10 Promising Video Game Movies That ALMOST Happened

The game-to-movie curse is a real thing with an epic majority of the results varying from hilariously bad to aggressively average.

Sure, there have been a few exceptions; the recent Detective Pikachu was a critical and commercial success, plus the silly fun of Mortal Kombat and the criminally underrated Silent Hill also deserve nods.

Yet, considering how the previously misguided model of comics-to-film adaptations evolved from a fanboy rage inducer to the premier source of blockbuster entertainment within the last two decades, it is baffling to think why Hollywood has not cracked the formula code for the gaming medium.

It has not been for lack of trying, as every year has a constant slew of failed (although sometimes commercially successful) films lying in the aftermath. Which only makes it sting more when there have been potentially promising projects that could've shed the curse but received the axe for head-scratching reasons.

Whether it was down to studio loggerheads or overblown budgets, some mouthwatering adaptations kicked the bucket over the years, but if they had come to fruition, the video game movie genre might not be the punchline it's considered now.

In 2007, IO Interactive created a brand new franchise that was set to be a major next-gen brand; Kane & Lynch: Dead Men. In a first time ever, a game-to-movie adaptation was signed even before the game released!

A script by Kyle Ward made rounds and Bruce Willis signed as Kane, with him stating it was one of 'the best action movie scripts ever'. Jamie Foxx became attached as Lynch, the psycho equation of the duo. Legendary stunt coordinator Simon Crane came aboard to make his directorial debut with it gearing up for a 2011 release.

What Happened?

The filming date stalled, with a push back to 2013. It didn't help that the game released to mixed reviews, with the hype quickly fizzling out.

The initial talent left but then in 2013, the script was reworked with F. Gary Gray directing, plus Gerald Butler as Kane and Vin Diesel as Lynch (wtf!). It stalled and eventually died though.

Why Was It Promising?

Regardless of the actual game's flaws, it still held a strong cinematic appeal and premise. With the strength of the attached talent (in both variations), this could've easily made for a sure-fire satisfying hard-R action rollercoaster at the least.