Naughty Dog’s highly-anticipated next game,Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, stunned fans as the show-closer for The Game Awards 2024. Billed as the studio’s first original IP since 2013’sThe Last of Us,Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophetis Naughty Dog’s first go at a full-blown space-faring sci-fi game. Its retro-futurist aesthetic, alternate timeline where open space travel began in the 1980s, numerous real-world nods, and the promise of Naughty Dog’s “most creative” story and “deepest” gameplay yet are all extremely compelling bits of info for fans who’ve wanted the studio to venture into uncharted territories for a while.
Unsurprisingly, hype forIntergalactic: The Heretic Prophetis running high among the Naughty Dog faithful, with a near-unanimous demand for more details (especially the release date) about the game as soon as possible. Although unconfirmed, the chances ofIntergalactic: The Heretic Prophet’s launch datecoming before 2027 seem pretty slim. Regardless of when the game ends up launching,Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophetsets itself up well to follow in the footsteps ofThe Last of UsandUncharted- both of which made successful multimedia leaps.
Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet Could Continue the Naughty Dog Trend of Live-Action Adaptations
From the moment the announcement trailer began rolling, it was clear thatIntergalactic: The Heretic Prophetaims to blur the line between interactive entertainment and cinematic storytelling more than its predecessors did, which could translate smoothly into a live-action movie or TV series, provided the game is successful enough to warrant it.Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet’s plot followsbounty hunter Jordan A. Mun, who is stranded on the mysterious planet of Sempiria - a place aloof from the larger universe for over 600 years and rumored to consume all who visit - and must figure out a way to be the only one to escape.
The planet of Sempiria inIntergalactic: The Heretic Prophetis overrun by an enigmatic religion, which is likely the reason it’s cut off from the outside universe.
Naughty Dog president Neil Druckmann has also confirmed thatIntergalactic: The Heretic Prophet’s storywill explore themes of faith and religion. This narrative setup immediately piques interest, has potential for serialization, and most importantly, is character-driven - a signature of Naughty Dog’s storytelling. That character-first approach is further highlighted by a notable cast of seasoned actors, many of whom already have Hollywood experience. First and foremost among them is Tati Gabrielle, who plays Jordan inIntergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, and previously lent her talents toThe 100,You,Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, and even the live-actionUnchartedmovie andThe Last of Us Season 2.
Intergalactic’s Cast Comprises Renowned Hollywood Names
Gabrielle is joined by Kumail Nanjiani ofEternals,Silicon Valley, andStubersfame as Colin Graves, a member ofIntergalactic: The Heretic Prophet’s Five Aces syndicate, and Tony Dalton, who was lauded for playing Lalo inBetter Call Saul.Dalton’s role inIntergalactic: The Heretic Prophetis still under wraps, which also holds true for renowned voice actor Troy Baker, who voiced Joel and Sam Drake inThe Last of UsandUnchartedgames, respectively.Westworldscreenwriter Halley Gross is also in the game as AJ, Jordan’s assistant.
Both Intergalactic’s Characters and World Appear Ripe for the Live-Action Picking
Since most ofIntergalactic: The Heretic Prophet’s characters shown so far look identical to their actors, a transition to the film or TV space would feel rather natural. And it’s not just the actors that signal cinematic potential, but also the world Naughty Dog is building.Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet’s traileris laced with real-world references that give the universe an almost tactile familiarity, such as Jordan’s Porsche spaceship, her classic Adidas hi-tops, and the Sony cassette system she plays the Pet Shop Boys' 1987 hitIt’s a Sinon. These inclusions groundIntergalactic: The Heretic Prophet’s setting in a recognizable cultural language, and would help boost audience immersion in a potential live-action adaptation.
Naughty Dog’s Experience in Developing Live-Action Adaptations is Growing
Lastly, there’s also the fact that Naughty Dog is no rookie in the adaptation game. HBO’sThe Last of Usseries has been a critical and commercial success, praised for its writing and performances. And while 2022’sUnchartedmovie was more popcorn than prestige and involved Naughty Dog far less than some would have liked, it still showed how well the studio’s projects translate to live action and accrued enough success to warrant an inbound sequel. By the timeIntergalactic: The Heretic Prophetlaunches, Naughty Dog likely would’ve bolstered its multimedia portfolio withThe Last of UsSeason 3, and therefore racked up even more experience that could greatly benefit the sci-fi game’s hypothetical live-action adaptation. With a lead character played by a famous live action actor, as well as several cast members, minimal changes would be required to recapture the game’s vibe.
