RPG ‘Kingdom Come: Deliverance II’ and Its Cinematic Cut Take the Karlovy Vary Spotlight

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This year, the 59th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (KVIFF) is broadening its horizons to include series and gaming content. On Wednesday, its Special Screenings section will debut the global premiere of “Kingdom Come: Deliverance II Cinematic Cut,” a cinematic version of the internationally successful medieval role-playing game developed by Warhorse Studios, which is part of the RPG genre.

1403 in the realm of Bohemia. A state of turmoil engulfs the kingdom as invaders ravage its unprotected lands, instilling dread and terror among its inhabitants. Henry, a servant from Skalitz, is driven by the desire for vengeance against those who took his family’s lives. With the backing of the rightful king’s allies, he is assigned to accompany Sir Hans Capon on a diplomatic assignment. However, their journey takes a treacherous turn when they are ambushed and left for dead. Consequently, these two young men find themselves thrust into a chain of dangerous expeditions, where their abilities, personalities, and bond will be stretched to their limits.

Prior to the premiere of the film adaptation, a lively conversation with the creators shone light on the game “Kingdom Come: Deliverance II,” the process of turning it into a movie, the current landscape of the Czech gaming industry, and more. The panel included Martin Frývaldský, CEO of Warhorse Studios, Daniel Vávra, a renowned Czech screenwriter, director, and video game designer, Petr Pekař, who transitioned from editing and directing to a 10-year career in the gaming industry as a cutscene creator, and now serves as cinematic director at Warhorse, and Pavel Barák, head of the Czech Game Developers Association. Notably, Vávra and Pekař are listed as directors for the movie.

According to Pekař, what enabled the transition from the game to a cinematic cut was its exceptional quality. He stated, “It was already well-written and well-acted initially, but certain sections needed to be eliminated.

Frývaldský agreed with that point, stating, “Kingdom Come is recognized for its powerful narrative. We found it intriguing to present an alternative perspective on the gaming industry and cater to a distinct audience other than traditional gamers. In our opinion, film was the optimal medium to illustrate what contemporary computer games truly encompass.

In the film, you’ll likely witness around 30-40% of the gameplay as it primarily concentrates on the initial part. They pointed out that the game includes approximately six hours worth of narrative cutscenes.

Vávra shared that this experiment was particularly intriguing for him, as he pondered over an engaging question: how players accustomed to active gameplay would react to the more passive experience of watching a movie. He expressed his belief that it’s both feasible and effective. Furthermore, he suggested that modern games resemble what films looked like 10-20 years ago.

The movie could potentially draw new players towards the game, as it offers a glimpse into its world and narrative. Pekař mentioned that the game boasts over 120 hours of gameplay, making the film only around 5% of the total experience. Therefore, watching the movie won’t ruin your enjoyment of the game. In fact, it could be enjoyable to watch the film and then start playing the game to discover more about its hidden aspects.

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2025-07-09 17:25