Timothée Chalamet is arguably one of the greatest and most talented actors working today and he is no different from an ordinary person with a passion for gaming. Chalamet made it no secret that he is a huge gamer and is a massive fan of Rockstar Games’ open-world games namely the Red Dead Redemption prequel. Video game adaptations have surpassed the long-running curse that plagued the genre and the actor shared his two cents on how a live-action adaptation would work.
Chalamet is a gifted actor and is fortunate to find the time to play a massive open-world game that would require hundreds of thousands of manhours equivalent to his working hours despite his hectic schedule as a Hollywood star. Rockstar Games is renowned for its attention to detail and eye for cinematography, which begs the question: Does the Red Dead Redemption prequel even need a live-action adaptation?
Timothée Chalamet Weighs in on How a Live-Action Red Dead Redemption Prequel Film Would Make Sense
Rockstar Games did not hold back and has given the gaming community one of the greatest video game experiences Red Dead Redemption 2. Chalamet would praise the game at every opportunity he got whenever he was in attendance in a press release for an unrelated project. The game is much more cinematic than a regular high-production Hollywood film and fans anticipate that succeeding projects will surpass the game’s graphical fidelity and visuals.
Most video game adaptations fail to capture the essence of the source material and the gaming community would condemn these projects naturally. The live-action adaptation of Max Payne is a prime example of how to butcher a video game and antagonize the fan base because the filmmakers blatantly disregarded the provided script and tried to make something new that ultimately became the film’s undoing.
Chalamet shared his two cents about the prospect of adapting the critically acclaimed and universally praised Red Dead Redemption prequel into a feature-length film, and his main concern was the narrative. The developers of Rockstar Games always wanted to go higher and further than before and could not help themselves to add more and more side content. From Stranger missions to random events, Red Dead Redemption 2 is stocked from start to finish with content that will not bore any player for the foreseeable future.
It’s tough to do video game adaptations.
Recent video game adaptations like the Uncharted film were received with mixed reviews; however, most of the feedback was positive, whereas the HBO adaptation of The Last of Us was praised as one of the greatest adaptations ever made, which is a high bar. The showrunners were fans of the source material and this was an important factor that made the series a success because Mazin refuses to deviate from the established path.
There are so many side missions in Red Dead Redemption. I don’t know if it would make sense in a linear plot.
Timothée Chalamet spent enough time exploring the fictional regions of America in 1899 to know that the story was all over the place. The developers of Rockstar Games crafted a great narrative focused on Arthur Morgan and his gang as they escape the Pinkertons. Throughout the journey, Arthur can encounter a few strangers in need of his assistance, and this could distract players from sticking to the main path.
The single-player campaign of Red Dead Redemption 2 is roughly 50 and a half hours without carving the time to explore and help strangers and this is not ideal for a feature-length film. If the game were adapted into a movie, the filmmakers would have to make tough choices and cut corners for a cohesive storytelling experience for casual audience members.
The Story of Red Dead Redemption 2 Is One of the Greatest Western Tales Ever Told
Video games and movies may seem different but both mediums share the same objective. Players have complete and total freedom in open-world games to go through the main story at their desirable pace while moviegoers can sit and watch as the story unravels before their eyes. Rockstar Games wanted the gaming community to be in the boots of Arthur and take their time to be sucked into the vast world they have created.
An argument can be made that video games are more costly and time-consuming to produce than a Hollywood blockbuster. Timothée Chalamet has been busy lately working on projects within a year’s timeframe, on the other hand, game developers could spend half a decade working on the same project as Rockstar Games did for Red Dead Redemption 2.
The actor’s points are valid and it will be challenging for filmmakers to condense all of this story content into a film’s average runtime. Some players felt the story of the prequel could have used more missions despite the emotional journey they have been on.
Rockstar Games did not hold back and set the bar high for a great gaming experience. Perhaps the game does not need a live-action adaptation; however, some people will never voluntarily pick up a controller to experience this story.
Do you agree with Timothée Chalamet’s concerns for a Red Dead Redemption 2 movie? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below!
