The entertainment industry is witnessing a significant shift in its focus, with video games becoming the new source of inspiration for Hollywood adaptations. This trend is not only evident in the recent box office successes of video game movies but also in the number of offers being received by writers for video game adaptations.
Co-Writer of The Batman 2 Shares Insights
Mattson Tomlin, co-writer of The Batman 2 alongside Matt Reeves, recently shared his perspective on this shift in a social media post. When asked about his involvement in the Mega Man movie, Tomlin revealed that he was no longer working on the project but expressed his optimism about its potential release.
Tomlin’s statement, ‘I’m not sure if it’s been canceled or not, but it’s definitely not on my dance card anymore,’ suggests that he had written a fun set of drafts for the movie, which was later taken over by another writer. He also mentioned that Hollywood is shifting its focus from comic books to video games, which is reflected in the increased number of offers he’s receiving for video game adaptations.
The Rise of Video Game Movies
The trend of video game movies gaining popularity is not a new phenomenon, but it has gained momentum in recent years. The top four highest-grossing video game movies of all time were released in the last three years, with The Super Mario Bros. Movie making $1.3 billion at the box office. This year’s sequel, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, made just over $1 billion, while a Minecraft Movie made just shy of $1 billion. The success of Sonic the Hedgehog and Five Nights at Freddy’s movies has also contributed to this trend.
While there are video game movies that have disappointed at the box office, such as Mortal Kombat 2, the trend is clear: Hollywood is increasingly looking to video games for inspiration. This shift is also reflected in the number of upcoming video game movies, with titles like The Angry Birds Movie 3, Sonic the Hedgehog 4, and The Legend of Zelda set to release in 2027.
In 2028, the Elden Ring movie, which is currently filming, and the Call of Duty movie are expected to hit the screens. The rumored Donkey Kong movie and Super Mario Movie 3 in 2029 further solidify this trend.
Comic Books vs. Video Games
While the superhero movie genre is still popular, with titles like Spider-Man, the Avengers, Batman, and Superman, the age of guaranteed success from even obscure superhero characters and teams is over. The recent struggles of Marvel and DC at the box office, with movies like Captain America: Brave New World, Thunderbolts, and Supergirl, have led to a decline in the power of the superhero movie.
However, video game movies are gaining traction, with writers like Mattson Tomlin receiving multiple offers for video game adaptations. In fact, Tomlin has stated that he is getting at least 5x more offers for video game adaptations than comic book adaptations this year.
The shift from comic books to video games is not just a trend, but a reflection of the changing preferences of audiences. As the entertainment industry continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how this trend unfolds.
