From Console to Screen: Far Cry, God of War, and Assassin's Creed Set for TV
Following the news about the live-action Elden Ring film reported half a year ago, three more hugely popular video games are set to be adapted into live-action series!
In recent years, Hollywood has adapted many popular video games into live-action films and series, with mixed critical results. Among the successful adaptations, The Last of Us and Fallout were both turned into series, receiving critical acclaim and Emmy nominations for Outstanding Drama Series. While Monster Hunter (film) and The Witcher (series) were also adapted, their reception was generally mixed.
Next up, the following three hugely popular video games are being adapted into live-action series:
Far Cry
Variety reported last week that Noah Hawley (Alien: Earth) and Rob McElhenney (Mythic Quest) will create a live-action Far Cry series for FX, with McElhenney also set to star. Following the style of the original games, the show will use an anthology format, with each season revolving around a different setting and set of characters. The game series settings include a remote Pacific island, civil war in East Africa, tropical pirate islands, civil war in the Himalayas, an American doomsday cult, and an uprising in a dictatorial nation. It remains to be seen if the series will directly use these established settings. Noah Hawley previously created the anthology series Fargo, the first season of which won the Emmy for Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series. Moreover, recent anthology series like The White Lotus and Beef have been hugely popular, also winning Emmys for Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series. This raises anticipation for how the Far Cry series will adapt the game's settings and characters.
The first Far Cry game was released in 2004, directed by Cevat Yerli and written by Alexis Nolent (creator of the original The Killer comic). The series has since released six main installments, selling over 50 million copies. Far Cry 3 won multiple Game of the Year awards and is considered one of the best video games of all time.
Assassin's Creed
Deadline reported last week that Toby Wallace (The Society) will star in Netflix's live-action Assassin's Creed series. The series is being created by Roberto Patino (The Society) and David Wiener (Halo). Filming is expected to begin next year in Italy. The series centers on the conflict between the Assassin Brotherhood, who fight to preserve human freedom, and the Templar Order. Each installment of the game series takes place in a different historical period and region. Given that the second and third main games, Assassin's Creed II and Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, are set in Renaissance Italy, this could be the blueprint for the series.
The first Assassin's Creed game was released in 2007. The series has since released fourteen main games, selling over 200 million copies, making it one of the best-selling video game franchises in history. Assassin's Creed II and Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood are considered two of the best video games ever made. The series was previously adapted into a film of the same name in 2016, starring Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard, but it failed both critically and commercially.
God of War
Deadline exclusively reported that Emmy-winning director Frederick E.O. Toye (Shōgun) will direct the first two episodes of Prime Video's live-action God of War series. The series is created by Ronald D. Moore (Outlander, For All Mankind) and reportedly adapted from the 2018 game of the same name. It will focus on the protagonist Kratos and his son Atreus as they embark on a journey to scatter the ashes of Kratos's wife and Atreus's mother, Faye, across different realms. Along the way, Kratos tries to teach Atreus how to be a better god, and Atreus tries to teach Kratos how to be a better man.
The first God of War game was released in 2005. The series has since released nine main games, selling over 60 million copies. The first two installments and the 2018 God of War all won multiple Game of the Year awards and are considered some of the best video games of all time.
If you are interested in upcoming TV series to be released in Canada, please visit the TV Premiere Schedule page on this website!
Photo: Ubisoft, PlayStation