MOVIE NEWS – Blizzard doesn’t want to stay confined to video games. The studio is open to taking its franchises to television, but only under one condition. Blizzard president Johanna Faries has confirmed there are “exciting conversations” about turning the company’s worlds into TV series. Blizzard is once again eyeing the screen with adaptation on its mind, but Faries is clear they won’t move forward unless the result is best-in-class.
There’s a point where a franchise stops feeling like it belongs only to video games and starts reading like a full universe built for film or television. Blizzard has lived in that space for years, with multiple highly recognizable worlds that extend far beyond a single platform. That push outside gaming began with Warcraft (released theatrically as Warcraft: The Beginning), a film that many fans embraced despite its mixed wider reception. After the success of the Fallout TV series, it now looks like Blizzard also wants to explore adapting its own franchises for television.
Blizzard’s franchises could make the jump to TV
Speaking to Windows Central, Blizzard president Johanna Faries acknowledged that there are “exciting conversations” underway about potential TV adaptations based on the company’s IP. Openness to the idea doesn’t mean Blizzard will sign off on just any deal, because the project has to match the stature of these brands. Faries says that mindset is ultimately about protecting what the franchises stand for. In her words, they want to be “responsible” with the IP and make sure anything beyond games represents what Blizzard wants it to signify. She added that, on behalf of Blizzard, it has to be “best in class,” because the studio has set an extremely high bar for creative excellence and intends to keep it there. The door isn’t closed, and they are willing to listen, but Blizzard doesn’t want Warcraft, Diablo, or Overwatch to end up with a forgettable series or movie – the target is much higher than that.
The interview also touches on the company’s relationship with Xbox following the acquisition of Activision Blizzard. Faries describes the collaboration as “very empowering,” saying she often feels supported rather than steered, with “how can we help?” replacing the sense of an external roadmap being imposed. After the layoffs and cutbacks that hit Activision Blizzard, the next few years could see Blizzard shine more distinctly on its own terms, especially if it seriously pushes into television – or film – adaptations.
Forrás: 3djuegos, Windows Central
