The Batman 2 Co-Writer Says Hollywood Wants More Video Game Adaptations

The co-writer of The Batman 2 says Hollywood’s creative focus is shifting away from comic-book franchises and toward video game adaptations instead.

Release and platform snapshot: what’s coming, and when

Tomlin says Mega Man is not happening on his watch

Mattson Tomlin, who co-wrote The Batman 2 with director Matt Reeves and is tied to the game-dev world through the adaptations conversation, was asked on social media whether he was still working on a Mega Man movie.

His answer: he isn’t working on that project anymore, though he also doesn’t doubt that Mega Man could still eventually reach theaters. In his view, video games are exactly where Hollywood is currently looking for fresh material.

Tomlin said he wasn’t sure whether the Mega Man movie had officially been scrapped, but that it was “definitely not on my dance card anymore.” He explained that he had written a set of early drafts, then later work moved forward with another writer taking over “some years later.” He added that he hopes the film gets made, praising its “emotional and surprising” approach.

He also argued that the industry is in the middle of a broader pivot: Hollywood, in his words, is shifting from being “comic book obsessed” to being “video game obsessed.” Even if that momentum continues, he suggested that after so much time has passed, it’s unlikely he’ll be involved in the final version.

Why video game films are suddenly the safer bet

Tomlin’s comments land in the context of a superhero movie cycle that’s been weakening for a while. While some comic-based titles still break through the billion-dollar ceiling—he referenced examples like Deadpool & Wolverine and the newer Spider-Man films—the era of guaranteed success, even for less well-known characters or teams, is fading.

He pointed to recent struggles for Marvel and DC at the box office, citing Captain America: Brave New World, Thunderbolts, and Supergirl as examples of projects that didn’t perform as expected. This month’s Spider-Man: Brand New Day and December’s Avengers: Doomsday may still draw crowds, but outside major releases designed as tentpoles, superhero movies overall are finding it harder to land.

That’s where video game movies come in—especially those positioned for families. Tomlin highlighted how the biggest money-makers in the category have arrived very recently, noting that the top four highest-grossing video game films of all time all debuted within the last three years.

He cited The Super Mario Bros. Movie bringing in $1.3 billion. He also mentioned this year’s sequel, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, which earned just over $1 billion. In the same stretch, a Minecraft movie reportedly landed just shy of $1 billion.

Beyond Nintendo and block-building IP, he referenced the major hits from Sonic the Hedgehog and Five Nights at Freddy’s. He even brought up Iron Lung, calling it a “megahit” relative to its production budget.

Of course, the model isn’t perfect. Tomlin acknowledged that some video game films have missed—he pointed to Mortal Kombat 2 having a tougher time at the box office than expected. He also said Until Dawn and Return to Silent Hill largely failed to make an impact theatrically. Still, the overall picture, in his view, is that Hollywood is leaning hard into video game adaptations—and that more are on the way.

Tomlin says he’s getting more offers for game adaptations this year

Tomlin added a personal data point to his argument. He said his perspective is backed up by the fact that he’s receiving at least five times more offers for video game adaptations than comic book adaptations during this year.

Known release targets for upcoming game movies and TV

With the spotlight on adaptations, the question becomes what’s next. Tomlin pointed to Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil movie as arriving this September. He also said the Street Fighter film is scheduled for October.

He then laid out a crowded 2027 slate for game-based releases, listing Angry Birds Movie 3, Sonic the Hedgehog 4, The Legend of Zelda, a Minecraft follow-up titled A Minecraft Movie Squared, and Helldivers as films due out next year.

Looking further ahead to 2028, he mentioned an Elden Ring movie currently in production. He also listed a Call of Duty movie, and said there may be a Battlefield movie as well, alongside a rumored Donkey Kong adaptation.

For 2029, he expects Super Mario Movie 3. After that, he said the list keeps going, naming Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Horizon Zero Dawn, Gears of War, Death Stranding, and Metal Gear Solid as titles that are part of the broader pipeline of upcoming projects.

Superhero schedules won’t disappear—game IP may drive the next growth

Tomlin’s takeaway is that big-screen releases tied to established comic and superhero brands won’t stop—Spider-Man, the Avengers, Batman, and Superman will continue to cycle in and out of theaters.

But he suggests that the real expansion of Hollywood’s mainstream growth may increasingly come from game characters and worlds like Mario, Link, Sonic, and Steve.

Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at [email protected] or confidentially at [email protected].