The Reluctant Optimism of Josef Fares
When it comes to Hollywood, game creator Josef Fares doesn’t hold back. “There’s so much bullshit,” he remarked to Eurogamer, highlighting the frustrations of turning video games into films. Fares, known for the co-op gem It Takes Two, expressed skepticism about the adaptation of his beloved game into a movie, stating, “90 percent of the meetings are actually bullshit, and ten percent are what actually happens.” It’s a fair point when you consider the murky waters of game-to-film adaptations.
The Challenges of Adaptation
Fares’ candid take reflects a larger issue in the industry. Although there’s been a flurry of announcements about movies based on games—from Helldivers 2 to a new iteration of Resident Evil—many projects struggle to move beyond the initial hype. Just because a game catches the eye of Hollywood producers doesn’t guarantee a successful transition to film. As Fares noted, “I believe it when I see it, because nothing has happened yet.” This skepticism could serve as a reality check for both fans and creators in an industry riddled with abandoned projects.
Hope Amidst Uncertainty
Interestingly, Fares still holds out some hope for his latest project, Split Fiction, despite the uncertainty surrounding adaptations. “I think [Split Fiction] could become a really cool movie if you write it the right way,” he remarked. While he’s seen deals come and go without any tangible results, the possibility of a well-crafted adaptation remains tantalizing. The road from pixel to film might be fraught with challenges, but for gamers and film enthusiasts alike, there’s still a spark of hope that one day, a game adaptation might truly resonate on the silver screen.
