Jak and Daxter you say? Jak and Daxter is a popular video game series developed by Naughty Dog, the acclaimed game development studio known for creating successful franchises such as Crash Bandicoot, Uncharted (also a movie starring Tom Holland), and The Last of Us. And now it looks like a movie adaptation could be in the works for the beloved game franchise with some big names and stars familiar to MCU fans attached.
The video game series debuted in 2001 with the release of Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy for the PlayStation 2. The series is primarily categorized as a platformer with elements of action-adventure and exploration. It follows the adventures of the titular characters, Jak and Daxter, as they traverse various fantastical worlds, battle enemies, solve puzzles, and uncover secrets. The series is known for its vibrant and imaginative settings, engaging gameplay mechanics, and character-driven narratives.
WHAT ARE THE JAK AND DAXTER GAMES ABOUT?
Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy (2001) was the first installment in the series. It introduces players to the duo of Jak, a young hero with unique abilities, and Daxter, his comical and talkative friend who is transformed into a small, otter-like creature due to an accident. The game focuses on their quest to find a cure for Daxter’s condition while exploring a diverse world filled with various challenges and secrets.
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Jak II. This 2003 sequel takes a darker and more mature tone compared to its predecessor. The story follows Jak and Daxter as they are transported to a dystopian city named Haven City after an experiment goes awry. The game introduces new gameplay mechanics, such as a more open-world structure, driving segments, and a greater emphasis on combat abilities.
Jak II. This 2003 sequel takes a darker and more mature tone compared to its predecessor. The story follows Jak and Daxter as they are transported to a dystopian city named Haven City after an experiment goes awry. The game introduces new gameplay mechanics, such as a more open-world structure, driving segments, and a greater emphasis on combat abilities.
Jak 3 continues from the events of Jak II and features a further exploration of the desert wastelands surrounding Haven City. It expands on the story, reveals more about the characters’ backgrounds, and introduces additional gameplay elements, including new powers and vehicles.
Jak X: Combat Racing is a 2005 spin-off that focuses on vehicular combat and racing. Set after the events of Jak 3, the game features the characters competing in a high-stakes racing competition to settle a dispute. Daxter finally brings Daxter back into the title, as we follow Daxter’s adventures while Jak is imprisoned during the events of Jak II. Players control Daxter as he navigates through Haven City, completing missions and encountering various challenges.
MCU STARS CHRIS PRATT AND TOM HOLLAND RUMORED TO REUNITE FOR UPCOMING FILM
According to Twitter user My Time To Shine Hello, it appears that MCU stars Chris Pratt and Tom Holland are reuniting for the planned film adaptation. While we might be tempted to make a Marvel reference here, this wouldn’t be the first time Tom Holland and Chris Pratt have worked together in an (assumedly) animated movie, as they voiced brothers Ian and Barley Lightfoot in the 2020 Disney Pixar film Onward.
Jak and Daxter would also not be the first time Tom Holland worked with Sony to adapt a Naughty Dog property. 2022 saw the release of Uncharted, which grossed $401.7 million worldwide, ranking it the sixth highest-grossing film based on a videogame of all time (at the time of writing). With that kind of financial success, it’s little wonder that Sony is looking to reunite Tom with Naughty Dog to recapture the magic.
While animation seems like the obvious choice for the movie, it might not be the direction director Ruben Fleischer chooses to take. After all, as reported by Eurogamer, Tom Holland has previously expressed an interest in playing  “a really weird and dark” live-action version of the games.
Thus far, Sony Pictures and Naughty Dog have not made any announcements regarding a potential Jak and Daxter movie yet, or its casting. The chances are, production would not be able to start until the currently ongoing WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes against the AMPTP are resolved.
Due to the strikes, no work can be done on a movie script for the film, and no casting or voice-over work can be done. However, if there is a finished script, animators could begin working on the film if it is indeed animated and have the animators provide temporary scratch voice-overs until the strikes are resolved. So, it could be a while before any announcements are made for this project.
However, Sony Pictures is going to release the live-action Gran Turismo movie, based on the game series, on August 25. The PlayStation Productions and Sony Television-produced Twisted Metal television series also debuted on Peacock late in July. The Last of Us television series on HBO has also already been renewed for a second season. So more video game adaptations are getting produced than ever for film and television.
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Are you excited to see Jak and Daxter come to the big screen? Do you think it should be done in animated or live-action? And if so, do you think Holland and Pratt are the right choice for the duo? Let us know what you think about the news on The Illuminerdi’s social media!
SOURCE: My Time to Shine Hello
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