Following A Minecraft Movie's record-breaking box office debut, there are now rumors that another major gaming IP could be adapted into a movie. In a now-deleted post, prominent insider Daniel Richtman (@DanielRPK) claimed that a Fortnite movie could be the next big video game to get a movie adaptation.
He claimed that a Fortnite movie was already being shopped around but that some studios passed on the opportunity to produce it. The now-deleted post read:
"You just know Fortnite is next. There was already talk of a Fortnite movie, but some studios passed on it. That’s obviously gonna change now."
The rumor prompted a response from Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney, who simply stated: "False."
Exactly what is false is unclear, though. Was Sweeney claiming that rumors of a Fortnite movie are false, or was he denying that studios had passed on the project?
Richtman responded, asking for clarification, adding: "If what I said was incorrect, I take full responsibility. I just want to clarify and ask more specifically to be sure: Is it not true that Sony passed on the opportunity to make a Fortnite movie a few years ago?"
As of this writing, Sweeney has not yet responded to Richtman's question.
Like Minecraft, Fortnite is one of the most popular video games in the world. That doesn't necessarily mean it will make for a good movie, but if A Minecraft Movie's box office success is any indication, fans will flock to theaters to see their favorite games on the big screen — even if the story isn't necessarily up to par.
A Minecraft Movie currently sits at a 48% on Rotten Tomatoes among critics. The consensus reads: "Ostensibly a film about celebrating creativity, A Minecraft Movie provides a colorful sandbox for Jack Black and Jason Momoa to amusingly romp around in a story curiously constructed from conventional building blocks."
However, the film smashed box office records with a $157 million opening weekend. It's the biggest opening weekend of the year and now holds the record for the best domestic opening weekend for any video game movie, topping The Super Mario Bros. Movie ($146.4M). Regardless of what critics say, there seems to be interest in A Minecraft Movie, and audiences seem to be enjoying it. The movie boasts an 87% on the Popcornmeter.
If Minecraft can enjoy this sort of success at the box office, there's no reason a game like Fortnite — with all of its memes and pop culture references — can't find similar success. Would you want to see a Fortnite movie produced?