The last decade has seen a sort of renaissance for video game adaptations, with the successes of The Last of Us, Arcane, and the Sonic the Hedgehog movies truly marking a lucrative golden period for video games being adapted into film and television.
It’s then no wonder that another well-known game, Beyond: Two Souls, is set to receive its own TV series. Developed by Quantic Dream and published by Sony Computer Entertainment, the 2013 non-linear, psychological action thriller video game will be adapted by Elliot Page’s production company, PageBoy Productions.
Beyond: Two Souls starred Page as Jodie Holmes, a young woman whose life is met with chaos and suffering as she tries to understand and control her supernatural companion, Aiden, whilst being under the constant threat of the otherworldly, and simultaneously being the subject of exploitation by the people and systems around her.
Talking about the experience of making the game and acquiring the rights to the IP, Page said: “Filming the game was one of the most challenging and fulfilling acting experiences of my career… The story’s rich narrative and emotional depth offer us a fantastic foundation. We want to create a unique vision of the characters and their journeys that resonates with fans and newcomers”. This same sentiment was echoed by PageBoy’s Head of Development and Production, Matt Jordan Smith, who said that “this adaptation will honour the game’s legacy while inviting fresh perspectives“.
Quantic Dream’s director David Cage also chimed in on his thoughts about the adaptation, stating that “we are absolutely thrilled to collaborate again with Elliot Page on this project. I was blown away by his acting performance in the game, and I couldn’t think of anyone else to tell this story with the same passion on another medium. Beyond: Two Souls is a very special game for millions of players around the world who were moved by the story of Jodie and Aiden, and their journey in life and beyond. I know that Elliot has all the talent and instinct to make it something really unique on TV“.
Beyond: Two Souls was one of the most pre-ordered games of 2013, and by the end of the year had sold more than one million copies worldwide. However, it received mixed reviews and sits on a score of 70 on Metacritic. Whilst many praised the performances of Page and Dafoe and the technical details in the motion capture, animation, and graphics, gamers quickly critiqued the gameplay for its lack of interactivity, cheap writing, and repetitive use of quick-time events.
It also fell under heavy scrutiny when a fully rendered nude model of Page was discovered within the game’s assets against his knowledge or consent. It was also when allegations of a hostile workplace within the Quantic Dream studio started to surface, which were ultimately overturned by the French courts.
The series is in early development and no projected date has been set for release as of publication.
About the Author
Jarrod Harrison
he/they
Philosopher, avid gamer, and miniature painter. Jarrod is a lover of JRPG’s, connoisseur of all things horror, and professional Last of Us Part II defender.
