“The Lost Chapter: Yuki’s Revenge” (Epic)
A new “Kill Bill” Fortnite chapter reflects the blurring lines between movies/TV and gaming.
Research shows how essential gaming is to young people.
It’s why entertainment companies are going all in on game adaptations, interactivity, and Fortnite collaborations.
Earlier this month, Quentin Tarantino’s “Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair” finally arrived in theaters. The four-and-a-half hour film edits together both “Kill Bill” volumes into one movie as Tarantino originally intended. I left the theater overjoyed, but also pleasantly surprised that it was earlier in the night than I anticipated.
That’s because we didn’t stay through the entirety of the credits. If we had, we would have experienced a surreal, 10-minute sequence called “The Lost Chapter,” about Gogo’s twin sister, Yuki, seeking revenge on The Bride.
This chapter was brought to “life” with the help of Fortnite, the ongoing, massive multiplayer online video game popular with young people.
Most cinemaholics and film buffs would probably be appalled (and I’m admittedly glad I didn’t stick around for it); but it’s another example of the growing crossover between gaming and Hollywood, and the lines will likely continue to blur.
I first wrote about this idea last year when Prime Video’s “Fallout” debuted, and it appears that that was just the tip of the iceberg. The series, which returned for its second season last week, isn’t just an adaptation, but tells a story that is canon to the universe of the video games. In fact, Todd Howard — an executive at the studio behind the “Fallout” games” — recently said that the next game would exist in a world where the events of the show “happened or are happening.”
Prime Video seems to be following a similar approach with its upcoming “Mass Effect” show, based on the sci-fi role-playing game series. An executive behind the games recently said that the show will “explore a brand-new story within the universe’s timeline, and will be set after the original trilogy.”
When I wrote about “Fallout” last year, I noted that “the future of media and entertainment could come down to what companies can best find common ground between movies/TV and gaming.” But why?
It seems obvious that Gen Z and Alpha — the present and future of fandom — love playing video games, but it runs deeper than that. It’s a huge part of their identity. And games are a strong discovery engine.
According to a recent report from Hub Entertainment Research, over half of gamers play games based on film, TV, comic, or toy IP. Sixty-two percent are interested in watching shows or films adapted from games. Forty-four percent say they’ve downloaded branded, playable content based on top movie, TV, or fashion brands, with four of the top five being Marvel, Netflix, Star Wars, and DC.
And a National Research Group survey over the summer found that 11 of Gen Alpha’s top 20 favorite franchises — ones their “friends are talking about” — were based on video games or game platforms like Roblox, Fortnite, Grand Theft Auto, Minecraft, and Mario.
The good news was that they were, shockingly, the most likely generation to prefer going to the movies over watching at home. It’s just about actually enticing them with stuff they like.
So it’s no wonder that Hollywood is going all in on game IP. “A Minecraft Movie” is still the biggest movie at the domestic box office this year, and might remain so unless “Avatar: Fire and Ash” has incredible legs (which I wouldn’t rule it out, to be fair). At the recent Game Awards, the “Street Fighter” movie debuted its first trailer.
More than that, some of the most beloved movie franchises that have maybe run out of juice on the big screen can find renewed life in games. A year after “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” disappointed at the box office, the game “Indiana Jones and the Great Circle” enjoyed success, first on Xbox and then on PS5.
Further, Disney has partnered with Epic to create a virtual universe in Fortnite based on its IP, and even Hasbro is building an AI studio to enhance interactivity between players and characters.
As much as some filmbuffs or even people in the entertainment industry may not want to admit it, the future of movies and TV is increasingly intertwined with gaming.
I was a bit disappointed by “Avatar: Fire and Ash”; it’s overly long and silly, even by “Avatar” standards (I liked “Way of Water” quite a lot). But it’s still a spectacle that should be seen on the big screen in 3D, and don’t let the naysayers convince you it’s a flop just because it made *checks notes* $350 million worldwide this weekend.
“The Odyssey” six-minute preview before “Fire and Ash” was breathtaking.
Since I last published, I watched the knew “Knives Out” movie “Wake Up Dead Man.” Josh O’Connor is superb as the co-lead overshadowing even Daniel Craig, who plays more of a Max in “Fury Road” role this time around.
RIP Rob Reiner. I watched “Stand By Me” for the first time this week…what an incredible run he had from the mid-’80s to early-’90s.
I need to get some use out of my Paramount+ account aside from football and “South Park” before I cancel it in January…so I started watching the original “Star Trek” series for the first time. I know! It’s very fun.
🔥 James Cameron is open to moving on from “Avatar” movies even though a fourth and fifth are scheduled, telling THR he has “other stories to tell.”
🤖 In that same interview, Cameron also teases that he’s working on a story for another “Terminator” movie.
🥜 Sony has bought control of the Peanuts franchise for $457 million.
🏆 The Oscars are moving to YouTube starting in 2029, ending over 50 years of being broadcast by ABC.