- Upcoming theater screenings of these video game adaptations.
The television series "The Last of Us" and "Fallout", derived from their respective game series, have garnered praise from both fans and critics. The action movie "Borderlands" is scheduled for release on August 22. Much like the source material, this film is renowned for its absurd humor and violent action. The first-person shooters from Gearbox have sold over 70 million copies. However, "Borderlands" featuring Kevin Hart (45), Jamie Lee Curtis (65), and Jack Black (54) is not the end of video game adaptations. Fans can expect more movies and series based on their beloved titles.
Jack Black and Dwayne Johnson explore pixelated landscapes in "Minecraft"
Since his portrayal of Bowser in "Super Mario Bros.", Jack Black has found delight in embodying iconic video game characters. His upcoming role is that of Steve from "Minecraft". It remains unclear what the movie about the building blocks will entail, nor if Black himself or just his virtual likeness will appear on screen. Furthermore, the film's narrative is yet to be revealed as "Minecraft" itself lacks a storyline. Alongside Jack Black, the movie boasts an A-list cast. Jason Momoa (45), known for "Aquaman", and "The Office" actor Steve Carell (61), along with Emma Myers (22) of "Wednesday", will also feature in the "Minecraft" film adaptation. With an Instagram post in April, Momoa confirmed that filming for the movie had been completed.
Venturing through a post-apocalyptic world in "Death Stranding"
In collaboration with A24, "Death Stranding" will receive a cinematic adaptation. Several stars from the game have been tapped for roles, such as "The Walking Dead" star Norman Reedus (55) as the protagonist Sam Porter Bridges and Mads Mikkelsen (58) as his adversary Cliff. Additionally, Guillermo del Toro (59), Nicolas Winding Refn (53), and "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" host Conan O'Brien (61) will appear in the game. The narrative of the film unfolds in a world shattered by civilization's collapse, where even rain causes rapid aging.
Barbie brings "The Sims" to life on the big screen
Margot Robbie (34) is set to adapt yet another renowned brand to the silver screen: "The Sims". Her company "LuckyChap" is overseeing this project, with Katy Herron (36), director of the first season of "Loki", at the helm. The film's characters may or may not speak "Simlish". The fictional language has transcended the games, with Katy Perry (39) having sung "Last Friday Night" in "Simlish" and also performing it.
"Deadpool" director brings 15 games to life in one series
At Gamescom Opening Night Live 2024, "Deadpool" director Tim Miller (59) announced "Secret Level". This project, in collaboration with Prime Video, consists of 15 episodes, each focusing on a different game. The series is set to premiere on the streaming service on December 10 and features games such as "Pac-Man", "New World: Aeternum" from Amazon Game Studio, "Armored Core", and the role-playing classic "Dungeons & Dragons". Some titles, like "God of War" and "Ghost of Tsushima", will receive their own film or series, in addition to their episode in "Secret Level".
Nintendo iconic characters return to the big screen
Following the success of "Detective Pikachu" and "Super Mario Bros.", Nintendo will release sequels for both films. The release date for "Super Mario Bros. 2" is set for April 2026, but the return of the original voice cast, including Chris Pratt (45) and Jack Black, remains uncertain. There is even less information available regarding "Detective Pikachu 2", with neither a release date nor the participation of "Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves" actor Justice Smith (29) confirmed.
Nintendo isn't stopping at two movies. "The Legend of Zelda" is also receiving a film adaptation. Details about this film focusing on Link and Zelda are scarce, with "Planet of the Apes: New Kingdom" director Wes Ball (43) at the helm and already hinting in interviews that neither he nor Nintendo can disclose anything about the project.
Additional projects have also been announced, with limited information currently available, such as the big-screen adaptation of the horror game "Until Dawn" (starring Rami Malek (43) and Hayden Panettiere (34) in the original game) and the movie, "Stray" (revolving around a cat searching for its family in a robot-populated city).
Sony is working on various video game movie projects. The samurai epic "Ghost of Tsushima" has enlisted action film director Chad Stahelski (55), known for the "John Wick" series, to lead its productions. Conversely, "Gravity Rush", a cult favorite from Sony, is undergoing an unexpected transformation. Despite being forgotten by many, this title is getting a film adaptation that has left fans in awe. In the two games, the protagonist Kat possesses the ability to manipulate gravity thanks to her cat companion. An anime series also emerged with the release of "Gravity Rush 2", filling in the gap between the first and second parts. The vibrant and imaginative "Gravity Rush" shares a connection with another film series considered: the terrifying horror game "Silent Hill". The mastermind behind both games is Keiichiro Toyama (54).
God of War and a Yakuza Leader will Soon Grace the Small Screen
Following the success of "The Last of Us" and "Fallout", the next big video game adaptation is approaching: "Like a Dragon - Yakuza". The series will adapt the storyline from the original "Yakuza" game from 2006, which takes place in Tokyo's red-light district and revolves around Kazuma Kiryu, who is tasked with protecting a young girl while uncovering the secrets of his Yakuza clan upon his release from prison for ten years. Fans can expect thrilling action sequences, although they may be disappointed to find that the series will not incorporate the game's more absurd elements, such as the transformation of a chicken into a real estate agent in Tokyo or Kiryu coaxing a dominatrix into becoming more aggressive with her clients. The series will debut on Amazon Prime Video on October 25.
Another Sony-related project making its way to Amazon Prime Video is the adaptation of "God of War". The game's narrative followed Kratos through Greek mythology and into Norse mythology, where he faced off against Odin and Thor in the 2022 release "God of War Ragnarök". "The Wheel of Time" producer Rafe Judkins (41) will take on the role of showrunner, while Mark Fergus (56) and Hawk Ostby (58) will write the series script. The two writers have previously collaborated on scripts for "Iron Man" and "The Expanse".
♪ Singing about his dreams of stardom, Jack Black also takes on the role of Steve in the upcoming "Minecraft" movie, set to feature an A-list cast. ♪ In line with the post-apocalyptic world of the game, "Death Stranding" will see Norman Reedus portraying the protagonist Sam Porter Bridges in its cinematic adaptation.
