Sydney Sweeney, acclaimed for her role in Madame Web, is set to star in the upcoming film adaptation of Hazelight's critically acclaimed game, Split Fiction. Announced just a month ago, the project is being spearheaded by Story Kitchen, the powerhouse behind the successful Sonic films, which is now assembling a stellar team to bring this narrative to the big screen.
According to Variety, the film is starting to take shape with Wicked director Jon M. Chu at the helm and the script penned by the dynamic duo behind Deadpool & Wolverine, Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick. This high-caliber talent package is being shopped around to Hollywood studios, igniting an anticipated bidding war.
The casting of Sydney Sweeney brings excitement and speculation about which of the game's central characters she will portray: the adventurous Zoe or the introspective Mio. As of now, her role remains undecided, adding an element of anticipation to the project.
Sydney Sweeney at CinemaCon. Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez / Getty Images.
Split Fiction, which only launched in March, has already become another blockbuster for Hazelight and its visionary designer, Josef Fares, selling over 2 million copies in just one week. The game has also been confirmed as a launch title for the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2.
IGN's review of Split Fiction awarded it a stellar 9/10, praising its inventive co-op gameplay: “An expertly crafted co-op adventure that pinballs from one genre extreme to another, Split Fiction is a rollercoaster of constantly refreshed gameplay ideas and styles – and one that’s very hard to walk away from.”
Hazelight's success in the gaming world extends to the silver screen, with another of their hits, It Takes Two, which sold 23 million copies, also slated for a film adaptation. There are rumors that Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson may star in this project.
While there's always a risk that these adaptations may not materialize, the current boom in video game adaptations suggests a strong interest from Hollywood to capitalize on this trend.
Last year, Story Kitchen announced a film adaptation of Square Enix's Just Cause, directed by Blue Beetle's Ángel Manuel Soto. They are also working on adaptations of Dredge: The Movie, Kingmakers, Sleeping Dogs, and even a live-action Toys 'R' Us movie, showcasing their broad and ambitious scope in the realm of film.
Meanwhile, Hazelight is not resting on its laurels and is already teasing its next gaming project, keeping fans eagerly awaiting what's next from the innovative studio.
