'Duke Nukem' Adaptation Set By 'Devil May Cry' & ‘Castlevania' Showrunner Adi Shanker
Legendary gaming icon Duke Nukem is back, just not in a way most are expecting, as Adi Shankar, showrunner of Netflix's Devil May Cry and Castlevania animated series, has acquired the screen rights to the classic shooter franchise for his next game-to-screen adaptation.
Speaking to Esqurie, Shankar spoke on his future plans, which, apart from season two of Devil May Cry , included a Duke Nukem show. 'I'm being approached with different IPs and companies that want to work with me,' he explained, 'I bought the rights to Duke Nukem. Not the gaming rights, but I bought it from Gearbox.' Duke Nukem 3D (1996)
Even though the project is still in its infancy, Shankar already has plans for his take on the iconic '90s video game franchise. 'It's a middle finger to everybody,' he described when asked about his vision for the show, 'When Duke Nukem blew up, a bunch of people sat around trying to turn it into a brand, when it's just a middle finger. Duke Nukem can't be made by a corporation, because the moment a corporation makes Duke Nukem , it's no longer Duke Nukem . I don't intend on having anyone tell me what to do on this one.'
From his comments alone, it seems like his adaptation will be as unapologetic and no-holds-barred as its gaming source material, which was made famous by its tongue-in-cheek nature, violence and self-aware immaturity. Duke Nukem Forever (2011)
Duke Nukem entered the video game scene in 1991 as a series of 2D platformers created by Apogee Software Ltd. (now 3D Realms). The franchise would rise to fame in 1996 with Duke Nukem 3D , which transformed it into the FPS icon many know today. The series would go on to receive numerous sequels and spin-offs over 15 years, culminating in 2011's infamous Duke Nukem Forever , which was heavily criticised by critics and fans alike, effectively killing the series… until now, that is.
Still, it's unclear what form the project will eventually take, be it an animated series like his previous works, a live-action TV show, or a movie. It's also unknown how his acquisition of the franchise's screen rights will affect Legendary Entertainment's Duke Nukem movie by Cobra Kai creators Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg.
Kevin is a reformed PC Master Race gamer with a penchant for franchise 'duds' like Darksiders III and Dead Space 3 . He has made it his life-long mission to play every single major game release – lest his wallet dies trying. Adi Shankar Devil May Cry adaptation duke nukem
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Geek Culture
16 hours ago
- Geek Culture
'Days of Thunder' Crossover Pitched For 'F1' Sequel To Reunite Brad Pitt And Tom Cruise
Both Top Gun: Maverick and F1: The Movie share two common threads — satisfying the need for speed, and putting Joseph Kosinski in the director's chair. As the Brad Pitt-starring movie steers into theatres, the filmmaker has shared his dream vision for a sequel, and it goes full throttle on the ambition. Speaking to GQ Magazine UK, Kosinski expressed interest in exploring a Days of Thunder and F1 crossover, which would reunite Pitt and Tom Cruise for the first time after 1994's horror classic Interview With the Vampire . 'Well, right now, it'd be Cole Trickle, who was [Cruise's] Days of Thunder character, we find out that he and [Brad Pitt's] Sonny Hayes have a past,' he said. 'They were rivals at some point, maybe crossed paths… I heard about this epic go-kart battle on Interview With a Vampire that Brad and Tom had, and who wouldn't pay to see those two go head-to-head on the track?' The idea first blossomed when Kosinski was working to bring his own version of Ford v Ferrari to the big screen. It would have seen the actors pulling off the driving stunts by themselves, but his desired budget was not approved, resulting in a hand-off to James Mangold ( Logan ) and the leading pair of Christian Bale ( The Dark Knight ) and Matt Damon ( The Martian ). Based on the Formula One World Championship, F1 is developed in collaboration with FIA, its governing body, with Damson Idris ( Snowfall ), Kerry Condon ( Better Call Saul ), Tobias Menzies ( Outlander ), and Javier Bardem ( No Country for Old Man ) serving as co-stars. The film is produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, Kosinski, seven-time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton, Pitt, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, and Chad Oman. It shares some similarities to the 1990 sports action drama pic Days of Thunder, which follows Cole Trickle, a talented racer who befriends Rowdy after they both end up in a hospital for their antics on a race track, while another competitor tries to create problems for Cole and defeat him. It featured appearances by real-life NASCAR drivers, including Richard Petty, Rusty Wallace, Neil Bonnett, and Harry Gant. As for the Top Gun: Maverick sequel, Kosinski previously revealed that it was still in the scripting stage with returning screenwriter Ehren Kruger ( Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen , Ghost in the Shell ), but fans can expect an 'ambitious' premise: 'It was about coming up with an idea that, again, felt like a new challenge. Something that opens up the story in a way you just can't let go. And I think the idea is so ambitious. That's what's exciting to me.' (image credit for header image: Gareth Cattermole / Getty Images) Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth's theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia's greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really. Brad Pitt Days of Thunder F1: The Movie Joseph Kosinski Tom Cruise
Geek Culture
a day ago
- Geek Culture
