Yes, you have read that title right. This wonderful news broke to us (courtesy of Remedy Entertainment), minutes before it went public. Alan Wake, the 2010 cult-hit video game we all came to know and love, is being adapted to the small screen. The series is being developed in close relationship with the game’s writer, Sam Lake, who will act as an executive producer on the show. Peter Calloway (Legion) signed on as show-runner and writer. Variety has the scoop.
Alan Wake is known among gamers for its episodic nature, inspired by TV shows complete with cliffhangers at the end of each level. A concept Remedy would later implement even deeper into Quantum Break, which went on to feature a fully-fledged TV show. While Alan Wake’s universe was always designed for something bigger, a sequel was never produced. This did not withhold Contradiction Films (a production company) to start pitching ideas for a TV series to Remedy. Remedy wasn’t interested at first and it took multiple meetings to convince them. As the studio opened up, Contradiction assembled a team that started working on a pitch. When they presented their pitch last E3, Remedy were blown away.
Lake didn’t comment on whether or not the story line in the series will become canon. He did however explain that the game’s story will be the “heart” of the TV show’s story and that other elements of the lore and universe – or even game concepts that never made it into the final version – might be explored: “The story of the original game is our starting point, the seed which will grow into the bigger story we’re exploring in the show,” Lake said.
Production on the series will soon continue after a short break. It still needs to be picked up by a host like HBO or Netflix, but the first reponses have been very positive. Just another day at Remedy, people. Exciting stuff happening in Finland. Holy shit.