Netflix has hundreds of projects in development and more recently they’ve been leaning into the video game space (as has many other networks and streamers) so let’s take a look at all the video game TV series and movies currently in development/production at Netflix.
Before we look into Netflix’s upcoming offering, let’s take a look at what other streamers are doing:
Amazon Prime has been busy picking up video game licenses including most recently announcing that it would be the streaming service to create a TV series around Bethesda’s Fallout series.
HBO also made a big stride last year with the announcement that The Last of Us would be getting the TV treatment.
But Netflix isn’t standing still in the space and has already produced/acquired a number of video game projects thus far including:
- Castlevania (confirmed for a future spin-off)
- Dragon’s Dogma
- Minecraft: Story Mode
- Skylanders: Academy
- The Witcher (originally a book but popularized by the video game franchise)
- Dragon Quest: Your Story
- Pokemon series & movies (with more to come)
- DOTA: Dragon’s Blood (renewed for season 2)
- Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness
But let’s now take a look into the future and see what video game adaptation projects Netflix currently has in the works:
Resident Evil
Type: Live-action TV Series
Created for television by long-time Supernatural producer Andrew Dabb, Resident Evil is an upcoming live-action series based on the Capcom franchise of the same name. Similar to the film series helmed by Paul W. S. Anderson starring Milla Jovovich, Netflix’s Resident Evil doesn’t appear to be based on any one game of Capcom’s long franchise, but will rather have its own story and interpret the world and the characters in its own way.
According to the official synopsis, Resident Evil will take place in two timelines. The first will revolve around Jade and Billie Wesker, the two teenage daughters of the most iconic Resident Evil villain, Albert Wesker. They will find themselves in a manufactured corporate town and will begin questioning their surroundings and their own father. The second timeline will see Jade fifteen years later, when the entire planet is overrun by zombies. Jade, now thirty, struggles to survive in this New World, while the secrets from her past, about her sister, her father, and herself continue to haunt her.
Currently, no production dates for Resident Evil have been revealed, but just before the COVID-19 lockdown, the series was planned to be filmed from June through October 2020. If all goes well, production may begin in early 2021. Read our full summary of everything we know about Resident Evil.
Predicted release date: 2021
Been dying to announce this. Get ready to enter New Raccoon City with the cast of RESIDENT EVIL: LANCE REDDICK / ELLA BALINSKA / TAMARA SMART / SIENA AGUDONG / ADELINE RUDOLPH / PAOLA NUNEZ. #GeekedWeek pic.twitter.com/ULKEFuYdAr
— Netflix Geeked (@NetflixGeeked) June 11, 2021
Arcane
Type: Animated Series
Adapting another MOBA game, Netflix will release the new animated series set in the League of Legends universe in fall 2021.
Riot Games are behind the animated production and here’s what you can expect:
“Set in utopian Piltover and the oppressed underground of Zaun, the story follows the origins of two iconic League champions-and the power that will tear them apart.”
Assassin’s Creed
Type: Live-action TV series + animated series
A live-action adaptation based on the acclaimed Assassin’s Creed franchise has been announced in October 2020 as part of Ubisoft’s overall deal with Netflix. Extremely little is known about the project, except that Ubisoft Film’s Jason Altman and Danielle Kreinik will serve as executive producers for the project. The series seems to be very early in the development process and it may take a while before we hear anything substantial about it. It’s also worth noting that as per the deal with Ubisoft, this series will be only the first of many Assassin’s Creed projects at Netflix.
Predicted release date: 2022/2023
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners
Type: Animated TV Series
CD Projekt Red’s highly-anticipated Cyberpunk 2077 has been in development since 2012 and will finally release in November 2020 launching a new franchise similar to CDPR’s The Witcher. The Witcher game creator teamed up with Dark Horse Comics for comic-book adaptations of Cyberpunk and with Netflix for an animated series. The newly announced Cyberpunk: Edgerunners is a 10-episode limited animated series and will be developed by Studio Trigger (Live Witch Academia, Promare).
According to the official synopsis, Edgerunners will tell the story of “street kid trying to survive in a technology and body modification-obsessed city of the future. Having everything to lose, he chooses to stay alive by becoming an edgerunner – a mercenary outlaw also known as a cyberpunk”. The animated series will have its own original characters and isn’t expected to overlap with Cyberpunk 2077 in any major way except being set in the same Night City.
Predicted release date: 2022
Splinter Cell
Type: Animated TV Series
Tom Clancy’s iconic spy thriller is coming to Netflix in the form of an animated series with John Wick writer Derek Kolstad leading the development. According to Variety, the series has received a two-season 16-episode deal at Netflix.
Predicted release date: 2021/2022
Tomb Raider
Type: Animated TV series
The iconic Lara Croft will once again go on adventures where she will be uncovering mysteries and raiding tombs. Legendary Entertainment is working with Netflix on a brand new Tomb Raider anime series written by The Witcher: Blood Origin writer Tasha Huo. DJ2, a company that specializes on films and TV series with animation, will also work on Netflix’s Tomb Raider.
