Though you might think Apocalypse Now would be a video game set in present-day America, the title actually refers to Francis Ford Coppola's 1979 Vietnam War-era classic. And Ford is now offering his backing to a video game based on the movie.
A team of game writing and design veterans who between them created the likes of Gears Of War, Fallout: New Vegas, Wasteland 2 and Pillars Of Eternity have convinced Coppola and his American Zoetrope company to let them create a role-playing-style game, described as "psychological horror" in tone.
“Forty years ago, I set out to make a personal art picture that could hopefully influence generations of viewers for years to come,” Coppola says in a statement. “Today, I’m joined by new daredevils, a team who want to make an interactive version of Apocalypse Now, where you are Captain Benjamin Willard amidst the harsh backdrop of the Vietnam War. I’ve been watching video games grow into a meaningful way to tell stories, and I’m excited to explore the possibilities for Apocalypse Now for a new platform and a new generation.”
The game will throw you into the middle of the film's narrative, playing as Captain Willard (Martin Sheen in the movie), sent on a secret mission to assassinate the renegade Colonel Kurtz (Marlon Brando). Your decisions will affect the outcome, leading to your own personal journey through the conflict zones.
Looking to publish the game in 2020, the team is working outside of the usual companies and has taken to Kickstarter to drum up funding. Backers will get the chance to play the resulting game earlier than others (2019 is the plan, to tie in with the movie's 40th anniversary) and have the chance to offer development feedback while scoring game options and props from the film. You can find all the details at the game's Kickstarter page.