Moviefone Editorial

Tag: video game adaption

  • Kate McKinnon and Jemaine Clement join ‘Minecraft’

    (Left) Kate McKinnon as Barbie in Warner Bros. Pictures’ 'Barbie,' a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures. Copyright: © 2023 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved. (Right) Jemaine Clement as Vladislav the Poker in 'What We Do in the Shadows.' Photo: Madman Entertainment.
    (Left) Kate McKinnon as Barbie in Warner Bros. Pictures’ ‘Barbie,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures. Copyright: © 2023 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved. (Right) Jemaine Clement as Vladislav the Poker in ‘What We Do in the Shadows.’ Photo: Madman Entertainment.

    Preview:

    • Kate McKinnon and Jemaine Clement are joining ‘Minecraft’.
    • Jason Momoa and Jack Black are among the stars.
    • The movie has been in development for years but is finally shooting.

    With the cameras rolling at long last, the ‘Minecraft’ movie has left the world of development limbo where it has lingered for years.

    And with that news comes a raft of casting announcements. With Jason Momoa and Jack Black attached for a while, we’ve more recently learned that Jennifer Coolidge will join them and now comes word that ‘Saturday Night Live’ veteran Kate McKinnon and ‘Men in Black 3’s Jemaine Clement.

    Given all the recent casting, the tone certainly seems to be leaning in a comedic direction.

    hCuUjEgel7kznFLKw8pp81

    What is ‘Minecraft’?

    Minecraft game
    Minecraft game from Mojang Studios.

    If you’re not in the game’s target audience, here’s what you need to know… ‘Minecraft’, from Swedish developer Mojang AB, allows you to create and shape an entire world, and by 2014 had sold more than 35 million copies across PCs, the Xbox 360, and mobile platforms. Much like with Lego, the only stories here are those created by users, who can choose whether to explore, create or fight with each other. There are also nocturnal monsters stalking the place, which you must deal with. It reached 100 million users just a few years after launch and helping spark Microsoft to acquire Mojang for $2.5 billion in 2014.

    Since then, it hasn’t been quite as much in the pop cultural zeitgeist (the likes of ‘Fortnite’ have tended to dominate), but it’s recognizable intellectual property.

    What has happened with the development of the movie adaptation so far?

    Jason Momoa as Dante in 'Fast X', directed by Louis Leterrier.
    Jason Momoa as Dante in ‘Fast X’, directed by Louis Leterrier.

    Around the time of the Microsoft purchase, Warners entered talks with prolific producer and director Shawn Levy, but his packed scheduled and slow development on the movie meant he never ended up in the director’s chair.

    After Levy came ‘It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’ co-creator and self-avowed ‘Minecraft’ fan Rob McElhenney was next in line as director when the movie was still being planned as an animated release. He, like Levy, appears to have been the victim of scheduling, and has focused his video game-loving energies on co-creating and starring in Apple TV+’s ‘Mythic Quest’ series.

    With ‘Wonder Woman’s Jason Fuchs sticking around for script work, the movie then targeted Steve Carell as a potential star but that also didn’t happen.

    The most recent time that ‘Minecraft’ news showed up, it was with ‘Raising Victor Vargas’ Peter Sollett writing and directing.

    ‘Napoleon Dynamite’ director Jared Hess was hired in 2022, with filming now under way in New Zealand.

    Hess addressed the pressure of getting the movie right.

    Here’s what he told The Salt Lake Tribune:

    “I think anybody that does any IP, they just want to avoid an ugly ‘Sonic’ situation [referring to the fan-hated original CG hedgehog from the movies]. just can’t disappoint the 10-year-olds, or they’re going to murder us.”

    Related Article: Jennifer Coolidge is the Latest Addition to the ‘Minecraft’ Movie Cast

    Who else is in ‘Minecraft’?

    Jennifer Coolidge in HBO's 'The White Lotus.'
    Jennifer Coolidge in HBO’s ‘The White Lotus.’ Photograph by Fabio Lovino/HBO.

    Alongside Momoa, Black, Coolidge and now McKinnon and Clement, the cast for the movie also includes Emma Myers, Danielle Brooks, Matt Berry and Sebastian Eugene Hansen.

    When will ‘Minecraft’ be in theaters?

    ‘Minecraft’ is currently scheduled for release on April 4th, 2025.

    Kate McKinnon attends the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images).
    Kate McKinnon attends the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images).

    Other Movies Similar to ‘Minecraft’:

    Buy Kate McKinnon Movies on Amazon

    gB9dQVnR

  • ‘Fallout’ TV Adaptation Launches First Trailer

    Preview:

    • Following the first images, the ‘Fallout’ trailer is online.
    • The series is set in a post-apocalyptic world of brutality and chaos.
    • Prime Video launches the show in April.

