The rush to make more video game adaptations isn’t slowing down anytime soon. Yesterday, news broke that The Last of Us co-creator Craig Mazin would next be tackling one of the most iconic role-playing game series out there in Baldur’s Gate for HBO. This week also saw Prime Video‘s smash hit Fallout television show wrap up its second season and Neon debut the trailer for what will be the indie banner’s first foray into the medium — a live-action take on Exit 8. Now, a new report on Friday morning has confirmed an old classic is coming back with help from a star and director who are all too familiar with bringing games to life.
Coming off a red-hot year that saw her appear in James Gunn‘s Superman and Peacemaker and join Mazin for Season 2 of The Last of Us, Isabela Merced is about to take on another zombie-infested franchise in The House of the Dead as both a lead and executive producer. First released by Sega in 1997, the game was originally released in arcades as a light gun rail shooter, casting players as AMS Agent Thomas Rogan and his partner, “G.” Together, they’re tasked with thwarting the undead experiments of Dr. Curien and saving Rogan’s fiancée, Sophie Richards, from his mansion. It not only spawned a whole series of titles that would follow AMS agents around the world, taking down other monstrous threats, but was largely credited with helping to re-popularize zombies alongside Resident Evil. Even before 28 Days Later, it revolutionized George A. Romero‘s original shambling menaces by letting the zombies run.
Coincidentally, the director who translated Resident Evil into a massive big-screen franchise is also doing the same for The House of the Dead. Paul W. S. Anderson was previously tapped to helm the adaptation, giving the titular bureau two figures who are very familiar with zombies in some form. Anderson also has some additional experience in the video game space, too, directing the 2020 Monster Hunter adaptation. Tagging along with him as a producer is his Resident Evil partner, Jeremy Bolt, alongside Toru Nakahara for Sega and Dmitri M. Johnson, Michael Lawrence Goldberg, and Timothy I. Stevenson for Story Kitchen. Not only is this adaptation another personal one for the director, but it’s also an ambitious one that he hopes will spawn a series.
“The House of the Dead is a game I have loved for many years, and I’m beyond thrilled to be bringing this to the big screen with such an exciting talent as Isabela at its heart. We envisage this as the start of a tentpole franchise which can explore the rich world and lore that Sega has created over a whole series of films.”
‘The House of the Dead’ Has Been Adapted Before
Reportedly, Sega sees The House of the Dead as a top priority, particularly after seeing its poster child, Sonic the Hedgehog, go on to earn over $1 billion across three films at the box office. They see a lot of potential in the classic rail shooter, given that it has five mainline installments to work with, not including the various spin-offs. It’s also experienced a bit of a resurgence of late, thanks to remakes of the first two games for modern platforms. The goal is to make something more “immersive,” with a story that plays out in real time and feels accurate to the feeling of blasting through the undead in an arcade all over again.
Of course, the key concern is making something more befitting the House of the Dead name than its last adaptation. Back in 2003, notorious director Uwe Boll took on the franchise with a film often considered among the worst video game movies to hit screens. Nakahara, for his part, feels confident that, thanks in part to Merced‘s involvement, this time around will be the theatrical resurrection the franchise deserves.
“Working with Isabela is a thrilling opportunity as she embodies the heroine character perfectly, bringing dynamic energy to the production. We’re dedicated to crafting a visually striking and immersive experience by introducing compelling actors and terrifying creatures that will bring the House of the Dead universe to life on the big screen. With our deep understanding of video game adaptations, we’re eager to deliver an electrifying cinematic journey for the franchise’s fans.”
via Collider