Heart Machine is working with Netflix Castlevania producer Adi Shankar on a Hyper Light Drifter TV show. The show will be based on Heart Machine’s 2016 debut title and is in the earliest stages of development.
Heart Machine’s Alx Preston confirmed the news to Polygon in late March. Preston is working with Adi Shankar to create an animated series based on the game. Shankar is known for his work on Netflix’s Castlevania series and is also working on upcoming adaptations of Devil May Cry and Assassin’s Creed. Preston said he and Shankar are currently reaching out to writers to work on the series.
The pair are still working out how the Hyper Light Drifter TV show will adapt the game’s gameplay and story.
“The difference between a [TV] series and a game is vast in a lot of ways,” said Preston. “Hyper Light as a game was pretty atmospheric and kind of overbearing at times. For a series, the question is: how do you sustain and keep your attention on a non-interactive run? Does it get really, really dark and serious? Does it have some levity?”
Preston did say that they are hoping to stick closely to the game’s aesthetic, although the visuals will be more “anime-esque.” According to Preston, filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki was a major influence on Hyper Light Drifter and will continue to influence the game’s TV show. He also noted that Hyper Light Drifter‘s wordless presentation might be difficult to translate, and that they are considering the series be wordless as well.
For his part, Shankar has said that his recent streak of game adaptations comes from a love of the medium. He announced a Devil May Cry animated series would be part of a new “multiverse” shared with the Netflix Castlevania series.
Heart Machine announced its next game, Solar Ash Kingdom, earlier this month.
