16 Movies & TV Shows Based On Video Games That We Can Look Forward To

These games are going from the loading screen to the silver screen!

1. Untitled Mario Movie

Nintendo / Via youtube.com

Despite some other animated...attempts in the past, Nintendo announced earlier this year that they will be doing an official movie adaptation featuring everyone's favorite plumber: Mario! With Chris Pratt voicing the eponymous role, the cast will also include Charlie Day as Luigi, Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach, Jack Black as Bowser, Keegan-Michael Key as Toad, and Seth Rogen as Donkey Kong. The yet-to-be-titled film is set to be released on Easter Weekend 2023.

2. The Last of Us

Naughty Dog / Via youtube.com

The critically acclaimed post-apocalyptic video game is coming to the small screen sometime in 2023 as a 10-episode series. Helmed by Chernobyl's Craig Mazin and produced by Neil Druckmann, the game director for The Last of Us, the series is said to be an adaptation of the first game in The Last of Us series. Starring Pedro Pascal as Joel and Bella Ramsey as Ellie, The Last of Us will definitely be on most gamers' watchlists come 2023.

3. Untitled Knuckles Series

Paramount / Via youtube.com

Branching off from the hilarious live-action Sonic the Hedgehog films, the titular red echidna is set to get his own series on Paramount+! Idris Elba will be reprising his role in the series, which is set to debut sometime in 2023, thus launching the official SCU (Sonic Cinematic Universe). Sure, maybe that's not "officially" a thing just yet, but hey, maybe it should be!  

4. Minecraft: The Movie

Mojang Studios / Via youtube.com

This one is a bit up in the air, but as of April 2022, the popular game Minecraft is still slated to be adapted into a film potentially starring Jason Momoa. Jared Hess, director of Napoleon Dynamite, is set to direct the project. As of now, the film doesn't currently have a release date, but that just means there's still plenty of time to get into Minecraft before the movie comes out!

5. BioShock

Irrational Games / Via youtube.com

As of early 2022, the news broke that Netflix had decided to rescue the BioShock property from development hell, announcing an upcoming film adaptation of the franchise. Currently, there aren't any details regarding casting, writers, or directors, so this one is probably coming further down the pipeline. Nevertheless, it's going to be amazing to see the retro-futuristic world of BioShock brought to life on the small screen sometime in the near future! 

6. Twisted Metal

Incognito Entertainment / Via youtube.com

Peacock recently decided to get into the video game adaptation space after greenlighting a series order to Twisted Metal, a comedic half-hour live-action adaptation of the highly popular video game series. Anthony Mackie will executive produce and star in the project as John Doe, a "smart-ass milkman who talks as fast as he drives." The series comes to Peacock based on an original take crafted by Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick (Deadpool and Zombieland) and will be written by Cobra Kai writer Michael Jonathan Smith, who will also showrun the new series. 

Watch on Peacock.

7. Assassin's Creed

Ubisoft / Via youtube.com

Despite the harsh criticism and box-office reception the Assassin's Creed movie got back in 2016, Ubisoft and Netflix have recently partnered up to develop a number of TV shows based on the Assassin's Creed games. First, Netflix has slated a live-action genre-bending series in addition to animated and anime adaptations of the source material. The series will be produced by Ubisoft's Jason Altman and Danielle Kreinik. 

8. Resident Evil

Moonlighting Films / Via youtube.com

Based on the iconic Resident Evil series, this Netflix TV series is the second adaptation based on the Capcom franchise. However, this series takes place in its own universe, all the while still building off of established Resident Evil lore. The series cast includes Lance Reddick, Ella Balinska, and Tamara Smart, and premiered on Netflix on July 14!

9. Horizon

Guerrilla Games / Via youtube.com

Though not yet officially titled, Netflix has announced a live-action TV adaptation of PlayStation's iconic Horizon franchise, which is reportedly set to begin filming soon! The sci-fi RPG franchise has long been celebrated for its dynamic world rooted in deep lore and compelling characters, particularly its protagonist Aloy, making it the perfect piece of IP to adapt into a long-running TV show! 

