The streaming provider wants to bring a series of video games as films and series to home TVs in the future. We reveal what you can expect: from Mass Effect and Fallout to God of War.
In the past, the term video game adaptation was almost like a death sentence at the box office. And let’s be honest: the majority of these films really weren’t very good either, with rare exceptions.
That is about to change thanks to Amazon and Co. Because the streaming providers have long since caught up with or even overtaken cinema and are currently feverishly trying to tie major game franchises to their service. The result should be high-quality films or series that we fans can watch in the comfort of our couch at home.
Find out which projects are currently planned for Amazon Prime Video in this overview!
In the past, the term video game adaptation
was almost like a death sentence at the box office. And let’s face it: the majority of these films really weren’t very good either, with rare exceptions.
This is soon to change thanks to Amazon and Co. Because the streaming providers have long since caught up with or even overtaken cinema and are currently feverishly trying to tie major game franchises to their service. The result should be high-quality films or series that we fans can watch in the comfort of our couch at home.
Which projects are currently planned for Amazon Prime Video, you can find out in this overview!
Table of Contents
Mass Effect
- Start: Unknown
- Behind the Scenes: Unknown
- Cast: Unknown
- Format: Live Action Series
For over a decade, a film adaptation of EA’s sci-fi epic Mass Effect centred around Commander Shepard and the threat of the Reapers had been under discussion. But at the beginning of 2022, these plans were buried for good, as reported by Business Insider magazine among others.
Most of all, the question of how to adequately capture this rich universe and its complex storylines in just one film probably stood permanently in the way of the cinema debut. Now Amazon wants to try its hand at the material. The industry portal Deadline refers to statements by Jennifer Salke, head of Amazon Studios.
What the plot of a streaming series could revolve around, however, is still completely open. As long as the deal with EA as the licence holder is not in the bag, nothing about such things will be leaked to the outside world. There is also no information about the cast – but there are rumours.
These are still from the time when a feature film was expected, but that doesn’t mean they are out of the world. Because none other than The Witcher actor Henry Cavill caused a stir on Instagram at the beginning of 2021 when he hinted at involvement in a Mass Effect project – we reported. Whether there’s any truth to it? That remains to be seen.
God of War
- Start: Unknown
- Behind the Scenes: Mark Fergus, Hawk Ostby (The Expanse), Rafe Judkins (The Wheel of Time)
- Cast: Unknown
- Format: Live Action Series
Another big franchise that Amazon wants to secure for Prime Video is God of War. Here they are apparently planning a live-action series, i.e. a shoot with real people. Once again, this news comes from the usually well-informed Magazine Deadline, which even wants to know more exact details.
So Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby are said to be involved in the project. In addition to their work on Amazon series The Expanse as executive producers, the two gentlemen were also nominated for an Oscar for the screenplay of Children of Men. Rafe Judkins, showrunner of the Amazon series The Wheel of Time, is also named by Deadline as being involved.
What the series might be about remains to be seen. The God of War games have visited the Norse world of gods in addition to Greek mythology, so while it could simply retell the plot of the games, it would also have enough material for a whole new plot.
Fallout
- Start: Unknown
- Behind the Scenes: Jonathan Nolan (Westworld), Lisa Joy, Athena Wickham, Todd Howard
- Cast: Walton Goggins
- Format: Live Action Series
War – War always stays the same. At least in the Fallout universe, this sad maxim has not lost its validity to this day. Whether this will also apply to the planned Amazon series remains to be seen. Apart from a short Twitter teaser, there are no pictures or video material to be seen yet, but we already have some information about the series.
PleaseStandBy @AmazonStudios KilterFilms pic.twitter.com/7YmLZKIPAe
– Fallout (@Fallout) July 2, 2020
Unlike many other projects, a lot of things are already ready to go with the Fallout series. After some back and forth, filming is scheduled to begin in June 2022, according to the website Collider
But unfortunately, in the case of Fallout too, nothing is yet known about the actual plot. But if filming really does start in the near future, the first story information may not be too long in coming. A bold prediction: We will see a post-apocalyptic wasteland populated by all kinds of bizarre and dangerous characters.
Life is Strange
- Start: Unknown
- Behind the Scenes: Unknown
- Cast: Unknown
- Format: Live Action Series
Whoever thinks of good game stories for a film or series adaptation will inevitably end up with Life is Strange. After all, all the parts that have been released so far have been able to convince both fans and critics above all with their emotional storylines.
Amazon is said to have had the same idea, because according to Collider together with the production company dj2 Entertainment, they are planning several TV series based on popular video games. And one of them is supposed to be about Life is Strange. But unfortunately, that’s it for the time being with solid information.
So we don’t know whether the series will be about Max Caulfield, the protagonist of the first part, or about Sean Diaz (Life is Strange 2) or Alex Chen from Life is Strange: True Colors. It is also conceivable, of course, that only the mystery elements known from the games and the focus on young actors will be used and that a separate plot will be developed around them.
Disco Elysium
- Start: Unknown
- Behind the Scenes: Unknown
- Cast: Unknown
- Format: Unknown
Do we really need to tell you GlobalESportNews readers that the plot of Disco Elysium is just terrific? After all, the game scored a merciless 91 points in our test! And now an Amazon series all about the hangover-ridden detective who doesn’t even remember his name at first? Many fans are now probably thinking: Where should I sign?
But as is so often the case in the chirpy rumour disco, you’ll have to be patient. Together with Life is Strange, Disco Elysium is one of the titles whose rights for a TV adaptation Amazon has secured as part of the exclusive deal with the production company dj2 Entertainment (via Collider). Whether and above all when a series will actually emerge from this, however, is still written in the stars.
After all, the signs for a realisation are better than ever. Until then, you can simply play through the game one more time. And then one more time. And after that …
It Takes Two
- Start: Unknown
- Behind the Scenes: Pat Casey, Josh Miller
- Cast: Unknown
- Format: Feature film
Imagine this: Your name is Josef Farez, you run the development studio Hazelight Studios, you’re developing the excellent co-op hit It Takes Two, and you storm onto the stage at the Game Awards to yell into host Geoff Keighley’s microphone – we quote verbatim – Fuck the Oscars! What would be the logical next step? Of course: planning a film of the game, hopefully not to get one of the hated gold statues from Hollywood – or something.
Seriously now: It Takes Two is to conquer the big screen as a film, and here too Amazon has its paws in the game. The couple May and Cody, on the brink of divorce, are turned into dolls by a spell unwittingly performed by their daughter Rose and make the acquaintance of the garrulous marriage counselling book Dr. Hakim. What follows is a fun and varied adventure across the family home.
It Takes Two as a feature film sounds like a film with potential, but the project is still in its infancy. At the moment, no studio has been found to take care of a realisation, let alone a cast. But that is already assured (via Deadline): Pat Casey and Josh Miller will adapt the plot of the video game as a screenplay. Those names may mean something to some of you, and not without reason. Casey and Miller penned the script for Sonic: The Hedgehog
