In the tutorial of Indigo Prophecy, David Cage, who is modeled as a literal character in the game's tutorial, tells players that every action will have consequences. It's a conceit that has made up one half of Cage's creative philosophy, underpinning the narrative-heavy, interactive film format of his games, where players are guided through his stories by the choices they make. Beyond: Two Souls was no exception to the formula, as the 2013 Quantic Dream title let players assume the role of Jodie Holmes, instructing her through her plight with ghost entity Aiden and the ensuing shenanigans of government conspiracies, underwater military compounds, Somalian warlords, and the like.
Now, it may come as a shock that Beyond: Two Souls, a game whose very identity hinges on being a cinematic experience, would be considered for a TV adaptation, but recent reporting has confirmed that the project is in early development. Doubly surprising is that the title was picked up by Pageboy Productions, a production company helmed by Elliot Page, who starred in the game's leading role alongside actor Willem Dafoe. Quantic Dream, the company behind Beyond: Two Souls, came under scrutiny following the game's release for its breach of workplace ethics, as legal action was considered for the unauthorized render of a nude model based on Page's likeness that existed within the game's files.
Beyond: Two Souls' TV Adaptation is in Early Development by Pageboy Productions
Straying from the Original Events of Beyond: Two Souls' Story
How involved David Cage is with this Beyond: Two Souls TV adaptation remains to be seen. It is likely that the project will exist mostly outside his purview; "I know that Elliot has all the talent and instinct to make it something really unique on TV," Cage said in a Deadline report. Pageboy Productions acquired the rights from Quantic Dream for the adaptation, and Elliot himself has stated that he wants to create a "unique vision of the characters and their journeys that resonates with fans and newcomers." This "inviting of fresh perspectives," was doubly emphasized by Pageboy's Head of Development and Production Matt Jordan Smith, suggesting that the TV series could differ quite a bit from the original events of the games.
Elliot and Pageboy Productions
Considering the challenges Page faced during his original involvement with Beyond: Two Souls, it is refreshing to hear that he's comfortable returning to the project. The adaptation does, however, raise larger questions about how the original story will differ based on Elliot and Pageboy Productions' creative control. The altering of Beyond: Two Souls' original story beats is certainly warranted given the controversial nature of Cage's narrative handling, though whether Page takes a behind-the-scenes approach or returns in front of the camera remains unseen. Considering his role as Jodie took place pre-transition, there has been speculation over whether Elliot will reprise the character; some have theorized that Jodie's character could be gender-swapped, while others have suggested that a different actor will take the role.
"Game Overs are a Failure of the Game Designer"
There is also the case of Beyond: Two Souls nonlinearity to contend with. Other IPs like Until Dawn, whose film adaptation is slated for release this year, have gone the way of more loose inspiration, and it could be that Beyond: Two Souls considers the same approach. In the grand scheme of choice-based games, Beyond: Two Souls was pretty illusory in its player agency, a critique that was brought up through the dissonance between its story and mechanics by way of the game's lack of fail states. Still, it seems as though the emphasis on "split-second decisions" will persist in the game's TV adaptation, which, with better handling, could shine a new light on the game's general premise.
There is no word yet as to whether Willem Dafoe, who starred alongside Page as Beyond: Two Souls' Nathan Dawkins, will return for the game's television adaptation. It is safe to say that both his and Page's performances were among the highlights of the game, so the potential for his reprisal could be of great benefit to the project. On the Quantic Dream side of things, the company's development of Star Wars Eclipse, first revealed in 2021, appears to be keeping Cage busy. As the Beyond: Two Souls adaptation is only just now in early development, it will be interesting to see how things progress, and just how much of, if any, Cage's input will tie into the series.
Beyond: Two Souls
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 71 /100 Critics Rec: 47%
- Released
- October 8, 2013
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ // Blood, Intense Violence, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Use of Drugs and Alcohol
- Developer(s)
- Quantic Dream
- Publisher(s)
- Sony Computer Entertainment
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WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Adventure
