John Wick’s Director Takes on Epic ‘Sifu’ Adaptation for Netflix!

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It appears that director Chad Stahelski is staying active with his work on video game adaptations. According to a recent article from Deadline, Stahelski will be involved in producing a Netflix adaptation of the 2022 video game Sifu, which was developed and published by Sloclap. This beat-em-up game features complex combat scenarios and an intriguing narrative twist based on a unique mechanic that causes players to age their character whenever they lose a fight. As the player’s character ages, they gain access to stronger moves, but if they grow too old, they can meet a permanent end, forcing them to restart the game from the beginning.

The game titled “Sifu” seamlessly blends mechanics from time-travel and randomized games, resulting in a captivating and hard-to-put-down fighting experience. Its narrative of vengeance could make for an engaging movie plot. Notably, 87Eleven, the production company known for producing films like “Atomic Blonde” and “The Fall Guy,” under the guidance of director David Leitch, has officially signed on as producers alongside Kitchen Story for the full-length film adaptation. It appears that Netflix is leveraging the popularity of video game adaptations, as seen in series like “Devil May Cry” and “Castlevania,” which have demonstrated both success and potential by bringing classic games to life on screen.

As a movie enthusiast, I’ve recently found myself captivated by “Sifu”, a relatively new game that’s already making waves in the gaming community. What sets it apart is its exceptional combat system, which boasts an unexpectedly steep learning curve that keeps me coming back for more. The game’s environments and cinematic narrative perfectly complement the intense, realistic action that 87Eleven is renowned for.

Interestingly, this isn’t the first adaptation of “Sifu”. Amazon Studios and Prime Video actually beat Netflix to the punch in bringing it to a wider audience.

‘Sifu’ Has Already Received Small-Screen Treatment in ‘Secret Level’

It Takes a Life,” is a 9-minute animated piece that illustrates the game’s primary concept. This episode was penned by Rich Larson and features Parry Shen and Ping Wu as older and younger versions of the main characters. Essentially, it functions as a prototype for what a full-length film might look like, boasting impressive action sequences and delving into the psychological aspect of the protagonist dying in battle, which results in growing older each time.

Similar to Stahelski’s other ongoing project, a film version of the video game “Ghost of Tsushima,” the game “Sifu” also revolves around a theme of relentless revenge. The report from Deadline about this adaptation does not specify the medium for the story, but considering Stahelski’s background and his team’s dedication to real-life stunts, it’s reasonable to expect that the narrative will be presented in live-action format.

Screenwriter T.S. Nowlin, renowned for creating movies like “The Adam Project” and the “Maze Runner” series, has been tapped to write the screenplay for the upcoming film titled “Sifu.” At this moment, there’s no director officially linked to the production, with Stahelski only involved as a producer for the time being. The world of video game adaptations is buzzing with anticipation, as we wait to discover who will take the helm and bring the intriguing martial arts revenge narrative to the big screen.

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2025-02-22 16:31