GHOSTLY SHADOWS IN HOLLYWOOD: HOW UNTIL DAWN'S MOVIE ADAPTATION IS BREAKING THE MOLD

But one video game adaptation has fans trembling in anticipation: Until Dawn, a choice-based horror adventure game that launched in 2015 and is the most recent project to get the big-screen treatment. Depressingly, the past few attempts to turn a video game into a film – including 2016’s Warcraft (based on the hugely popular fantasy franchise World of Warcraft) – have been disappointing. So, what makes Until Dawn different? For one, the critical and commercial success of recent video-game adaptations such as Ready Player One and War for the Planet of the Apes suggests that the tide might be finally turning in the right direction. Second, the synergy between the two media is a natural fit: the original Until Dawn was a highly cinematic Choose Your Own Adventure-style game, and could easily fit into the global filmic lexicon. Third, and perhaps most importantly, half of Until Dawn’s cast is already sewn up, including Elle Rubin, Ji-young Yoo, Odessa A’zion and Michael Cimino.

BRINGING GHOSTS TO LIFE: THE CAST OF UNTIL DAWN’S MOVIE

The film – directed by David Sandberg and written by Gary Daubermann – will introduce a new cast of characters that will build upon the game’s central premise. Having cast some big names, there is no doubt that this adaptation will not only be faithful to the game, but will also transform the world into something vibrant and new. The announcements of the cast members do not reveal much except that, collectively, they contribute to a universe that still has much to be discovered.

A GHOST STORY REIMAGINED: DEVIATING FROM THE GAME

The head of PlayStation Productions, Asad Qizilbash, said that it would be a ‘terrifying love letter to the horror genre’, adding that the film will ‘make a lot of radical departures’, suggesting that Until Dawn’s movie will stray even further from its game’s story. Until Dawn represents the same high-stakes gamble that PlayStation made and won with the HBO series adaptation of The Last of Us. It’s only a matter of time before we find out how Until Dawn’s movie strays from its game’s plot. Will its story positions be held steadfastly, or will its spectres possess actors instead of teenagers in an attic? How will it walk the tightrope between staying true to the spirit of the game while also venturing into complete originality?

GHOST OF ANTICIPATION: WHAT FANS CAN EXPECT

The announcement of a new cast of characters and story changes – a huge part of the draw of Until Dawn – has set tongues wagging among the game’s fans. Game players were brought into the action by the fact that Until Dawn was built on branching narratives; many parts of the story depended on a player’s decision. Now with a linear film, what challenge is there in keeping the tensions and character-based set-pieces of horror?

HAUNTING HOLLYWOOD: THE FUTURE OF GAME ADAPTATIONS

The adaptation of Until Dawn is part of a larger trend, as Hollywood has become interested in adapting video game properties for film and TV. In just the last couple years, movies based on Horizon, Ghost of Tsushima and God of War have all been announced at some stage of development. They provide an avenue for existing fans to enjoy the stories that they love anew, opening up the possibility of much wider audiences engaging with these worlds for the first time.

ECHOES OF THE PAST, VISIONS OF THE FUTURE

And as Until Dawn’s movie adapts to its new medium, it represents the growing momentum behind the already dynamic relationship between video games and film. PlayStation has thus far enjoyed critical and commercial success with its live-action adaptations, so Until maintains ripe with anticipation for how its combination of horror, whodunit and choose-your-own-adventure storytelling will convert to the silver screen. Whatever the future holds, I can promise you this: gaming’s ghosts are coming for Hollywood.

EXPLORING THE GHOST OF "UNTIL DAWN'S" LEGACY

The ‘console-to-cinema’ shift at the heart of Until Dawn speaks volumes about the potential and longevity of video game storytelling. Just as we welcome these ghosts from the digital to the real world, we must pay respect to the story foundations themselves, built by the most interactive of mediums. Video game stories can provide an expansive, immersive experience whose filmic rendering can amplify the story’s emotional and thematic impact. While Until Dawn may be a ghostly love letter to horror fans, it’s also the first in a series of steps toward an increasingly faded line between a narrative tradition tied to games and one associated with film. This process will enrich both mediums in the future.