Live-Action Jak and Daxter Film – Tom Holland Has A Wild Idea
If you’re someone who loves video games, then you might not feel the same about movies based on games. Overall, they tend to be a little lackluster. Some examples as of late, however, look a bit promising. The latest game-to-film adaptation worth our attention is Uncharted, based on the Naughty Dog franchise. Starring Tom Holland as Nathan Drake, there’s a chance this could be a truly good game film. Holland seems to think so enough to consider doing other game adaptations for movies. If it was up to Tom Holland, the actor says his next game adaptation to film would be an A24 produced live-action Jak and Daxter. Here’s what Holland laid out in an interview for his wacky idea.
An A24 Live-Action Jak and Daxter – Why Tom Holland’s Weird Idea Could Work
Image credit: Sony
In an interview for Uncharted with GameSpot, Tom Holland pitched a live-action Jak and Daxter film produced by A24. Yeah, you read that right. The actor had one hell of a pitch for a movie based on the Sony Interactive Entertainment and Naughty Dog game series from the early 2000s. Holland explained in the interview that his idea is pretty clear for the film’s vision. “I would make it at A24, so it was really weird and like dark,” Holland explained.
Holland picking another Naughty Dog property makes sense since the studio is heavily involved in the Uncharted Movie. What’s surprising is the pitch for A24 to produce. One fatal flaw for video game movies is that they aim to be so mainstream that they have no life to them. Getting gritty with one of the most trusted studios in indie filmmaking could be a nice, fresh approach. In fact, if any series was going to be a good guinea pig for this approach, Jak and Daxter could be really great.
Set in a fictional universe, Jak and Daxter could really be a great weird indie film. Across several games, the franchise incorporates science fantasy, steampunk, cyberpunk, and mystical elements. First released on the PlayStation 2, Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy launched the series in 2001. With three mainline games, a few side series titles, and plenty of nostalgia, this could work if it happens. Of course, all of this is just filler conversation for movie promotion. Still, I’d like to see it happen.
Sony’s Vision for Gaming and Film Moving Forward
Image via Sony
Tom Holland’s idea for another PlayStation game turning into a movie isn’t all that crazy. Sure, the A24 spin on a relatively niche franchise is a bit out there. That said, a huge part of Sony’s plans moving forward is the bridge between its video game and film properties. A while back, we speculated that Sony was working on a God of War movie. This came from communications at Sony Interactive Entertainment about dozens of films and TV shows in the works for its video games. While a God of War movie isn’t happening now, other projects are.
From The Last of Us HBO show to the upcoming Uncharted film, Sony is ready to expand what it produces for its IP. There’s a trend in gaming today that is certainly pushing the media more mainstream. For years now, player bases for all major consoles have increased in major ways. As we look to the future of gaming, it stands to reason that the more quality content you can produce the more successful you’ll be as a publisher or developer. Sony is still the leader of the industry’s exclusive game production. From Horizon to Returnal, these games span genres and break tropes to deliver quality experiences for fans.
Uncharted hits theaters on February 18, 2022.
If you think a live-action Jak and Daxter would be fun, then let us know in the comments! Thanks for reading Comic Years for all things gaming, comics, and pop culture.
Featured Image Credit: Sony
Taylor is the Gaming Editor of Comic Years and a lifelong fan of video games. He holds two degrees in Political Communication and wrote a Master's Thesis on resistance movements, race, and the exploitation of college athletes. His wife and two Toy Australian Sheppards keep him sane.
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