    Prime Video is hoping that its ambitious adaptation of the ‘Fallout’ series of video games will be drawn into the current success trend of games turned into movies and shows.

    And with ‘Westworld’ duo Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy in charge, hopes are high for this one.

    The first trailer has arrived, promising plenty of post-apocalyptic action and some fun new characters to meet.

    Related Article: Walton Goggins, Kyle MacLachlan and More Feature in the First Images from the ‘Fallout’ TV Adaptation

    What’s the story of ‘Fallout’?

    Walton Goggins as The Ghoul in 'Fallout.'
    Walton Goggins as The Ghoul in ‘Fallout.’ Credit: Courtesy of Prime Video. Copyright: © AMAZON CONTENT SERVICES LLC.

    Adapted from the massively popular video game ‘Fallout’ is the story of haves and have-nots in a world in which there’s almost nothing left to have.

    Two-hundred years after the apocalypse, the gentle denizens of luxury fallout shelters are forced to return to the irradiated hellscape their ancestors left behind—and are shocked to discover an incredibly complex, gleefully weird, and highly violent universe waiting for them.

    Who’s who in ‘Fallout’?

    Ella Purnell as Lucy in 'Fallout.'
    Ella Purnell as Lucy in ‘Fallout.’ Credit: Courtesy of Prime Video. Copyright: © AMAZON CONTENT SERVICES LLC.

    While this first look offers glimpses at iconic ‘Fallout’ elements such as the Vaults, airborne carriers the Vertibirds and Power Suits, it’s also focused on some of the characters, including:

    Ella Purnell as Lucy, an optimistic Vault Dweller with an all-American, can-do spirit. Her peaceful and idealistic nature is tested when people harm her loved ones.

    Aaron Moten as Maximus, A young soldier who hides his tragic past as he serves in a militaristic faction called Brotherhood of Steel. He believes in the nobility of the Brotherhood’s mission to bring law and order to the Wasteland — and will do anything to further their goals.

    Walton Goggins as The Ghoul. The Ghoul survives the Wasteland as a bounty hunter. He is pragmatic, ruthless, and hides a mysterious past.

    Kyle MacLachlan as Hank, the Overseer of Vault 33 and Lucy’s father. He is eager to change the world for the better.

    Jonathan Nolan on the differences between the game and the show

    Jonathan Nolan and Ella Purnell on the set of 'Fallout.'
    (L to R) Jonathan Nolan and Ella Purnell on the set of ‘Fallout.’ Credit: JoJo Whilden/Prime Video. Copyright: © AMAZON CONTENT SERVICES LLC.

    Here’s what Nolan said during a roundtable interview at CCXP in Brazil:

    ’It’s a very different mode of storytelling. One of the things I’m most excited about is telling an ensemble story and coming at it from these three perspectives. It was, to me, kind a brilliant hack for how you present that role-playing game mechanic of the games, which is you, as that vault dweller, can be anyone. They can look like anyone and can make any choices they want, which is not a luxury you can afford the audience when you’re telling them a linear story. So, having three perspectives, having Ella’s character and Aaron’s character and Walton’s characters occupy these very different corners of the fallout universe gave us a chance to encompass some of the ambition of the games, not just in terms of world building, but in terms of morality and in terms of the gray area. We talked a lot about ‘The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly,’ which is one of my very favorite films, and so that was a great touchstone for us as we sort of embarked on the journey.”

    When will ‘Fallout’ be on our TV screens?

    Prime Video has announced that ‘Fallout’ will launch on April 12 next year.

    Walton Goggins as The Ghoul in 'Fallout.'
    Walton Goggins as The Ghoul in ‘Fallout.’ Credit: Courtesy of Prime Video. Copyright: © AMAZON CONTENT SERVICES LLC.

    Other Movies Similar to ‘Fallout’:

    Buy Jonathan Nolan Movies on Amazon

     

  • First Images from the ‘Fallout’ TV Series

    Ella Purnell as Lucy in 'Fallout.'
    Ella Purnell as Lucy in ‘Fallout.’ Credit: Courtesy of Prime Video. Copyright: © AMAZON CONTENT SERVICES LLC.

    Preview:

    • The first images from the ‘Fallout’ TV adaptation have dropped.
    • It’s set in a post-apocalyptic world.
    • The show will hit Prime Video in April.

    There seems to be no end to the current trend for video game adaptations, which makes sense given the success of recent titles such as ‘The Super Mario Bros. Movie’ and ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s’ have shown.

    Now here come Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy with a small screen version of popular title ‘Fallout’. Nolan and Joy are running the show alongside Geneva Robertson-Dworet and Graham Wagner, and Nolan directs the first three episodes.

    Related Article: TV Review: ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s’

    What’s the story of ‘Fallout’?

    Ella Purnell as Lucy in 'Fallout.'
    Ella Purnell as Lucy in ‘Fallout.’ Credit: Courtesy of Prime Video. Copyright: © AMAZON CONTENT SERVICES LLC.