10. God of War

Santa Monica Studio / Via youtube.com

Based on the critically-acclaimed 2018 God of War, Amazon and Sony both confirmed plans to develop a God of War TV adaptation during an investor presentation back in May. The series is set to be helmed by the creators of The Expanse, Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby, as well as Rafe Judkins, the showrunner for The Wheel of Time. The 2018 God of War was highly acclaimed for its subtle, intimate story of a father and son's grief for their wife and mother, respectively. While no release date or production schedule has been announced, it's likely the God of War series will be a must-watch for many gamers and fantasy lovers alike. 

11. Pokémon

Warner Bros. / Via youtube.com

Similar in tone and style to the film adaptation Detective Pikachu, Variety announced back in 2021 that a Pokémon live-action series was in early development at Netflix. Though not much additional news has come out since then, Variety stated that Joe Henderson (Lucifer) was attached to write and executive produce the new series. Currently, there is no casting or release date information available for the new series, but this one is sure to be highly anticipated. Personally, I just hope Team Rocket makes an appearance in this one!

12. Cyberpunk: Edgerunners

CD Projekt RED / Via youtube.com

Based on the contentious, yet popular video game Cyberpunk 2077, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners is an animated TV series coming to Netflix in September of 2022. The series is set to be a "10-episode standalone anime that follows the story of a street kid trying to survive in Night City." The series will follow this street kid until he is forced to become an "edgerunner," a mercenary who must turn to extreme methods to tackle any job. 

13. Fallout

Bethesda Softworks / Via youtube.com

Set in a futuristic alternative reality in which nuclear fallout consumed the United States through the year 2077, the Fallout TV series adaptation, which comes from Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy's Kilter Films, will begin production sometime in 2022. Eventually, the series will premiere on Prime Video, and be showrun by Geneva Robertson-Dworet (Captain Marvel) and Graham Wagner (Silicon Valley). I've seen many gamers get completely lost for hours on end in the Fallout series, so with any luck, the series will be just as engrossing!

14. Metal Gear Solid

Kojima Productions / Via youtube.com

Though the film is still supposedly in development, Oscar Isaac is currently attached to star as Snake in the film adaptation of Metal Gear Solid after he politely threw his hat in the ring for the role during an interview for his movie Triple Frontier. Metal Gear Solid follows Snake, an expert infiltrator during an alternate history in which the Cold War progressed well into the 1990s. Jordan Vogt-Roberts, the director of Kong: Skull Island, is currently set to direct the film adaptation. No release date has been announced as of yet. 

15. Tomb Raider

Nixxes Software / Via youtube.com

Netflix announced back in September of last year that Hayley Atwell, who is perhaps best known for portraying Peggy Carter within the MCU, will voice Lara Croft in an upcoming anime TV adaptation of the Tomb Raider games. While Croft and the Tomb Raider franchise has seen several film adaptations in the past, this will be the game's first foray into the anime space, and will likely be coming to the platform either in late 2022 or early 2023; however, no exact release date has been confirmed.

16. Mass Effect

BioWare / Via youtube.com

Though not officially confirmed, at the end of 2021, it was reported by several outlets, primarily Deadline, that Amazon Studios was nearing a deal to develop a series adapted from the sci-fi video game franchise. Mass Effect has long been celebrated for its rich lore and compelling storytelling, and it's clear that this would be a huge win for gamers everywhere! Hopefully, we get confirmation on this one sooner rather than later.

In the meantime, while we're all waiting for these movies and TV shows to make their way to our screens, be sure to check out 1UP, the hilarious gamer comedy from BuzzFeed Studios, that's set entirely within the world of esports! This one's for video game fans both old and new alike, and the best part is, it's actually out now on Prime Video! So be sure to sign up and check it out!

BuzzFeed Studios / Lionsgate / Via youtube.com