Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Film Adaptation Was in the Works Before Game’s Breakout Success

Months before Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 officially launched and rose to become 2025’s highest-rated game, a film adaptation was already quietly in development—marking one of the boldest early bets in recent game-to-film history.

Back on January 30, well ahead of the game’s April 24 release, Variety broke the news that Sandfall Interactive had teamed up with production company Story Kitchen to adapt the game for the big screen. 

The announcement came before critics or players had the chance to weigh in on the RPG’s ambitious story and art direction.

The deal, which includes Kepler Interactive as publisher, reflects a striking level of confidence in the project’s storytelling potential. That confidence now looks well placed, with Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 earning rave reviews for its painterly aesthetic, original setting, and emotionally driven narrative.

“We’re thrilled to collaborate with Sandfall Interactive to bring the rich, immersive world of Expedition 33 to the big screen,” said Story Kitchen founders Dmitri M. Johnson and Mike Goldberg in a joint statement. “The game’s compelling narrative and complex characters provide a solid foundation for a cinematic experience that will resonate with both gamers and moviegoers alike.”

Set in a surreal world inspired by Belle Époque France, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 tells the story of a humanity tormented by a god-like figure known as the Paintress. Each year, she marks a number on a monolith—and every person of that age disappears. As the number ticks downward, extinction looms. The titular Expedition 33 is humanity’s last hope to break the cycle.

The film adaptation will be produced by Story Kitchen’s founding team, including Timothy I. Stevenson and Elena Sandoval, whose growing portfolio of game adaptations positions them as a major force in the industry.

Other projects currently in development at Story Kitchen include:

• Tomb Raider (Netflix & Amazon MGM Studios)

• Just Cause (Universal, with director Ángel Manuel Soto)

• Streets of Rage (Lionsgate, co-produced with Escape Artists)

• Toejam & Earl (Amazon MGM Studios, co-produced with Steph Curry)

While casting and directorial choices haven’t been revealed, one of the film’s biggest creative challenges will be replicating the game’s distinct painterly art style, a standout feature that has drawn widespread praise from critics.

With Hollywood experiencing a golden age of game adaptations—from Super Mario Bros. to Minecraft—the timing of this project suggests a more aggressive pursuit of narrative-driven titles by film studios.