Is Today’s Cinema Obsessed with Video Games? A Reflection by Mattson Tomlin
The screenwriter of The Batman 2, Mattson Tomlin, has one of the most anticipated comic book adaptations of recent years in production, but despite this, he feels surrounded by adaptations from the world of video games, which he believes have become a full-blown obsession in Hollywood.
Mattson Tomlin’s Opinion
Speaking on X, Mattson Tomlin—co-screenwriter of the new film The Batman: Part 2 alongside director Matt Reeves and creator of the acclaimed animated TV series Terminator Zero, among other projects—responded to a question about whether his Mega Man adaptation had been shelved, noting that the project could make a comeback because video game adaptations are now all the rage in Hollywood. “Hollywood is sort of shifting from being obsessed with comics to being obsessed with video games,” says Tomlin. “So I wouldn’t be surprised if Mega Man sees the light of day in some form, but after so long, it’s unlikely that I’ll have anything to do with this project again.”
Mattson Tomlin further clarified his reasoning in another response: “My perspective also stems from the fact that this year I’m receiving at least five times as many offers for video game adaptations as I am for comic book adaptations.” However, although Tomlin speaks from personal experience rather than empirical evidence of a radical change in Hollywood, it is clear that video game adaptations are becoming increasingly important in the world of cinema, thanks in part to the huge commercial successes of films like Super Mario, Minecraft, and Sonic.
The Age of Cine-Games
Already this year, for example, Return to Silent Hill, Iron Lung, Exit 8, Super Mario Galaxy, and Mortal Kombat 2 have been released in theaters, with mixed results. Coming soon are Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil, Street Fighter, and the anime series Sekiro: No Defeat and Cyberpunk: Edgerunners Season 2. In short, the boom in video game adaptations—which we might call the era of “cine-games”—is in full swing: just consider that even production companies typically associated with independent and low-budget cinema, such as A24, are jumping on the bandwagon with films like Elden Ring, directed by Alex Garland, and Death Stranding by Michael Sarnoski.
In contrast, comic book movies are perhaps at their lowest point in nearly two decades: Supergirl has just flopped, grossing less than Morbius and Joker 2 on its opening weekend, while the highly anticipated Spider-Man: Brand New Day will be the first Marvel movie in a year… will it turn things around at the box office?
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