Ghost of Tsushima: John Wick Director Developing Movie Adaptation

Released last summer, Ghost of Tsushima was an instant classic for the PlayStation brand. Combining excellent gameplay and nuanced storytelling, the game struck a chord with fans of third-person action games who so desperately wanted an open-world samurai experience.

Since its launch, Ghost of Tsushima has sold 6.5 million copies, making it the “fastest-selling first party original PS4 game,” according to Head of PlayStation Studios Hermen Hulst.

With such success, it’s more than likely that the Ghost of Tsushima franchise will continue with sequels. Surprisingly, however, it seems that the samurai experience will transcend its video game roots.

A BREAKOUT SUCCESS HEADING TO THE BIG SCREEN

Ghost of Tsushima, the praised PlayStation third-person action game set on the Japanese island of Tsushima, is getting a film adaption, according to a report from Deadline.

Chad Stahelski, the director of the John Wick film series, is set to direct, while Sony Pictures, PlayStation Productions, and 87Eleven Entertainment will produce the film.

Head of PlayStation Productions Asad Qizilbash spoke to Deadline saying he is excited "to bring their vision of Jin’s story to the big screen."

"We’re excited to be partnering with Chad and 87Eleven Entertainment, to bring their vision of Jin’s story to the big screen. We love working with creative partners like Chad, who have a passion for our games, ensuring we can create rich adaptations that will excite our fans and new audiences."

No other information regarding the film's production has been revealed.

ADAPTING THE SAMURAI GAME TO A FILM

Based on Deadline’s report, it’s clear that the film version of Ghost of Tsushima will follow the story of the game’s protagonist, Jin Sakai. Jin’s complicated journey of balancing his samurai values with the questionable tactics needed to defeat invaders on his island made for a captivating story. It’s exciting that a version of this complex tale will be told through a film.

Given the game’s homage to classic samurai films, it seems appropriate that Ghost of Tsushima will get its own film. The game features a Kurosawa Mode, which mimics the visuals and sound of Akira Kurosawa movies. Like the game, the Ghost of Tsushima movie will likely draw from Japanese films as its sources of inspiration.

Chad Stahelski seems like an excellent choice as the director of this adaptation. His John Wick films are known for their chaotic action set pieces. Though these two franchises are quite different, Stahelski will likely focus on implementing unique action scenes for the samurai story.

With a film on the way, Ghost of Tsushima is undoubtedly a major franchise for the PlayStation brand. Though a sequel to the successful 2020 game hasn’t been announced, it’s clear that Sony realizes it has a hit on its hands.