It would appear that PlayStation’s fed up with Sony Pictures, as it’s launched its own division designed to adapt games to film and television. The aptly named PlayStation Productions will be led by Asad Qizilbash and overseen by Worldwide Studios chairman Shawn Layden, and has already started work on its first slate of projects. The idea is to take the platform holder’s library of over 100 intellectual properties, and bring them to both the small and big screen
“Instead of licensing our IP out to studios, we felt the better approach was for us to develop and produce for ourselves,” Qizilbash told Hollywood Reporter. “One, because we’re more familiar, but also because we know what the PlayStation community loves.”
While he admits that it’s a lofty goal, Layden added that the new unit is looking to Marvel Studios for inspiration. “We looked at what Marvel has done in taking the world of comic books and making it into the biggest thing in the film world. It would be a lofty goal to say we’re following in their footsteps, but certainly we’re taking inspiration from that.”
The executive added that all of the division's projects will complement their interactive counterparts. “When fans beat a 40-50 hour game and have to wait three-four years for a sequel, we want to give them places they can go and still have more of that experience and see the characters they love evolve in different ways,” he explained.
Apparently, the company is in no rush to push content out, so it’ll be taking its time to find the right actors, directors, and screenwriters. It’ll also have full creative control. Exactly what all this means for the long-overdue Uncharted movie remains to be seen, but Layden is optimistic about what the organisation will achieve.
“This is a passion project for me,” he concluded. “To be the first gaming entity to do something lasting and meaningful in a completely different medium is something I’d like to see us achieve here at PlayStation Productions.”
What’s the first franchise that you think the firm should be tackling? Personally, we’re crossing everything for a Tokyo Jungle anime, but we suspect we may be waiting a long time.
[source hollywoodreporter.com]
Comments 34
Why? Just focus on games ffs.
Don't destroy canons.
They should rather invest that money into creating more games. I blame that new guy.
Makes sense. Now that Disney has pulled all it's Marvel stuff off of Netflix they have a ready made buyer there. Or they could sell it to Disney to put on Hulu. Or let the 2 compete.
Trick is to make it good. WWE (wrasslin') started making it's own movies with it's own stars and a few of them are terrible. And DC can't seem to keep up with Marvel either. Before going after Marvel maybe start small, like Pokémon, which has 30 seasons of TV shows, years of movies, and even Detective Pikachu.
There are already TV shows and series of some I like but the marketing always seems minimal. Heavenly Sword had a movie, DmC a series. Ratchet & Clank movie was promoted properly.
More power to'em. Just make it good.
The first Film Or TV show in the Playstation Cinamatic universe should be ether legend of Dragoon or Syphon Filter Their ps1 Era Stuff Can be their Phase 1 and Ps2 can be Phase 2 and so on Not only could this Help in not only Reviving Dormant IPs it could also lead to new games based on those IPs
PLAYSTATION CINEMATIC UNIVERSE?????? Here for this.
That's why we haven't had a PS AllStars 2 yet. Sony are building up a cinematic universe before the big Avengers style cross over
Please add these too:
“For the last year and half, two years, we’ve spent time trying to understand the industry, talking to writers, directors, producers,” said Qizilbash. “We talked to [film producer] Lorenzo di Bonaventura and Kevin Feige to really get an understanding of the industry.”
Layden continued, “You can see just by watching older video game adaptations that the screenwriter or director didn’t understand that world or the gaming thing. The real challenge is, how do you take 80 hours of gameplay and make it into a movie? The answer is, you don’t. What you do is you take that ethos you write from there specifically for the film audience. You don’t try to retell the game in a movie.”
Qizilbash said that whether they focus on film or television depends on the title, as the story will ultimately determine the format.
Just when you thought that Uncharted film rumour was gone for good. I guess we'll be seeing a lot of that in the coming years again, right?
I think the objective is more adaptation of the IPs and less cinematic universe.
@JAMes-BroWWWn Never understand this mentality. This is an additive endeavour — it's not pulling resources away from what they're already doing.
If anything they hope this will build the brands so they can invest even more into them.
PICK UP THE NATHAN FILLION UNCHARTED SERIES!! That YouTube short was so well received, what a great way to start this off.
It seems odd that they are not prepared to use their Sony Pictures to make their Game licenses into TV/Film related content. Don't Sony have their own 'studio's' for creating film and TV content for Sony Pictures or are they all 3rd Party studio's with Sony financing and publishing these. If not, I guess its like Insomniac or Quantic Dreams making games that are financed and published by Sony and this is more like Sony setting up a 'new' Studio of their own to make purely Sony related Film/TV content.