Capcom Drops First 'Resident Evil Requiem' Gameplay, Explains Why Leon Isn't The Focus
Capcom has revealed the first gameplay tease for its highly anticipated survival horror sequel, Resident Evil Requiem , showing off both first and third-person gameplay and highlighting its new protagonist, FBI Agent Grace Ashcroft. Shown via the Capcom Spotlight event, brief snippets of the upcoming title were shown, including clips of Ashcroft slowly moving through dimly lit corridors with a lighter in hand, stalked by a giant humanoid creature that's pure nightmare fuel. On first look, the game does give off similar vibes to 2017's Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, with its tight, claustrophobic interiors, although this might just be a specific section of the game, and environments might open up as the game progresses, similar to 2021's Resident Evil Village . In the trailer, game director Koshi Nakanishi explains the focus on a new protagonist this time around, with the game centred on a new type of character for the series, the introverted and jumpy FBI intelligence analyst Ashcroft. 'We wanted someone that experiences horror from the same perspective as the player,' Nakanishi explained, adding that even though the goal was to allow players to witness Ashcroft overcome her fears over the course of the story, she's not entirely helpless either, being trained with firearms and possessing 'calm deductive reasoning'. Gameplay for both the titles' first and third-person perspectives were also shown, with the developers explaining how the former makes for 'tense, realistic gameplay', while the latter is 'great for people who enjoy action-heavy gameplay', offering more freedom for players to experience the title in their own way. Alas, the trailer didn't feature the big Leon Kennedy reveal fans were expecting, with the developers instead noting why the franchise veteran was actually a 'bad match for horror'. 'We always thought about making Leon the protagonist,' Nakanishi explained, 'but making a horror game based around him is difficult. He wouldn't jump at a bucket falling. No one wants to see Leon scared by every little thing.' Despite the statement, Leon's appearance in the game was not ruled out entirely, adding to fan speculation that he might be the game's unannounced second protagonist, and would show up in the later portions of the game, similar to Resident Evil Village 's closing section with Chris Redfield. This follows details spotted in the game's reveal trailer hinting at Leon's presence, including the character's truck parked outside the ruins of the Raccoon City Police Department, the character's voice actor Nick Apostolides' online resume, and comments by Resident Evil leaker Dusk Golem. In any case, it's still early to say for sure, with more details surrounding Resident Evil Requiem's plot and characters bound to come as the game approaches its 27 February 2026 release for the PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC. Kevin is a reformed PC Master Race gamer with a penchant for franchise 'duds' like Darksiders III and Dead Space 3 . He has made it his life-long mission to play every single major game release – lest his wallet dies trying. Capcom Resident Evil Resident Evil Requiem
Geek Culture
a day ago
- Geek Culture
'Lilo & Stitch 2' Live-Action Sequel Greenlit At Disney
With Lilo & Stitch and How to Train Your Dragon dominating the global box office, live-action adaptations are certainly basking in the glow of their overwhelming success. Disney is set to keep the ball rolling, as a sequel to the reimagined take on the 2002 animated classic is officially in the works. The project was announced on 26 June, or 6/26 in American format — a clever nod to the alien's government name, Experiment 626. In a brief teaser shared on social media, the agent of chaos drives a hot-pink convertible through the studio's Burbank parking lot, shouting, 'Get ready. Here we go!' before drifting Not much else is known about Lilo & Stitch 2 , including returning or new cast members and the creative team, but its development was never in doubt. The first film, directed by Dean Fleischer Camp based on Chris Kekaniokalani Bright and Mike Van Waes' script, surpassed US$850 million worldwide after only four weekends of release, with the House of Mouse already eyeing a follow-up ahead of its opening weekend. The original animated darling was helmed by Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois, following the titular girl, played by Maia Kealoha in the live-action, who befriends an on-the-run alien genetically engineered as a creature of destruction. Coincidentally, the duo also worked on the How to Train Your Dragon animated movies for DreamWorks, and reunited on Universal's live-action debut as executive producer and director-writer, respectively. A sequel is in development, with the likelihood of deviating from the original narrative. It's unclear how Lilo & Stitch 2 will continue the adventures of, well, Lilo and Stitch, but the pic is expected to adapt 2005's Stitch Has a Glitch , which Disney+ describes as such: 'Your favourite characters return in this heartwarming comedy about bringing friends and family together — even when they seem worlds apart. Before the other 625 experiments land in Hawaii, Stitch is living the good life; he even helps Lilo follow in the footsteps of her mother as she prepares for the big island hula contest. But when Stitch gets a glitch, their perfect world goes haywire. Now it's going to take Lilo, Nani, Jumba and a whole lotta 'ohana for them to save their funny little friend. ' Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth's theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia's greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really. Disney Lilo & Stitch 2 Live-Action
