Unlocking the Potential of Hitman: A Cinematic Resurgence

The video game industry has long struggled to translate its beloved franchises into successful cinematic adaptations. However, the tide may be turning as the landscape for video game movies and TV shows continues to evolve. With the recent success of adaptations like HBO's "The Last of Us" and the Sonic the Hedgehog films, the time could be ripe to revisit one of the most iconic gaming franchises: Hitman.

Unleashing the Mysterious Assassin's Potential on the Big Screen

Hitman's Cinematic Journey: Hits and Misses

The Hitman franchise has already graced the silver screen twice, with mixed results. The 2007 film starring Timothy Olyphant and the 2015 sequel, Hitman: Agent 47, featuring Rupert Friend, have collectively earned $183.6 million (£137.5 million) worldwide. However, critical reception has been less than stellar, with the 2007 movie earning a mere 16% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and the 2015 sequel faring even worse at 8%.

Bridging the Gap Between Games and Cinema

The challenge in adapting Hitman for the big screen has been striking the right balance between staying true to the source material and crafting a compelling cinematic experience. As the IGN review of Hitman: Agent 47 pointed out, the film struggled to find the sweet spot, being "almost certainly going to be too much of a generic action film for those heavily invested in the game franchise, and too video game-like for those who aren't."

Lessons Learned: Successful Video Game Adaptations

Fortunately, the industry has learned from past missteps, and recent video game adaptations have found more success in striking the right balance. HBO's "The Last of Us" has managed to captivate audiences without requiring prior knowledge of the game, while the Sonic the Hedgehog and Super Mario Bros. films have cleverly incorporated nods to the source material without sacrificing their cinematic appeal.

Seizing the Opportunity: Hitman's Cinematic Potential

With the market for "morally murky guys with guns who look good in a suit" wide open, the time could be ripe to revisit the Hitman franchise. Rather than attempting to directly port the game's storytelling to the big screen, a fresh approach that takes the core concept and explores it in a new, cinematic direction could be the key to unlocking Hitman's full potential.

The Hitman Resurgence: Rumblings and Possibilities

Discussions about a new Hitman project have surfaced periodically, with producer Adrian Askarieh suggesting in 2015 the possibility of a shared universe with other Square Enix properties, including Tomb Raider and Just Cause. Additionally, John Wick creator Derek Kolstad was announced as the driving force behind a Hitman TV series in 2017, though its status remains uncertain.While the future of Hitman's cinematic and television adaptations remains in flux, one thing is clear: the demand for compelling, morally ambiguous action heroes is ever-present. With the right creative vision and a commitment to balancing the game's essence with cinematic storytelling, the Hitman franchise could finally achieve the critical and commercial success it deserves on the big and small screens.