Confusion at the concept of a Chris Pratt-starringMariomovie united the internet recently after its announcement at a recent Nintendo Direct. Chris Pratt, while perhaps a more controversial casting choice, was not the only A-list actor revealed for the game. Anna Taylor-Joy is set to star as Peach, with Jack Black, Charlie Day, and Keegan-Michael Key also joining the production as Bowser, Luigi, and Toad, respectively.
Unlike previousMariomovies, this upcoming film will be fully animated (rather than the hybrid CGI approach taken by the recentSonic The Hedgehogmovie). With films likeSonic The Hedgehog,Detective Pikachu, and evenFree Guytaking video game aesthetics, settings, and themes to the blockbuster silver screen, it would not be a massive surprise to see more franchises do the same.
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What Video Game Movies Need To Consider
Of course, there is a well-documented history of terrible video game movies — recent examples including the comprehensive catastrophe that wasAdam Sandler’sPixels. So, although there is obviously a wide-open and incredibly receptive market for gaming movies, great care needs to be taken with how these games are adapted into movie form.
Franchises likeAssassin’s Creedhave attempted A-list adaptations before, but without paying enough attention to tone, theme, genre, and direction, these resulted in notable critical flops. It seems as though filmmakers hoping to adapt video games successfully might also need to consider the kind of movie they are making — and Hollywood blockbusters might not be the best answer.
BioShock as an Offbeat Horror
BioShock’s stellar voice acting, engrossing world, andshocking twistwould already make for a particularly compelling idea for a movie. Unfortunately, a lot of the game’s commentary on the philosophy of objectivism is tied up in how it exploits player agency and choice. This mechanical component is really essential to the emotional impact of the game’s narrative, so a direct adaptation of the first game’s events might well fall flat for a cinema audience.
Furthermore, it’s always worth considering who a film’s audience is when adapting games to the silver screen. A lot ofBioShock’s fanswould undoubtedly go to see the movie, and would expect every single twist that a direct adaptation could bring. As such, turning the film into a slow-burning existential horror would do wonders in imparting the themes present throughout Rapture.
Director Robert Eggers has already shown he can capture the horror of New England religious fervor inThe Witch, and the isolating madness of knowing another inThe Lighthouse. It would be fascinating to see him take on the post-apocalyptic, capitalistic nightmare of Rapture in a pared-down, isolating examination of one of its inhabitants.Willem Dafoewould also make a great Splicer.
Studio Ghibli’s Pokemon Movie Would Be Amazing
The filmic world is no stranger to aPokemonmovie, what with modern outingslikeDetective Pikachuand the nostalgia-laden offerings of old. While Ryan Reynold’s hard-talking electric mouse detective did staggering box office numbers and showed off some amazing CGPokemon, it lacked a bit of the whimsy that the olderPokemonfilms (and games) managed to capture.
MainlinePokemongames have made a huge change in recent years in terms of aesthetics, moving to a stylized, 3D style. Studio Ghibli, which has also made a pivot to a less painterly art style recently, would be the perfect animation studio to capturePokemon’s newer graphical stylings.
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Zac Snyder Should Direct Doom
Zack Snyder is not without his controversies as a filmmaker, but one of his recent outings shows how brilliantly he would suit aDoommovie. The zombie-packedNetflix-exclusiveArmy of the Deadshowed off Synder’s full range of cinematic talents. Not only that, but its technicolor carnage showed the gaming world that he would direct a fantasticDoommovie.
John Romero’s original title dripped with the same kind of irreverent charm and wilful brutality as the 2021 zombie flick, and would perfectly suit a Snyder-esque adaptation in the modern day. It certainly couldn’t be worse than theoriginalDoommovie, at least.
It’s Time For An Official Metroid Movie
With the franchise’s transition to 3D space in theMetroid Primetrilogyalso came an intense, broody atmosphere that the previous side-scrollers did not quite capture. ThroughoutMetroid Prime, there are moments of careful, lonely introspection as players traversed through the abandoned halls of Chozo antiquity. In fact, this atmosphere has been captured brilliantly before on film, although not an officially licensed one. Jessica Chobot and America Young starred in Sam Balcomb’s 11 minuteMetroidshort film, and it was a genuinely impressive effort from an unofficial production.
Now thatMetroid Dreadis on the horizon, an official movie adaptation would be fantastic to see. Sam Balcomb’s mini featurette works as a fantastic proof of concept, and shows he might be an excellent candidate to direct a more tense, closely-contained space film with some horror components.
Legend Of Zelda Could Be a Twisted Fairy-tale Film
One of the biggest disappointments with the recentHobbitfilm serieswas, in fact, the choice of director. While Peter Jackson had successfully directed the Lord of the Rings trilogy, a much more exciting director was set to take the helm of the franchise. Guillermo Del Toro’sHobbitseries would’ve certainly looked very different, especially considering his pedigree with masterpieces likePan’s Labyrinth.
Although theLegend of Zeldafranchise has not totally forgotten its whimsical roots,Breath of the Wild’s open worldgameplay and almostDark Souls-style atmosphere made it feel a lot more grown up than olderZeldatitles. As such, it would make a great candidate for a Del Toro style fairy-tale, one rife with plenty of fantastical notes but still brimming with creepy undertones.
TheSuper Mario Bros. film is set to release on June 26, 2025.
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