Kinda Funny Gamescast – "Every Upcoming Video Game Movie Ranked"

Podcast: Kinda Funny Gamescast: Video Game Podcast
Date: September 10, 2025
Hosts: Nick Scarpino, Blessing Adeoye Jr., Roger, SnowBike Mike

Overview

This episode of the Kinda Funny Gamescast assembles the crew—Nick Scarpino, Blessing Adeoye Jr., Roger, and SnowBike Mike—to dive deep into the ever-growing world of video game movie adaptations. The group ranks and debates every announced, in-production, and rumored video game film and series coming down the pipeline through 2027 and beyond. As Hollywood chases the next big franchise after comic books and novels, the panel analyzes which adaptations make sense, which seem unnecessary, and what defines a truly “valid” gaming film.

The hosts bring humor, industry insight, and a healthy dose of skepticism as they take stock of the current “gold rush” of game IP in Hollywood, reflect on why video game adaptations have become so prolific, and ponder the challenges that lie ahead for filmmakers.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Explosion of Video Game Adaptations

• Hollywood’s Shift to Game IP: The crew notes how every week now brings a new video game movie announcement. Adaptations are being fast-tracked, and studios readily greenlight game IP because it’s a shortcut to a “known quantity” and built-in audience.

  “In order to get a movie made in Hollywood in 2025, you need to be attached to some form of IP. ... It has to be a known quantity.” – Nick Scarpino (18:38)

• Why Now?

  • The group credits recent box-office successes: Sonic’s surprise hit, Detective Pikachu’s performance, and the Mario and Minecraft movies have proven the model at various budgets.
  • Comic book movies are declining in cultural cachet, and studios are searching for “the next big thing.”
  • There’s also a “rush” on adapting even indie games and projects not yet released, just for the chance at franchise farming.

• What Kicked Off the Trend?

  • Panelists offer multiple origin points: Tomb Raider, Resident Evil, Sonic, Detective Pikachu, and Mario; but agree Sonic represents a major inflection due to its rapid, repeated commercial success and the industry learning curve after the initial disastrous trailer.

    “The reason I say Sonic is just because it’s the most successful out of… There’s been three of them!” – Nick (10:19)

Ranking and Reacting: Upcoming Game-to-Film Adaptations

“Valid or Salad” Segment

The crew invents a rapid-fire rating system:

• Valid: Excited/worthwhile
• Salad: Pointless/bad/shouldn't be made
• Taco Salad: Bad but fun
• Super Valid: Off-the-charts hype

Major, Soonest Projects

• Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 (Dec 2025)

  • Consensus: Valid
  • The first was a massive hit with a rabid Gen-Z-raised audience. The sequel will “do insane numbers” even if the hosts aren’t personally invested.

    “This is not only going to scratch that itch for the Five Nights at Freddy's fans, it's gonna do fucking insane numbers.” – Nick (21:46)

• Return to Silent Hill (Jan 2026)

  • Consensus: Salad (cold)
  • The trailer looks terrible, CGI is worse than the 2006 film, and it’s a missed opportunity; “should be good, looks bad.”

    “This looks like a game. It looks like a bad game.” – Blessing (23:38)

• Resident Evil (Zach Cregger) (2026)

  • Consensus: Super Valid
  • Big excitement for Barbarian/Weapons director’s take: an original, non-game-character-driven horror story.

    “This is probably the number one movie out of all this entire list that I'm the most excited for.” – Nick (25:27)
    “You can get those Easter eggs… but yeah, this sounds really cool.” – Blessing (26:38)

• Mortal Kombat 2 (May 2026)

  • Consensus: Taco Salad / Valid / Fun
  • The trailer looks trashy, but hopes are high for campy spectacle and Carl Urban as Johnny Cage.

    “This will be taco salad. Meaning it's gonna be bad, but it's gonna be a whole lot of fun.” – Mike (29:42)

• Street Fighter (Oct 2026)

  • Consensus: Taco Salad / Valid
  • Ridiculous WWE-style casting, expected to be over-the-top and goofy.

    “If that's what they go for, I could be convinced to watch this film… too many WWE stars.” – Blessing (33:32)

• The Super Mario Bros. Movie 2 (“Super Mario World”) (April 2026)

  • Consensus: Valid
  • The first was surprisingly good; general agreement the sequel is a slam dunk, and Donkey Kong spinoffs are anticipated.

    “This can be an easy valid.” – Nick (36:05)

• Angry Birds 3 (Jan 2027)

  • Consensus: Mixed, mostly indifference or Salad
  • “Just for kids,” but some hosts are baffled by its continued existence.

• Sonic the Hedgehog 4 (March 2027)

  • Consensus: Easy Valid
  • Enduring franchise, only getting better.

    “These only get better and better as they go.” – Roger (41:33)

• The Legend of Zelda (Wes Ball) (March 2027)

  • Consensus: Cautious/Salad until proven Valid
  • High risk: “an uphill battle” translating silent, iconic Link; skepticism despite director’s credits.

    “Not looking forward to the Zelda movie… This is gonna be salad.” – Roger (43:52)

• Elden Ring (Alex Garland, A24)

  • Consensus: Super Valid (mania)
  • Garland plus A24 has the panel drooling; likened to “the next Dune.”

