As video games have evolved to a point where single player, open world campaign adventures have become immensely popular, the online and multiplayer side of the industry has also progressed. The battle royale format has become arguably the most popular mode or type of game for multiplayer shooter games, demonstrated by the immense following and popularity thatCall of Duty: Warzone, Fortnite, and more have all garnered.
On the film side of things, Hollywood has always been interested in developing video games into movies. These attempts have resulted in some mixed results to say the least, with interesting and unique stories likeAssassin’s Creednot being translated well enough onto the big screen. Things have arguably turned a corner in the video game film market, at least in the past few years. Movies likeMortal Kombat, Tomb Raider, Sonic the Hedgehog, andUnchartedhave all received, at the very least, better reviews than some previous adaptations. Still, a particular challenge remains for Hollywood in the form of an adaptationof a multiplayer game into a movie series. Rumors have swirled for years regarding a possibleCall of Dutyfilm, but nothing has come to fruition. Although it might not necessarily appear so, the rise of the battle royale format and the incredible popularity that along with it comes an opportunity to make a unique and engaging film adaptation. Here’s how it could work.
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A battle royale movie would need to carefully choose which game to adapt for the screen. For example,Fortniteis arguably the most popular battle royale game, with an instantly recognizable name — an aspect that Hollywood executives might be interested in, given the current state of the film industry and wanting to capitalize on existing property. However, would be especially difficult to adapt into film. It has anextra degree of fantasy to its gameplaywith the inclusion of well-known fictional characters for gamers to play as (Obi-Wan Kenobi and Darth Vader were recently added). Most other battle royale games, on the other hand, are more grounded (to varying degrees). A more straightforward approach would make more sense for a battle royale movie, and would also benefit the potential story.Call of Duty: Warzone, APEX Legends, and morehave a blank slate to work with, and could provide the basis for a potential film.
The premise of a battle royale game is extremely simple at its core, and this is an aspect that could work well for a movie. A group of enemy soldiers all fight to survive within a locationthat is becoming smaller. In the case ofWarzone, for example, a toxic gas begins to overtake the map, forcing all the remaining players to move inward. InFortnite, a storm essentially serves the same purpose. There are more realistic routes to go down for a film like this, as well as some that are a bit more fantastical in nature. If a film were to take the realism approach, this concept from the games could be translated into somethingas simple as a nuclear bomb detonatingin the distance. Thus, the soldiers in the area would have only a finite amount of time to get to safety, all while needing to defend themselves from enemy threats. Such a concept would make for an action-packed film with high stakes and plenty of tension.
Although lacking many features of a battle royale game, there have been a few enclosed-space, war action films in the past that potential creators could look to.Overlord, for example, was a 2018 World War II zombie action film. American soldiers crash-land in a Nazi occupied village and fight to get out, and survive, amidst the discovery of some scientific experiments nearby. In many ways, is an unofficial adaptation ofCall of Dutyzombies, but the fact that it set in an enclosed space and area could demonstrate how to make an action film that only has a defined location to work with.
This could be especially usefulasJohn Wick, Mission Impossible, James Bond, and plenty of other action franchises rely heavily on location hopping and going from one distinct environment to the next. This wouldn’t be possible in a battle royale movie, but the forced hand of sorts in this regard could end up being an advantage. It could make the film feel more intense and pressurized, especially as the characters get physically closer to each other. In doing so, they would be mimicking the enclosing of the map in a video game, thus meaning that, at the very least, it would be a faithful adaptation.
Having different soldiers or people fighting to stay alive in a location like this, all on opposite sides of a given conflict (if this aspect would be brought over from the games), gives filmmakers an opportunityto provide some social and political commentaryon war as well. In the modern day, with the current state of the world, commentary such as this in art is more important than ever. Having a resolution (of sorts) that results in a coming together of the characters could make the film even more emotionally resonant. Though it may not seem like it at first glance, an action film based on the battle royale formula could have a strong impact on audiences.
