Are Video-Game Film Adaptations Set to Overtake Comic-Book Movies?

Could video-game movies be the next big thing like comic-book movies? It’s a question you’ve probably been thinking about since I wrote that sentence. With every movie studio and TV network milking this superhero thing, it may be easy to miss that five video-game movies are coming out this year. Film adaptations of video games aren’t anything new, and they’ve been mostly bad. But here are four signs that Hollywood is trying to change that right now.

1. A-Listers Are Signing Up

Later this year, Oscar nominee Michael Fassbender and Oscar winner Marion Cotilliard are set to star in Assassin’s Creed, based on the hugely popular series that combines futuristic technology and period-piece action. And next year, Oscar nominee Tom Hardy is set to star in Splinter Cell, a spy thriller. Then there’s a reboot of Tomb Raider, arguably the most successful video-game adaptation, which will star Oscar winner Alicia Vikander.

2. Video Game Companies Are Creating Their Own Studios

Remember how Marvel opened its own movie studio to keep up with the big dogs and make sure its movies were crafted right? Well, game studios are doing the same. Activision Blizzard, known for some of the biggest game franchises, recently announced Activision Blizzard Studios to make … well, we don’t know yet, but it said it’s having dreams of a Call of Duty TV series, and there’s also the Warcraft movie it could make endless sequels to. And let’s not forget French studio Ubisoft, which started up Ubisoft Motion Pictures. It has already basically greenlit seven movies and one sequel.

3. Video Game Movies Are All Over 2016

Just look at this year, 2016: Universal is betting BIG on Warcraft, with a possible plan to make it a huge Lord of the Rings-style trilogy. Sony has Angry Birds, and the previously mentioned Assassin’s Creed is already confirmed for a sequel. Ratchet & Clank and Sly Cooper are aimed at kids, but I’ll probably watch them ’cause I’m 65 percent inner child.

4. Even More Video Game Adaptations Are Coming Our way

There are rumors of a Zelda Netflix series, an Uncharted movie in development, The Witcher, a Minecraft movie, a Tetris movie trilogy, a Sonic the Hedgehog movie, Five Nights at Freddy’s … and plenty more that have a director already locked in.

So, could video-game movies be the next big thing like comic-book movies? Yes … but it’s important they get this year right so these big tentpoles and new studios are seen as a good investment. Otherwise they fail and we’ll be stuck just playing the video games. Oh, wait, that’s actually fine.

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