Until Dawn Game Writers Aren’t in the Movie’s Credits, and Some Aren’t Happy About It

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Over the weekend, the theatre premiere of the Until Dawn movie took place, and although responses have been varied, a few viewers are becoming agitated due to a missing acknowledgement in the closing titles.

As a dedicated gamer diving into the terrifying world of the PS4 horror adventure, I can’t help but notice that the talented duo, Larry Fessenden and Graham Reznick, who penned the massive script with its intricate branching narrative, are absent from the movie’s closing credits.

In conversation with The Hollywood Reporter, the writers expressed that they find the exclusion unsurprising, yet their tone implies a certain dissatisfaction as well.

Fessenden remarks, “I didn’t expect anything special, but I thought they might include our names, perhaps even in the closing credits. However, it seems there’s little consideration for such gestures in the entertainment industry.

It seems that although the duo has put in a substantial amount of effort into the project, they aren’t asking for recognition in the form of credit, but they would have appreciated some form of acknowledgment nonetheless.

The problem seems to be that the Writers Guild of America lacks clearly defined guidelines when it comes to writing for interactive media.

According to Rob Forman, a representative on the WGA West Board of Directors, the term ‘written by’ credit in TV and film is clearly defined as part of our union agreement with studios. However, in the realm of video games, this level of assurance and protection isn’t available yet, so credits can often be decided more freely by individual game companies.

Kim MacAskill, an ex-narrative director at Playson (PlayStation), expressed her disagreement with the situation on LinkedIn, pointing out that she believes the credit “based on the Sony game” falls short of what’s truly deserved.

1) She writes that they invested numerous years tirelessly brainstorming to create something truly remarkable, and it’s only fair for the world to recognize who they are.

2) In her words, they spent countless hours putting their minds to the test in order to bring forth something extraordinary, and it is essential for the world to learn their identities.

3) According to her, they devoted years of mental exertion to create something amazing, and it’s only right that the world becomes aware of who they are.

4) She notes that they dedicated years to working hard on a truly outstanding project, and it’s important for the world to acknowledge their names.

As a dedicated gamer, I can share that, based on reports from The Hollywood Reporter, Fessenden and Reznick seem unfazed by any hard feelings regarding the Until Dawn movie. However, what concerns them is the pace of things, as they want to make sure other writers are acknowledged for their contributions in a timely manner.

According to Reznick, it seems that the guilds are struggling to adapt as quickly as the industry is shifting from conventional media types.

This issue has certainly ignited discussions online about whether the individuals involved in creating the initial game deserve credit in the acknowledgments of its remake, given that the remake is a separate venture with its own team and participants.

Some spectators contend that the duo didn’t create the movie, which explains why their names are absent. Conversely, others believe that the film wouldn’t have been possible without the popular game, making it fair to acknowledge those who developed it.

In what stance do you find yourself regarding this question? Is it appropriate for the writers of the Until Dawn video game to be acknowledged in the Until Dawn film? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section beneath this post.

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2025-04-28 23:06