Movie adaptations of games are a funny thing. Many end up in development hell for years, while we can only wish that others – barring the odd exception – stayed there.
Tetris had a film announced back in 2016, and until last year, things had been fairly quiet. Directed by Jon S. Baird – who previously brought us Stan & Ollie in 2018 – he's now finishing up the story of how Tetris came to the Western market.
It's not officially confirmed, but rumours are now circulating that Tetris creator, Alexey Pajitnov, will be played by Nikita Efremov, an actor who's previously stuck to Russian cinema. He's recently been spotted in Glasgow across social media posts, and filming wrapped up there earlier this month.
If true, Efremov will be joined by Golden Globe winner Taron Egerton, best known for Rocketman and Kingsman. He's starring as Henk Rogers, the game designer and entrepreneur that secured the Western Tetris rights for Nintendo back in the 1980s. Egerton has previously stated "It’s definitely more Social Network than Lego Movie", and this biopic should make for interesting viewing.
There's a truly fascinating story behind this legal battle, one which was previously explored in 2004 BBC documentary "Tetris: From Russia With Love". We covered some of the fascinating story here.
Will you be watching the Tetris biopic? Let us know below.
[source ria.ru]
Comments 13
So is this the same Tetris movie that is planning to have a sci-fi trilogy? If so good luck, if not and all it's going to be is a documentary then sorry but the Gaming Historian already did a better film of it.
Some words should never be used together, like pixel and movie, or emoji and movie. I guess we'll see soon if this belongs in the hall of shame.
I'm ready for a Queen's Gambit style Netflix miniseries about a troubled child's journey to become a Tetris champion.
(But I'd also settle for Tetris being made an official Olympic sport)
@Rhaoulos It's going to be about the rights issues relating to the game, it's not literally a movie version of the game Tetris.
Good reminder about the BBC documentary "Tetris: From Russia With Love". If anyone hasn't seen it, I highly recommend watching it!
The Tetris movie will just be the a normal gameplay of Tetris. If that was the case, I'd watch it day one.
He's no Adam Sandler...
@Damo
A few years ago there was a rumour circulating that a Tetris film was in development which was a sci-fi film about aliens attacking Earth with giant blocks. Seriously.
https://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/exclusive-tetris-movie-will-first-part-sci-fi-trilogy/
@Ooyah Yep, we reported on it:
https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2016/06/upcoming_tetris_movie_is_confirmed_to_be_the_first_in_a_trilogy
This is a different gig, though
I really don't get how a Tetris movie is going to work. Unless it's a dark historical thriller drama with a slight fantasy twist set in the oppressive soviet times in the gulags...
When I saved up and bought the original Gameboy as a kid, I felt betrayed that Nintendo included such a lame game with it, especially when the NES came with Super Mario Bros. To me, Tetris was a game for noobs and uncool parents.
I didn't have an NES so I was dying for my own Mario game. Anyway, I made sure I had enough extra money to buy Mario Land on day one to make up for it.
Looking back, including Tetris was definitely a smart business move, but I was sure pissed at the time 🤔
@flibblesan I'd like to add the Gaming Historian's video on Tetris, too; it's very much worth the watch! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fQtxKmgJC8
That BBC doc is brilliant.
Hopefully they will use that Eurodance version of the theme.
(Did Lloyd-Webber have something to do with that?)
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