MOVIE NEWS – Lionsgate, the creators of the Saw franchise, is reportedly set to adapt one of the scariest horror games of all time…
It’s not every day that horror fans get this kind of news. The studio that brought the world the bloody and uncomfortably twisted horror film franchise Saw, is now preparing to enter an even bloodier and more twisted world with the new film adaptation of the terrifying video game franchise Outlast. In an exclusive report by Bloody Disgusting, Lionsgate revealed that it is teaming up with Red Barrels, the video game developer behind the Outlast games, to bring the survival horror series to the big screen. If the raw body horror of the Saw franchise is any indication of what’s to come, Outlast has found the perfect production company to bring the game to the big screen.
The groundbreaking game adaptation will be helmed by Roy Lee, known for horror blockbusters like It, Barbarian, Late Night with the Devil, and Strange Darling. This is great news for fans of Red Barrels, one of the most influential game development teams in the industry. Lee had this to say about the upcoming adaptation:
“When Outlast launched in 2012, it changed the landscape of horror gaming, setting a new standard for immersion in the genre. Its deep, emergent lore has provided a perfect foundation for creating a film that delves into the psychological and physical horrors at the core of the franchise.”
“I’m excited to bring this unique world to life for both new viewers and the series’ dedicated fans.”
If this partnership weren’t enough to sell the adaptation to fans, you’ll be pleased to know that Outlast film screenwriter J.T. Petty (The Burrowers, Hellbenders), who also wrote the games. Petty told Bloody Disgusting, “Red Barrels has been pushing the limits of horror in games for more than a decade, and expanding the Outlast Universe into film is an incredible opportunity to dive deeper into the characters and killers we love.”
The Saw studio and Red Barrels are a match made in heaven
Since their debut, the Outlast games have forever changed the world of horror games with their stunning atmosphere, terrifying sound design, constant tension, and brilliant execution of over-the-top gore effects. The closest cinematic analogues to first-person psychological survival horror video games are the Saw films, so Lionsgate is sure to be no slouch.
Audiences can expect a shocking and exhilarating experience from an adaptation of Outlast, a series in which survivors can’t fight back, only run and hide when danger threatens them. And with the franchise’s recently released multiplayer expansion, The Outlast Trials, it looks like we’ll be dealing with a Saw-like ensemble cast. Red Barrels co-founder and creative director David Chateauneuf summed up the announcement perfectly when he told Bloody Disgusting:
“As die-hard fans of horror across every medium, at Red Barrels we are great admirers of Roy Lee’s and Lionsgate’s work. Horror movies old and new have had an undeniable impact on our franchise over the years, and to now have the opportunity to work on an Outlast film with true horror legends is a dream, or should I say, nightmare, come true.”
Source: Bloody Disgusting