Predicted release date: TBA
Angry Birds: Summer Madness
Type: Animated TV series
Angry Birds: Summer Madness was announced in March 2020 and has been in development ever since by Cake and Rovio Entertainment. The series is said to take a cue from the Angry Birds movie franchise while revealing a fresh new look. Here is the official logline for the new series:
The 40 x 11 minute episode series sees much-loved birds Red, Bomb and Chuck, as well as a cast of brand new feathered friends, as tween birds at summer camp under the questionable guidance of their counselor Mighty Eagle. Explosive antics, improbable pranks and crazy summertime adventures see the birds pushing boundaries and breaking all the rules while fending off the brash and obnoxious Pigs on the other side of the lake, who seem hell-bent on causing as much mayhem as possible!
Predicted release date: Summer 2021
Beyond Good and Evil
Type: Live-action film
A live-action adaptation of the popular Ubisoft game Beyond Good and Evil was announced by Netflix in July 2020. At that point in time, Netflix was looking for writers to pen the script. Netflix’s Beyond Good and Evil will be helmed by Detective Pikachu director Rob Letterman. Jason Altman and Margaret Boykin are producing for Ubisoft Film & Television.
Sadly, since July 2020 there has been no news regarding this project.
Predicted release date: TBA
Sonic Prime
Type: Animated TV series
Sonic Prime is an upcoming Netflix 3D animated series based on the adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog. It is developed by Netflix with Wildbrain production company. Sonic Prime will be aimed at at kids around the age of 11, but also legacy Sonic fans.
As described by Variety: the 24-episode series features Sonic in an adventure where the fate of a strange new multiverse rests in his gloved hands — and also represents a “journey of self-discovery and redemption” for the speedy, blue spiny mammal.
Release date: 2022
The Division
Type: Live-action film
Another production based on Tom Clancy’s works, The Division will arrive to Netflix in form of a feature film. Directed by Deadpool 2‘s David Leitch, The Division will star such Hollywood A-Listers as Jake Gyllenhaal and Jessica Chastain.
The Division will follow the same basic storyline as the video game it’s based on: In the near future, a devastating virus is released upon the citizens of New York City on Black Friday. The virus, spread through paper money, kills millions within the city, and what little remains of society has descended into chaos. A highly trained group of operatives are tasked with going into New York City and saving any potential survivors.
Currently, there are no production dates on The Division, but if all goes well, production may begin in the coming months. We’ve got even more on this so read up on everything we know about The Division.
Predicted release date: 2022
Far Cry & Captain Laserhawk: A Blood Dragon Remix
Type: Anime Series
Coming to Netflix as part of the many titles from Ubisoft is an anime series based on the Far Cry series and what is technically a spin-off title too which will incorporate many Ubisoft licenses.
Captain Laserhawk: A Blood Dragon Remix is being produced by Adi Shankar and features “alter egos of Ubisoft characters in a highly referenced homage to the early ’90s”.
The Cuphead Show!
Type: Animated TV series
Netflix’s The Cuphead Show! will “follow the misadventures of impulsive Cuphead and his brother Mugman in an animated series based on the popular video game. Cuphead and Mugman will be voiced by Tru Valentino and Frank Todaro respectively.
You can find even more about Cuphead in our comprehensive preview including some of the first footage!
Predicted release date: 2021
Pokemon
Type: Live-action & other projects
Netflix has been getting exclusive Pokemon content for some time now and that will continue with season 24 (but only in the United States) from September 2021.
In addition, co-showrunner of Lucifer, Joe Henderson is also reportedly working on a live-action Pokemon TV series adaptation too.
Pokemon has been given a live adaptation before with Pokémon Detective Pikachu released back in 2019 which was distributed by Warner Brothers.
Other Rumored Video Game Projects
- Never actually confirmed but a Zelda series based on the Nintendo game franchise is also supposedly in development.
- A God of War series based on the franchise of the same name is rumored to be in development at Netflix.
- Devil May Cry – An animated series based on the popular fantasy franchise of the same name by Capcom has been announced in 2018, but sadly news about Netflix’s Devil May Cry has been scarce ever since. Castlevania series creator Adi Shankar is set to develop Devil May Cry as well. In an interview with IGN, Shankar said that Devil May Cry “will join Castlevania in what we’re now calling the bootleg multiverse”.
- A Final Fantasy series used to be listed here but upon further research, Netflix’s involvement is not confirmed for any Final Fantasy XIV TV project from Sony and Hivemind.
- As well as the adaptations for Splinter Cell and Cyberpunk listed above, there have been reports there could be live-action adaptations for them too.
That’s all we have right now. Have we missed any upcoming Netflix adaptations? Let us know in the comments down below.