A Just Cause movie adaptation is reportedly in the works and fans wonder if this means Just Cause 5 will be coming soon.
Video game adaptations have entered a renaissance period as of late. Even a global catastrophe couldn’t stop Sonic the Hedgehog from being one of the highest-grossing movies of 2020. The success of video game adaptations just got better from there. Arcane, The Last of Us, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners and The Super Mario Bros Movie proves the medium’s narratives still work on the big screen.
One video game franchise that can’t seem to catch a break with its adaptation is Just Cause. For the past decade, production company Constantin Film has been trying to get a Just Cause movie off the ground. The good news for frans of the series is that The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed the Just Cause movie is finally production. This has revitalized the fandom’s enthusiasm for the fifth game, but is there really cause for hope?
Is Just Cause 5 in development?
Square Enix and Avalanche Studios have not confirmed Just Cause 5’s development.
Former Avalanche Studios head Christofer Sundberg claims Avalanche isn’t developing Just Cause 5. The studio has made no statements on the possibility of a fifth entry to the franchise. Furthermore, the rights to the franchise currently sit with Square Enix, whose last effort with the franchise was a canceled mobile title.
There’s reason to be hopeful, though.
The news of an upcoming movie may spur Square Enix when it comes to keeping the series alive. After all, when HBO’s The Last of Us series began to air, players for The Last of Us Part 1 reportedly skyrocketed by over 200%. The synergy between successful video game adaptations driving sales is proven at this point, with the most recent example being a marked boost to the Fallout games after the Prime Video TV adaptation launched. This benefitted players as well, with Bethesda going under Fallout 4’s hood for a next-gen upgrade.
Alongside this, Square Enix has undergone a major business restructuring. This will see the publisher put greater emphasis on its major franchises, and Just Cause is likely among that group and Just Cause 5 would be the logical next installment.
However, the release date for the Just Cause movie is currently unknown. With the unpredictable natures of both film production and game development, a synergistic release may not be possible. Avalanche Studios is also currently busy with another project in collaboration with Xbox Games Studios.
Avalanche Studios busy with Xbox-exclusive Contraband
Avalanche Studios announced Contraband during the 2021 Xbox E3 showcase.
Before the layoffs across its gaming division, Microsoft was snapping up developers from all over to strengthen its first-party offering. Contraband is a co-op action-adventure game set in the fictional world of 1970s Bayan.
Not much else is known about the project, but given the setting and premise, it will likely be similar to Just Cause. Considering Contraband still hasn’t released yet, this makes the possibility of a Just Cause 5 under Avalanche even more unlikely anytime soon.