“Just Cause” Latest Video Game To Become Movie-ified

This afternoon, Universal Pictures announced a partnership with Square Enix to create a feature film based on the Just Cause video game series. THR broke the news.

You’re probably going to be seeing a lot more movies and TV shows based around video games in the coming years, as things with that subject matter have gained major attention and earned major lucre (The Super Mario Bros Movie, Amazon’s Fallout, HBO’s The Last Of Us). This is yet another case of “man looketh on the outside,” as these things succeeded because they were GOOD, not simply because they started as games.

However, Hollywood didn’t come up with the notion of making a Just Cause movie this week. It’s been in development since 2009, with potential directors and stars coming and going. We think it’s a little more likely it will get off the ground this time, but you never know. Ángel Manuel Soto, who previously directed Blue Beetle for Warner Bros, is the latest hire. Kelly McCormick and David Leitch are producing through their 87North banner, alongside Dmitri M. Johnson, Mike Goldberg and Timothy I. Stevenson. No actors have been chosen yet.

You can’t follow everything, and Just Cause is one of those video game series I’ve never followed. It’s my understanding they are a series of over-the-top open-world missions that involve parachuting, swinging from a grappling hook and lots of explosions. Main character Rico Rodriguez is frequently sent on missions to stop the affairs of the mercenary group The Black Hand.

Why THIS series? Just…cause. If it gets beyond pre-production and starts filming this time, we’ll let you know.