Metro Awakening is about to become the fourth entry in the Metro series of games based on the novels by Dmitry Glukhovsky, this time using the VR format for unprecedented immersion in the Moscow metro. Having sprung from the mind of a passionate writer, the Metro The series understandably has a reputation for emotional and thought-provoking storytelling that could work just as well in other media formats.
In an interview with Game Rant, Metro writer Dmitry Glukhovsky discussed his work on the series and Metro Awakening in particular, and the possibility of a potential Metro film or television adaptation. Glukhovsky also talked about what the experience of writing for a game is like Metro Awakening is different from writing a novel, instead it feels more like screenwriting.
There may still be hope for a Metro 2033 movie
When asked if he considered taking Metro franchise to the big screen, Glukhovsky noted that he had been trying to get a movie rights deal for Metro as far back as 2006. Despite Metro Having seen many successful game and novel releases since then, the film adaptation has not come to fruition until now. That said, Glukhovsky hinted at some potential hopeful news on this front, but he couldn't divulge any details.
It has been a very long journey for me. The first time I ever came to Hollywood was probably 17 years ago. I was 27 and I went there to negotiate a film rights deal. 17 years later we are still where we are. The three video games have been released, and then three books and a lot of things that happen in this universe, and still there is no audiovisual project based on that story. I am hopeful. There are some recent developments that I'm legally not allowed to spoil, but you know, in the world of film and television, you never know. Things can happen in an instant, completely shattering your expectations and hopes. I'm a bit superstitious, so I don't reveal what I'm working on, on different projects as a screenwriter.
Viewers may be skeptical of video game adaptations in the wake of Borderlands the film's abysmal reception, so perhaps holding out a little longer is for the best Metros case. Glukhovsky says he is committed to monitoring everything related to Metroso fans can at least be sure that a potential Metro the film will be in good hands.
Writing a game like Metro Awakening is similar to screenwriting
Glukhovsky mentioned that as a writer, video game writing has more similarities to film than to novels. Games and movies both need a soundtrack, an actor, a script, cinematography and of course an engaging, coherent plot. When writing a novel, Glukhovsky says writers can experiment much more with storytelling than in a video game or movie, especially in terms of structure.
I think writing for a game, to me, is closer to writing for film because the story in general, when you're creating the overall arc and plot, has to be clear and compact. When you're writing for a book, you can really just improvise, and you probably don't even know exactly what's going to happen to your main character, you just sort of understand what the end station is for that character, and then what you want thematically, to convey, right?
When you write a screenplay, you have to structure, you understand that it is exactly the curve of emotions that you want your character to go through. So it's more constructed I'd say. Writing a video game is always closer to that. It has to go through some emotions, right?
Although it wasn't originally intended to be, Glukhovsky sees the potential for Metro to be a transmedia machine capable of delivering valuable experiences in a wide range of formats. Hopefully, he will get the chance to see this potential realized, and franchise fans can enjoy one Metro movie, series or series.