    Adapted from the massively popular video game ‘Fallout’ is the story of haves and have-nots in a world in which there’s almost nothing left to have.

    Two-hundred years after the apocalypse, the gentle denizens of luxury fallout shelters are forced to return to the irradiated hellscape their ancestors left behind—and are shocked to discover an incredibly complex, gleefully weird, and highly violent universe waiting for them.

    Who’s who in ‘Fallout’?

    Walton Goggins as The Ghoul in 'Fallout.'
    Walton Goggins as The Ghoul in ‘Fallout.’ Credit: Courtesy of Prime Video. Copyright: © AMAZON CONTENT SERVICES LLC.

    While this first look offers glimpses at iconic ‘Fallout’ elements such as the Vaults, airborne carriers the Vertibirds and Power Suits, it’s also focused on some of the characters, including:

    Ella Purnell as Lucy, an optimistic Vault Dweller with an all-American, can-do spirit. Her peaceful and idealistic nature is tested when people harm her loved ones.

    Aaron Moten as Maximus, A young soldier who hides his tragic past as he serves in a militaristic faction called Brotherhood of Steel. He believes in the nobility of the Brotherhood’s mission to bring law and order to the Wasteland — and will do anything to further their goals.

    Power Suit and Aaron Moten as Maximus in 'Fallout.'
    (L to R) Power Suit and Aaron Moten as Maximus in ‘Fallout.’ Credit: JoJo Whilden/Prime Video. Copyright: © AMAZON CONTENT SERVICES LLC.

    Walton Goggins as The Ghoul. The Ghoul survives the Wasteland as a bounty hunter. He is pragmatic, ruthless, and hides a mysterious past.

    Kyle MacLachlan as Hank, the Overseer of Vault 33 and Lucy’s father. He is eager to change the world for the better.

    (L to R) Ella Purnell as Lucy and Kyle MacLachlan as Overseer Hank in 'Fallout.'
    (L to R) Ella Purnell as Lucy and Kyle MacLachlan as Overseer Hank in ‘Fallout.’ Credit: Courtesy of Prime Video. Copyright: © AMAZON CONTENT SERVICES LLC.

    Can you enjoy ‘Fallout’ the show if you’ve never played the game?

    Power Armor Suits in 'Fallout.'
    Power Armor Suits in ‘Fallout.’ Credit: Courtesy of Prime Video. Copyright: © AMAZON CONTENT SERVICES LLC.

    There have been various incarnations of ‘Fallout’ across different platforms and formats, but if you’re a total newbie, will you still understand the show? Bethesda Game Studios (which currently producers the game) director and series executive producer Todd Howard said you can in a podcast interview last year:

    “It’s not retelling a game story. It’s basically an area of the map. Let’s tell a story here that fits in the world that we have built, doesn’t break any of the rules, can reference things in the games, but isn’t a retelling of the games. [It] exists in the same world but is its own unique thing, so it adds to it. While also, people who haven’t played the games, who can’t experience how crazy cool ‘Fallout’ is, can watch the series.”

    When will ‘Fallout’ be on our TV screens?

    Prime Video has announced that ‘Fallout’ will launch on April 12th next year.

    Walton Goggins as The Ghoul in 'Fallout.'
    Walton Goggins as The Ghoul in ‘Fallout.’ Credit: Courtesy of Prime Video. Copyright: © AMAZON CONTENT SERVICES LLC.
    Brotherhood of Steel and Vertibirds in 'Fallout.'
    Brotherhood of Steel and Vertibirds in ‘Fallout.’ Credit: Courtesy of Prime Video. Copyright: © AMAZON CONTENT SERVICES LLC.
    Jonathan Nolan and Ella Purnell on the set of 'Fallout.'
    (L to R) Jonathan Nolan and Ella Purnell on the set of ‘Fallout.’ Credit: JoJo Whilden/Prime Video. Copyright: © AMAZON CONTENT SERVICES LLC.

    Other Movies Similar to ‘Fallout’:

    Buy Jonathan Nolan Movies on Amazon

    zO0EIM38

  • ‘Stray’ Video Game Adaptation in the Works

    'Stray' video game.
    ‘Stray’ video game. Photo: BlueTwelve Studio and Annapurna Interactive.

    Anything dogs can do; cats can do better? Well, at least differently. With this summer’s canine comedy ‘Strays’ already out in the world (and sadly not feeling the love from cinematic audiences, as it has only earned $21 million domestically at the box office), the feline side of things has its own showcase in the works.

    ‘Stray’ (no extra “s” this time) will adapt the hugely successful 2022 games titles from BlueTwelve Studio, which will focus on a kitty with a mission.

    ylmJneuKawZn07Yll8lPi3

    What’s the story of ‘Stray’?

