After the Red Dead series was first unveiled in 2004’s Red Dead Revolver, Rockstar Games and PlayStation added to the story in 2010’s Red Dead Redemption, which has become one of the most successful video game franchises of the century. Set during the decline of the American frontier in 1911, the story follows a former outlaw named John Marston, who sets out to bring some of his former gang to justice after his wife and son are taken hostage by the government in ransom for his services. The game has since sold over 116 million copies worldwide, and its sequel, Red Dead Redemption 2, has sold another 87 million copies.
Since then, many have wanted to see this story adapted into a movie, especially given the stream of successful video game adaptations in movies and TV over the last decade. Stars like Henry Cavill, Jack Black, and Jeffrey Dean Morgan have specifically dubbed Red Dead Redemption as a story that should get this treatment, especially after games in a similar vein like The Last of Us have become massive hits in the modern era. Now, it appears that one more major name has expressed hope to not only see John Marston’s story come to the big screen but take on the role himself.
During a panel at Fan Expo Boston with MovieWeb‘s Joe Deckelmeier, Lost star Josh Holloway shared that he would like to develop a movie based on the Red Dead Redemption video game. Speaking in front of a record-breaking crowd, he specifically said that he “[likes] Red Dead Redemption” and “[wants] to do that as a movie,” even with no reports indicating that this movie could be in the works anytime soon.
Holloway already has some notable experience in Western-style stories, having starred in Season 3 and Season 4 of Paramount’s Yellowstone series as Roarke Morris, a hedge fund manager who clashed with the Dutton family. Looking at Red Dead Redemption, Holloway could certainly take much of what he did in Yellowstone into this hit video game adaptation, especially if he were to take on the leading role of John Marston.
As of writing, there are no reports indicating that Rockstar Games or PlayStation have any plans to turn Red Dead Redemption into a movie, even considering the story would make for a great cinematic or streaming experience. However, with games like God of War moving to new media, and considering the success Red Dead Redemption has already achieved, it would seem like a perfect new option to turn into a live-action hit.
