It’s no surprise that Hollywood movie and TV production companies have turned to video games for blockbuster ideas in recent years. The last of uswhich was released earlier this year and is based on the game of the same title, had the best debut for a non-game of Thrones HBO show since 2010. According to Variety, viewership for the first episode of the series drew 4.7 million viewers across all platforms. Forbes reported that linear television viewership has nearly doubled since its premiere, drawing more than 500,000 viewers for the premiere and more than 1 million viewers for episode 7. This is something the dragon house, Euphoria and game of ThronesSome of the most popular TV shows of recent times didn’t even make it in their first season.
For big-screen gaming success, look no further than 2020 Sonic the Hedgehog and its 2022 sequel Sonic the hedgehog 2. Sonic it grossed over $300 million worldwide and Sonic 2 grossed over $405 million. Sonic’s domestic gross made it the third-highest-grossing film of 2020 and Sonic 2’s gross made it the tenth-highest-grossing film of 2022.
With video game-based content proving that it has the experience points to be a formidable opponent in Hollywood, there are two clear video game titles that could make big debuts as feature films or prestigious television.
red dead redemption
The rawness of the American West seen through the eyes of Arthur Morgan or John Marston in the early 19th century could make the Red Dead Redemption franchise a great candidate for a television adaptation. The open world of the franchise brings limitless possibilities to the storytelling when it comes to locations for the background of the story to take place. The game could visit real cities and have Arthur walking the streets of New Orleans or John shooting his way through Tombstone, Arizona. A part of what he has done The last of us that’s how big the nods have been to those who played the game. There are so many scenes, lines, and sounds that have made viewers do the Leonardo Dicaprio. once upon a time in hollywood pointing meme in real life. Red Dead Redemption can give us these same reactions with nods to the Dead Eye sound effect, someone drinking a good, trusty bottle of tonic, or Arthur calmly saying, “You’re all right, girl!” on his horse while a passerby babbles nonsense on the opposite side of the road. Plus, who wouldn’t want to see a hilarious, dark and twisted attack by a legendary grizzly bear or alligator?
The legend of Zelda
Zelda has captivated audiences since the mid-’80s, generating a huge fan base around the world that could be rewarded with a feature film. Since Zelda has been around for so long and is deeply embedded in pop culture, there is built-in anticipation, similar to what’s happening with The Super Mario Bros Movie, which is set to be released in April. Different from The last of us either red dead redemption, Zelda can pull source material from so many different titles and it doesn’t have to be as linear as the two titles mentioned above. arguments from breath of the wild can be mixed with ocarina of time either a link to the past and you can even explore the backstories of Link, Zelda, and Ganondorf (I think Link’s dad deserves a bit of redemption). A Zelda story can also offer action because who wouldn’t want to see Link hacking and cutting his way with the Master Sword? Another piece of a good feature film that offers The legend of Zelda and its universe is the growth and development of the main character. Throughout the game, Link gains more hearts, allowing him to fight more difficult bosses, and acquires new items, opening paths to new dungeons or solutions to previously unsolved puzzles. This is growth that can be represented as increased confidence as Link gets closer to finding Zelda and fighting Ganondorf.
Of course, with all of these suggestions comes one big caveat: these video games could make for excellent TV or movie adaptations if done right. If not, we could have another Assassin’s Creed on our hands.
Michael Vela is the Founder and CEO of World Champion Fantasy, creators of PlayerX, the next generation fantasy esports platform. Mike has played video games his entire life and has worked with computers since 1979. He is also a member of the Fantasy Sports & Gaming Association. Mike is a 1995 graduate of Purdue University College of Technology with a bachelor’s degree in Organizational Leadership and Industrial Supervision.
