Sydney Sweeney, acclaimed for her role in Madame Web, is set to star in the upcoming film adaptation of the video game Split Fiction. The project, which is being brought to life by Story Kitchen—the team behind the successful Sonic films—is gaining momentum. Wicked director Jon M. Chu is at the helm, and the screenplay is penned by the dynamic duo behind Deadpool & Wolverine, Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick. Story Kitchen is currently presenting this impressive talent package to Hollywood studios, anticipating a competitive bidding war.
The casting of Sydney Sweeney raises the intriguing question of which character she will portray—Zoe or Mio. As of now, Variety reports that the decision remains pending.
Sydney Sweeney is set to star in the Split Fiction movie. Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for CinemaCon.
Split Fiction, developed by Hazelight and released in March, has quickly become another blockbuster hit for the studio and designer Josef Fares, amassing over 2 million sales in just one week. It's also set to be a launch title for the Nintendo Switch 2. IGN's review of Split Fiction awarded it a 9/10, praising it as "an expertly crafted co-op adventure that pinballs from one genre extreme to another, [ttpp]Split Fiction is a rollercoaster of constantly refreshed gameplay ideas and styles – and one that’s very hard to walk away from.”
Hazelight's success isn't limited to Split Fiction. Their other mega-hit, It Takes Two, which sold over 23 million copies, is also slated for a film adaptation potentially starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.
While there's always the risk that these projects might not come to fruition, the current surge in successful video game adaptations suggests Hollywood is eager to capitalize on these opportunities. Last year, Story Kitchen announced multiple adaptations, including Just Cause with Blue Beetle director Ángel Manuel Soto, Dredge: The Movie, Kingmakers, Sleeping Dogs, and even a live-action Toys 'R' Us film.
Meanwhile, Hazelight is not resting on its laurels and is already teasing its next ambitious project.
