Video game adaptations continue to be Hollywood’s hottest trend as the beloved Alan Wake and Control franchises are now being developed for the big and small screens. These relatively new video game franchises have both become fan favorites due to their unique horror/thriller concepts, and fans have long thought they are both ripe for adapting. While some studios try to narrow in on a single format of adaptation, typically either a feature film or a live-action series, Remedy (the studio behind both titles) are open to expanding the beloved IPs into various formats.
A new report from Remedy Entertainment (via EW) states that the company is looking to expand their portfolio, and will venture beyond gaming into the worlds of movies, TV, and more. The studio is behind some of the most beloved gaming franchises around. As well as Control and the Alan Wake series, Remedy also produced the hit Max Payne games and Quantum Break. In a statement following the announcement, Tero Virtala, CEO of Remedy Entertainment, said:
“At Remedy, our primary focus continues to be what we do best — crafting industry-defining video games that have earned us global recognition. Now, the time is right to expand the reach of Remedy’s beloved franchises to an even broader global audience through film, television, and more. In Annapurna, we have found an outstanding partner who shares our ambition and passion for immersive storytelling. We are excited to see them bring the universes and characters we have created to life in new mediums, thanks to this unique deal.”
Alan Wake and Control aren’t the only video game adaptations being developed by Annapurna Pictures. Last year it was reported that the studio are also adapting the 2022 hit Playstation game, Stray. Set in an apocalyptic landscape inhabited by robots, Stray lets players embody a feline protagonist who solves puzzles and explores the world as they attempt to reach the surface.
Control & Alan Wake Are Perfect for Adaptation
There are two main types of video game adaptations. Those based on games with a narrative focus typically attempt to directly adapt the story whilst making a few necessary changes to fit the medium — see HBO’s The Last of Us as a prime example. Alternatively, games that do not have a set narrative allow the filmmakers to create their own original story, either set in the world of the video games or heavily inspired by them — see Prime Video’s Fallout. In the case of Control and Alan Wake, their respective adaptations are likely to fall into the former category.
Control, released in 2019, is a Game of the Year award nominee which follows Jesse Faden who becomes the new Director of the Bureau of Control. After developing strange powers, Jesse is tasked with fighting off the ominous Hiss, all while uncovering the Bureau’s shady secrets, and exploring its shifting headquarters, The Old House. Control is an endlessly intriguing, and occasionally frightening, mystery game that could work well either as a feature film, or an episodic series.
Alan Wake, meanwhile, features a similar mysterious plot, but with added elements of horror. The games follow the titular character, who is a renowned mystery writer. After his wife goes missing whilst on vacation, Alan begins having visions, inspired by his next novel, which he doesn’t remember writing. Like Control, the Alan Wake series of games are multi-Game Award winners, with the latest entry, Alan Wake 2, earning the Best Narrative Game at the 2023 awards, among many other accolades. Most interestingly about the Alan Wake series, the games already feature live-action cut scenes, with Ilkka Villi portraying the eponymous protagonist.
While we await further updates from Remedy Entertainment, you can check out our video exploring the best video game adaptations ever made below.