Video game adaptations are getting a new lease on life with several major platforms in the middle of working on one or more adaptations. Netflix is currently leading the pack with its shows like DOTA: Dragon’s Blood, The Witcher, Sonic Prime, and so much more.
In 2023, we’ll see even more video game adaptations with HBO’s The Last of Us, Halo, The Witcher, Twisted Metal, Arcane, and Gran Turismo all scheduled for release at various times of the year. Amazon’s Prime Video is also developing an adaptation of God of War. Now, there’s a new addition to that list with Ark: The Animated Series also slated for release sometime in 2023.
Ark: The Animated Series was originally announced in 2020 at that year’s The Game Awards and scheduled for release this year. However, for the next couple of years, all went dark with no information surfacing on the planned adaptation. Fortunately, a new trailer has surfaced on the show’s YouTube channel that confirms that the show is alive and well, albeit delayed.
The series will feature animals and people from different times in human history, with its description reading:
In a sweeping story that spans eons of human & world history, 21st century paleontologist Helena Walker finds herself resurrected on a mysterious primeval land after tragedy. There she must learn to survive and find new allies, or die again at the hands of ruthless warlords — all while trying to uncover the true nature of their strange new world.
Ark: The Animated Series is based on Studio Wildcard’s 2017 action-adventure survival game titled Ark: Survival Evolved. Like the game, the show is created by the duo of Jeremy Stieglitz and Jesse Rapczak. Jay Oliva, the talented animator whose impressive portfolio includes Justice League Dark and The Invincible Iron Man, directed episodes of the show.
The series features an ensemble cast with Madeline Madden, Monica Bellucci, Gerard Butler, Michelle Yeoh, Russell Crowe, Elliot Page, Vin Diesel, and David Tennant voicing Helena Walker, Cassia Virila, General Gaius Marcellus Nerva, Meiyin Li, Kor the Prophet, Victoria Walker, Santiago, and Sir Edmund Rockwell respectively.
Apart from lending his voice to the series, Vin Diesel served as the executive producer. He will also star in a sequel to the original game titled Ark II alongside Moana’s Auli’l Cravalho. The game is in development and will launch on Xbox Game Pass via Early Access sometime in 2023.
While Ark: The Animated Series is slated for a 2023 release date, there is no information on its exact premiere date or the streaming platform that will host it.
