Video games seem to be the one thing Hollywood cannot crack. Over the last century of film, we have seen countless adaptations of books, comics, television shows and even other TV shows do well both critically and commercially. Video games are always subject to some of the worst films ever, even when everything seems to be perfect (such as the director of 2015’s Macbeth directing an Assassin’s Creed film starring Michael Fassbender).

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Sure, maybe it’s hard because plenty of games already feel like strange amalgamations of movies (like Uncharted and Tomb Raider clearly taking inspiration from the Indiana Jones trilogy) or because studio meddling gets in the way. Regardless, the success of Sonic The Hedgehog and Detective Pikachu have proven there’s definitely room for game adaptations to succeed. Here are ten filmmakers that should consider throwing their skills at some virtual worlds.

Brad Bird (Overwatch)

Overwatch clearly loves superhero fiction, as each of the heroes feels like they were ripped straight out of a comic book or anime. This has certainly been a great source of appeal for the game as the character has an increasingly large presence online thanks to fans.

The tone and look of Blizzard’s shooter will feel right at home under the direction of Brad Bird, who’s resume includes The Incredibles, The Iron Giant, and Mission: Impossible- Ghost Protocol. A sleek animated film set in the wild world of Overwatch would be great.

Ava DuVernay (Life is Strange)

Ava DuVernay is one of the best filmmakers working today with films like Selma, 13th and TV shows like When They See Us. In 2018, she directed an adaptation of A Wrinkle in Time which was released to mixed reviews.

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What makes that film special is how it manages to tell a really compelling coming-of-age story that features supernatural elements. Dontnod Entertainment’s Life is Strange does the same thing, as it details a young Max Caufield and her journey navigating high school and strange new powers. DuVernay can capture the everyday anxieties of a teenager perfectly and top it off with exciting science-fiction.

Guillermo Del Toro (Bioshock)

Would you kindly make this happen? This is probably the most requested game and director pairing and it isn’t hard to see why. After the success of The Shape of Water (an art deco-inspired film about a water monster), Del Toro should consider setting his sights on this first-person shooter and role-playing hybrid.

Set in the underwater city of Rapture, Bioshock is a tale of morality and hubris. It is a fascinating example of world-building and Del Toro’s knack and appreciation of horror tropes would definitely fit the mold of Bioshock.

Denis Villeneuve (Deus Ex: Human Revolution/Mankind Divided)

Sure, we still have to wait for his massive, two-parter Dune film but Villeneuve’s experience with cyberpunk in Blade Runner 2049 makes him a perfect match for the conspiracy-filled adventures of Adam Jensen.

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Set in the near-future where people can be equipped with robotic enhancements known as augmentations, Jensen is an ex-SWAT member equipped with these augments. Full of secret organizations, mega-corporations, and conversations centered on social class, Villeneuve is no stranger to a gorgeous-looking cyberpunk setting that is coupled with complex themes. Honestly, the world deserves to see the world of Deus Ex through the lens of Roger Deakins’s camera.

Alex Garland (The Last of Us)

Sure, some techno-thriller like Watch Dogs would seem like the more obvious fit for the director of Ex Machina but there’s one word to justify him directing a film based on Naughty Dog’s 2013 post-apocalyptic masterpiece: Annihilation.

Full of tension and pure psychological horror, Annihilation shares a lot with great horror games like The Last of Us. It’s atmospheric and features a group traversing a foreign world full of danger. Garland knows how to direct horror and he also has experience with games, writing the stories for 2010’s Enslaved: Odyssey to the West and 2013’s DmC: Devil May Cry, both developed by Ninja Theory.

Nicolas Winding Refn (Max Payne 3)

Max Payne 3 is one of the most underrated games of last-gen and was a different kind of Rockstar experience. Instead of the usual comedic, open-worlds of their Grand Theft Auto games, they delivered an intensely gritty and linear experience that plays around with different camera angles and filters.

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Refn is a master of neon-soaked, neo-noir films. Max Payne’s aesthetic fits in with Refn’s filmography and he can deliver an artful, action flick that doesn’t skimp on the melodrama and emotion. Plus, it could help everyone forget about that abysmal Max Payne film from 2008.

Shinichirō Watanabe (Yakuza 0)

The mastermind behind anime classics like Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo knows how to mesh different influences together to craft something memorable. Sega’s Yakuza games feel like movies already, as the story of yakuza member Kazuma Kiryu is a gripping and melodramatic tale of revenge and redemption.

The only condition with this pairing is that it has to be animated. Watanabe’s signature and sleek direction on the aforementioned anime have influenced countless creators for over two decades. It would be the only way to effectively display the fights from the Yakuza games.

Shane Black (Grand Theft Auto V)

This filmmaker is known for injecting humor into his flicks. Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto series is known for the same thing, as they offer players a chance to create some chaos amidst a backdrop of social commentary. This makes Black the perfect filmmaker to capture GTA V’s insanity.

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The 2013 title would be the best option to adapt because of its Los Angeles-setting of Los Santos. Black’s love of the city is present throughout the films he’s written and directed and the game celebrates and mocks everything about the city.

Ryan Coogler (Mafia III)

Ryan Coogler has one of the strongest and most consistent filmographies of any young director working today. From the harrowing story of shooting with Fruitvale Station to one of the greatest sequels ever with Creed to one of the most thoughtful Marvel Cinematic Universe films with Black Panther, Coogler knows how to make phenomenal movies no matter the genre.

2016’s Mafia III features some of the best writing in a game, telling the story of a mixed-race gangster and Vietnam veteran Lincoln Clay trying to take control of a fictional city based on New Orleans. It deals with themes of violence and loyalty, set against the backdrop of tensions during the Civil Rights movement. Coogler would do this game justice and deliver one of the greatest crime stories put on screen.

Joel and Ethan Coen (Red Dead Redemption/Red Dead Redemption II)

Rockstar delivered its singular greatest achievement in 2018 with Red Dead Redemption II. A masterpiece in writing, game design and world-building, it makes a strong case for any arguments that video games can be considered art.

The story doesn’t pull from any specific source. It crafts its own sweeping story set against a brutal world that is slowly changing for main character Arthur Morgan. The Coens know westerns, with 2007’s No Country For Old Men’s use of western motifs in a modern setting, to more traditional territory with True Grit and The Ballad of Buster Scruggs in 2010 and 2018 respectively. They are the only directors who can capture the feel of the game. They know how to direct these gorgeous-looking visions of the American frontier with shady characters, who provide plenty of anxiety and comic relief. The Coens are masters of the Old West and only they can adapt one of the great pieces of Wild West fiction, ever.

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