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Hot on the heels of the breakout success of The Last of Us and Fallout TV shows, many are wondering which video games would make a great pick for the next great series. Dragon Age is often suggested as a good candidate for the TV show treatment, but according to its co-creator, that would be a “terrible idea.”
In a series of tweets, David Gaider, who created the setting for fantasy role-playing series Dragon Age and was its lead writer while at developer BioWare, said any Dragon Age TV show would have to be “more than a rote adaptation” in order to surface what makes the game’s story unique and interesting, which, he suggested, would be unlikely.
Gaider agreed with a user who said the problem with adapting fantasy IPs like Dragon Age, Elder Scrolls, or Baldur’s Gate, “is that outside of gaming, they’re just generic fantasy from a visual style standpoint. And their hours of stories are probably better in a game then in a show.”
“Yeah, you take away the interactive element and you’re left with a pretty stock standard fantasy story,” he replied. “It would take a pretty deep dive to distill the elements of each that make them unique and interesting. Not impossible, but it would take more than a rote adaptation.”
Gaider sounded unimpressed with Dragon Age’s existing animated spin-offs, Dawn of the Seeker and Absolution, saying: “I’ve never seen them, nor am I interested to.”
He added: “As I recall, none of the folks who did the animated shows (while I worked at Bio, at any rate) were particularly interested in authenticity. My (baseless) assumption was always that the IP had been foisted on the animation team out of necessity.”
Gaider’s thoughts on Dragon Age are clear, so which video game does he think would make a good TV show? He suggested Disco Elysium, but only if it’s along the lines of the role-playing masterpiece: “I want to see a David Lynch-style (on acid) Disco Elysium,” Gaider said. “Or maybe Banishers.”
“It would need to be as weird and experimental as the game or there’d really be no point,” he added. “Which, of course, means it’d never happen, but it’s interesting to contemplate just HOW weird it could be.”
In 2020, a Disco Elysium TV show adaptation was announced as coming from the producer of the Sonic the Hedgehog movie. Developer ZA/UM reportedly partnered with dj2 Entertainment to develop the TV series, although work was described as in the early stages. Little has been said since.
As well as Dragon Age, BioWare is known for its science fiction series, Mass Effect. Over the years reports have suggested a Mass Effect adaptation was under consideration, with The Witcher star Henry Cavill even teasing his involvement. So far, nothing has come of it.
Gaider’s views on a potential Mass Effect TV show reflect his views on a potential Dragon Age TV show. Responding to tweets, he said: “Is there any way for it NOT to be just a painted over Star Trek, though? Because we’ve got plenty of Star Trek at home, kids.”
And, on a potential Mass Effect movie: “In what way would it be amazing and not something we’ve seen a dozen times, though? Do you mean ‘amazing to me, a fan already familiar with the story and universe’?”
As for Dragon Age, the next game in the series, Dragon Age: Dreadwolf, is set for a reveal this summer.
Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
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