Apocalypse Now, one of the most revered films ever committed to celluloid, is being prepped for a video game adaptation – and it has the backing of Francis Ford Coppola.
Entitled Apocalypse Now – The Game, a crack team of industry writers and developers have now set up an official Kickstarter page with a funding target of $900,000. It’s pitched as an “immersive, psychedelic horror RPG,” and will be built by developers that have worked across the likes of Gears Of War, Fallout: New Vegas, Wasteland 2 and Pillars Of Eternity. Montgomery Markland will handle direction, with Rob Auten and Lawrence Liberty attached to write and executive produce, respectively.
Thrusting players into the grubby boots of Captain Willard (played Martin Sheen in the original classic), Apocalypse Now – The Game takes place during the flashpoint of Coppola’s masterpiece, when Willard ventures deep into the Vietnam jungle to locate the renegade known as Colonel Kurtz. The horror, the horror…
“Forty years ago, I set out to make a personal art picture that could hopefully influence generations of viewers for years to come,” Coppola says in a statement. “Today, I’m joined by new daredevils, a team who want to make an interactive version of Apocalypse Now, where you are Captain Benjamin Willard amidst the harsh backdrop of the Vietnam War. I’ve been watching video games grow into a meaningful way to tell stories, and I’m excited to explore the possibilities for Apocalypse Now for a new platform and a new generation.”
Apocalypse Now – The Game is officially a thing. If you’re curious to know the ins and outs of what Montgomery Markland is proposing, you can find further details on the game’s Kickstarter page, including breakdowns of funding tiers and rewards. A 2020 release date is the target.