Long-time gamers will remember how brutal the 1985 Oregon Trail computer game was. Released for the Apple II, it was made to educate players on the region’s harsh living and travel conditions in the American 19th century. Today, the game is making its way to the silver screen as an action-comedy adaptation at Apple.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Will Speck and Josh Gordon (Blades of Glory) are set to direct and produce the film while Kenny and Keith Lucas (Judas and the Black Messiah) are penning the script. Caroline Frasure from HarperCollins Productions — a body that owns the rights to the video game franchise — will also produce alongside the Speck-Gordon duo. Additionally, Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (La La Land) are composing the film’s score.
Little has been revealed about the movie’s plot as it is still in its early development stages, with the studio having just landed the pitch. We can, however, have a general idea of its premise, as players of the game are supposed to guide a covered wagon train embarking on a journey along the Oregon Trail in 1848. The wagon brings settlers from Independence, Missouri to Oregon’s Willamette Valley, and the player must determine optimal routes that ensure the survival of their entourage. They will also manage resources, hunt for food, and prepare for random events like storms and diseases.
For an educational game, it’s a dark and gritty piece which pits players to face broken limbs and the infamous ‘dysentery’ disease that their motley crew can randomly succumb to despite efforts to ensure their followers are resilient for the journey. As the movie is expected to be an action comedy, fans of the IP can look forward to this iconic reference and many more in a lighthearted fashion.
While we await more information on the movie’s release, eager gamers looking to experience the classic 1985 title can visit the Internet Archive Arcade and play for free. If they prefer something modern, a remastered 2022 version can be purchased on Steam.
Just don’t die of dysentery while playing and keep yourselves hydrated.
Crack open a cold one with Joey, because the moment you approach him, he will start talking about film and video games for days. He spends his waking moments during the weekends meditating on how the latest movie he’s watched or game he’s played has impacted his worldview.
Kevin Low
Si Jia
