With the success of films like Sonic the Hedgehog and Detective Pikachuthe future looks bright for cinematic adaptations of popular video games. Considered notoriously difficult to make in the past, films based on video games haven't always managed to translate the complex plot, well-developed characters, and intimate environment that's captured over hours of extensive gameplay to a wider audience. However, that is changing.

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Video games continue to influence pop culture, and where once video games tried to adapt to film, film is now learning to adapt to them. As games get more and more cinematic, there may come a time when audiences scarcely know the difference between an expertly crafted series of cut-scenes and a feature film. Though some production has been delayed on a lot of projects for 2021, it looks like it will be the year that video game adaptations are taken seriously.

Disclaimer: Some of these movies have a 2020 release date but there is a chance they could be delayed to 2021.

MONSTER HUNTER

Capcom's Monster Hunter game is getting the cinematic treatment from director Paul W. S. Anderson, who so famously paired with Milla Jovovich to bring the Resident Evil games to the big screen.

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Jovovich teams with Anderson again for the film, which featured a UN military team entering a portal to another world where hunters and monsters battle for supremacy. They have to work together to prevent monsters from finding out how to get to Earth, in what promises to be a heavily action-oriented fantasy adventure. It's supposed to be available in September of 2020, but might be delayed until 2021.

WITHOUT REMORSE/TOM CLANCY'S RAINBOW SIX

Tom Clancy's Without Remorse

In the '90s famed mystery thriller author Tom Clancy wrote Without Remorse, part of the Rainbow Six series of novels about the missions of an elite group of Navy SEAL operatives. The book was turned into a video game much like GoldenEye and was a popular squad-based shooter.

The basic plot involved John Clark (a former SEAL turned CIA agent, now played by Michael B. Jordan) who sought his girlfriend's murderer. His mission led him to a Baltimore drug lord, though it's unclear if the film will follow the same plot or focus on Clark's origin story. Its release was set for September of 2020 but Without Remorse was delayed to October 2nd. Hopefully, this is the only delay, but nothing is written in stone in 2020.

UNCHARTED

Tom Holland as Spider-Man and Nathan Drake in Uncharted

Fans have been anxiously waiting for an Uncharted movie practically since the gaming series started with Uncharted: Drake's Fortune in 2007, when players were first introduced to rakish treasure hunter Nathan Drake.

Whereas the fourth game in the series showed a more contemplative Drake in middle-age (though no less charming), the film adaptation of the franchise will star Tom Holland as a much younger Drake, when the call to adventure first grips him. Expect to see him swing into action on July 16th, 2021.

MORTAL KOMBAT

Mortal Kombat 11 Aftermath Key Art

Mortal Kombat film was made in the '90s that didn't quite capture the thrill of the game franchise that fans were expecting, so a reboot is coming to return it to its former glory (sadly without the acting talents of the inimitable Christopher Lambert as Lord Raiden).

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Produced by James Wan (Aquaman) and featuring the directorial debut of Simon McQuoid, Mortal Kombat promises to be an epic martial arts fantasy incorporating several of the franchise's major characters played specifically by Asian actors. It's on track to hit cinemas over Martin Luther King weekend in 2021.

HALO

Halo Infinite Master Chief Flashlights

One of the most popular video games series in recent decades, Halo went on to inspire countless novels and short films, though its fourth and fifth installments have drawn criticism from its cooling fanbase.

Showtime is going to revive the franchise with a 10-episode series focused on the franchise protagonist Master Chief, to air sometime in 2021. This will coincide with the release of the next game in the series, Halo Infinite.

DRAGON'S LAIR: THE MOVIE

Ryan Reynolds Circles Dragons Lair Movie

Based off of the arcade sensation Dragon's Lair from the early '80s, Dragon's Lair: The Movie promises to make every audience member feel like a kid again, when their sticky fingers furiously worked a joystick to help Dirk the Daring rescue Princess Daphne.

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At the time of its release, Dragon's Lair was one of the most advanced video games around because of its laserdisc technology and beautiful western animation from Don Bluth's studios. Ryan Reynolds is currently developing the project, and while it's not certain if Singe the dragon or Mordoc the evil wizard will appear, there's no doubt Reynolds will commit to capturing the game's humor.

TOMB RAIDER 2

Tomb Raider poster with Alicia Vikander

Lara Croft is one of the most iconic video game characters of all time. While the first two films based on her franchise, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider and Lara Croft: Tomb Raider - The Cradle of Life, were fun adventures with Angelina Jolie, they were nowhere near as visceral as Alicia Vikander's Tomb Raider (2018).

A sequel to the reboot film has been announced for 2021. The film should expand on its plot (loosely based on the 2013 reboot Tomb Raider game) and incorporate the adventures of the latest two games, Rise of the Tomb Raider and Shadow of the Tomb Raider. Few details have been confirmed, other than that Vikander will return in the starring role and supernatural elements will be incorporated.

THE WITCHER SEASON 2

The Witcher Henry Cavill not only actor play Superman Geralt

Production began for the second season of the wildly popular Netflix series The Witcher in February of 2020, in which several new characters (including Vesemir as played by Mark Hamill) will make their appearance.

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Don't expect to see it hit the streaming service in December like its predecessor, as season 2 has been delayed until 2021. But Witcher fans can take heart because Netflix is making a feature film based on the series that's completely separate and also due out the same year.

SLEEPING DOGS

Wei Shen from Sleeping Dogs

Sleeping Dogs came out of nowhere in 2012, but fans of Grand Theft Auto were quick to sing the games' praises, comparing its gameplay energy to the Hong Kong action films that made Jackie Chan an international superstar.

In the film adaptation, Donnie Yen, famous for martial arts films like Iron Monkey an Ip Man, will play undercover cop Wei Shen, who makes Hong Kong his playground fighting crime. Rumored to be released in late 2021, no specific date has been given.

MEGA MAN

One of the most popular Capcom franchises of all time is finally getting a live-action adaptation. Mega Man is moving forward with The Batman's Mattson Tomlin heading up the screenplay.

Production began for the film as far back as 2017 but stalled sometime when 20th Century Fox was purchased by Disney. Production resumed again after becoming inspired by Sonic the Hedgehog, with the movie aiming for a late release in 2021.

NEXT: 5 Best (& 5 Worst) Video Games Movies