Summary
- Netflix acquired Sifu movie rights from John Wick franchise director Chad Stahelski, signaling progress in the live-action adaptation.
- The streaming giant’s involvement suggests a possible trailer and release date in the near future.
- The Sifu live-action adaptation was first announced two years ago; fans eagerly await the film’s official release.
Sifu fans will soon see the character they adore in the gameplay on the big screen. According to news outlets, the anticipated live-action adaptation may soon see the light of day thanks to the recent involvement of a streaming giant.
Sifu is a video game developed and published by Sloclap. The story is set in modern-day China and follows the adventures of a student of a martial arts school whose master or sifu, in Cantonese terms, was murdered, so they want to avenge his death. The game incorporates a unique twist — the student protagonist has a magical talisman that resurrects them each time they die. However, they age each time they resurrect, gaining strength but losing health until old age makes the death permanent. Sifu was well-received, selling over 1 million units in its first three weeks in 2022. In December 2022, a live-action adaptation of Sifu was announced, but there was no progress until today’s recent reports. Those waiting for the film will surely be delighted with the update.
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Netflix has acquired the rights to the Sifu movie, Deadline reported. With the streaming giant’s involvement, it might not take long before fans get a trailer and an official release date. Thus, this development is great news, especially since it has been two years since the project was first announced. T.S. Nowlin, who is best known for adapting The Maze Runner films and writing the 2022 American science-fiction action comedy movie The Adam Project starring Ryan Reynolds, Zoe Saldana and Jennifer Garner, is reportedly writing the script. Insiders also claim that Chad Stahelski, who directed the John Wick movies, is producing under his 87Eleven Entertainment banner with Dmitri M. Johnson and Mike Goldberg for Story Kitchen. Sloclap is also officially involved in the project.
“From the moment we played, we knew this had all the makings of an unforgettable cinematic experience—pulse-pounding action, deep emotional stakes, and a unique take on martial arts storytelling,” said Johnson and Goldberg in a joint statement, per Games Radar. “Teaming up with 87Eleven Entertainment, the best in the world when it comes to action filmmaking, is a dream come true. Their mastery of choreography and visceral storytelling is the perfect match to bring SIFU to life on screen. With Netflix behind us, we’re ready to deliver an action film unlike any other.” When the Sifu movie was initially announced two years ago, Stahelski had the rights to the film and John Wick creator Derek Kolstad was attached to pen the script. There’s no update on whether Kolstad will still be writing the screenplay. Also, he is noticeably not mentioned in the press release. However, his production company, Story Kitchen, is still attached to the project as a producer.
Netflix’s involvement in the Sifu movie is a good indication that there has been progress in the development of the live-action adaptation. Since Netflix is involved, the project might be released soon. However, the time gap between Netflix announcing a project and releasing it varies depending on the type of content. However, for live-action movies, it typically takes them between 2 to 4 years. For instance, The Gray Man was announced in 2020 and released in 2022, so as The Rebel Moon in 2021, which was released in 2023. Meanwhile, Avatar: The Last Airbender was announced in 2018, but it premiered in 2024. One Piece was also announced in January 2020 but was only released in August 2023, approximately 3 years and 7 months, so nearly four years.
Hopefully, Sifu will be released in two years, the latest since it has been over two years since it was officially announced. By then, fans will be waiting for four years already.
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Source: Deadline