Isabela Merced Set to Star in a New Film Adaptation of Sega Zombie Franchise The House of the Dead

Video game adaptations are all the rage these days — so why not add another cool one to the list? The Last of Us and Alien: Romulus star Isabela Merced is set to star in an upcoming film adaptation of the hit Sega franchise The House of the Dead.

Sponsored

data-transform="mobile-ad-break">

The adaptation was previously announced with Paul W.S. Anderson at the helm, which is definitely a good sign for any video game adaptation. Anderson is responsible for the original Mortal Kombat and Resident Evil films, as well as the fourth, fifth, and sixth installments in the Resident Evil franchise — so it makes a lot of sense that he would want to delve into the 1997 game and bring it to life on screen.

“The House of the Dead is a game I have loved for many years, and I’m beyond thrilled to be bringing this to the big screen with such an exciting talent as Isabela at its heart,” Anderson said in a statement. “We envisage this as the start of a tentpole franchise which can explore the rich world and lore that Sega has created over a whole series of films.”

The House of the Dead is particularly noteworthy as a horror shooter game because of one special detail: it basically pioneered the concept of zombies running fast in video games, which obviously continued to inspire other games and films alike over the years.

There are no exact details on Merced’s character just yet, but considering players would take on the role of AMS agents, employees of an agency that handles world-ending conspiracies, it appears she might be playing one of those folks. That said, time will tell.

Anderson is also producing this “fresh take” on the series alongside Sega exec and producer Toru Nakahara, and Dmitri M. Johnson, Michael Lawrence Goldberg, and Timothy I. Stevenson of Story Kitchen. Jeremy Bolt, one of the producers on Anderson’s first Resident Evil film, will also produce, with Merced herself serving as an executive producer. The project is set to go up for international sale at the upcoming European Film Market.

“Working with Isabela is a thrilling opportunity as she embodies the heroine character perfectly, bringing dynamic energy to the production,” Nakahara also noted in a statement. “We’re dedicated to crafting a visually striking and immersive experience by introducing compelling actors and terrifying creatures that will bring the House of the Dead universe to life on the big screen. With our deep understanding of video game adaptations, we’re eager to deliver an electrifying cinematic journey for the franchise’s fans.”

Image credit: Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images

Lex Briscuso is a film and television critic and a freelance entertainment writer for IGN. You can follow her on Twitter at @nikonamerica.