By It looks like cult classic novel Metro 2033 is back on track to receive a film adaptation. After being canceled last year by writer Dmitry Glukhovsky, it seems a new deal was struck between Russia’s TV-3 Channel and Central Partnership Film Company to bring the novel to the silver screen. Filming is set to start next year with a premiere taking place on January 1, 2022. No casting details have been revealed, but Gazprom Media (which owns the aforementioned production companies) will hold the exclusive film rights.
Valery Fedorovich, a producer for the film, told Variety, “The book by this Russian author has become known throughout the world, and it is embedded in the cultural code of sci-fi fans and gamers all over the planet. For us and Gazprom Media Holding, this is a dream project, the most ambitious and large-scale film that we have ever launched. We intend to invest an unprecedented sum…in the production and promotion of this movie both in Russia and abroad.”
Glukhovsky added, “Metro 2033 is my first novel. It played a very special role in my life, and, despite getting numerous offers to [adapt it for the screen], I turned them all down for over 10 years. In Russia, I didn’t see any producers who could make a good [screen adaptation of] this book. It just seemed impossible. But now I finally met a team that I can entrust Metro with.” Glukhovsky will serve as a creative producer for the film, providing assistance to make sure the film remains faithful to the book while still being original.
Another producer on the film, Evgeniy Nikishov, explained the significance that Metro holds for media. Name dropping a bunch of video games that were inspired by it, from The Last of Us to Fallout and The Walking Dead, he is certain now is the right time to finally adapt this fan-favorite series. Along with Central Partnership, they all believe this will be a major hit at the box office. Whether or not it actually comes to light, though, remains to be seen.
Cult Sci-Fi Novel ‘Metro 2033‘ to Be Adapted as Movie (EXCLUSIVE) [Variety]
