The Batman 2 Writer Says Hollywood is Swapping Capes for Video Games

Hollywood is officially shifting its cinematic gaze from comic books to video games, according to The Batman: Part II co-writer Mattson Tomlin. The screenwriter revealed that the industry's hunger for gaming intellectual properties has skyrocketed, fundamentally changing what gets pitched in studio boardrooms.

If you’ve noticed your local theater looking a lot more like your Steam library lately, you aren’t imagining things. Tomlin stated that the entertainment industry is actively pivoting away from the spandex-clad heroes that dominated the last two decades. Instead, producers are hunting for pixels.

Why the sudden pivot?

According to Tomlin, the proof is right there in his inbox. The writer revealed that he is currently receiving five times more adaptation offers for video game properties than comic book series. Let that sink in for a second. For every single script request about a caped crusader or a mutant team, he’s getting five separate doors kicked open by executives asking if he can turn a digital health bar into a three-act screenplay.

It seems the silver screen has found its new favorite muse. While some upcoming projects are taking creative risks—like how the next Resident Evil movie skips the game cast to try something new—the gold rush for gaming IPs is officially on. The industry is looking for established worlds with built-in fanbases, and games are the ultimate untapped goldmine.

Out with the capes, in with the controllers

For years, comic books were the ultimate Hollywood cheat code. If it had a cape and a logo, it got a green light. But as audiences look for fresh narratives, executives are realizing that gamers are one of the most passionate demographics on the planet. The shift isn't just a minor trend; it's a massive realignment of how blockbusters are built from the ground up.

The details

• The source: The Batman: Part II co-writer Mattson Tomlin
• The ratio: Five times more video game offers than comic book offers
• The trend: An industry-wide shift from comic book source material to gaming IPs

Why it matters

When the writers of major superhero sequels point out that the wind is blowing in a different direction, it's time to pay attention. The massive surge in gaming adaptation offers suggests that the next decade of blockbuster cinema will be defined by game controllers rather than comic book pages. For players, this means more of their favorite virtual worlds are headed to the big screen—and for studios, it's a frantic race to lock down the rights to the next big gaming franchise.