variety, is being kept under wraps, though the outlet's heard that it will introduce new elements and characters. No writer or director is publicly locked in yet.

"We are thrilled and honored to have the opportunity to partner with brilliant and iconic Hideo Kojima on his first film adaptation," said Lebovici. "Unlike other big budget tentpole video game adaptations, this will be something far more intimate and grounded. Our goal is to redefine what a video game adaptation could be when you have creative and artistic freedom. This film will be an authentic 'Hideo Kojima' production."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCI396HyhbQ

An interesting twist to a Death Stranding film adaptation is the source material itself. Kojima Productions' 2019 game has a lot of stars in it. Norman Reedus plays the lead role of Sam "Porter" Bridges, Léa Seydoux plays Fragile, and Mads Mikkelsen plays a certain antagonistic force as well. Additionally, several side roles feature stars like Margaret Qualley, or Heartman's likeness Nicolas Winding Refn. Whether or not any of those actors return for their roles in this version is up in the air.

A new strand

Alongside the film adaptation in the works, Kojima has also confirmed his studio is working on the sequel to 2019's game, Death Stranding 2. The Game Awards 2022 reveal shows actors like Reedus and Seydoux returning for the follow-up, as well as some big ships and a creepy new character.

This also adds Death Stranding to the growing pile of adaptations in the works. We just got confirmation that Amazon's God of War series is moving forward, and elsewhere, Netflix is working on a Horizon Zero Dawn adaptation and HBO's The Last of Us is set to premiere in January.

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Even the Rainbow Road made it into this movie

A new look at the Mario movie is here, and it's got a lot in it. Today's trailer for The Super Mario Bros. Movie shows off more of the cast, plot, and hazards waiting for the crew this April.

The second trailer for The Super Mario Bros. Movie aired during today's Direct, specifically spotlighting the movie. Sorry, no Mario game news to share.

What we did get to see was much more of the cast, including Luigi, Princess Peach, and Donkey Kong. There are gladiatorial games, platforming, a Bowser torture scene, and even some Mario Kart happening on the Rainbow Road.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnGl01FkMMo

From a training segment involving some floating platforms and hazards to DK slapping the dickens out of Mario, this definitely has a bit more of a Mushroom Kingdom vibe. Plus, we've heard a good chunk of the movie's cast now giving their takes on these classic Nintendo characters.

Off to the Mushroom Kingdom

We got our first official trailer for The Super Mario Bros. Movie not too long ago. That Direct featured both Chris Pratt (playing Mario) and Jack Black (Bowser) discussing their work on the film, then segueing into the full trailer. This time around, we got an intro from Anya Taylor-Joy, who plays Princess Peach, and Seth Rogen, who plays Donkey Kong.

While the first trailer set the stage, this second one feels like it gives a pretty good idea of what the upcoming Nintendo and Illumination film will be like. An everyman-versus-Bowser isekai is certainly a way to take the Mario story, but I'm not entirely against it. We'll see how it comes together when The Super Mario Bros. Movie premieres on April 7, 2023.

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Another look at the new Mario movie

We're getting another look at The Super Mario Bros. Movie, and soon. Nintendo is hosting a world premiere for The Super Mario Bros. Movie second trailer tomorrow, November 29.

The Direct, as Nintendo is dubbing it, will air live at 2 p.m. PT / 5 p.m. ET. There's no estimation on how long this one will be, though given its prior Direct, this movie teaser will likely be on the shorter side.

https://twitter.com/NintendoAmerica/status/1597350002028064768/

As Nintendo states in its tweet, no game information will be included in this Nintendo Direct. Much like the first Super Mario Bros. Movie Direct, this one will seemingly focus on just the film. And also, hopefully, more selfie cam talking heads with the cast.

Mario goes to the movies

In our first trailer for the new Mario movie in September, we got a pretty good look and feel for what's in store. It seems like a Mario isekai, with the plumber waking up in the Mushroom Kingdom and setting off for adventure.