    “This movie could have the gas.” – Mike (45:14)
    “Alex Garland, you got Miyazaki, you got George R. R. Martin. That press run is gonna go…” – Roger (48:04)

• Death Stranding (Michael Sarnoski, A24)

  • Consensus: Divided (Valid - Nick; Salad - Blessing/Mike)
  • Concern: Kojima’s stories only work in games; adaptation could backfire unless it leans into the weird.

    “To try to put that creativity in a box… You gotta just let it go bonkers.” – Blessing (54:19)

Rapid-fire: Other Announced Projects

• The Sims (Kate Herron, Margot Robbie prod.):
  Potential for fun, Jumanji vibes—could succeed if it leans into humor and lore nods.
• BioShock (Netflix):
  Development hell, low hopes due to budget cuts and Netflix's usual track record (consensus: Salad).
• Days Gone:
  Zero motion since 2022, likely dead.
• Call of Duty (Paramount):
  “Should have happened years ago… Will make a billion, even if it’s bad.”

  “The theater is going to explode [when Ghost appears].” – Mike (60:05) Dream director pitches: Michael Bay, Christopher McQuarrie, Denis Villeneuve, Dan Trachtenberg.

• Ghost of Tsushima, Gears of War, Stray, Horizon, Helldivers, Uncharted 2, Detective Pikachu 2
  Varied development status; reactions range from excitement (Stray, Ghost of Tsushima) to exasperation (Uncharted 2, Gears).

“Franchise Farming”: The Indie Gold Rush & B-List Adaptations

• Story Kitchen & Picture Start

  • Production companies are buying up rights to a huge range of games, including many that haven’t even released.
  • Recent partnerships:
    • It Takes Two (Amazon/MGM, The Rock’s studio; but Hayes Light’s Joseph Fares says “90% of Hollywood meetings are bullshit.” [72:40])
    • Upcoming: Split Fiction (John Chu, Sydney Sweeney), Dredge, House of the Dead, Just Cause, Kings Makers, Spine, and even Slime Rancher, Toe Jam & Earl.

• Cynicism About the Model

  • Many of these are “just a holding pattern” or “Trojan horse” strategies to get stuff made; most will never see the light of day.
  • The panel is skeptical these obscure and indie IP adaptations have an audience, labeling much of this “franchise farming.”

    “[Story Kitchen] specializes in franchise farming. Which I want to know more about what that means. …That has a negative connotation.” – Roger (78:56)

• Which Could Surprise?

  • Some believe surprise hits are possible—particularly stylistic adaptations (Sifu, Stray, Toe Jam & Earl—in the hands of the right creatives.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• “[Jack Black] is the common factor… He’s just Jack Black in various stages of beard, sure, throughout the last 20 years.” – Blessing (15:35)
• “If you want to talk about where the state of our… world right now and how we’re headed toward a very quick AI-driven apocalypse, I want to say that… you could trace that to Angry Birds.” – Blessing (37:34)
• “You see a video game movie in the headline… if it's an indie game, it's almost certainly connected to Story Kitchen.” – Nick (71:02)
• “They say adapting video games and other non-traditional IPs into film… They specialize in franchise farming. That has a negative connotation.” – Roger (78:58)
• “Let me be honest, looking at all of these… the average mainstream audience is going to have zero concept for what Split Fiction is.” – Blessing (80:32)
• “They get 30 projects, you get the rights… for that one moment when Shinobi… blows up.” – Blessing (81:19)

Key Timestamps for Major Segments

• Genesis of the Game Movie Boom: (08:13–10:31)
• Sonic, Detective Pikachu, Mario’s impact: (12:38–14:08)
• Jack Black as video game movie king: (14:26–17:34)
• Hollywood business strategies for game movies: (18:38–19:55)
• ‘Valid or Salad’ Segment (rapid-fire rankings start): (21:21–36:08)
• Mario, Angry Birds, Sonic 4, Zelda, Elden Ring, Death Stranding deep-dive: (36:08–55:22)
• Rapid-fire lightning round of adaptations: (55:43–68:26)
• Indie & Obscure IP adaptation gold rush / Story Kitchen: (71:02–80:15)
• Closing skepticism and predictions: (80:32–81:59)

Overall Tone and Takeaways

• The discussion is lively, irreverent, and brutally honest—balancing excitement for artistic, high-potential adaptations (Elden Ring, Resident Evil, Sonic sequels) with skepticism about Hollywood’s bandwagon mentality.
• The landscape is “insane” both in terms of sheer volume of adaptations and the money/creative effort being poured into it; most will never pan out, and few will be “super valid.”
• There’s a difference between adaptations with real vision and those greenlit only as disposable IP vehicles.
• “We learned a lot!” the hosts joke, but also seem exasperated by the ever-growing list of projects—eager for results but wary of over-saturation.

Notable Closing Thoughts

• “Some of these are going to be bangers. …But it just feels like most of them will languish in development or become forgettable.” – Roger (81:00)
• “You know how this goes. They get 30 projects, get the rights… All these are just a holding pattern.” – Blessing (81:18)
• The hosts express interest in interviewing Story Kitchen to understand their behind-the-scenes strategy.

For Listeners Who Haven’t Tuned In

This episode is a smart, funny, and occasionally scathing look at where Hollywood and games collide. Expect hot takes, plenty of movie industry knowledge, and a lot of banter. If you want to know which video game movies to actually anticipate—and which to ignore—this is essential listening (or reading).