29 Years On, an Iconic Horror Video Game Is Getting Another Movie (And It Just Hired the Perfect Actor)

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Video games are increasingly becoming successful as high-quality TV shows and big-budget movies, as seen with shows like The Last of Us and films like the Sonic the Hedgehog and Minecraft franchises. Horror movies are also enjoying a surge in popularity, so it’s not surprising that these two worlds are colliding in several new projects. Zach Cregger, director of Weapons, is releasing a new Resident Evil movie this year, and now another popular horror game from the 90s is also getting the film treatment.

If you ever spent time in arcades – or even the newer “barcades” – you probably remember Sega’s The House of the Dead. Originally released in 1997, the game let players use plastic light guns to shoot at enemies on the screen, battling waves of zombies. Now, Sega and Wow Entertainment are making another movie based on the game, and the teams behind it have a strong history in horror gaming.

Resident Evil Director & The Last of Us Star Teaming for The House of the Dead

Paul W.S. Anderson, the director known for the popular 1990s film Mortal Kombat and the Resident Evil movie series, is directing a new film called The House of the Dead. Variety reports that Isabela Merced will star in the lead role. Merced is a quickly rising star, having transitioned from roles in films like Sicario 2 and Dora and the Lost City of Gold to bigger projects including superhero movies (Madame Web, Superman) and horror films (Alien: Romulus) and even HBO’s The Last of Us. This role is expected to be her biggest yet and could prove she has the ability to lead a major film.

The video game The House of the Dead centers around the AMS, a government organization dedicated to protecting world peace by eliminating threats. One such threat is Dr. Curien, who works for the DNA Bio Reactor Corporation. While trying to find a cure for his sick son, he accidentally creates a zombie-like outbreak. Labeled a mad scientist and left to fend for himself, Curien decides to unleash the infection on the world. An AMS team is dispatched to his mansion, which also serves as a lab, to contain the creatures he’s created and stop him before the outbreak spreads. It’s believed that Anderson’s film is inspired by the third game in the series, where the infection has become global. An AMS team is initially sent to a desert research facility hoping to find a cure, but they are wiped out. A second team is then sent and uncovers crucial information about the original outbreak, revealing secrets that change the entire story.

The original House of the Dead video game was adapted into a 2003 movie by director Uwe Boll, known for low-budget game adaptations. While intended as a small, cult horror film, it received negative reviews from both critics and fans. A direct-to-video sequel followed in 2004, directed by Michael Hurst, and focused on an AMS team battling an outbreak at a school. Both films were criticized for being low-quality and failing to capture the spirit of the game. Now, Paul W.S. Anderson is promising a new House of the Dead movie that will deliver the survival-action-horror experience fans expect. He’s described it as immersive and terrifying, and said it will unfold in real-time, mirroring the gameplay experience. The movie will only end when the characters win or die, just like the game.

A new adaptation of The House of the Dead is currently being made, and Uwe Boll is also said to be planning a direct sequel to his 2003 movie. Join the discussion on the ComicBook Forum!

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2026-02-06 20:41