Full feature film adaptations of video games have been around for a while now, and most don’t resonate well with critics and audiences of the source materials. With a seemingly endless list of flops, you would think that would slow down Hollywood producers, but that is not the case. Compulsion Games‘ hit indie game We Happy Few is the latest to be added to the video game-to-film list.

In a partnership with dj2 Entertainment, Compulsion Games plans to bring their mystery game to the big screen. The game takes place in an alternate 1960’s English town where the government is forcing its citizens to take happiness causing drugs, which hide the brutal and enigmatic truth of the government’s plans. The game is centered around an alienated citizen who has illegally stopped taking the drugs to dig into the atrocities that are being covered up. No script has been written as of yet, but the companies responsible are seeking writers for the project.

The production company taking the helm on the film adaptation, dj2 Entertainment seems to be focusing quite a bit on bringing video games to the big screen. Other projects under there production company include the Sleeping Dogs movie starring famed martial arts actor Donnie Yen. The company is also producing a Sonic the Hedgehog film alongside Sony Pictures Animation.

Bringing video game characters to film is quite an ambitious move for Hollywood production companies. The trouble is that most fans of a video game franchises have expectations that the source materials won’t be tampered with in order to make it a blockbuster. Seems simple enough, but history has shown us that sometimes that writers and directors would best be suited to pick up a controller (or keyboard and mouse) and get into the games as, we, the fans have. Dj2 Entertainment CEO Dmitri M. Johnson suggests that he is aware of the mistakes of past attempts of bringing games to life. Johnson stated:

“Our commitment is to make a movie that remains true to the source material, while still surprising fans.”

Are you interested in seeing a We Happy Few movie? Do you think that Hollywood should stop trying to capitalize on well established video game franchises? What is your favorite movie based on a video game? Let us know in the comments section below, or feel free to head on over to our official Disqus channel to talk about it with fellow DFTG readers, as well as our staff. Be sure to follow us on Twitter to catch 24/7 gaming and entertainment news coverage.