    'Stray' video game.
    ‘Stray’ video game. Photo: BlueTwelve Studio and Annapurna Interactive.

    The original game takes place in a futuristic walled city, which the feline protagonist finds itself trapped in. With the help of an intelligent drone, B-12, the cat must find its way out of the city, which has apparently been abandoned by humans, but is occupied by machines, deadly Sentinel security drones, and the hostile Zurks, gigantic, mutated bacteria.

    And it probably won’t surprise you to learn that the adaptation is coming from Annapurna Animation, especially since corporate sibling Annapurna Interactive published the original game.

    Nick Bruno, who directed the wonderful ‘Nimona’, which ended up at Annapurna after it was originally developed at Fox’s BlueSky Studios, is on board to make it.

    Here’s what Annapurna Animation co-chief Robert Baird had to say to Entertainment Weekly about the potential film:

    ”This is a game that’s all about what makes us human, and there are no humans in it. It’s a buddy comedy about a cat and a robot, and there’s such a hilarious dynamic. So, there’s comedy inherent in this, but there’s not one human being in this movie. I think it’s one of the reasons why the game was incredibly popular, that you are seeing the world through the point of view of an adorable cat. How did they pull that off, and how are we going to pull that off in the movie? We will, even though sometimes it feels impossible, but we know that’s the essence of the game and the key to telling the story.”

    And his partner, Andrew Millstein had this to say about why this particular game was picked first from Annapurna Interactive’s roster:

    “First off, it is just wildly popular. People engage in the game for a variety of reasons, and I think for us at Annapurna, working with different creative people, it’s a puzzle. What is it about this game that is so popular? Then the question is, how do you adapt a game into longform storytelling that is incredibly respectful to the game itself and the audiences, but then also is film worthy? The process of that is always part of the challenge.”

    Related Article: Simon Pegg and Cast Talk ‘The Ice Age Adventures of Buck Wild’

    ’Ice Age’ director Chris Wedge’s next film?

    Talking of veterans of Blue Sky, Annapurna is also the home for the new movie from Chris Wedge, the creator of the wildly popular ‘Ice Age’ franchise.

    His new film is called ‘FOO’ and Baird shared more details about it:

    “It’s a not-perfect acronym for ‘fish out of water,’ and that’s what the story is about. It’s about the first fish ever to climb out of the water and onto land. What you learn in this movie is that was the last thing in the world that that fish wanted to do. It’s about his hilarious struggle to get back into the water, but to get back will require a lot of effort and a lot of change on this fish’s part. That was the pitch that came out of Wedge’s brain that we just loved.”

    'Stray' video game.
    ‘Stray’ video game. Photo: BlueTwelve Studio and Annapurna Interactive.

    Other Movies Similar to ‘Strays’:

    Buy Video Game Movies On Amazon

    iWLdYELD

  • ‘The Last of Us’ Renewed for Season 2

    Pedro Pascal in 'The Last of Us.'
    Pedro Pascal in ‘The Last of Us.’ Photo: Warner Media.

    You might not think that a show about a cataclysmic infection would be so warmly embraced by audiences still dealing the effects of a huge pandemic, but clearly viewers were ready for ‘The Last of Us’.

    Adapted from the bestselling PlayStation game franchise developed by Neil Druckmann and the team at Naughty Dog, ‘The Last of Us’ landed on HBO Max a couple of weeks ago. After trending on twitter and scoring huge viewing figures, it has now been renewed for a second season.

    ‘The Last of Us’ takes place 20 years after modern civilization has been destroyed by a fungal infection that turns humans into vicious, disease-spreading creatures. Joel (Pedro Pascal), a hardened survivor, is hired to smuggle Ellie (Bella Ramsey), a 14-year-old girl, out of an oppressive quarantine zone. What starts as a small job soon becomes a brutal and heartbreaking journey as they both must traverse the U.S. and depend on each other for survival.

    Alongside the core duo, the series also stars Gabriel Luna as Tommy, Anna Torv as Tess, Nico Parker as Sarah, Murray Bartlett as Frank, Nick Offerman as Bill, Melanie Lynskey as Kathleen, Storm Reid as Riley, Merle Dandridge as Marlene, Jeffrey Pierce as Perry, Lamar Johnson as Henry, Keivonn Woodard as Sam, Graham Greene as Marlon, and Elaine Miles as Florence.

    Nico Parker and Pedro Pascal in 'The Last of Us.'
    (L to R) Nico Parker and Pedro Pascal in ‘The Last of Us.’ Photo: Warner Media.

    “I’m humbled, honored, and frankly overwhelmed that so many people have tuned in and connected with our retelling of Joel and Ellie’s journey. The collaboration with Craig Mazin, our incredible cast & crew, and HBO exceeded my already high expectations,” says Druckmann in a statement. “Now we have the absolute pleasure of being able to do it again with season two! On behalf of everyone at Naughty Dog & PlayStation, thank you!”

