Summary
Ghost of Tsushimahas become a beloved title in the gaming world and excitement is high for the film adaptation, which is in development at Sony Pictures. One title that serves as a great touchstone for theGhost of Tsushimamovie is FX’sShōgun.
Ghost of Tsushimawas released in 2020 and was a brand-new IP from Sucker Punch Productions, the studio known for theInfamousandSly Coopergames. The open-world historical action-adventure game introduced players to Jin Sakai, a samurai determined to save his island home of Tsushima from the invasion of the Mongol forces. The game scored 83 on Metacritic and released additional content in the form of a multiplayer mode and a Director’s Cut. Next up for the franchise is a sequel in2025 titledGhost of Yoteias well as the much anticipated film adaptation.
Ghost of Tsushima Did Something Special in Gaming
WhenGhost of Tsushimawas released in 2020 it was to high praise. The execution ofGhost of Tsushima’sworld in such aculturally accurate and authentic waywas a highlight. While the game curated a fictional narrative, it was grounded in history and the world around it was meticulously detailed to evoke the setting and culture of the time. Sucker Punch Productions, which is a U.S.-based studio, collaborated with Sony’s Japan Studio to ensure the authenticity of its world and story, so when players entered the game, it was like experiencing a slice of Japanese history.
Ghost of Tsushimawas also momentous for its respect of the world it was playing in and introduced significant elements like the inclusion of a Japanese voice track for its dialogue, with English and Japanese-speaking actors cast in each role. The game took inspiration from classic Samurai movies and even introduced ablack and white “Kurosawa” modein tribute to legendary Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa. Every element ofGhost of Tsushima,from the native flora and fauna to its music and combat stances, was steeped in research to make it authentic to the Japanese world the game was representing.
Hiroyuki Sanada, Cosmo Jarvis, Anna Sawai, Tadanobu Asano
Creators
Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks, based on the story by James Clavell
Streaming on
Hulu
Ghost of Tsushimawas a major moment for its representation of Japanese culture in gaming, particularly for a Western audience. FX’sShōgunseries did a similar thing for television. The historical drama series swept the awards season earlier this year and has been hailed as one of the best series of the year if not all time.Shōgunadapts James Clavell’s famed 1975 novelof the same name for the screen. It follows the paths of two ambitious men from different worlds, the shipwrecked risk-taking English sailor John Blackthorne, and the powerful daimyo Lord Taranaga. LikeGhost of Tsushima, its story is a work of fiction but is grounded in the historical authenticity of the time.
TheShōgunteam made conscious choices throughout development and production to ensure that the series was mindful and accurate to the culture it was portraying.
TheShōgunteam made conscious choices throughout development and production to ensure that the series was mindful and accurate to the culture it was portraying. A high percentage ofShōgun’sdialogue is presented in Japanese with a majorly Japanese cast and research was done to ensure settings, props, and costumes were accurate to that period in Japanese history. The work paid off with Shogun being widely praised by Western audiences but also well-received in Japan. It even had legendary Japanese game creatorHideo Kojima singing its praises.
The Ghost of Tsushima Movie Should Follow Shogun’s Blueprint
WithGhost of Tsushimaserving as such a watershed moment for Japanese representation in gaming, the film adaptation mustn’t drop the ball on this. That’s where followingShōgun’sblueprint can be to its benefit. All that’s known about theGhost of Tsushimamovie right now is that it is beingdirected by Chad Stehelskiwith a script being written by Takashi Doscher. Doscher. Stahelski is a stuntman-turned-director with a history of directing and producing high-stakes action films likeJohn Wick. Doscher’s work includes writing and directing the feature films Only and Still. There hasn’t been much word on the adaptation since Doscher’s hiring in 2022, but it is no doubt a priority for Sony given the uptick in video game adaptations of late.
The Ghost of Tsushima Film Can Provide More Authentic Japanese Representation
When it comes to approachingGhost of Tsushimaas a film, it will be important for the creative team to handle it in a similar way to the creatives on the game, by prioritizing the accuracy of Japanese history and culture. Similar toShōgun, theGhost of Tsushimamovie can utilize an all-Japanese cast and dialogue to ground the film in that world and could even incorporate the black-and-white Kurosawa mode that was introduced in the game. Ironically,Shoguncast memberHiroyuki Sanada is even rumored for a roleinGhost of Tsushima, which is a positive sign. The creatives on both sides could even collaborate to share resources and knowledge on bringing a historical Japanese story to the screen for a Western audience. If done correctly, theGhost of Tsushimamovie has every chance at being just as successful and culturally impactful asShōgun, which will also add to the legacy of Sucker Punch’s game.
Ghost of Tsushima
WHERE TO PLAY
A storm is coming. Discover the expanded Ghost of Tsushima experience in this Director’s Cut. Uncover the hidden wonders of Tsushima in this open-world action adventure from Sucker Punch Productions and PlayStation Studios, available for PS5 and PS4. Forge a new path and wage an unconventional war for the freedom of Tsushima. Challenge opponents with your katana, master the bow to eliminate distant threats, develop stealth tactics to ambush enemies and explore a new story on Iki Island.
