Renowned actor, comedian, and musician Jack Black has joined the chorus of voices expressing astonishment at the absence of cinematic adaptations for popular video game franchises such as Red Dead Redemption and Grand Theft Auto. In an interview with Total Film and Gamesradar, Black discussed his thoughts on the potential for these games to make successful transitions to the silver screen.
Black, known for his roles in video game adaptations like Super Mario Bros. and upcoming projects such as Borderlands and Minecraft, expressed disbelief that Hollywood has yet to explore the rich storytelling and cinematic potential of Rockstar Games’ titles.
“I can’t believe they haven’t already started making a movie of any of the Rockstar Games – Grand Theft Auto, but especially Red Dead Redemption,” remarked Black during the interview. “Those things are already like movies, you know? I guess that’s the thing. Some video games are already halfway there to telling those kind of stories, and there are some movies that are like video games.”
The actor highlighted the convergence of interactive storytelling and traditional film formats, citing Black Mirror’s Bandersnatch as an example of how audiences are increasingly embracing innovative narrative structures. He predicted a future where video game elements are seamlessly integrated into cinematic experiences, heralding “the beginning of a new era.”
Discussing his role as Claptrap in the Borderlands film, Black described the character as an “R-rated R2D2” and expressed enthusiasm for contributing to what he sees as a “video game movie renaissance.”
“We’re kind of in the middle of a video game movie renaissance right now, and I’m stoked to be a part of it,” Black added.
Borderlands is set to hit theaters on August 9, 2024, promising fans an exciting exploration of the crossover between gaming and cinema.