    “I’m so grateful to Neil Druckmann and HBO for our partnership, and I’m even more grateful to the millions of people who have joined us on this journey,” adds Mazin. “The audience has given us the chance to continue, and as a fan of the characters and world Neil and Naughty Dog created, I couldn’t be more ready to dive back in.”

    While Season 1 dealt with the first game (and some prequel material showing how the infection started and spread), Season 2 seems likely to tackle the follow-up while also exploring avenues of its own. And the series has made some changes to the story and characters that fans have appreciated rather than complaining about them.

    Now we have Season 2 to look forward to, though there are no details yet on when it’ll hit screens.

    New episodes of ‘The Last of Us’ arrive weekly on Sundays via HBO Max.

    HBO Max's 'The Last of Us.'
    HBO Max’s ‘The Last of Us.’ Photo: Warner Media.
    xBU7OqnO

  • Teaser For HBO Max’s ‘The Last of Us’ Series

    xBU7OqnO

    After years – decades, almost – of a terrible reputation for dodgy quality and lack of faithfulness, video game adaptations are finally having their moment. Even if movies such as ‘Sonic the Hedgehog’ don’t exactly set critics’ hearts on fire, they’re successful and spawn sequels the way characters in some titles spawn new lives.

    And with an expansive, well-designed and much-loved game like ‘The Last of Us’, the small screen and healthy-budget streaming environs would seem to be the ideal venue for a solid adaptation. Hopes are high, then, for HBO Max’s series based on ‘The Last of Us’.

    The prestige on the creative front is already high for this one: you have Craig Mazin, who went from writing movies including ‘The Hangover’ to creating ‘Chernobyl’, one of the most respected and polished HBO dramas of recent years, as one of the main executive producers, sharing show-running duties with Neil Druckmann, who ‘Last of Us’ fans will know as the writer and developer behind the game itself.

    Launched in 2013 by company Naughty Dog, ‘The Last Of Us’ is set in a post-apocalyptic world 20 years after a strange fungal outbreak began mutating people into vicious creatures. The storyline focuses on smuggler Joel, and Ellie, who may just be the key to a cure for the pandemic that has wrecked the planet.

    When Joel is hired to smuggle Ellie out of an oppressive quarantine zone, he thinks it’ll be a quick job and an easy payday. But it soon become a brutal journey across the US and a struggle for survival. The show, which is intending a longer run than the limited, self-contained ‘Chernobyl’, will cover the events of the first game, with the option to also tackle the sequel, which came out in June 2020.

    Though it had been developed as a movie, the idea moved to streaming once big screen development stalled.

    Pedro Pascal as Joel and Bella Ramsey as Ellie in HBO's 'The Last of Us.'
    (L to R) Pedro Pascal as Joel and Bella Ramsey as Ellie in HBO’s ‘The Last of Us.’

    “Neil Druckmann is without question the finest storyteller working in the video game medium, and ‘The Last of Us’ is his magnum opus,” says Mazin, who is a fan of the game, when he first came aboard the concept in 2020. “Getting a chance to adapt this breathtaking work of art has been a dream of mine for years, and I’m so honored to do it in partnership with Neil.”

    “From the first time I sat down to talk with Craig I was equally blown away by his approach to narrative and his love and deep understanding of ‘The Last of Us,’” Druckmann enthused. “With ‘Chernobyl’, Craig and HBO created a tense, harrowing, emotional masterpiece. I couldn’t think of better partners to bring the story of ‘The Last of Us’ to life as a television show.”

    Casting wise, we have ‘The Mandalorian’s Pedro Pascal as Joel, while his young ward this time isn’t a big-eared, little green creature, but ‘Game of Thrones’ Bella Ramsey, who plays Ellie.

    Alongside them are Gabriel Luna as Tommy, Joel’s younger brother, Merle Dandridge as Marlene, leader of a resistance movement (and playing the same role she does in the game) and Anna Torv as Tess.

    Then there’s Nico Parker, Murray Bartlett, Nick Offerman, Storm Reid and Melanie Lynskey. Quite the ensemble there!

    From all appearances, Mazin, Druckmann and their team have conjured up a gloriously devastated, emotional world with just a hint of Western flavor in amongst the ruined buildings and creeping terror.

    ‘The Last of Us’ will be on HBO Max next year.

    DL9in25iOiREzMwz5PCH6

  • Orlando Bloom Races To ‘Gran Turismo’ Adaptation

    Orlando Bloom in Prime Video's 'Carnival Row.'
    Orlando Bloom in Prime Video’s ‘Carnival Row.’ Photo: Jan Thijs. Copyright: Amazon Studios.

    News broke back in May that ‘District 9’ director Neill Blomkamp was in talks to direct a movie based on the long-running game franchise ‘Gran Turismo’.

