They’re really doing it
Video game adaptations continue to be all the rage, and nowDuke Nukemgets to join in. The movie rights toDuke Nukemhave been acquired by Legendary Entertainment.
The Hollywood Reporterreports that Legendary has quite an interesting crew on board to produce theDuke Nukemproject, too.Cobra Kaicreators Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz, and Hayden Schlossberg are reportedly on board.
Alongside Legendary Entertainment, Marla Studios will also be on to produce. Marla Studios was founded byAssassin’s Creed(the movie) producer Jean-Julien Baronnet andspecializes in video game adaptations. THR reports the search for a writer is underway, and there’s no director attached just yet either.
There was aDuke Nukemfilm project in the works not too long ago, over atParamount. The project even had wrestling superstar John Cena attached to it, but the film reportedly stalled out.
The Duke is back?
By all accounts, this is some wild news.Duke Nukemmay havebeen a heavy-hitter of the arena shooter era, but the series has stalled out. Theinfamously catastrophicDuke Nukem Foreverseemed like it had forever shut the lid on newDuke Nukemgames.
But not all video game heroes of the ’90s have faded into obscurity. Lara Croft had her revival in bothvideo gameandmovie form, andSerious Samhaskept trucking along. 2016’sDoomwas abrilliant revitalization, but it also made Doomguy a household name again.
DoesDuke Nukemstill have that appeal? Either way, Legendary Entertainment is picking the right team. TheCobra Kaiis pretty dang good, and I’d imagine those showrunners could do something interesting with Duke. To be honest, after re-visiting the old Cena news, I’m now picturing aPeacemaker-styletake onDuke Nukemand thinking it could somehow work.
