Video game movies have a long history of being…well…bad. There are only a few that come to mind that were even remotely decent. Big production companies just have a hard time replicating what makes the game a success when translating it onto the big screen. But that hasn’t stopped them. No. Production companies are still trying to get the formula right, and I say good for them…Bad for us. Don’t get me wrong, sooner or later someone will get the correct ingredients that make a movie epic and it when that happens, we will no longer scoff at the idea of a ‘good’ video game movie. Take the example of the Superhero video game genre. Nobody had really produced an excellent superhero game. But Rocksteady took their time, got the right property, the right mechanics, and story and put it all together to make one of the best (if not THE best) superhero game out to date. Batman: Arkham Asylum and Batman: Arkham City. It just takes a few key ingredients to make something that history has shown to be unsuccessful, and make it successful. So why can’t there be a good movie based on a video game property?

Well, it looks like several companies are trying to test their luck with the video game movie market. Recently we learned that Michael Fassbender has been cast as the lead role in an Assassins Creed movie. Mass Effect has also been optioned for a film, with a script in the works. But today we get word of two games that are being picked up to be produced for the silver screen.

First, we have Deus Ex being picked up by CBS films. The film will be based on the third game of the Deus Ex franchise, titles Deus Ex: Human Revolution which as summed up by Variety:

“…is set in 2027, when multinational corporations have grown beyond the control of national governments. The film will follow an ex-SWAT security specialist who must learn to embrace the high-tech prostheses that replaces much of his body in order to unravel a global conspiracy that involves an attack on a biotechnology firm tied to developing human enhancements.”

The CBS film company will work very closely with the creators of the game Eidos Montreal and Square Enix, as well as being produced by, Adrian Askarieh who is attached to produce a long line of video game movie adaptations, including a second Hitman, Kane and Lynch and Just Cause.

Both parties spoke highly about one another and how they hope to bring a proper version of the franchise to the big screen.

“As the millions of fans who have played the ‘Deus Ex’ games for more than a decade will tell you, these games catapult you into a universe that is stimulating, engaging and relevant,” said Phil Rogers, president and CEO of Square Enix Europe. “We’re firm believers in building strong partnerships, and so we’re thrilled to be working with CBS Films on bringing the unique ‘Deus Ex’ experience to the bigscreen.”

 

“As is clear from the wild success of the game, Square Enix and Eidos-Montreal know how to exceed their audience’s expectations by engineering incredible worlds,” said Terry Press, co-president of CBS Films. “No one knows ‘Human Revolution’ like the team that created it, and we look forward to working with them from day one to make a film adaptation worthy of the ‘Deus Ex’ name.”

Having recently picked up Deus Ex: Human Revolution, I can attest to the game having a very compelling story line, thick with intrigue and action-packed moments. But the great thing about the game is the ability to play it different ways, passively or aggressively. Obviously, this can’t happen in a movie, so it will be interesting to find out how they play out the events of the story. With the two partners working together hopefully it will be the game adaptation we are all waiting for.

Source: Variety

Secondly, we have a Comic Book turned Video Game about to be adapted into a film. Collider is reporting that The Darkness is also getting the Hollywood treatment. Regency Films is in talks to obtain the rights to this franchise and produce it for the big screen. Some big names are also attached to the film, as Len Weismen (Underworld) is set to produce the film, if all things go according to plan.

The Darkness is a tale of a primordial force that attaches itself to a family and grooms them to be the lowest of the low. Murderers, rapists and warlords, the Darkness manifests itself on the 21st birthday and allows the host to control of demons and of dark creatures. Created by David Wohl, Marc Silvestri, and Garth Ennis, this version of The Darkness has been in both the comics. The host was character named Jackie Estacado, an orphan who is raised by a mob family.

The current wielder of The Darkness is a former hitman for the mob who develops a slight control over the force.  He wrestles with his strong set of morals and his carnal nature, trying to keep from wholly giving into The Darkness.  That’s not to say that he doesn’t do a fair amount of killing and evil-doing in the meantime, though

Again, having played the game, I can tell you that there are a few things about this franchise that won’t translate well to the big screen, unless it gets a proper R rating. Having snake-like demons under your control, that seem to protrude out from you body, butchering people with the simple tap of a button, is not something for children.

I wasn’t the biggest fan of the game, but it had its moments. Once I got trapped in a Nazi invested nightmarish dream world, I lost interest. I hear the sequel is much better though.

Source: Collider

So there you have it! More video game adaptations coming your way! I am looking forward to seeing how some of these play out. Ubisoft and Eidos Montreal seem to be heavily involved with their respective franchises and I think that will work in the favor of the audiences. Ubisoft was more lax with the Prince of Persia, and although not dreadful, it was far from what us fan boys were looking for. Hopefully, they watch the production company closely and make sure it stays faithful to the story and the franchise.

What do you think? Are you tired of Video Game adaptations? Or are you excited for some of these movies? Let us know in the comments below!!

NERD IT UP!!!