    Given the checkered (and not as in flag) history for the development of this one – see more on that below – we cautioned to wait until there was further momentum. But this version certainly appears to be gearing up, as ‘Stranger Things’ David Harbour, ‘Midsommar’s Archie Madekwe and now ‘Lord of the Rings’ veteran Orlando Bloom are all aboard to star.

    The game itself doesn’t have a strict story, so the script from ‘American Sniper’s Jason Hall and ‘King Richard’s Zach Baylin isn’t set within its speedy world. Instead, as Deadline reports, it’ll chronicle the ultimate wish-fulfillment tale of a teenage Gran Turismo player whose gaming skills won a series of Nissan competitions to become an actual professional race car driver. Madekwe, we’d guess, will be the young driver, while Harbour is a retired wheelman who helps him master some finer techniques of driving. Bloom’s character has yet to be revealed.

    Created by Polyphony and Kazunori Yamauchi in 1997, ‘Gran Turismo’ was hailed as one of the most authentic driving simulators in its class for its focus on precise graphics, driving physics and attention to detail of its cars, which players would build and race. The series has sold more than 85 million copies, with the most recent edition, ‘Gran Turismo 7’, hitting shelves this past March for PS 4 and PS 5.

    David Harbour as Jim Hopper in 'Stranger Things.'
    David Harbour as Jim Hopper in ‘Stranger Things.’ Photo: Courtesy of Netflix © 2022.

    The idea of a movie based off ‘Gran Turismo’ is hardly a new concept. In fact, when ‘Need For Speed’ was headed towards screens in 2013, Sony saw an opportunity to drift off the potential demand for that movie and launch a competing car project.

    ‘Watchmen’ movie writer Alex Tse was the first person hired to start finding a way to turn the game – which is not based off a story and features no human characters – into a film. Yet ‘Need For Speed’ spun out at the box office following terrible reviews in 2014, and Sony hit the brakes on ‘Gran Turismo’. Yet it seemed to be gaining traction again in 2015 when Joseph Kosinski was brought on to develop a potential new take on the idea, before departing for other, and extremely successful work with planes (‘Top Gun: Maverick’) instead of cars.

    You can see why Sony might still be interested, even beyond the success of ‘Uncharted’. Video game adaptations are having a moment right now, what with ‘Sonic the Hedgehog’s sequel speeding to solid returns, the most recent ‘Mortal Kombat’ spawning its own follow-up and ‘Borderlands’ as just one title on the way.

    Sony is clearly feeling confident about this one at last, setting a release date for August 11th next year. Start your engines!

    'Gran Turismo' video game from PlayStation.
    ‘Gran Turismo’ video game from PlayStation.
    DnqmlBuZ2e4t1rMZQRWuD4

  • TV Review: ‘Resident Evil’

    Lance Reddick as Albert, and Paola Nunez as Evelyn
    (L to R) Lance Reddick as Albert, and Paola Nunez as Evelyn in ‘Resident Evil.’ Netflix © 2022.

    Released July 14th on Netflix, ‘Resident Evil’ stars Tamara Smart, Siena Agudong and Lance Reddick, following the three in the past, amid a corrupt biotech company and the future, after a worldwide zombie apocalypse has decimated the planet.

    Developed for TV by Andrew Dabb (‘Supernatural’), the show follows a very interesting premise of taking place both in the future and in the past. We see sisters Jade (Smart) and Billie (Agudong) in the past as they move into New Raccoon City, a futuristic corporate city with their father, fan favorite Albert Wesker (Reddick).

    While in the future, an older Jade (Ella Balinska) is just trying to survive the zombie outbreak that has taken over the world, while being hunted by Umbrella at the same time.

    The story jumps between these two time periods with little to no warning, and while it can totally be jarring for some, I found it to be a great way for the show to give parallels in characters and events in the story, and you never feel like you’re missing anything important either.

    The tension ramps up rather quickly, as a terrifying event causes the sisters to be thrown into the dark and nightmarish tests and weapons that Umbrella are making, in just the first episode.

    Siena Agudon as young Billie and Tamara Smart as young Jade in 'Resident Evil.'
    (L to R) Siena Agudon as young Billie and Tamara Smart as young Jade in ‘Resident Evil.’ Netflix © 2022.

    Tamara Smart and Siena Agudong, who play the teenage version of Billie and Jade, absolutely kill their roles and make you care about these kids and feel nervous for what is in store for them.

    This is where one of the first problems with the show occurs. It’s obvious that whatever is happening in the past-futuristic New Raccoon City, such as the start of the outbreak and the sisters discovering what the biotech company is hiding from everyone, is so much more interesting than the generic aftermath of a zombie invasion that is happening in the future.

