Kohn and Silverstein’s previous work includes the screenplays for romantic comedies He’s Just Not That Into You and Valentine’s Day, and co-director roles on the Amy Schumer comedy I Feel Pretty.
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The movie won’t be Ubisoft’s first time expanding out from its gaming roots. The Assassin’s Creed movie, released in 2016, was set to receive a sequel at 20th Century Fox, but was canceled after the company merged with Disney. More recently, the publisher’s movie and TV division worked with Apple TV+ and the crew behind It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia on the sitcom Mythic Quest: Raven’s Banquet, set in a quirky gaming studio.
Ubisoft’s choice to make a film based partially on true events is a markedly different approach from other game studios breaking into film and TV. Sega and The Pokemon Company have both seen success with the recent Sonic the Hedgehog and Detective Pikachu movies; those films have unique approaches to their source material instead of being 1-to-1 adaptations, but they still draw strongly from the original games.
The French publisher seems interested in also telling stories about gaming instead of just rehashing the ones fans of its franchises are already familiar with, which could prove to be a more consistent way to impress audiences. Video game films haven’t always resonated well with moviegoers, but with the medium becoming one of the most popular forms of modern entertainment, crossovers between gaming and film aren’t likely to go away anytime soon.
Ubisoft’s involvement in Mythic Quest extended past mere financial support, going as far as allowing the cast and crew to consult with developers at the Montreal studio to lend the project more authenticity. Gamers shouldn’t expect the new film to feature esports in a fully serious manner, but hopefully a more irreverent tone won’t stop it from being entertaining for fans of professional gaming.
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Source: Deadline