Meanwhile, Jack Black's Bowser absolutely stole the show. Both his pre-trailer guest spot and his in-trailer performance as the King of the Koopas was excellent.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPpazvJrHm0

There are still some principal performances we're waiting on, though. No sign of Peach or Donkey Kong yet, and we got maybe a smidgeon of Charlie Day's Luigi at the end there.

Considering the teaser image for the new Direct features the stained-glass art of Peach's castle, we'll hopefully get more of the cast this time around.

The stream goes live at 2 p.m. PT over here on Nintendo's YouTube. Nintendo and Illumination's film is set to debut on April 7, 2023.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohJrpHUoZ10

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So yeah, Mr. X, I'm thinking I'm back

The Streets of Rage are headed to the silver screen. Lionsgate has picked up the film adaptation of the beat 'em up Streets of Rage, with John Wick writer Derek Kolstad writing.

This news was reported on earlier this year by Deadline. Today's confirmation sees the Streets of Rage project finding a home at Lionsgate, with Kolstad producing alongside Toru Nakahara. Dj2 Entertainment's Dmitri M. Johnson, Timothy I. Stevenson, and Dan Jevons are also on board, as well as Escape Artists' Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal, and Tony Shaw.

Dj2 Entertainment is important to note, as the company worked on the recent Sonic the Hedgehog film series and is also looking to adapt It Takes Two.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDXY1WRef0Q

Streets of Rage saw a bit of a revival, thanks to the 2020 release of Streets of Rage 4 that went over pretty well. It's a classic in the beat 'em up genre, and it's easy to see how someone behind the John Wick series would gravitate to a property like this.

"When Dmitri first mentioned the idea of cracking a Streets of Rage movie, I was so immediately freaking in," Kolstad said in a statement via Variety. “And to play with Sega? The 10-year-old me is still grinning.”

A new adaptation

This adds another video game to the long list of upcoming video game adaptations. It's become a popular trend, as productions like Arcane and Sonic the Hedgehog have worked out pretty well. Even Cyberpunk: Edgerunners and The Witcher, based off media properties that existed before their game counterparts, saw boosts thanks to their series' successes.

For Streets of Rage? I'm just hoping for some brawling action with the series' best. I could easily see a found-family story about a rag-tag crew of fighters working here. And it's a good excuse to play some more Streets of Rage, too.

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More virtual Keanu

Lionsgate is toying with the idea of another John Wick video game. The entertainment company's CEO said in a recent earnings call that the studio is fielding proposals.

As reported by IndieWire, Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer said the company has been "fielding proposals" around a John Wick game.

"I don’t want to get ahead of myself here, but we believe there is a big AAA game to be made out of John Wick," said Feltheimer. "We have been fielding proposals. We certainly are interested in moving that forward, but I don’t want to say anything more about that at this time."

It's not a major commitment. But it is interest in a franchise that's already seen some adaptation, and could see more.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7XM597XO94

I'm thinkin' I'm back

John Wick has already had his own game, in the form of Bithell Games' John Wick Hex. The studio imagined Wick's action-heavy shootouts in turn-based strategy puzzles, in a way that reminded me a bit of Invisible, Inc.

It sounds like John Wick Hex turned out alright, too. But the CEO's choice of words, in "big" and "AAA," bring to mind a hefty investment.

Considering the only other John Wick adaptation we have in the virtual space aside from Hex is a Fortnite cameo, there's still room. A studio like Sloclap could absolutely tackle something fast-paced and action-heavy in the Wick universe. Though my personal choice would be to give this the Alpha Protocol treatment. Either way, I'm all for more digital Keanu.

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Hopper can't drive 55

A Stranger Things actor is getting behind the wheel for a PlayStation picture. David Harbour has been cast to star in the upcoming Gran Turismo movie.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the Sony Pictures and PlayStation Productions feature will cast Harbour as a retired driver and mentor. Harbour has garnered notoriety as Hopper in Stranger Things and as the Red Guardian in the Marvel universe.

