The House of the Dead: Concept Art for Horror Game Adaptation Revealed

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As a long-time fan of video game adaptations and zombie shooters, I can hardly contain my excitement for Paul W.S. Anderson’s latest project, “The House of the Dead.” Having grown up playing arcade games like “Mortal Kombat” and “House of the Dead,” it feels like a dream come true to see this iconic franchise finally make its way to the big screen.

Paul W.S. Anderson, famed for helming four of the original six “Resident Evil” films, is set to adapt another well-loved horror video game franchise for the cinema with “The House of the Dead.” Launched in 1997, a year following the debut of the first “Resident Evil” game, “The House of the Dead” series and its predecessor played significant roles in popularizing the zombie shooter genre and rejuvenating the zombie concept for contemporary audiences. The rapid-moving undead creatures in “The House of the Dead” would serve as inspiration for films like “28 Days Later” and Zack Snyder’s remake of “Dawn of the Dead.

According to recent reports, Paul W.S. Anderson has agreed to direct the upcoming movie based on “The House of the Dead.” Known for his work in bringing video games to life, Anderson has directed four movies from the “Resident Evil” series, as well as 1995’s “Mortal Kombat,” and more recently, “Monster Hunter” in 2020. His portfolio also includes the less-celebrated but critically acclaimed films like “Event Horizon” and “Alien vs. Predator.” Sega, the publisher of “The House of the Dead” game, will be part of this film project. Speaking to Deadline, Anderson shared his connection with the franchise and what attracted him to this project.

I’ve been fond of the video game ‘Mortal Kombat’ since the 90s. In those days, I was quite the enthusiast for arcade games, which is where I first encountered it. Simultaneously, I was also deeply engrossed in ‘House of the Dead’. It’s a game that has always held a special place in my heart. The franchise has grown significantly, and now it appeals to people across different generations. I was one of its early players, but now even my teenage children enjoy it. For me, the most appealing aspect is that this intellectual property bridges generations.

Anderson unveiled a glimpse into the plotline of “The House of Dead” and also showcased some preliminary sketches for the upcoming movie, according to his statement.

We’ll adapt the upcoming movie based on the third installment of “House of the Dead,” a tale steeped in family conflict amidst intense action and horror. The protagonist is Lisa Rogan, who embarks on a mission to save her father. Meanwhile, Daniel Curien grapples with the consequences of his father’s actions that led to the outbreak of mutants. I plan to emulate the high-energy, fast-paced nature of this video game by having Zack Snyder’s creatures move swiftly. This film promises a heart-stopping terror ride. Unlike our previous work on “Resident Evil,” which had numerous traps, puzzles, and required problem-solving, “House of the Dead” is essentially an action-packed light rail shooter game, thrusting you into the heat of the action without delay. The movie will follow this approach, offering a real-time experience that immediately engages the audience in the action. To ensure accessibility for those unfamiliar with “House of the Dead,” we won’t burden the narrative with excessive backstory. Instead, audiences will be instantly drawn into the action and gradually learn about the characters and plot within 90 minutes, as they navigate their way through the most extreme haunted house ever encountered.

Returning to The House of the Dead

The upcoming film, titled “The House of the Dead,” marks the second movie adaptation of the popular video game series, following Uwe Boll’s 2003 release, also called “House of the Dead.” Unlike other entries in the series, this film served as a prequel and received widespread criticism from critics with a mere 3% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and an audience score of 11%. A direct-to-video sequel, “House of the Dead 2,” was released in 2006. In comparison, Anderson’s “Resident Evil” film series may have strayed from the original video games but still garnered a dedicated fanbase and is generally more favorably received than Boll’s “House of the Dead.” Therefore, the upcoming adaptation can only promise improvements.

In their latest venture, Sega aims to broaden its video game collection onto the silver screen with “The House of the Dead.” The success they’ve seen with the “Sonic the Hedgehog” films, particularly “Sonic the Hedgehog 3,” which is predicted to be a major holiday season blockbuster, has encouraged them. Additionally, Sega is working on movies derived from “Persona” and “Shinobi.” Though it remains to be seen if video game adaptations will follow in the footsteps of superhero films as the trend of the 2020s, it appears that a competition is heating up, and there’s a strong chance that “The House of the Dead” could start a new horror film franchise.

As of now, there’s no set release date for “The House of the Dead”, but it is anticipated to commence filming in the year 2025.

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2024-10-31 23:36