Wolfenstein: The New Order and its sequel The New Colossus are standout thrill rides of the first-person shooter genre. While the gameplay is undoubtedly iconic, the story and characters are so gripping that the franchise could be adapted into a full length feature film
Video game movies are a mixed bag, from the dizzying highs of Sonic The Hedgehog to the dismal works of Uwe Boll, but most land as mediocre or pointless. The new Wolfenstein series has a universe that could stand to be delved into deeper, perhaps even in the form of a full film narrative.
Wolfenstein: The New Order came out in 2014, an entry in one of the longest series in video game history. The series began in 1981 as Castle Wolfenstein, but was reimagined into the fast-paced 3D first-person shooters that most fans would recognize today in 1992's Wolfenstein 3D. That game also gave its main character a name that would live on in video game history forever; William Joseph "B.J." Blazkowicz. Blazkowicz is the hero of most of the Wolfenstein franchise, but his character is fairly simplistic in the early games. Those 90s shooters were heavy on violence and light on story, but The New Order created a new timeline that gave B.J. some real humanity.
The new timeline of the franchise is set in an alternate history in which Nazi Germany wins World War II, then promptly seizes control of the world. The series takes place from the '60s to the '80s, with an engaging retro futurist aesthetic and sci-fi elements. B.J. Blazkowicz is an American soldier who suffers a traumatic shrapnel wound to the brain that leaves him in a catatonic state for almost 2 decades. After regaining his abilities, B.J. joins a small resistance movement to fight the Nazi scourge. This narrative is gripping, visceral and deeply grim, a world that has fallen to ruin being violently resisted by a tiny order of imperfect heroes.
The trouble with many video game movies is the shift in mediums, gameplay is obviously the tent pole of video games, so the lack of it would ruin most good experiences. In many ways, video games already have movie-like segments in the form of cutscenes. Some games, however, have stories that could stand up to further examination, worlds that could be enjoyable to explore further. Wolfenstein: The New Order and its sequels created a world that examines a possible dark outcome of one of history's most tumultuous times.
One of the most powerful aspects of the new series is the characters, especially the new spin on the classic hero. B.J. Blazkowicz was a very standard-issue FPS protagonist in the '90s, little more than a face in the corner of the screen, but the remake changed him immensely, imbuing depth and humanity into the POV character. B.J. is the son of a Polish immigrant mother and an abusive patriarchal father. His childhood was difficult, but despite the physical and emotional violence he suffered at the hands of his father, he became a devoted patriot and an exceptional soldier. And, as confirmed by his character designer, Blazkowicz is Jewish, a powerful change that recontextualizes Blazkowicz and his fight. The series sees him suffer terrible violence, but B.J. is a born survivor and an immensely capable warrior. He is kind and compassionate but beaten down by the constant violence and his hatred of Nazis compels him to superhuman feats. This new version of the character is deeply compelling, and with the right actor, could carry a fantastic action film.
At its core, the new Wolfenstein is a story of a handful of underdogs fighting the overwhelming oppressive fascist state. B.J. fights alongside his former nurse and love interest Anya, wheelchair-bound leader Caroline and genius scientist Set. The cast is colorful and fun, but they are united by their oppression. Some are targets of racial discrimination, others are handicapped, each of them have been targeted specifically by the Nazi machine. A cast of characters with strongly defined personalities fighting the most blatant villains makes for a fantastic action film.
Perhaps the grimmest aspect of the modern series is the picture of America in Wolfenstein: The New Colossus. The default American assimilates easily into the Nazi world order, Nazi parades draw crowds of middle-class families in the streets. The moment that B.J. is told that America surrendered to the Nazis is crushing, he is devastated to learn his beloved home submitted willfully to fascism. The narrative of a fascist takeover of America which benefits most of the middle class, opposed by outcasts and righteous warriors is grim as it is epic.
The Wolfenstein film would be a fast-paced, alternate historical action film starring an unkillable super soldier and a cadre of freedom fighters. Delving deeper into the grim and nightmarishly plausible world would make for a brilliant film and bringing one of video games' most beloved characters to the big screen could be a winning combination. B.J. Blazkowicz and his seemingly endless battle against the Nazi world could be a video game movie that would transcend the labels.
The new Wolfenstein series could be the basis for a fantastic film, perhaps even a series. The world, characters, and action of the series would make the transfer to the big screen in a brilliant way.