Studiocanal’s genre label Sixth Dimension is in early development on a feature adaptation of the multiplayer horror game “The Headliners,” Variety can reveal exclusively.
Released by Kafi Games in 2025 and developed by Lucas Bouyoux and Bruno Grégoire, “The Headliners” puts up to eight players in the roles of journalists who must capture photos of an alien-infested New York. As the only people allowed in the city, the objective is to capture front-page-worthy snaps while avoiding dismemberment at the hands of extraterrestrial invaders. The title has sold over 1.5 million copies as a PC exclusive.
“In a world where attention is currency, Kafi Games’ indie smash ‘The Headliners’ struck us, along with millions of giddy gamers, as a hilarious and unique entry point into the alien invasion genre,” Jed Benedict, head of Sixth Dimension, said in a statement. “As if ‘Cloverfield’ met ‘Ghostbusters’ via ‘Nightcrawler,’ we aim to take Kafi Games’ brilliantly original survival-horror game and watch the mayhem unfold through the cameras of the journalists who risk everything, life and limb, for the perfect shot.”
Plot details, casting and a creative team have yet to be revealed for “The Headliners” movie.
Video games, once an industry pariah, are now coveted Hollywood IP thanks to their devoted and eager-to-spend fandoms. It all started with the success of films “Five Nights at Freddy’s,” “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” and “The Minecraft Movie.” Paramount recently opened “Street Fighter” to the tune of $31 million, further proving the box office muscle of the genre. The studio also has a “Cyberpunk 2077” movie in the works, as well as a “Call of Duty” adaptation from director Peter Berg. Even A24, the stronghold of all things artful in cinema, is adapting FromSoftware’s smash hit RPG “Elden Ring” with Alex Garland.
Sixth Dimension, Studiocanal’s in-house genre label, launched in February 2025. Its first release was the reboot of the 1984 slasher “Silent Night, Deadly Night,” which hit theaters that same year. Sixth Dimension also produced this year’s “Ice Cream Man” from director Eli Roth. Upcoming titles include Sean Byrne’s horror thriller “The Mannequin” and “Home Safety Hotline,” based on Night Signal Entertainment’s puzzle video game.