The Division, one of the fastest-growing new video game franchises of all time, will be coming to the big screen withJake GyllenhaalandJessica Chastainin lead roles. Today brings the announcement for the film’s latest addition: directorStephen Gaghan, who most recently helmedMatthew McConaugheyinGold.
WhileGoldis an okay movie — it’s not truly riveting stuff, but it’s fine — Gaghan was nominated for an Oscar over his original screenplay forSyrianaand won the statuette with his adapted screenplay forTraffic. He even has experience writing video games, as he co-wrote the campaign story forCall of Duty: Ghosts.
Coming off of the underwhelming response toAssassin’s Creed, some of us are still holding out hope for the one truly great video game movie adaptation. WhereThe Divisionhas an advantage is in its open-world storytelling and intricate visuals.
It’s set in New York City after the spread of a smallpox pandemic. Gamers play as members of the Strategic Homeland Division, tasked with rebuilding the organization’s operations in the crime-ridden Manhattan, while investigating the cause of the outbreak and battling hooligans along the way. Given Gaghan’s love of the gaming world and his writing fortitude, perhaps he can turn this property into something groundbreaking for the genre.
The property may also prove to be more easily adaptable given that it’s not likeAssassin’s Creed, which is based on a sci-fi concept, but it’s more of a post-apocalyptic story, which is still popular in film. Gyllenhaal and Chastain, by now officially announced for the cast, are also formidable players with their work acrossNightcrawler,The Martian,Nocturnal Animals, andZero Dark Thirty.
Some other video games tapped for movie treatments includeSplinter Cell(another Ubisoft title) with starTom Hardy, andUnchartedwith directorShawn Levy— both of which shareThe Division’s rich imagery and storytelling. Staying optimistic, perhaps these filmmakers can learn from the failings of previous adaptation attempts.
