Film adaptations of popular video games are all the rage right now, but the latest title to get the Hollywood treatment is one that gamers may not have expected. This week, Krafton Inc. announced that PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds, or PUBG, will be getting an animated adaptation from Adi Shankar, the producer of Netflix's Castlevania. The project, which is very much in its early stages, will expand on the PUBG universe, and given that the game itself has rather limited lore, the possibilities for a story are pretty much endless.
Regarding his partnership with Krafton Inc., Shankar mentioned that he is "grateful" and "excited" for the opportunity to bring the best-selling PUBG universe to life on the big screen. He himself is an avid player of the video game, having been "crushing the competition in the Battlegrounds since PUBG was released in 2017." He also said that the project represents "another step in the evolution of mending the torched bridge between the games industry and Hollywood."
If Shankar's involvement is any indication, it's likely that the film will be crafted with intriguing characters and a whole lot of action. Given that Castlevania was a hit among fans of the franchise and new audiences, we can expect Shankar to deliver something that not only stays true to the PUBG brand but also satisfies its viewers. In the official press release for the project, Shankar said that he is looking forward to "revealing to everybody what winning a chicken dinner looks like." Such a statement could suggest a battle royale theme just like the video game itself, but with more drama and humor (think the Hunger Games, but in the PUBG universe). So far, the prevailing theory is that the project will be a standalone series, however, this has not yet been confirmed by Krafton Inc.
The long-term goal seems to be to turn the PUBG universe into a multimedia franchise. So far, the company has released its first live-action short film called Ground Zero, as well as an original docu-series called Mysteries Unknown: Birth of the Battlegrounds, which takes a look at the origins and secrets of the PUBG world. C.H. Kim, the CEO of Krafton Inc., believes that Shankar is the perfect man for the job, as he is known for his competency in taking what some might call 'nerdy' subject matter and making it interesting to all audiences and demographics.
Video game adaptations, like the recent Sonic the Hedgehog film, have been a mixed bag in terms of the final product, with fans more than often lambasting the movies. However, Shankar's enthusiasm for the source material and the decision to make the PUBG project animated may fare well for fans of the franchise.
The PUBG animated adaptation is currently in development.
Source: Krafton Inc.