Hollywood is Trading Spandex for Controllers, Says The Batman 2 Writer

Hollywood is actively shifting its focus from comic book adaptations to video games, according to The Batman: Part II co-writer Mattson Tomlin. The screenwriter revealed that his inbox is reflecting the change, with adaptation offers for gaming properties currently outnumbering comic book series five to one. It seems the silver screen is ready to trade the long underwear for a gamepad.

The revelation, shared by Tomlin, highlights a broader pivot within major film studios. For years, graphic novels served as the default blueprint for blockbusters looking to capture established audiences. Now, the momentum is moving toward interactive entertainment, as filmmakers look to mine virtual worlds for their next cinematic runs.

The details

• The source: The Batman: Part II co-writer Mattson Tomlin
• The shift: Hollywood is actively redirecting its adaptation focus from comic books to video games
• The ratio: Tomlin is receiving five times more video game adaptation offers than comic book projects

What changed in the pitch meetings

According to Tomlin, the sheer volume of inquiries has flipped. Receiving five times more offers for gaming intellectual properties than traditional comic book series suggests that studio executives are no longer looking at games as an experimental sideline. Instead, the interactive medium has become the primary target for adaptation.

This transition comes as the film industry searches for established worlds with built-in communities. While comic books spent decades holding an exclusive grip on big-budget adaptations, the current landscape indicates that filmmakers are migrating to where the active players are.

Why studios are pivoting

The movement represents a systemic change in how Hollywood sources its stories. Adapting a video game offers a different structural foundation than a comic book, drawing from mediums that already combine narrative, visual design, and active audience engagement. Tomlin's experience suggests that the industry is leaning heavily into this transition, prioritizing gaming properties over the superhero formulas that dominated the previous decade.

Why it matters

The massive ratio of incoming offers for video game adaptations signals a major realignment of Hollywood's creative pipeline. When writers on premier comic book film projects are being heavily recruited for gaming adaptations instead, it indicates where studios plan to invest their production budgets in the coming years. The transition cements video games as the dominant source material for the next generation of cinematic blockbusters.