Recently, BuzzFeed Studios announced a new movie called 1Up that's being directed by Kyle Newman and written by Julia Yorks, starring Ellen Page. The film has been compared to comedies like Pitch Perfect, and will see Page take on the role of an esports coach for an all-female esports team. While the main focus of the film appears to be esports, it will reportedly also cover some hugely controversial topics in the gaming industry, like Gamergate.
The decision to make a comedy movie that features the Gamergate controversy has not been well-received by those impacted by it. Actress Felicia Day, who was doxxed after speaking out against Gamergate, took to Twitter to criticize the film, describing the synopsis as "horrendous" and adding that the people making the movie should be ashamed. Brianna Wu and Zoe Quinn, who were Gamergate's biggest targets, also criticized the film, with Wu saying that it's "mystifying" for Ellen Page to be involved in such a project, while Quinn sarcastically described the movie as a "fun idea."
It remains to be seen how much of the movie is actually about Gamergate. Based on what's been revealed about the film so far, we know that Ellen Page's character has experienced sexism in her past, though it's unclear if she was a Gamergate target in the context of the movie or not.
This isn't the first time that Hollywood has attempted to tackle the Gamergate controversy. In 2015, reports online indicated that film producer Amy Pascal had won the rights to Zoe Quinn's memoir Crash Override: How To Save The Internet From Itself and was looking to adapting it into a feature film. According to reports from the time, Scarlett Johansson was one of the main choices to play Quinn in the film. Rebecca Angelo and Lauren Schuker Blum were to write the screenplay. Since those initial reports, though, there have been no updates about the movie's progress. But it's safe to say that a serious adaptation of the Gamergate story would likely be better-received by people than one that uses it for a comedy film.
Traditionally, Hollywood has struggled when it comes to covering the video game industry. Video game movie adaptations are notorious for their poor quality, and while that finally seems to be turning around thanks to movies like Sonic the Hedgehog and the upcoming Super Mario adaptation, the stigma is still there. Movies and TV shows also often portray video games incorrectly, having people use the wrong controllers for systems or performing actions that don't correspond with what's happening on-screen.
Considering how the video game industry has been treated by Hollywood in the past, it's easy to see how some aren't confident that a movie covering Gamergate would be handled appropriately, especially a comedy film. However, it may be worth waiting for a trailer or more substantial information first.
1Up is in production.