    It makes half of the show pretty boring in comparison, as you dredge through the future timeline, hoping for the time skip to happen and we see more of the bright horror of New Umbrella and the girl’s unraveling the mystery.

    Though, a lot of the cast here is one of the best parts of the show. Huge callouts going to Lance Reddick as Albert Wesker. Normal viewers will not understand the significance of his character, but fans of the franchise will have a great, new take on him and his personality.

    He’s both a loving father to his daughters and a mysterious, terrifying scientist in his own right. Reddick owns any scene that he’s in, and his ability to jump between the two personas is a sight to witness.

    Lance Reddick as Albert in 'Resident Evil.'
    (L to R) Lance Reddick as Albert in ‘Resident Evil.’ Photo. Netflix © 2021

    The settings of New Raccoon City and the destroyed ruins of future London are both different in color pallet and in emotion. You have the flashbacks showing us a stark white, clean-cut metropolis run by the biotech company, and then the destroyed roadways and underground tunnels of the zombie-infested future-specifically Europe.

    One can argue it’s a great representation of the different genres of horror, gory violence of zombies and the fear of the unknown, blinded by white buildings and ominous test animals, all mixed in with the normal white-picket fence neighborhoods.

    But, with the inevitable video game adaptations come the question most held by the fan base; how much does ‘Resident Evil’ take from the source material? Honestly, I wouldn’t say the show takes anything major. Not something someone, who has never played the games, would be confused by if they were to go into the show.

    Most of what the show takes is the monsters, creatures like Lickers, the giant spider and even the giant caterpillar seen in many of the trailers. They’re not creatures that are tied to just one game in the franchise but are used to rather cool effect in the show’s fight scenes. The CGI being placed in full view, making them terrifying and viscerally plausible.

    If you’re going into the ‘Resident Evil’ show expecting a straight-up remake of the games, this isn’t it. While some lore elements were kept, that is going into end of the season spoiler territory which I won’t do here. Even then, no boulder punching or giant tall vampire ladies kneeling through doors.

    Ella Balinksa as Jade in 'Resident Evil.'
    Ella Balinksa as Jade in ‘Resident Evil.’ Photo: Marcos Cruz. Netflix © 2022.

    It’s not a perfect adaptation, not by any means. While some characters are interesting, the dialogue and some of the things they do in the story really baffle you. It’s like the show was leaning in way too much to the fact the characters are teenagers, which not many people are going to fall in love with.

    How you enjoy the ‘Resident Evil’ show is dependent on how you look at. For fans of horror stories with blood, gore and giant mutated monsters, it’s an interesting take on the formula and you will most likely get an okay time out of it, with some caveats.

    For fans of the game, though, it’s yet another disappointing (yet intriguing) take on the series and its mythos.

    Netflix’s ‘Resident Evil’ gets 3 out of 5 stars.

    'Resident Evil.' Netflix © 2022.
    ‘Resident Evil.’ Netflix © 2022.

  • ‘Tomb Raider’ Movie Rights up for Grabs

    Alicia Vikander as Lara Croft in 2018's 'Tomb Raider.'
    Alicia Vikander as Lara Croft in 2018’s ‘Tomb Raider.’

    Looks like Lara Croft will be off on another different adventure.

    According to a report in The Wrap, MGM has lost the rights to make future ‘Tomb Raider’ movies after failing to generate a sequel to 2018’s Alicia Vikander-starring film by a strict deadline.

    The company had had until May of this year to flash the greenlight on a new movie, but since that time has come and gone, a bidding war is now likely as other studios look to put in bids to nab the chance to bring the character to screens.

    Created by game company Core Design in 1996, the title allows players to control fictional British archaeologist Lara Croft, who travels around the world searching for lost artefacts and infiltrating dangerous tombs and ruins.

    ‘Tomb Raider’ (and, later, ‘Lara Croft: Tomb Raider’) became a giant hit and pop cultural sensation, with multiple games across various platforms and any number of spin-offs. Square Enix currently controls the rights.

    Lara Croft from the 'Tomb Raider' video game.
    Lara Croft from the ‘Tomb Raider’ video game.

    The game was famously first brought to theaters via ‘Lara Croft: Tomb Raider’ in 2001 and its 2003 sequel ‘Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life’, both of which starred Angelina Jolie as the titular adventurer.

    While they were both solidly successful, the movie franchise lingered in limbo for years until MGM partnered up with GK Films to nab the rights in 2013 and began to plot its own version.

    That came to fruition in 2018 with the more simply titled ‘Tomb Raider’ directed by Roar Uthaug and starring Vikander as Croft. The movie made $274.6 million worldwide, and while it wasn’t a giant hit, it was enough to spark sequel talk.

    Yet while the next movie cycled through a couple of directors (British filmmaker Ben Wheatley, who has created the likes of ‘Free Fire’ and ‘Kill List’ was attached for a while, before being replaced by ‘Lovecraft Country’s Misha Green), nothing moved forward at any real speed.