It still seems odd to separate the two branches of Sony. Until Sony had a few 'big hits' with films like Jumanji (the last one) and the latest Spider-Man (that also ties in with the MCU), Sony Pictures seemed to be struggling with the strength of Sony's gaming division offsetting the poor performance.
Personally, I can't see it making any difference but I do hope that the budgets for game related Film/TV show(s) do not affect the budgets for developing new and exciting games. Film and TV tend to cost a LOT more than the average AAA game with some films costing 10x or more an average AAA game costs to make. Game related movies and TV don't tend to do very well either...
Anyway, we will see if this proves a smart move or not in the years to come. Hopefully they don't ruin the content based on their licences - that youtube Uncharted with Nathan Fillion seemed to capture the franchise quite well - a bigger budget and better production could be a successful venture and tell stories that fill the gaps, that add to the lore etc and even relieve the Devs of forcing a sequel or off shoot to satisfy fans and their demand for more games in a specific franchise.
@AdamNovice With Polygon Man As the Thanos of the universe
@BAMozzy makes total sense. Sony pictures is Sony pictures. But that has nothing to do with the playstation brand. Playstation will oversee what it has built, and since what it's built is independent of Sony, so should TV and movie media.
@BAMozzy actually they are already using Sony Pictures... their new studio are located in Sony Pictures location! also, their Projects will published by Sony Pictures Brands... they will just create projects but when they want release their projects, they will use Sony Pictures publishing!
even for creating projects, they will use Sony Pictures assets such as Directors, Actors, Producers and etc!
Hell yes. Game movies curse might finally be broken. I mean some of their games are better than some films that have been adapted from games before. Look at the narratives in GoW, TloU, Uncharted and even Horizon and Detroit. Im all for this. And maybe some lesser know IPs can get the seasonal/episodic treatment
Please for the love of God don't put them on Crackle.
Imo an uncharted tv series would work much better than a movie . A 13 part series would be great. And it wouldnt have the pressure of having a hollywood budget.
Heavy rain remade as a movie or tv series would be amazing if done right
Here is hoping Spider-Man PS4 Peter Parker makes it in Into the Spider-Verse 2.
Mr Croc, I don’t feel so good...
@nessisonett Who even owns that Nowadays
@Areus Croc is an icon and the rightful winner of the Ultimate PlayStation Character Tournament
Knack the Movie!
FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, make an Uncharted series with the voice actors playing their own roles.
Nice move Sony! After 10 years of Marvel boy did I get bored of the templating from movie to movie - background info, how do I use my powers, beat up bad guy, lose to bad guy, fly back in time, a secret guardian appears, find the magic weapon... Win. Rinse and repeat. I hope that this new movie division gets really passionate about storytelling and tells us stories from old and fresh angles. There's some fantastic worlds to springboard new stories... From futuristic spy syphon filter to end of world Last of Us, from family style Pappa the Rapper to in your face God of War! Can't flipping wait, but I do hope they choose some of the best screen testers on the planet and first launch with applause than 'oh noes not another half baked game to movie adaptation cash cow.'
@Octane The Empire Strikes Knack? Knack to the Future? KnacKkKlansman?
The possibilities are endless! (okay maybe not the last one)
Intrigued, but if the end products are anything like the long forgotten "powers" I'll gladly pass.
Maybe they should start with ip's that wouldn't require risky budget's like the last of us or until dawn, and then go for expensive blockbusters like God of war or killzone.
Uncharted, The Last of Us, God of War would be first on my list.
Always had the idea of a young children's LBP morning show with Fry back to narrate.
@Gremio108 Knack Frost.
@get2sammyb How is it not pulling resources away from what they're already doing? Wouldn't those movies be financed from PlayStation division budget and not from Sony Pictures one? That would be very wrong for "the players", because many actual games could be developed with this money. Not to speak about limiting potential new IPs by creating them only with TV and movies in mind. You already have some of that kind of artistic butchery with "first, best or must" ridiculousness.
Never mind about an Uncharted movie, a Netflix series would be great.
Great Idea, I have seen too many horrible adaptions of games to film through film studios who dont have a clue....anyone remember mortal kombat, street fighter,super mario, even the assassins creed and the latest sonic looking terrible aswell. This could give us true adaptions of the games we love.
The Rock as Knack!
1 billion opening confirmed!
they need to greenlight this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5CZQpqF_74
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