Get ready to experience Until Dawn in a way you've never seen the video game before: in movie form. For months now, fans have speculated that the film from Sony Pictures would create a new story for the film rather than a straight adaptation of the video game. Now we have confirmation that this is the case.
During Sony's recent global press conference, Screen Gems president Ashley Brucks said the movie, which will be released theatrically on April 25, 2025, will "tell a new story," though she assures fans they will incorporate elements they feel are integral to the game's DNA and pay homage "in the right way."
Brucks notes that director David F. Sandberg is a big fan of the 2015 PlayStation horror game developed by Supermassive Games. Sandberg is no stranger to the horror genre, having directed films like Lights Out and Annabelle: Creation. Sandberg is working with his frequent collaborator Gary Dauberman (Annabelle: Creation), who is writing the Until Dawn script.
We still don't have many details on the Until Dawn movie, but Brucks says they've made an effort to respect the source material and feature a similar core premise "of a group of friends who encounter a variety of terrifying threats to tell a new story that is truly visceral and horrifying."
You won't see the same characters from the game featured, but Until Dawn has a brand new cast, starring Ella Rubin, Michael Cimino, Ji-young Yoo, Odessa A'zion, Maia Mitchell, Belmont Cameli, and Peter Stormare. One actor from the game is returning. Peter Stormare, who played Dr. Hill, will play a new character in the movie.
Stormare also shared a message at the press conference, noting how excited he is to be part of the project and stating that the film is "loaded with twists" and serves as a "love letter to horror" while still honoring the game's spirit.
Sandberg shared a bloody photo in October 2024, announcing that filming had wrapped on the movie.
A new direction is what the franchise needs
Until Dawn is a narrative survival horror game that puts players into the shoes of eight different characters trying to survive a night on Blackwood Mountain, where they're being stalked by a terrifying creature. Part of the game's appeal was the choice system, allowing players to make serious decisions that would impact which characters lived or died.
While some fans are disappointed that the movie will go in a different direction, I think it will be exciting to see how the filmmakers build out the Until Dawn universe. It's also worth noting that the game was very cinematic and featured notable actors like Rami Malek and Hayden Panettiere in lead roles. It's hard to imagine replacing them or doing something different with the story that doesn't just feel like a rehash of the game. In many ways, Until Dawn's charm resides in the way it feels almost like playing a horror movie. Turning that into a movie might diminish the impact, especially since we've seen it play out already.
Bringing in new characters feels like the right decision. Plus, Sony just released a remaster last year, so there is an updated version of the story available.
Until Dawn will be released in theaters on April 25, 2025.