I’m a huge video game lover. If I’m not watching a show or movie, I’m usually playing one of my favorite games in my spare time or watching theory videos about some of my favorite franchises. That’s probably why video game adaptations have always felt a bit personal to me since there’s something exciting about seeing worlds you’ve spent hours in finally brought to life on screen.
And right now, Hollywood and streaming platforms are leaning heavily into that space, with everything from sprawling RPGs to narrative-driven indie hits getting the live-action treatment. Some of these projects have been stuck in development for years, while others are just starting to take shape, but all of them have one thing in common: massive expectations.
So, here are seven upcoming video game shows and movies I’m most excited for, and why each one has the potential to actually get it right.
‘Resident Evil’
One of my most anticipated films of the year is “Resident Evil,” since it’s adapted from one of my favorite video game franchises ever made. The film serves as a complete live-action reboot inspired by Capcom’s iconic survival horror games. It’s written and directed by Zach Cregger, who became a darling of the horror community thanks to his breakout, deeply unpredictable box office hit “Barbarian” and his acclaimed follow-up in 2025, “Weapons.”
“Resident Evil” has already generated intense debate online because it completely steps away from the game series’ iconic main heroes like Chris Redfield, Jill Valentine, and Leon Kennedy. Instead, the filmmakers chose to explore the franchise’s universe through the lens of an ordinary person. In the film, Bryan (Austin Abrams) is a young medical courier making a late-night delivery into Raccoon City just as a catastrophic viral outbreak begins tearing through the city. Set during the same timeline as “Resident Evil 2,” the movie follows an original narrative running parallel to the chaos consuming Raccoon City.
Watch “Resident Evil” in theaters on September 18, 2026
‘Tomb Raider’
You might hear me say this a lot, but “Tomb Raider” is another huge favorite of mine. The upcoming live-action series is currently one of the most anticipated video game adaptations in development. Following an extensive and highly publicized global casting search that reportedly saw several top Hollywood actresses test for the role, Sophie Turner officially landed the legendary mantle of Lara Croft. Adding even more excitement, sci-fi icon Sigourney Weaver is also part of the cast, and that alone has me interested.
Right now, we don’t know too much about the series, but “Tomb Raider” is expected to follow Lara Croft as she’s pulled into a globe-spanning archaeological mystery involving ancient artifacts and dangerous figures tied to her family’s past. Turner plays Lara as a younger but already experienced adventurer exploring tombs, remote ruins, museums, and underground networks while racing rival treasure hunters to uncover hidden relics before they fall into the wrong hands. Amazon is clearly hoping to replicate the massive critical and commercial success of its “Fallout” adaptation.
“Tomb Raider” will stream on Prime Video
‘Gears of War’
Can you guess what I’m about to say? Yes, I absolutely love “Gears of War,” and it’s one of the first video game franchises my dad introduced me to. When I first heard Netflix was making a live-action film, you can probably imagine my excitement. After spending years stuck in development hell across multiple Hollywood studios, Netflix officially acquired the rights and fast-tracked both the feature film and a separate adult-oriented animated series.
While the script draft is apparently in “excellent shape” and the studio is fully backing the project, Netflix has kept official casting announcements tightly under wraps. However, Hollywood star Dave Bautista has spent years aggressively campaigning for the lead role of the grizzled war hero Marcus Fenix, and honestly, I wouldn’t be opposed to that casting choice. We still don’t know anything concrete about the plot, but for non-gamers, “Gears of War” is set on the war-torn planet Sera after humanity is nearly wiped out by the Locust Horde, a brutal species of underground creatures that suddenly emerge from beneath the planet.
“Gears of War” will stream on Netflix
‘Fallout’ season 3
“Fallout” season 3 is officially in development at Prime Video. Following strong viewership across its first two seasons, reportedly surpassing 100 million viewers worldwide, Amazon has shown continued confidence in the post-apocalyptic franchise by moving ahead with a third season. However, a major point of frustration for fans of modern streaming TV is the standard two-to-three-year gap between seasons. Executive producer Jonathan Nolan has said the team is aiming to get the show “back on the air as soon as we can.”
Naturally, there is no confirmed official plot yet for “Fallout” season 3, but there are enough production details, cast information, and creator hints to suggest where the story may be heading. The showrunners have indicated that the series could shift to a new region of the Fallout wasteland, alongside an escalation toward open conflict between major factions. What’s more, Emmy-winner Aaron Paul has been reported to be joining the cast for season 3 in a highly classified role.
“Fallout” season 3 will stream on Prime Video
‘Life Is Strange’
Prime Video is continuing its move into video game adaptations, with a live-action “Life Is Strange” series recently announced. The show is based on the episodic game about a teenage girl who discovers she can rewind time and uses her abilities while investigating the disappearance of a fellow student. Following a global casting search, the production reportedly opted for rising talent over established Hollywood stars to preserve the grounded, everyday feel of the characters.
“Life Is Strange” is expected to follow the same story, with Max Caulfield (Tatum Grace Hopkins), a photography student who discovers she can rewind time, reuniting with her childhood best friend Chloe Price (Maisy Stella) after years apart. Together, they investigate the mysterious disappearance of a student, uncovering a dark, hidden side to their seemingly quiet town while Max struggles with the consequences of altering time. The story unfolds as a slow-burn, emotionally driven mystery built around layered choices and their consequences.
“Life is Strange” will stream on Prime Video
‘God of War’
Another highly anticipated series coming to Prime Video is “God of War,” a live-action adaptation of the Norse-era games, rather than the original Greek mythology storyline. The series has been ordered straight to production with an ambitious two-season commitment, and is currently filming both seasons back-to-back in Vancouver. Amazon’s TV executives have emphasized that while the show will feature large-scale, cinematic action set pieces, its core focus is a father-and-son survival drama.
The core story of the game follows Kratos, a former Spartan warrior and former Greek god, who has tried to bury his violent past in a new life in the Norse realm of Midgard. After the death of his wife Faye, Kratos is forced to honour her final wish: to scatter her ashes from the highest peak in all the realms. He embarks on this journey with his son, Atreus, and what begins as a simple quest quickly becomes something much larger and more dangerous. In the series, Ryan Hurst will play Kratos and Callum Vinson will play his son, Atreus.
“God of War” will stream on Prime Video
‘Bioshock’
Sorry, I’ll only say this one last time, but “Bioshock” is one of my all-time favorite game franchises, largely because of its incredibly unique world. It is currently in development at Netflix, with the film set to bring the iconic dystopian underwater city of Rapture to life. The project is being directed by Francis Lawrence, best known for helming much of “The Hunger Games” franchise. The script is also written by Academy Award-nominated screenwriter Michael Green, whose work includes projects such as “Blade Runner 2049” and “Alien: Covenant,” among other high-profile sci-fi titles.
The film is reported to be a direct adaptation of the first “Bioshock” game. Following a reported reconfiguration at Netflix to accommodate a more modest budget, the script has been streamlined into a tighter, more claustrophobic, character-driven survival thriller. The story follows Jack, a plane crash survivor who stumbles upon Rapture, an underwater city originally built as a utopia but now fractured by civil war and genetic experimentation. Guided by the mysterious Atlas, he navigates the city’s collapsing society, uncovering its brutal experiments and the moral decay at its core.
“Bioshock” will stream on Netflix
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