Before it even hits the market, the upcoming role-playing game Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is already set for Hollywood as it gears up for a live-action film adaptation. Announced amid Netflix's latest updates, industry outlet Variety confirmed the collaboration between developer Sandfall Interactive and production company Story Kitchen, with the film currently seeking its cast and director.
Story Kitchen's Dmitri M. Johnson and Mike Goldberg expressed enthusiasm about the project stating, “We’re thrilled to collaborate with Sandfall Interactive to bring the rich, immersive world of Expedition 33 to the big screen. The game’s compelling narrative and complex characters provide a solid foundation for a cinematic experience.” The developers’ vision aims to resonate with both gaming audiences and moviegoers alike.
The game, described as combining elements from popular titles like Final Fantasy, Persona, and the aesthetics of Belle Époque France, places players on the quest of Expedition 33, a crew fighting against the evil entity known as The Paintress. This antagonist wields the terrifying power to eliminate individuals of specific ages once she paints their number on her monolith, creating urgency and drama as those numbers grow smaller each year.
Even before its official launch on April 24, 2025, Clair Obscur's already set itself firmly as one to watch, particularly after gaining traction at events such as the recent Xbox Developer Direct. The game was highlighted as one of DualShockers’ Top 10 Most Anticipated Indie Games of 2025, with its presentation winning the attention of gaming media outlets.
Despite its success on the gaming front, the decision to move forward with its cinematic adaptation raises eyebrows among some. Industry reactions suggest it may be premature to green-light the film adaptation without any initial audience feedback from the game itself. This concern is compounded by the competitive nature of the video game film adaptations, with many projects previously struggling to yield satisfactory results.
On the flip side, many projects have found success, and Story Kitchen is no stranger to this arena. The company, formerly known as dj2 Entertainment, has produced adaptations for popular franchises such as the Sonic the Hedgehog films and Netflix’s series Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft, indicating their experience and potential clout for bringing titles to life successfully.
Notably, the casting calls are underway, but no specifics have yet been released. With talents such as Charlie Cox and Andy Serkis already prominent within the gaming and film realms, there exists anticipation around who may join the cast and how they might bring the complex characters of Clair Obscur to life.
Guillaume Broche, the CEO and creative director of Sandfall Interactive, chimed in about teaming with Story Kitchen, emphasizing, “Partnering with Story Kitchen allows us to expand the universe of Clair Obscur beyond the gaming sphere. Their storytelling expertise and alignment with our vision make them the perfect match to convert our game to captivating film.”
This will mark Sandfall Interactive's first major project, and fans are excitedly awaiting the release of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox Game Pass on what appears to be a promising launch date.
While the live-action adaptation is yet to receive its release window, the fuse has already been lit, igniting both excitement and skepticism about whether Clair Obscur can shine both on the screen and with the audience to come. Fans will be watching closely as the project develops, eagerly awaiting how the world of gaming continues to intertwine with Hollywood’s captivating allure.