F. Gary Gray to helm a film adaptation of Saints Row video game franchise

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

After making his mark by helming the classic stoner comedy FRIDAY, F. Gary Gray continued to light up the screen with films like SET IT OFF (1996), THE NEGOTIATOR (1998), and STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON (2015) as well as the latest addition to the mainline Fast & Furious franchise, FATE OF THE FURIOUS (2017). Currently, Gray is putting the finishing touches on MEN IN BLACK: INTERNATIONAL starring Marvel heavyweights Chris Hemsworth (AVENGERS: ENDGAME, CABIN IN THE WOODS) and Tessa Thompson (CREED, ANNIHILATION). The upcoming installment of the agents-versus-aliens franchise is meant to re-ignite the series for a new generation of viewers just waiting to be neuralized, and so far, the trailers have the film looking like a madcap roller coaster ride through the comedic sci-fi series. 

Flash-forward to today, and we find that Deadline has exclusively revealed that Gray is now developing a film based on the hit action video game franchise Saints Row. Greg Russo, who recently wrote the screenplay for Warner Bros. Mortal Kombat reboot, is penning the script. Upon boarding the project, Russo and Gray will join forces to create a compelling narrative that tells the story of the rise of the Third Street Saints as they battle rival gangs in an attempt to conquer the fictional cities of Stilwater and Steelport.

Created by Deep Silver Volition, the Saints Row video game franchise consists of four installments, each more ridiculous than the last. If you've never had the pleasure of playing a Saints Row game, take it from me that the game is more or less Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto on acid. In addition to offering players a variety of ways with which to murder NPCs with a smile, the game also gives the third-person-shooter franchise something of a Looney Tunes makeover courtesy of its zany weapons, vehicles, and cast of over-the-top characters. As it stands, the Saints Row series is one of the best selling video game franchises of all time, and now it would appear that it's due for a comeback.

Could the announcement of Gray's adaptation mean that another installment to the series is on the way? I certainly hope so, as the last chapter of the series, Saints Row IV, was released all the way back in 2013. If you ask me, the series is long overdue for a comeback, and a high-octane film tie-in from the director of FATE OF THE FURIOUS might be exactly what the mad doctor ordered for Saints Row to make a triumphant return, guns blazing and expletives aplenty!