Until Dawn Movie Makes A Key Departure From The Game, Sony Confirms
Sony has confirmed the upcoming Until Dawn movie adaptation is making a key departure from the game, which will set the film apart from its source material. Based on the 2015 choose-your-own-adventure video game of the same name, the upcoming Until Dawn movie follows a group of characters who are terrorized by mysterious, supernatural forces. In the game, this happens when a group of friends stay at a cabin overnight together, with the player having to make choices that determine who will live through the whole game, and who will die along the way.
Now, speaking at a presentation during CES 2025 (via TechRadar), Sony confirmed the forthcoming Until Dawn movie adaptation, which comes out on April 25, 2025, will feature a new story and characters. The studio's confirmation means the movie will not be a direct adaptation of the game. Instead, it will follow a different group of people with a new storyline, with the only returnee being Peter Stormare as Dr. Alan J. Hill.
Director David F. Sandberg also posted a video to Instagram of the talk about the movie at CES. During the talk, it's confirmed some elements of the game will appear, and will be an "homage" to the original story. Stormare also confirms his return alongside the new story and characters, stating the film is perfect for fans and newcomers alike. Sandberg's video can be viewed below:
What Until Dawn's New Story Means For The Movie Adaptation
Some Familiar Elements Won't Carry Over From The Game
Until Dawn's most important choices involve whether a character will live or die in certain situations. Player interactivity is an important part of the game, which also relies on both slasher elements and supernatural terror to present a unique horror experience. However, the news that its movie adaptation will have a different cast and story means some elements won't carry over. A major one is The Psycho, a slasher villain who is actually a character in the game, motivated by a major event which is the reason the characters go to the cabin.
However, the movie could still use the same supernatural elements, such as the wendigos, which would be easy to fit into an original story thanks to their versatility. Unfortunately, this does still mean classic characters like Josh (Rami Malek), Sam (Hayden Panettiere), and Mike (Brett Dalton) will not be coming back in any capacity. However, this means the new cast will be playing different characters audiences can get attached to before the horrors begin, with the live-action video game adaptation differentiating itself because of this decision.
Alongside Stormare, the cast of Until Dawn consists of Ella Rubin, Michael Cimino, Ji-young Yoo, Odessa A'zion, Maia Mitchell, and Belmont Cameli.
Our Take On Until Dawn's New Story & Characters
Will It Connect To The Game?
While a new story and characters means the adaptation will be unpredictable for everyone watching, it also makes the movie sound like it's an Until Dawn adaptation in name alone. We're hopeful the film will offer some nods to the game's classic elements, building a connection beyond some general ideas and its title. But since Sandberg has proven himself as a horror director with Lights Out and Annabelle: Creation, the franchise is clearly in good hands, no matter what changes are made in the creative process.
Source: CES 2025 (via TechRadar); David F. Sandberg/Instagram
Until Dawn
- Release Date
- April 25, 2025
- Runtime
- 103 Minutes
- Director
- David F. Sandberg
- Writers
- Gary Dauberman, Blair Butler
- Producers
- Carter Swan, Roy Lee, Gary Dauberman, Charles Miller, Lotta Losten, Asad Qizilbash
Cast
Ella RubinClover
Michael CiminoMax
A group of friends ventures into a remote valley to uncover the truth behind a mysterious disappearance. They find themselves trapped in a nightmarish time loop, facing a series of ever-changing and increasingly terrifying threats.
- Main Genre
- Horror
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