Netflix and John Wick director Chad Stahelski are adapting a critically-acclaimed martial arts video game, Sifu, into a movie for the streaming platform. The beat ’em up game was developed by Sloclap, following the child of a martial arts sifu, or master, going on a quest for revenge against their father’s death. The game was released in 2022 to critical and commercial success, while an adaptation, тιтled Sifu: It Takes a Life, was released as an episode of Secret Level on Prime Video in 2024.
Now, Netflix has confirmed a movie adaptation of Sifu is in development for their platform, with T.S. Nowlan (The Maze Runner trilogy, The Adam Project) writing the film. Stahelski will be joining as a producer, alongside Jason Spitz and Alex Young from their 87Eleven Entertainment. Dmitri M. Johnson and Mike Goldberg of Story Kitchen will also serve as producers, while Timothy I. Stevenson, Elena Sandoval and Jeff Ludwig act as executive producers. Johnson and Goldberg released a statement about Netflix’s adaptation of the game, which can be read below:
From the moment we played, we knew this had all the makings of an unforgettable cinematic experience—pulse-pounding action, deep emotional stakes, and a unique take on martial arts storytelling. Teaming up with 87Eleven Entertainment, the best in the world when it comes to action filmmaking, is a dream come true. Their mastery of choreography and visceral storytelling is the perfect match to bring SIFU to life on screen. With Netflix behind us, we’re ready to deliver an action film unlike any other.
What Sifu’s Netflix Adaptation Means For The Game
Its Story Is Getting The Movie Treatment
Sifu was highly-nominated after its release, earning multiple nominations at The Game Awards and the British Academy Game Awards, alongside nominations at the Golden Joystick Awards and D.I.C.E. Awards. The game won Best Game You Suck At during the Steam Awards in 2023, highlighting its difficulty curve. These awards were mainly aimed at praising its gameplay, which features a unique system that causes the player’s character to get older every time they die. This adds stronger moves to their arsenal, but also reduces their health.
While it’s unclear if this defining part of the game will make it into the movie, the team behind the film is already shaping up strong. Even though Stahelski is set to direct a different video game adaptation, which is the upcoming Ghosts of Tsushima movie, his input on Sifu will be helpful thanks to his John Wick background. 87Eleven and Story Kitchen’s involvement is also a good sign, thanks to their typical focus on action movies. Even without any plot details, Nowlan’s writing can pull from his previous work to capture the spirit of the game.
Sifu has sold over 4 million copies worldwide as of writing.
Our Take On Sifu’s Upcoming Netflix Adaptation
A Movie Is The Perfect Format To Retell The Game’s Story
Since Sifu is a single-player experience focusing on a revenge story, the game would be perfect when adapted into movie form. The story could even remain the same, since the game takes around 8 hours to beat, not all of which is focused on cutscenes and story moments for its characters. Although there’s no telling how much of the source material will make it into the adaptation, its development news is a good sign the game is in the right hands.
Source: Netflix
