“Reacher” star Alan Ritchson is in talks to star in the lead role in the film adaptation of the popular PlayStation video live-service game franchise “Helldivers” at Sony Pictures.
Ritchson steps in after “Aquaman” and “Dune” star Jason Momoa exited the project back in June. Ritchson had recent success starring in Netflix’s “War Machine” which proved a surprise streaming hit.
Justin Lin will direct the film and produce along with Hutch Parker, Asad Qizilbash and Carter Swan. “IT” and “Salem’s Lot” scribe Gary Dauberman is penning the script.
Set in the 22nd century, the game’s story follows a force of shock troops dispatched to combat various threats to humanity and to uphold fascist Super Earth’s managed democracy.
That involves a lot of battles against alien robots called Automatons and giant bugs called Terminids, both seeking revenge following their defeat a century ago in the First Galactic War.
The first game was released in 2015 to acclaim, but it was the sequel in 2024 that really took off. That became the fastest-selling PlayStation Studios game of all time with an incredible 12 million copies sold in just 12 weeks.
It remains one of the very few recent success stories in the live service game space, and the only one in that space from PlayStation following multiple failed attempts.
“Helldivers” is expected to hit cinemas on November 10th 2027.
Source: THR
