‘Ghost of Tsushima’ Recruits ‘Only’ Writer Takashi Doscher
The upcoming Ghost of Tsushima film adaptation has found its writer in Only scribe and director Takashi Doscher.
Deadline broke the news 13 months after uncovering PlayStation Productions’ plans for the hit PS4/5 action-adventure video game. John Wick director Chad Stahelski is currently attached to direct the theatrical feature, which appears to be a priority for Sony Pictures — other PlayStation properties bound for live-action adaptations are The Last of Us and Twisted Metal, both of which are becoming TV series.
Doscher recently penned Blue, a twist on the classic Japanese monster flicks. Previously, he wrote and directed the romantic sci-fi romance Only, starring Freida Pinto and Leslie Odom Jr. It premiered in competition at the 2019 Tribeca Film Festival, but wasn’t well received by critics nor audiences. Doscher also wrote and directed the 2010 documentary A Fighting Chance, the “character-driven story of Kyle Maynard, a young man born without arms or legs.”
Ghost of Tsushima follows Jin Sakai, a fallen samurai that survives the initial Mongol attack on Komoda Beach, Tsushima, in 1274. What follows is a Kurosawa-inspired, bloody tale of honor, revenge, and unity. The plot is relatively simple and follows a clear-cut three-act structure which could be easily brought to the big screen. One of the game’s main strengths is how stylish it looks and feels, something Chad Stahelski is extremely good at.
Ghost of Tsushima is also PlayStation 4’s fastest selling first-party original IP debut, with more than 2.4 million units sold worldwide during its first three days. It received seven nominations at the Game Awards 2020: Game of the Year, Best Game Direction, Best Art Direction (Winner), Best Action/Adventure, Best Narrative, Best Audio Design, and Best Performer for Daisuke Tsuji.
Stahelski, Alex Young, and Jason Spitz are producing through their company 87Eleven Entertainment. Asad Qizilbash and Carter Swan will produce on behalf of PlayStation Productions. Sucker Punch Productions (who developed the game) will serve as executive producers, with Peter Kang overseeing the project on behalf of the studio.
Francisco J. Ruiz is that guy who has watched Jurassic Park a thousand times and loves Star Wars. His hunger for movies is only matched by his love for video games. He graduated in English Studies from the University of Malaga, in Spain. As he keeps writing about what he enjoys (and doesn’t) for websites all over, he’s continuing his studies.
