What to Expect From Video Game Adaptations in 2025

What to Expect From Video Game Adaptations in 2025



Summary

  • 2025 is set to be a big year for video game movies and series with new debuts and anticipated returns.
  • The Last of Us Season 2 premieres in Spring with new characters.
  • A Minecraft Movie and Until Dawn release in April, offering different tones for fans of varying genres.

If 2024 has proven anything it’s that video game adaptations are the flavor of the month. Investments, like Prime Video’s Fallout series, Netflix’s second season of Arcane and Paramount+’s Knuckles, came to fruition in 2024, and many managed to break the video game adaptation curse that has plagued these types of movies and series for so long. In 2025, it looks like that trend will continue.

There are many new video game movies and TV series lined up to release in 2025. Some are highly anticipated sequels, while others are based on projects that have yet to be adapted on-screen before. Fans can also expect development updates from the multitude of video game adaptations that are in the works around Hollywood and will no doubt see more IP snapped up by the major studios as the content war continues.

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What Video Game Adaptations Fans Are Likely to See in 2025

The Last of Us Season 2 will release in Spring

Potentially the biggest video game adaptation of the year, fans are eagerly awaiting the arrival of HBO’s The Last of Us Season 2. Naughty Dog’s second game provides even richer and darker source material to draw from, and it will be interesting to see how the TV series handles its winding timelines. Season 2 will pick up with Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey) five years after Season 1 and introduces new characters Abby (Kaitlyn Dever), Isaac (Jeffrey Wright), Dina (Isabela Merced), and Jesse (Young Mazino). While HBO is yet to announce an official release date, fans can expect The Last of Us Season 2 to arrive in Spring. On the production side, it’s very likely a third season of The Last of Us will also be confirmed, with filming possibly taking place as early as next year.

A Minecraft Movie Arrives In April

Given the rocky reception A Minecraft Movie received after its first trailer, it’s unclear how exactly the movie adaptation will fare. Jared Hess is the director behind A Minecraft Movie, which adapts Mojave Studios’ massively popular open-world sandbox game for the screen. Jack Black stars in the film as Steve, with Jason Momoa, Danielle Brooks, Emma Myers, and Sebastian Eugene Hansen appearing as a ragtag group of newbies who are inducted into the fantastical overworld. The film will arrive in cinemas on April 4, 2025.

Until Dawn Also Releases in April

PlayStation's Until Dawn Movie Can't Be an Adaptation in Name Alone

In a completely different tone to A Minecraft Movie, the supernatural horror film Until Dawn also lands in cinemas in April on the 25th. Supermassive’s horror game is largely reliant on player choice and has multiple endings, so it will be interesting to see how the film adaptation handles this. David F. Sandberg is the director behind the adaptation with Ella Rubin, Michael Cimino, Maia Mitchell, and Peter Stormare set to star.

Mortal Kombat 2 will Punch Its Way Into Theaters In October

Warner Bros.’ second Mortal Kombat movie will hit cinemas on October 24, 2025. The martial arts fantasy film adaptation will once again be directed by Simon McQuoid with cast members Lewis Tan, Jessica McNamee, Hiroyuki Sanada, Josh Lawson, and more set to return. Mortal Kombat 2 will also introduce Karl Urban as Johnny Cage and might actually put the ultimate fighting contest on screen this time.

Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 Hits Cinemas in December

After Five Nights at Freddy’s became a massive streaming success in 2023, a sequel was a sure thing. Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 will release in December next year with Josh Hutcherson and Matthew Lillard expected to reprise their roles. Early marketing for the new movie seems to suggest the introduction of Toy Freddy into the story but further trailers and plot details can be expected throughout 2025.

New Information on Fallout Season 2

Prime Video’s Fallout established itself as one of the best video game adaptations of the year when it was released earlier in 2024 and anticipation is at an all-time high for Season 2. The second season is expected to explore the post-apocalyptic game location of New Vegas and fans are eager to see where the story takes its characters in Season 2. Filming on Fallout Season 2 began only weeks ago in Los Angeles and some new locations have already been spotted around town. While Fallout Season 2 won’t be released in 2025, fans can expect to find out more about the new season as filming continues.

A New Tomb Raider May Be Cast

Amazon’s live-action Tomb Raider series doesn’t have a release date yet, but recent months have seen sparks of life from the project. Phoebe Waller-Bridge is showrunning the new series and recent rumors suggest that Game of Thrones star Sophie Turner is the top choice to be the next Lara Croft. If nothing else, a casting announcement for the new Tomb Raider series is likely in 2025.

Twisted Metal Season 2 Will Likely Release

Stephanie Beatriz as Quiet and Anthony Mackie as John Doe on the Peacock series Twisted Metal

Anthony Mackie’s Twisted Metal, an adaptation of Sony’s vehicular combat game, is confirmed for a second season but doesn’t have a release date yet. With filming completed on the second season it’s very likely Peacock will announce a date in 2025 for Twisted Metal to return.

Expect Trailers For Watch Dogs and Super Mario Bros. 2

There are plenty of video game adaptations in the works in Hollywood right now, all at various stages of production and development. While they may not release in 2025, fans can expect new trailers for Super Mario Bros. 2, which is currently in the works at Illumination, and the Watch Dogs movie starring Sophie Wilde, which completed filming this year, to show off some footage in the new year.

More Game IP Will Be Licensed For Adaptations

If 2024 was anything to go by, video game IP will continue to be a premium in Hollywood in 2025. The past year has seen dozens of video game adaptations announced, with everything from AAA titles like Mass Effect becoming a series, to smaller indies like Hello Neighbor and Pacific Drive receiving adaptations. There are still plenty of video game titles that are yet to be picked up by Hollywood, and fans are eager to see what adaptations of games like Overwatch, Red Dead Redemption, and Metroid would look like. 2025 will no doubt see even more video games adapted by major studios.

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