As far as video games go, Firewatch was something of an oddity: it features no guns, no hand-to-hand combat, no explosions, and certainly no fire-breathing dragons from a portal to some mystical realm. It was, instead, an unostentatious first-person mystery adventure set in a near-deserted Wyoming forest. And now it’s being made into a movie.
The film adaptation – another hoping to break that longstanding Curse Of The Video Games Turned Into Not Very Good Movies – will be the first collaboration between the game’s indie developer, Campo Santo, and indie studio Good Universe, which has co-produced comedies like This Is The End and Bad Neighbours. The two companies have signed a new deal to to make content together for both video games and films, according to the Hollywood Reporter, with the Firewatch movie their first priority.
The debut game from Campo Santo, Firewatch arrived in February this year to critical acclaim. It told the story of a widower taking a lonely job in a Wyoming forest watchtower, with only a fellow fire lookout for company, communicating over walkie-talkies. As time goes on, the player appears to be watched by a mysterious, unseen figure.
Particular critical praise cited the gripping sound design and above-average voice acting from Cissy Jones and Mad Men’s Rich Sommer. It also boasted some gorgeous minimalist graphics, depicting the Shoshone National Park in all its autumnal finery (including design work from Olly Moss, formerly of this parish). It has sold nearly a million copies so far.
"Finding extraordinary content is incredibly exciting, and with the Campo Santo team, we felt an immediate simpatico with their utterly beguiling storytelling and amazing creative instincts," Good Universe’s co-founder Joe Drake said in statement. This is very much the first announcement, so there's no word on casting, directors, or any other key information, but we'll keep a lookout in our metaphorical watchtower for any further news.