The Best PlayStation Game Deserves Promised Blockbuster Movie Over A Decade Later
These days, projects such as The Super Mario Bros Movie and The Last of Us have essentially ended the long-standing myth that video games can’t properly be adapted into film and television outings. As a result, gamers are looking back on some of their favorite video games of the last few decades, and wondering if and when these projects will get the chance to wow audiences at the box office. One fan favorite franchise, Sly Cooper, was already overdue to become its own movie years ago, though the project has been indefinitely scrapped.
The original trilogy was made by Sucker Punch, which has gone on to develop franchises such as Infamous and Ghost of Tsushima, while a fourth installment was released by Sanzaru Games in 2013.
The Sly Cooper video games were originally developed for the Sony PlayStation 2 back in the early 2000s. The original trilogy was made by Sucker Punch, which has gone on to develop franchises such as Infamous and Ghost of Tsushima, while a fourth installment was released by Sanzaru Games in 2013. Back in 2014, a trailer was released on YouTube for an upcoming Sly Cooper movie, though no such film ever materialized.
When the Sly Cooper movie first fell apart several years ago, fans of the franchise actually breathed a minor sigh of relief, as the trailer showcased a number of major structural problems.
The first game in the franchise centers on Sly, a raccoon who comes from a long line of master thieves, as well as Bentley and Murray, his brainy and brawny counterparts. Together, the trio work to avenge the deaths of Sly’s parents at the hands of a criminal gang known as the Fiendish Five, all while stealing back the pieces of his legacy along the way.
A Sly Cooper movie could easily adapt the plot of the first game into an incredible 90-100 minute movie, and potentially sprawl out into the following three games with a few sequels.
When the Sly Cooper movie first fell apart several years ago, fans of the franchise actually breathed a minor sigh of relief, as the trailer showcased a number of major structural problems. For starters, the studio hired a different voice actor to represent the game’s eponymous protagonist, which paled in comparison to the smooth, sarcastic delivery of Kevin Miller.
Furthermore, the character designs were positively atrocious, especially for Sly’s boisterous sidekick Murray, who looks like he was swallowed and puked out by a Lovecraftian horror.
Despite these flaws, I would have supported a Sly Cooper movie 100 percent of the way, as the franchise has been widely overlooked by Sony and Sucker Punch in the years since the release of the PS4, PS5, and beyond.
While Sony may not recognize the massive potential of the Sly Cooper franchise, its cult following proves that a movie would actually be more welcomed now than ever before.
There was briefly some talk of a Sly Cooper animated series back in the late 2010s, though that never materialized either. Essentially, the last acknowledgement that the critically-acclaimed game series has received was the 2013 Sanzaru sequel, and the 2010 remastered trilogy for the PlayStation 3.
That is, until very recently, when the original Sly Cooper game was ported into the PlayStation store for PS5 owners. By now, I’ve probably purchased the game about 5 or 6 times, and I’ll happily do it again for 5 more, because it’s one of the best action platformers ever developed.
While Sony may not recognize the massive potential of the Sly Cooper franchise, its cult following proves that a movie would actually be more welcomed now than ever before.
The vibrant Sly Cooper art style, campy voice acting, and gripping plot are perfect candidates to get the movie treatment, especially now that we’re seeing other popular franchises such as Sonic the Hedgehog and the Mario Bros appearing on the big screen.
Alternatively, the Sly Cooper fan base would settle for the rest of the games being ported over to the PlayStation store, or even, dare I say it, a fifth game in the franchise. For now I won’t hold my breath for a Sly Cooper movie, though if you need me, I’ll be busy jumping and pressing the circle button.
