Legendary gaming icon Duke Nukem is back, just not in a way most are expecting, as Adi Shankar, showrunner of Netflix’s Devil May Cry and Castlevania animated series, has acquired the screen rights to the classic shooter franchise for his next game-to-screen adaptation.
Speaking to Esqurie, Shankar spoke on his future plans, which, apart from season two of Devil May Cry, included a Duke Nukem show. “I’m being approached with different IPs and companies that want to work with me,” he explained, “I bought the rights to Duke Nukem. Not the gaming rights, but I bought it from Gearbox.”
Even though the project is still in its infancy, Shankar already has plans for his take on the iconic ‘90s video game franchise. “It’s a middle finger to everybody,” he described when asked about his vision for the show, “When Duke Nukem blew up, a bunch of people sat around trying to turn it into a brand, when it’s just a middle finger. Duke Nukem can’t be made by a corporation, because the moment a corporation makes Duke Nukem, it’s no longer Duke Nukem. I don’t intend on having anyone tell me what to do on this one.”
From his comments alone, it seems like his adaptation will be as unapologetic and no-holds-barred as its gaming source material, which was made famous by its tongue-in-cheek nature, violence and self-aware immaturity.
Duke Nukem entered the video game scene in 1991 as a series of 2D platformers created by Apogee Software Ltd. (now 3D Realms). The franchise would rise to fame in 1996 with Duke Nukem 3D, which transformed it into the FPS icon many know today. The series would go on to receive numerous sequels and spin-offs over 15 years, culminating in 2011’s infamous Duke Nukem Forever, which was heavily criticised by critics and fans alike, effectively killing the series… until now, that is.
Still, it’s unclear what form the project will eventually take, be it an animated series like his previous works, a live-action TV show, or a movie. It’s also unknown how his acquisition of the franchise’s screen rights will affect Legendary Entertainment’s Duke Nukem movie by Cobra Kai creators Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg.
Kevin is a reformed PC Master Race gamer with a penchant for franchise “duds” like Darksiders III and Dead Space 3. He has made it his life-long mission to play every single major game release – lest his wallet dies trying.
Natalie