The Gran Turismo movie will follow a teenage Gran Turismo player whose skills in-game lead to him winning a series of Nissan competitions. And thanks to his skills, he gets a chance to become a professional racecar driver.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQEondeGvKo

Neill Blomkamp, of District 9, is directing the project, with a script written by Jason Hall and Zach Baylin. Gran Turismo creator Kazunori Yamauchi is executive producing, alongside Hall.

It's set for a theatrical premiere on August 11, 2023.

More PlayStation pictures on the way

Sony has quite a number of different media projects and adaptations on the way, alongside Gran Turismo.

The HBO series of The Last of Us recently got a short teaser. A Twisted Metal TV adaptation has wrapped filming for the Peacock streaming service. Netflix recently confirmed its Horizon series is in development under The Umbrella Academy's showrunner.

And that's not counting reports of several other projects in development, ranging from Days Gone to Gravity Rush.

Basically, a lot of PlayStation franchises are getting their shot at the silver screen. Which, given the reception to Uncharted, could be a good or bad thing. What HBO has shown so far for The Last of Us TV series seems to be getting the tone right, at the least.

As for the Gran Turismo series, Gran Turismo 7 sounds like it turned out pretty solid. Hopefully that bodes well for its media adaptation aspirations.

_{Lead image via Netflix}

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Netflix signs on some notable talent for the underwater story

The BioShock film adaptation has found its director and scriptwriter. Netflix confirms today that I Am Legend director Francis Lawrence will be the BioShock director, with a script written by Michael Green.

Lawrence has a pretty solid list of action-thrillers on his resume, including I Am Legend and The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. Meanwhile, Green has penned scripts for Logan, Blade Runner 2049, and American Gods.

https://twitter.com/netflix/status/1562864632708050945

These two will be tackling a live-action adaptation of the BioShock franchise. It's unclear which parts of that franchise will be adapted, but the Big Daddy is featured in Netflix's promos so far. It seems like an underwater venture seems like a safe bet.

 Would you kindly pass the remote?

Netflix also announced some more news for its ongoing video game adaptations, locking in The Umbrella Academy showrunner Steve Blackman for the development of its Horizon Zero Dawn series. Alongside Castlevania, Tekken, and more, that's a lot of adaptations for Netflix.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3RXpEXA0jw

And there are even more if you take a look around the entertainment industry. Sony is heavily developing several different projects, including reports of Days Gone and Gravity Rush movies. Sonic the Hedgehog is doing well at the box office.

Basically, get ready for a lot of video game adaptations. It seems like the dam is open, and they're all going to flood in soon. At the very least for the BioShock film, this is a good pairing of writer and director. I've enjoyed a good chunk of their previous work, and they seem like a pairing that could tackle something like BioShock in an interesting way.

And hey, this news plus the recent 15th anniversary make for a good excuse to revisit BioShock. Here's hoping we get to see a Big Daddy on the screen soon.

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The Awards are back this December

It's another year, and that means another bout of The Game Awards. Today, the show confirmed its stream date for this year will be Thursday, December 8. And The Game Awards 2022 is also adding another category, for Best Adaptation.

In a press release, the awards organization announced it will introduce Best Adaptation, a category for adaptations of video game intellectual properties into other media. This includes (but is not limited to) theatrical movies, streaming shows, podcasts, novels, and comic books.

This awards category could potentially include a number of different adaptations, though no nominees are locked in just yet.

The Game Awards 2022 will stream live on Twitch, YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, and TikTok Live. The show will also partner with IMAX to host a live community IMAX event in different cities around the world. More details will be announced in the coming months for that.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KZ3MKraNKY

The wide, wide world of adaptations

News of this category isn't too surprising, as video game adaptations have become quite the trend. Even last year's Game Awards showed off a teaser for Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and the Halo TV series.

The sheer volume of incoming adaptations is pretty massive, too. Just today, a new report dropped of Sony developing a Gravity Rush film, alongside last week's report of a Days Gone feature in production. We also just got a look at Sony's upcoming The Last of Us HBO series.

Those wouldn't be in the running for this year's awards (barring a sudden and speedy debut), but several other projects would be. The aforementioned Halo series would be though, as would the Netflix Resident Evil series. If we're going by December-to-December rules, that leaves League of Legends series Arcane out of the mix unless something drops between now and the Awards. Sonic 2 is a presumptive frontrunner, most likely.

