Adapting a popular video game into a movie is always a tricky task. Many attempts in the past have failed to capture the essence of the game, leaving fans disappointed. However, more recent efforts — like HBO’s The Last of Us and The Super Mario Bros. Movie — have shown that they can be a huge success.
Fresh off his turn as the delightfully villainous Bowser in The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Jack Black is not done with video-game-to-film adaptations just yet. In an interview with BBC, Black said, “In the future, film and television are going to keep going towards using the stories told in video games, because that market seems to be growing and growing exponentially. The TV and film industries seem to be seeing a little bit of shrinkage. It will be interesting to see what happens to the entertainment industry over the next 20 to 30 years but I think we will be seeing more storytelling from the gaming universe.”
“I’m a fan of adaptations, when done right. The Last of Us was fantastic. And what’s crazy is how loyal it is to the original source material. It’s basically all from the game with just a couple of tweaks. It’s going to win all the awards. They used the video game almost like a storyboard and I was like, ‘Whoa, this looks just the same.'”
He then added, “And there are some great games that have yet to be explored in television or film. Maybe there’s going to be a Red Dead Redemption movie? There should be, because I think that [has] just as good or [an] even better story than The Last of Us.”
The iconic actor and musician, best known for his comedic roles in films like School of Rock and Tenacious D in the Pick of Destiny, is no stranger to video games. His YouTube channel JablinskiGames contains videos of him playing games like Doom Eternal, Minecraft, and even Red Dead Redemption II. He has also done voice acting on a number of video games, including Brütal Legend and Psychonauts 2. Meanwhile, he is set to voice Claptrap in the Borderlands movie.
Whether a Red Dead Redemption movie ever happens or not, the series will undoubtedly continue to captivate and entertain gamers for years to come. And who knows, with Black’s interest in the project, we may just see a film adaptation of the series that does justice to its legacy. He would certainly make an interesting Dutch. After all, he can already nail the voice.
Edwin is a seasoned raconteur with a lifelong passion for video games, comic books, movies, and more. He thrives on captivating stories and immersive world-building, with a soft spot for adorable monsters.
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