The video game adaptation pipeline’s long had its ups and downs, but thanks to recent hits like The Last of Us, The Witcher, and The Super Mario Bros. Movie, video game TV shows and movies are having a moment. Whether you’re at the movie theater or watching at home, here’s what you can expect from the latest wave of video game adaptations.
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Video game TV show adaptations
Fallout | Prime Video
Synopsis: Survivors explore a nuclear post-apocalyptic America.
Should fans be worried? The show sports a solid roster of talent, including game director Todd Howard, Westworld creators Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy, and stars Walton Goggins and Ella Purnell. And unlike many of the adaptations in this roundup, it’s actually come out—on Instagram, Goggins said he wrapped filming in March 2023. The show hit Amazon Prime Video in April 2024 with strong critical acclaim, and Amazon has already renewed it for a second season.
Release date: April 10, 2024
Watch Fallout
Horizon Zero Dawn | Netflix
Synopsis: A young hunter named Aloy explores the mysteries of a post-apocalyptic world overrun by dinosaur-like robots.
Should fans be worried? Horizon’s lore is downright Game of Thrones-esque, and translating this to the screen can always be fraught. But if there’s anything people like these days, it’s post-apocalyptic content and (mild spoiler alert) tech billionaires getting too big for their britches and accidentally causing the singularity.
Release date: TBD, in development
Knuckles | Paramount+
Synopsis: Following the events of Sonic the Hedgehog 2, this spinoff show follows Knuckles (Idris Elba) as he trains Wade Whipple (Adam Pally).
Should fans be worried? Along with Pally and Elba, Sonic film director Jeff Fowler and writer John Whittington also jumped to Knuckles.
Release date: April 26, 2024
Watch Knuckles
The Last of Us season 2 | Max
Synopsis: Things happen to people like Joel and Ellie in places. (We’ll keep things vague for non-game fans, because … hoo boy.)
Should fans be worried? HBO’s latest hit isn’t going anywhere, but fans will have to wait for next season between the Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA strikes and the show’s big production cycle. Production on season 2 of The Last of Us started in February 2024 according to Variety, and new cast members include Kaitlyn Dever (Abby), Catherine O’Hara (TBD), Young Mazino (Jesse), and Isabela Merced (Dina).
Release date: Early 2025
Watch The Last of Us
God of War | Prime Video
Synopsis: Kratos and his kid have a father-son trip through ancient Scandinavia.
Should fans be worried? No details have dropped about the show since it was announced last year, but it’s coming from writers Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby (Iron Man, Children of Men) and showrunner Rafe Judkins (The Wheel of Time). It’s also expected to be based on 2018’s God of War.
Release date: TBD, in development
Among Us | TBD
Synopsis: A crew of astronauts must detect an alien intruder on a space station.
Should fans be worried? Among Us doesn’t have the biggest story throughline, but it has some notable behind-the-scenes talent. According to Variety, the show will come from Owen Dennis, who’s best known for Max’s Infinity Train.
Release date: TBD
Twisted Metal | Peacock
Synopsis: Based on the PlayStation vehicular combat series, Twisted Metal stars Anthony Mackie as a man who must escort a package across a post-apocalyptic landscape.
Should fans be worried? If you had to dig deep to remember Twisted Metal, you’re probably not alone —the last Twisted Metal video game came out in 2012. But the trailer has the game’s murder clown, so that’s something? (Season 2 of Twisted Metal‘s in the works and expected to come out in 2025.)
Release date: July 27, 2023
Watch Twisted Metal
Video game movie adaptations
Five Nights at Freddy’s | Peacock
Synopsis: Josh Hutcherson stars as a security guard at a family pizza arcade filled with murderous robot mascots.
Should fans be worried? The film adaptation is produced by Blumhouse Productions, which knows a thing or two about animatronic robots who can slay. (The sequel is also currently in development.)
Release date: October 27, 2023; Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 slated for fall 2025
Watch Five Nights at Freddy’s
Borderlands
Synopsis: Outlaws head to the planet of Pandora, and hijinks ensue.
Should fans be worried? The long-running sci-fi shooter franchise heads to the big screen with a cast that could politely be described as eclectic: Oscar winners Cate Blanchett and Jamie Lee Curtis, along with Kevin Hart, Jack Black, and Ariana Greenblatt headline the Gearbox adaption.
Release date: August 9, 2024
Watch Five Nights at Freddy’s
Gran Turismo
Synopsis: Based on a true story, a teen Gran Turismo player becomes a real race car driver after winning a professional competition.
Should fans be worried? If you were wondering how anyone could turn a racing simulation game into a narrative film, you weren’t alone there. The trailer steers into the “this isn’t a video game, it’s REAL LIFE” angle pretty heavily, but it otherwise looks like a conventional underdog sports film.
Release date: August 11, 2023
Watch Gran Turismo
The Legend of Zelda movie
Synopsis: Link saves Zelda and goes on adventures in the mythical land of Hyrule.
Should fans be worried? The Super Mario Bros. Movie may not be the only Nintendo property to head to theaters. An animated film was rumored, although Universal later debunked those discussions. This won’t keep us from theorizing about a potential Zelda adaptation, though. Could it be a grand pastoral adventure throughout Hyrule, or will The Rock voice a Goron for some reason? We’ll see!
Update, 11/7/23: Well, it’s not animated, but: a live-action Legend of Zelda film’s happening!
Release date: TBD
Minecraft
Synopsis: No details have dropped yet, but it’s an adaptation of the hit crafting/sandbox game.
Should fans be worried? As elder millennials, we admit to not having any idea where to start with this one. But with the news that Jack Black and Matt Berry may star alongside Jason Momoa in the film, we take this moment to link to this Matt Berry supercut and just imagine him mellifluously saying the word Minecraft.
Release date: April 2025
Eric Chiu is a CableTV.com senior writer who covers internet tech, entertainment, and sports news. He’s written about consumer technology for nearly a decade for outlets including CNN Underscored, Wirecutter, Newsweek Media Group and TopTenReviews/Future. In his free time, he enjoys playing any instrument he can find, rooting for the Michigan Wolverines, and hunting for the best hole-in-the-wall restaurants.
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