We'll learn more as we get closer to The Game Awards 2022 air date on December 8.

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Sony can't stop, won't stop with the adaptations

PlayStation Productions seems to be on a roll with new projects, as another movie adaptation of a Sony IP is apparently moving forward. Deadline reports that a film based on Gravity Rush is in development.

According to Deadline, PlayStation Productions and Scott Free Productions have launched development. Anna Mastro (Secret Society of Second Born Royals) looks to be attached as director, with Emily Jerome on the script.

Gravity Rush is the pushing-and-pulling action-adventure series from Sony Japan Studio, where protagonist Kat can bend gravity to her will. She fights monsters, defends her hometown, and also does the occasional odd job for others.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMGaMOyr0GI

Deadline says it's not clear who will produce the Gravity Rush film as of yet. Distribution is also apparently unclear.

Rushing to the silver screen

Gravity Rush just adds to the rapidly growing list of PlayStation IP productions in development. Alongside the Gravity Rush film, we also heard from Deadline's report last week that Sony is planning on a Days Gone film.

It's not just film adaptations, either. Twisted Metal has a series in development, and reports of Horizon and God of War series have also popped up. Plus, The Last of Us just got a first-look clip in an HBO sizzle reel.

The Gravity Rush movie news is actually pretty exciting, as I personally think this series would make the jump to film pretty well. It's got a good basis for some cozy, feel-good, slice-of-life moments. And Kat's gravity powers could make for pretty exciting action setpieces.

There's the stinger of Sony Japan's down-scaling, though, as that deflates any of my hopes for some new Gravity Rush around this. Regardless, it looks like Sony is carrying on with adapting a ton of its properties into film and TV. It's anyone's guess as to what could or could not be next.

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Because sure, why not

It looks like Pac-Man could be hitting the silver screen. A new report claims a film is in development, based on Pac-Man, and it's live-action.

The Hollywood Reporter says the project is in the works between Bandai Namco Entertainment and Wayfarer Studios. It's apparently based on an original idea from Chuck Williams of Lightbeam Entertainment, a producer on 2020's Sonic the Hedgehog.

Wayfarer was founded by Justin Baldoni and Steve Sarowitz, and was behind Disney+ feature Clouds. No further details have been reported on what direction this live-action adaptation of the arcade classic might take.

Bandai Namco, meanwhile, has seen a number of video game adaptations come and go. They've ranged from varying Tekken films to series and anime adaptations. Tekken itself is getting another iteration on Netflix later this month, with Tekken: Bloodline.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6-donCAnCc

Puck Man to the rescue

Considering there isn't too much narrative fodder to work with, I have to wonder where exactly a Pac-Man movie goes. Maybe a comedy that imagines the Pac-Man world and its everyday action as a standard 9-to-5 world, like Wreck-It Ralph.

Or maybe it goes a darker, grim route, imagining Pac-Man as some grizzled ghost hunter. What if the "games" are put on by a higher power, and Pac-Man is in some kind of Squid Games situation, fighting to survive in a maze full of ghosts and dots?

Honestly, I have no clue. But since video game adaptations have shown absolutely no sign of slowing down in the near future, I'm down for whatever. Resident Evil has had multiple adaptations in the last few years, Castlevania keeps tearing it up on Netflix, and League of Legends struck gold with Arcane. If Mario and Sonic, are both returning to the silver screen, then Pac-Man should get a shot too.

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Putting your hand in the TV might get too realistic

Sega is looking into doing more film and TV, and it's eyeing properties under the Atlus umbrella. A new story indicates Sega is digging into the Atlus catalog for potential live-action film and TV adaptations.

Speaking to IGN, Sega says it is currently exploring live-action film and TV projects with various studios and producers. Toru Nakahara—producer on the Sonic the Hedgehog movies—says Sega is exploring the idea, specifically pointing towards the Persona franchise.