    The latest development is perhaps not too shocking, since Vikander herself admitted that a recent corporate move hadn’t helped matters. “With the MGM and Amazon buyout, I have no clue. Now it’s kind of politics,” Vikander told ‘Entertainment Weekly a few days ago. “I think Misha and I have been ready, so it’s kind of in somebody else’s hands, to be honest.”

    MGM didn’t comment at the time, but now we know why. And it looks like Vikander will also have to hand the character off to someone else, as she’s no longer attached to the movies.

    We could theoretically see Paramount looking to grab the rights back and return to the world of Croft since it produced the 2000s movies. But it’s highly unlikely that Jolie would want to squeeze back into the famous shorts and tank top. Time for another new Croft…

    Alicia Vikander as Lara Croft in 2018's 'Tomb Raider.'
    Alicia Vikander as Lara Croft in 2018’s ‘Tomb Raider.’
    9194

     

  • New ‘Resident Evil’ Images Offer Plot Details

    'Resident Evil.' Netflix © 2022.
    ‘Resident Evil.’ Netflix © 2022.

    Following on from the most recent teaser last month, we now have new pictures of the various characters from Netflix’s ‘Resident Evil.’

    This eight-episode series, adapted from the hugely popular video games, is partly set the year 2036. 14 years after the spread of Joy caused so much pain, Jade Wesker (‘Charlie’s Angels’ Ella Balinska) fights for survival in a world overrun by the blood-thirsty infected and mind-shattering creatures. In this absolute carnage, Jade is haunted by her past in New Raccoon City, by her father Albert’s (Lance Reddick) chilling connections to the sinister Umbrella Corporation but mostly by what happened to her sister, Billie. She’s helped by her husband Raj (Ahad Raza Mir).

    And then there’s the 2022 story, in which the 14-year-old Wesker sisters move with their family to New Raccoon City where they’re forced to endure adolescence in a manufactured, corporate town, one with dark secrets. While Reddick occurs across both time periods, the sisters here are played by Tamara Smart and Siena Agudong.

    Talking with Entertainment Weekly, show-runner Andrew Dabb expounded on the various characters. “Jade is snarky and snappy, but at the same time, deep down, she is a person that takes things very seriously in a crisis,” he says. “Because of how she was brought up, she put up a lot of walls. Jade is someone who walks around in a suit of armor.” We’re not sure we blame her!

    Siena Agudon as young Billie and Tamara Smart as young Jade in 'Resident Evil.'
    (L to R) Siena Agudon as young Billie and Tamara Smart as young Jade in ‘Resident Evil.’ Netflix © 2022.

    As for Billie, Dabb has this to say: “You’ve got a character who is really caring and maybe a little less forthright than her sister, but also someone that’s struggling with some of her own demons. This is a character that cares deeply about people and about animals. She’s someone who is vegan and someone who supports PETA. She’s the kind of person who doesn’t step on an ant. She takes it outside.”

    And then there’s the dual timeline idea, a first for the adaptation of the source material. “The hope is they build, one off the other. The idea is you’ll see things in the future storyline,” says Dabb. “You’re like, ‘Wait! How did that happen?’ And then that episode, or a couple of episodes later, you’ll get the answer. In some ways, the future storyline itself is a mystery. How did people get here? How did these relationships change? And it’s all explained, but it’s explained in a way that we’ve jigsawed it together. If you’re watching it, you’ll be able to see how all the threads start to weave together as we move through the story.”

    Netflix’s ‘Resident Evil’ will land on the streaming service on July 14th, so get ready for all manner of infected and undead creatures to come stalking, running and, just possibly, exploding across your screen.

    Lance Reddick as Albert, and Paola Nunez as Evelyn
    (L to R) Lance Reddick as Albert, and Paola Nunez as Evelyn in ‘Resident Evil.’ Netflix © 2022.
    Ella Balinksa as Jade in 'Resident Evil.'
    Ella Balinksa as Jade in ‘Resident Evil.’ Netflix © 2022.
    Ella Balinksa as Jade in 'Resident Evil.'
    Ella Balinksa as Jade in ‘Resident Evil.’ Photo: Marcos Cruz. Netflix © 2022.
    Siena Agudong as young Billie in 'Resident Evil.'
    Siena Agudong as young Billie in ‘Resident Evil.’ Photo: Netflix © 2021.
    Connor Gossati as Simon and Tamara Smart as young Jade in 'Resident Evil.'
    (L to R) Connor Gossati as Simon and Tamara Smart as young Jade in ‘Resident Evil.’ Photo: Marcos Cruz/Netflix © 2021.
    Ahad Raza as Arjun in 'Resident Evil.'
    Ahad Raza as Arjun in ‘Resident Evil.’ Photo: Netflix © 2021.