Adi Shankar has had success in adapting video video games into animation, having labored on a number of seasons of Castlevania alongside Konami and Netflix, in addition to with Ubisoft for Captain Laserhawk: A Blood Dragon Remix. Extra not too long ago, he has been collaborating with Capcom on Devil May Cry, the primary season of which launched on Netflix in 2025 to a largely favorable reception.
Now, with its second season, Shankar and workforce are delving deeper into the story of Dante and Vergil, as the 2 characters come to grips with their origins, the divergent paths their lives took following a household tragedy, and the way their two views form them and the destiny of a world that hangs within the steadiness. It additionally embraces Devil May Cry 2, the online game collection’ most divisive entry.
After all, with as a lot expertise as Shankar has in taking online game supply materials and adapting it for animation, we might be remiss to not get his perspective on the most recent high-profile announcement of the same mission: Sony’s adaptation of From Software program’s Bloodborne.
Talking to GameSpot, Shankar expressed pleasure that video video games are gaining extra consideration as sources of attention-grabbing storytelling that would work in different codecs, however burdened that their success is dependent upon not being swallowed up by the company machine and handled as simply one other mental property.
“It is cool that the island that I have been form of on … it is not likely rising as a result of islands do not develop, so it is extra like ships are rising they usually’re like, ‘Oh, I like this island,'” Shankar stated of the rise in curiosity round adapting video video games. “That is cool. It is an attention-grabbing form of expertise. I believe to me, [adaptations are] a distinct factor. All my stuff is creator pushed. Devil May Cry [is] very creator pushed, proper? Certain, it is Devil May Cry, but it surely’s very a lot my model of Devil May Cry.
“Captain Laserhawk, positive it was Ubisoft’s IP, but it surely was me placing it right into a blender and being like, ‘Oh, the murderer’s going to be a frog. And Splinter Cell’s Sam Fisher could have no legs.’ I believe the problem with video video games is lots of the video games have been made by a handful of builders who then go on and do different issues after which it turns into mental property owned by a company that then will get swallowed up by one other company, merges with a 3rd company after which will get swallowed up by a large conglomerate someplace, after which will get managed by a bunch of name managers.”
Shankar’s foremost piece of recommendation to the businesses concerned is to “simply hand it to the creator, hand it to the creatives and you will get one thing.” This, at the very least initially, appears to be one thing Sony is conscious of to a level, on condition that one of many key figures concerned within the Bloodborne adaptation is Seán “Jacksepticeye” McLoughlin, an avowed Bloodborne obsessive that’s serving as producer.
In a video saying the mission, McLoughlin reiterated his ardour for Bloodborne and earnestly expressed a dedication to getting it proper and making it genuine. This, Shankar famous, appears to be like like a step in the best route, however comes with some questions however.
“The actual query is how a lot management is [Seán] truly going to be given and is that this a advertising stunt? As a result of the standard system is crashing and burning–everyone is aware of that–but the creator economic system and the influencer economic system is a rising ecosystem that’s professionalizing.
“The cynic in me goes, ‘Effectively, that is simply an try to capitalize on the rising ecosystem,’ similar to a number of years in the past [when] everybody was speeding to present producing offers to athletes,” Shanker stated, doubtless referring to, amongst others, LeBron James’s involvement in Area Jam: A New Legacy and Hustle, and, extra not too long ago, Steph Curry’s collaboration with Sony on Goat.
“I do not know what this basketball participant is aware of [about how to] assist produce a film. They have been giving athletes [these] issues, however once more, it was performative. So there is a performative model of this and there is the precise model.
“We’ll see, proper? As a result of there’s one factor to be a producer, there’s one other factor to be a producer, author, showrunner, and have the whole company machine supporting your imaginative and prescient. Once more, I do know nothing about [the Bloodborne project]. I do not know Jacksepticeye. I want him properly, and I believe that may be a step in the best route.”
Sony Photos’ Bloodborne adaptation is co-financed by Lyrical Media, with PlayStation Manufacturing and Lyrical Animation serving as co-producers. Lyrical Media’s animation division is reportedly centered on adult-oriented animated media, which fits the fashion and tone of Bloodborne. As of but, it is unclear when the film will probably be launched and if it is going to seem in theaters or go straight to streaming providers.
Devil May Cry Season 2, in the meantime, arrives on Netflix May 12, with Johnny Yong Bosch as Dante, Robbie Daymond as Vergil, and Scout Taylor-Compton as Girl.