"Atlus' worlds are filled with high drama, cutting-edge style and compelling characters," said Nakahara. "Stories like those from the Persona franchise really resonate with our fans and we see an opportunity to expand the lore like no one has seen—or played—before.

"Together, Sega and Atlus, are working to bring these stories and worlds to life through new mediums and for new audiences," Nakahara says.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmG-k8SHkng

Sky's the limit

Sega didn't specify any production companies in particular to IGN. It's only interested in exploring potential projects with various studios and producers at the moment.

It's not like Persona hasn't been adapted before, though mostly through animated series and OVAs. But making it with human actors could get a little weird.

While The Witcher and other series have moved into the corporeal realm with solid results, anime-styled adaptations haven't always fared so well. Look at Netflix's Death Note if you need an example.

Still, video game adaptations continue to be all the rage. Sega has done pretty well with the live-action Sonic movies so far, so there's some earned lee-way in experimenting a bit. Just uh, please don't make a live-action Teddy. The world isn't ready yet.

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Chris Pratt as Mario is still leaving me skeptical

When we all saw that Chris Pratt had been cast as the plumber in red in the upcoming animated Mario movie, a few eyebrows were raised, to say the least. He's a fine actor, but I don't know that I trust him to do one of the most iconic video game characters justice, especially after the legacy that Charles Martinet has created.

One of the most glaring questions to come up surrounding Pratt's involvement in the movie over the past few weeks is whether or not he'll have an Italian accent, which is arguably one of Mario's most recognizable features.

In an exclusive interview with Variety, Pratt gave a little bit of insight into what fans can expect from his work on the movie.

"I worked really closely with the directors and trying out a few things and landed on something that I’m really proud of and can’t wait for people to see and hear," Pratt said. "I’m providing a voice for an animated character, and it is updated and unlike anything you’ve heard in the Mario world before."

This could mean a lot of things, but I hope it means that they at least did something. The thought of Chris Pratt's unaltered voice coming out of Mario sends chills down my spine.

When Variety brought up fans' apprehension in a separate interview about Pratt's casting as a character of Italian heritage, Illumination Entertainment's founder and CEO Chris Meledandri said that because he is Italian American himself, he feels that he can "make that decision without worrying about offending Italians or Italian Americans. … I think we’re gonna be just fine. Especially because (Pratt has) given such a strong performance."

Meledandri also said that "when people hear Chris Pratt’s performance, the criticism will evaporate." I guess we'll have to wait and see about that one.

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Oh, the irony

DJ2 Entertainment has been making their rounds in the news lately — last month, they went public with news of their upcoming film adaptation of It Takes Two. In the same vein, this time they've signed a first-look deal with Amazon. Although DJ2 owns the film/TV rights to all kinds of games, such as Disco Elysium, Life is Strange, Sleeping Dogs, Echo, Little Nightmares, and many more, this deal basically means that Amazon gets first dibs on any of the IPs DJ2 owns, if they want them.

With game-to-film/TV adaptations becoming more and more prevalent, studios and production companies are doing their best to grab up rights as fast as they can — and this appears to be Amazon's latest move to secure the bag.

What this deal doesn't mean is that any of these shows are in active production, but I'd wager that that's going to change within the next few months.

Properties like Disco Elysium and Life is Strange in particular are hot right now, and would telegraph well to a serialized television format if executed well. So with all the rumors flying around, let's set the record straight: these shows aren't getting made... for now.

https://twitter.com/Sphynxian/status/1494478686195650560

I was one of the people who previously said that a Disco Elysium show is one of my dream adaptations, but now that it might be happening, and by the hand of Amazon no less, I kind of want to take it all back. For a game that's so blatantly Marxist and anti-capitalist, the irony is not lost on its fans that its adaptation rights currently rest with the biggest corporation in the world. The worst part is, even if Amazon does go through with a Disco Elysium show, I'm going to watch it anyway, if nothing else out of morbid curiosity.

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Sonic 3, and Knuckles

Paramount is putting more Sonic the Hedgehog productions into development. A third Sonic the Hedgehog movie is officially in development, and next year a live-action series featuring Knuckles will come to Paramount+.

