The World of Darkness story universe launched in 1991 with the release of the tabletop roleplaying game Vampire: The Masquerade, and has continued with properties like Werewolf: The Apocalypse, Mage: The Ascension, Orpheus, and Hunter: The Reckoning, while also branching out into video games, comic books, novels, and other sorts of games (card games, board games, etc.) Now the World of Darkness is set to come to screens big and small, under the guidance of writer/producers Eric Heisserer and Christine Boylan, in association with Hivemind, the production company behind Netflix's The Witcher.
The franchise from game publisher Paradox Interactive puts players
inside the shoes — or claws, or wings — of a vast and interconnected coterie of monsters who live amongst humanity, then forcing them to make complicated moral decisions about how to slake their character’s darkest urges.
Boylan had this to say about the World of Darkness:
The World of Darkness story universe is deliberately and unapologetically inclusive and diverse. It has always made a point of including equal gendered characters, protagonists and antagonists of every race, and representation of all creeds — bringing a female and diverse audience to gaming like nothing prior. Its games and fandom are a place where women, POC, and the LGBTQI community feel welcome and we are very proud to bring these stories to life."
Heisserer added:
The legacy of these stories is way ahead of its time, inviting issues and perspectives other games ignored. This feels like the next step for genre."
Hivemind's Jason Brown said,
Eric and Christine are among the most extraordinary creators working today. They’re also gamers who have played in WOD since it began. It’s a rare opportunity when the connection between storyteller and story runs this deep, and that is the alchemy which has led to many of our favorite and most culturally resonant franchises."
Heisserer serves as showrunner on the Netflix series Shadow and Bone. His screenwriting credits include Arrival, Bird Box, Bloodshot, Final Destination 5, Lights Out, the 2011 version of The Thing, and the Nightmare on Elm Street remake. He also happens to be married to Boylan, who has written for DC and Marvel, scripted episodes of The Punisher, Cloak and Dagger, Constantine, Once Upon a Time, Castle, and Leverage, and co-founded Bespoke Plays.
I have heard the names of some of the games before, but really have no familiarity with the World of Darkness. A shared universe of vampires, werewolves, and wizards sounds like a good time to me, though. The team behind these adaptations plans to announce the development of specific titles sometime in the coming year.