Sony is doubling down on its enterprise to extend its portfolio of properties into new media, like film and television, stating that this is "just the beginning" of the projects we will expect to see from the company.
Speaking at CES 2021, which welcomes nearly 2,000 different technology and technology-adjacent companies across a four day conference, SIE CEO Jim Ryan broke the news. "This is just the beginning of the expansion of our storytelling into new media and even wider audiences. Sony is a creative entertainment company and entertainment has never been more important," explained Ryan, name-dropping the upcoming Uncharted movie and the anticipated adaptation of The Last of Us.
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The former, which stars Tom Holland as the treasure hunter at the start of his numerous adventures, is slated to premiere on July 16th in the United States. Funnily enough, the film had been in development for more than a decade, and originally, Mark Wahlberg had been cast as Nathan Drake. Now, he's playing Victor "Sully" Sullivan, the crabby yet caring mentor to the young man. How the turn tables. Additionally, Sophia Taylor Ali, who played Dr Dahlia Qadri in Grey's Anatomy, has joined the gang in the role of Chloe Frazer, the rebellious and spontaneous love interest of Nathan Drake. Though I might be in the minority, I love a good video game movie and it gets extra points if it's a little ropy in parts. Seeing as games from Naughty Dog are praised for their cinematic elements, the new Uncharted movie could be a surefire winner.
On the other hand, HBO's The Last of Us TV series is courting an entirely different audience. Craig Mazin, creator of the harrowing Chernobyl show, is collaborating with creative director Neil Druckmann on the project, and the team have already snagged director Johan Renck for at least one episode of the show. Renck is famous for his work on Chernobyl, as well as Breaking Bad, Vikings, and The Walking Dead. That last show is probably the most pertinent to the adaptation, and it's evident that the team is expending a lot of effort to ensure the show is representative of the "powerfully immersive" experience of playing The Last of Us.
"This is something that we spent a lot of time talking about here and in the early development stages of this process," said Renck. "There are a lot of things to take into consideration and a lot of decisions and choices to be made in various ways without saying anything more about it." So, what other movies and shows could we expect from Sony? We know that there are three movies and seven TV shows waiting in the wings. Perhaps, a God of War punt? Director Cory Barlog is keen, and Kratos and Atreus' saga would suit an episodic structure, with each one occurring in a different realm.
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I could also envision an Astro TV show for the youngsters, and as the titular hero doesn't speak, this could be released in different countries with relative ease. Horizon Zero Dawn is another epic that would do very well with an established action movie director at the helm and a star-studded cast. Last but not least, I'll drop in a random guess: what about a The Order: 1886 TV show? Once again, that used a lot of cinematic conventions in its presentation, and its moody, twisty storyline and decadent settings would shine in an adaptation. Think about it.
Featured Image Credit: Naughty DogTopics: News, The Last Of Us