It’s Been Stuck In Development Hell For Years, Here’s Why Shadow Of The Colossus Is My Top Pick For A Video Game Movie

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I’m a big fan of movies based on video games—even the ones that aren’t great. If I could choose any game to be made into a film, it would definitely be Shadow of the Colossus.

I’ve been captivated by Shadow of the Colossus for two decades, ever since it first came out on the PlayStation 2 in 2005. It tells the story of Wander, a traveler on a quest to revive a woman named Mono, and it’s often cited as proof that video games can be a beautiful and artistic medium.

Most people don’t know that a Shadow of the Colossus movie has been in the works since 2009, but it’s faced a lot of challenges. While I’m hoping Astro Bot will be PlayStation Productions’ next project, a Shadow of the Colossus film is still what I’d love to see happen.

Shadow Of The Colossus Could Be Told Without Any Recognizeable Dialogue Whatsoever, Which Would Be Super Unique

A common complaint about movies today is overly clever or quippy dialogue. Some call this the “Marvelization” of filmmaking, but it’s really just any dialogue that feels a bit too playful or silly.

I understand that not every film needs to be funny, but it’s also true that not every movie needs a lot of talking. Some of the most powerful storytelling happens without dialogue. Think about the first twenty minutes of Wall-E – it mostly shows Wall-E alone, with very little conversation. The silence really emphasizes the fact that Earth has been deserted. Wall-E remains one of Pixar’s best films because it uses dialogue carefully, letting its visuals and sound tell a captivating story.

Like Shadow of the Colossus, sound design could be minimal, focusing on things like a character calling for their horse. Other characters could speak a fictional language with subtitles. I think this would work wonderfully in a film adaptation of Shadow of the Colossus – the story could even be told without much recognizable dialogue, which would be a really unique choice.

Many video game adaptations are on the way, but it’s rare to find one that could succeed without relying heavily on dialogue. Shadow of the Colossus is a strong candidate to be that film, as its story could be powerfully conveyed through visuals alone.

Colossi On The Big Screen Would Be Jaw-Dropping

The trailer for Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey is absolutely stunning, and that’s even before we’ve seen clear shots of classic elements like the Cyclops or Scylla and Charybdis. I’m incredibly excited to see how Nolan interprets this story, as The Odyssey is widely considered one of the greatest adventures ever written.

Let me tell you about what I think is one of the greatest stories ever – Shadow of the Colossus. Seeing those giant colossi on a large screen would be incredible! The original game did a fantastic job of making them feel huge back in 2005, but with today’s technology, they could be even more impressive. While remakes have improved the graphics from the original PlayStation 2 version, they haven’t fundamentally changed how big the colossi appear. They look large, but not as absolutely massive as they could be, at least in my opinion.

I think these massive creatures, the colossi, would be incredibly impressive on the big screen, and a movie could really emphasize their enormous size. Just imagine Phalanx, the largest one, soaring through the air – it would be breathtaking! And Dirge? Seeing his huge eyes emerging from the sand on a large screen would be truly terrifying.

This movie has the potential to be incredible, and I’d definitely see it! Sony, please release it in theaters – and on the biggest screen possible – as soon as you can!

A Movie Could Expand The Lore, And The Land

One of the best parts of Shadow of the Colossus is how much mystery surrounds the story and the world it takes place in, called the Forbidden Lands. The less we know, the more interesting it becomes. We also have compelling characters like the shaman, Lord Emon, and those pursuing Wander, who seems to have done something awful by defeating the colossi.

There are a lot of unanswered questions about the connections between the games Ico and Shadow of the Colossus. For example, who is Mono, and could she be related to Princess Yorda from Ico? Many fans speculate that Shadow of the Colossus actually takes place before the events of Ico. A movie adaptation would be a fantastic way to finally explain all of this, and explore the rich story and world these games have created.

I have similar thoughts about the upcoming Elden Ring movie. Elden Ring has a rich story, but much of it is hidden and optional. A movie could really enhance that story, and I feel the same way about Shadow of the Colossus. While I appreciate how subtle the storytelling is in Shadow of the Colossus, I’d still be interested in learning more about the history of its world, The Forbidden Lands.

This film has potential, but I’m even more excited about what could happen if it were actually produced.

This Would Be The Best Chance To Finally See The Unused Colossi!

Fans of Shadow of the Colossus have always wondered about the colossi that didn’t make it into the game. While there are 16 colossi in the final version, around 10 others were designed but ultimately left out. These unused colossi are legendary among fans, and we’re eager to see what they would have been like.

Many fans are familiar with unused colossus designs like Devil, Spider, Worm, Phoenix, Evis, Yamori A, Sirius, Saru, Roc, and Griffin. While every Shadow of the Colossus player likely has their own favorites, I’ve always been most intrigued by Devil, Spider, and Worm. Devil, in particular, was designed to be a smaller colossus that would stalk you through tall grass, offering a unique hunting experience unlike any other fight in the game.

Spider is a huge, terrifying creature reminiscent of Lovecraftian monsters, with six legs and tentacles erupting from its mouth. Worm is a monstrous, faceless sandworm with an enormous mouth. For years, fans have been eager to see these creatures come to life, and a movie might be the only way that dream becomes a reality.

I’ve been wondering – if someone did make a movie out of Shadow of the Colossus, could it actually be the best video game adaptation we’ve ever seen? But then I also worry – is the game a little too niche to really become a mainstream success as a film? I’m really curious to know what others think!

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2026-01-03 02:12