A new fan made trailer offers insight into what a Red Dead Redemption live-action film could look like with Kit Harrington as John Marston. The hit Rockstar game first arrived in 2010 and was followed up by a highly regarded prequel in 2018. Of course, the Red Dead franchise officially first kicked off in 2004 with Red Dead Revolver, but it was the vast, immersive open world and engaging story of Red Dead Redemption that truly made gamers take notice. Fans have been through a lot with the game’s protagonist, John Marston, and though things end on a sad note for the character, more than a few people would love to see him portrayed on the big screen.
Fans have discussed a live-action film adaption for years now, but to date, it doesn’t look as though Rockstar has much interest in making one. But of course, as is the case with dedicated fans of any popular franchise, sooner or later creativity takes over. Exactly what a Red Dead film would look like isn’t all that hard to imagine, given how realistic of an environment the games are set in. Still, it’s always going to be a treat when someone takes the time and effort to ask, what if?
This is the case with Red Dead fan and film/video editor Rob Long, aka Smasher. With some carefully manipulated footage, Long managed to create a sneak peak at what a Red Dead Redemption film might look like. The trailer was posted to the Smasher YouTube account and stars Game of Throne’s Kit Harrington as John Marston. It’s an interesting choice for the character, and while not every Red Dead fan will necessarily agree that Harrington is the best pick for Marston, being able to see any sort of live-action take on the acclaimed game is a treat. You can check out the full trailer below:
The footage is taken from the 2016 western-thriller Brimstone, which starred Harrington. It’s hard to say whether Long’s efforts will result in an even greater demand for a Red Dead film, but according to a 2016 interview with Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick, a live-action adaptation is considered risky. The point is a valid one in many respects, as video game fans are well aware of the so-called “video-game curse” when it comes to adapting games into films. If a Red Dead film was made and it failed to engage audiences, then the extensive work that has gone into making Red Dead a success would be minimized and the franchise tarnished.
Perhaps another valid argument against a film adaptation is that Rockstar’s success with the western genre in video games is not typical. Few highly successful games have been westerns. It’s relatively new ground for gamers and therefore highly intriguing. In making the switch to a film, however, Red Dead Redemption becomes just another cinematic depiction of the Wild West. It’s been decades since westerns were big draws at the box office, despite sporadic hits over recent years. Fans have proven they love to control the worlds that John Marston or Arthur Morgan exist in, but does that also mean they’ll sit through a big screen western? It’s hard to say, but at the very least, Long’s Red Dead Redemption trailer offers some good food for thought.
Source: Smasher/YouTube
