Ahead of its imminent launch in 2022, Binge.com–which aims to become a “Netflix for gaming shows”–has named the director for its most anticipated upcoming series, and it’s taking talent from another huge live-action video game adaptation to realize its vision.
The small-screen adaptation of PC masterpiece
System Shock has been handed to Greg Russo, the screenwriter of 2021’s
Mortal Kombat for New Line Cinema. Not only will he write the exclusive show, but he’ll also be making his directorial debut by showcasing the story of Citadel Station’s descent into chaos.
Alongside
Mortal Kombat–which proved to be a success with HBO Max, with a reported 3.6 million viewers on its opening weekend–Russo has adapted other games for film and television, including
Space Invaders for New Line, and
Saints Row for F. Gary Gray.
As with all other Binge-produced shows, Russo will be joined by the company’s Allan Ungar as producer, while Nightdive Studios’ Stephen Kick and Larry Kuperman serve as executive producers.
Russo said: “I’m honored to have the opportunity to work alongside the fantastic team at Binge and Nightdive Studios to bring the iconic
System Shock franchise to life. I’ve been waiting for the right opportunity to make my directorial debut, and I finally found it.”
Ungar continued: “Greg is a superbly talented screenwriter who possesses an unmatched knowledge and passion for gaming.
“His artistic approach to storytelling and his deep understanding of the source material will undoubtedly get fans excited about this new franchise. We’re thrilled to be bringing him on board and can’t wait to share his vision with audiences worldwide.”
If you’ve been one of those people unfortunate enough to miss out on the
System Shock experience, the game takes place in 2072 about the space-based Citadel Station. You, an unnamed hacker, make a dodgy deal and as a result, you wake from a coma to find yourself surrounded by killer mutants, angry robots, and the greatest bad guy in gaming history: the megalomaniacal AI, SHODAN.
While
System Shock is arguably the most popular IP that Binge has secured for its silver-screen shenanigans, it will also be been joined by a
live-action adaptation of PS1 classic Driver, alongside a more left-field but no less intriguing
interpretation of Crytek’s cult FPS hit Hunt: Showdown.