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 doesn't premiere for the public until April 8, but it seems like Paramount is keen on keeping the Blue Blur running. Details aren't out yet on where the third movie will go, but Paramount has confirmed that the Knuckles series will still have Idris Elba on board. The Paramount+ Sonic series will premiere sometime in 2023.

https://twitter.com/paramountplus/status/1493706463704858625

Despite a rough start with that first trailer, the Sonic the Hedgehog movie went on to garner a pretty decent showing. In a press release today, Paramount says the first adaptation has earned nearly $320 million in the worldwide box office.

A third movie is one thing, but a live-action series is pretty interesting. Long-time Sonic fans know that the hedgehog has had several TV adaptations already, but all animated. With this one being live-action, it seems like Paramount is building up a bit of a Sonic universe.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRkKZG1z9PY

The next game for the Blue Blur, Sonic Frontiers, is set for late 2022. As shown off at last year's Game Awards, Frontiers is an open-world take on the speedster's exploits, coming to current and next-gen consoles.

It's been quite a big year so far for Sega's speedy star, between what's coming out now and even more in development. Hopefully we see more of the Sonic crew hit the silver screen in future adaptations. Between characters like Amy and Shadow, there's still a lot of runway for Sonic stories to cover.

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The BioShock movie gets a new hope in Netflix

Big Daddies are coming to the big screen. Netflix announced it is working with Take-Two Interactive and 2K, alongside Vertigo Entertainment, to create a film adaptation of the BioShock franchise.

The announcement on Twitter shows the cover art of the original BioShock, referencing the infamous "would you kindly" line as well. According to The Hollywood Reporter, no filmmaker or writer is on board right now. The deal itself has reportedly been in the works for almost a year.

https://twitter.com/NetflixGeeked/status/1493631216788066310

A BioShock movie was already in the works years ago, though the project never came to fruition. Now, it seems like the time is right for the franchise to re-emerge and get its silver screen adaptation.

Given the cover art Netflix is leading with, an adaptation of the first game seems pretty likely. A live-action version of Jack's adventure to the depths of Rapture, and the downfall of the underwater city, seems just right for an action-thriller.

The BioShock series itself has been fairly quiet over the last few years. A new BioShock game is in development at Cloud Chamber, though we don't know many details yet. The last entry in the series was the second episode of BioShock Infinite's DLC, Burial at Sea, in 2014.

Video game adaptations to the big screen have become increasingly popular over the years since BioShock first launched. The Witcher took Netflix by storm, and an Uncharted movie is set to debut soon. Whether the BioShock project turns out well or not, I would like to see how terrifying a Big Daddy can be on film.

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Games are taking over the silver screen yet again

It seems like just about every game these days is slated to be adapted to film or TV, and Hazelight Studio's Game of the Year winner It Takes Two is next up on that list of adaptations. As exclusively reported by Variety this morning, the studio is teaming up with dj2 Entertainment for the project, who are best known for producing the Sonic movie and its sequel.

Hazelight's founder and It Takes Two's creative director Josef Fares shared his thoughts: "Creating the world and story in It Takes Two was so much fun for me and the team. Since it has a strong narrative with many crazy characters and just as crazy co-op action moments, the potential is huge for a great adaption to film or television.”

As of now, there isn't any particular studio or network attached to the project, but according to Variety's sources, there's a multi-party bidding war going on to see who snags the idea. We do know who the writers are, though — Pat Casey and Josh Miller, who have also written both of the Sonic films.

In addition to the It Takes Two adaptation, dj2 also has some other gaming-to-film/TV projects in the works, like a live-action Life is Strange show, an animated Tomb Raider show for Netflix, and the adaptation I am personally most excited for, a live-action Disco Elysium series.

I have this theory that video game adaptations are going to be the next big thing to take over box offices and streaming services after the big superhero boom, and news like this further confirms that hunch. We're still a few years out from a complete takeover, but after the massive success of shows like The Witcher and Arcane, it's really only a matter of time before the rest of the entertainment industry catches up.

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