Return to Silent Hill Movie Will Be a 'Faithful Adaptation' of Silent Hill 2, Cineverse Promises

Cineverse has secured the rights to distribute the highly anticipated third installment in the Silent Hill film series, Return to Silent Hill, set to premiere in the U.S. later this year. This new film promises to be a "faithful adaptation" of the iconic story from the original Silent Hill 2 video game.

Brandon Hill, Cineverse's executive director of acquisitions, expressed his enthusiasm to Variety, stating, “Silent Hill is one of the best video game franchises, period, and Christophe Gans did a phenomenal job capturing the atmosphere of the games once again with Return to Silent Hill.”

Director Christophe Gans shared his excitement about working with Cineverse, noting their understanding of the fanbase. He said, “I am delighted to partner with Cineverse, which has shown a genuine understanding of fanship. Return to Silent Hill is an adaptation created out of deep respect for a true masterpiece of a game, Konami’s iconic Silent Hill 2. I hope fans will enjoy and be fulfilled with the experience this new film has to offer."

The plot of Return to Silent Hill will resonate with those familiar with the original Silent Hill 2 or the 2024 Bloober remake. It centers on "James (Jeremy Irvine), a man broken after being separated from his one true love (Hannah Emily Anderson). When a mysterious letter calls him back to Silent Hill in search of her, he finds a once-recognizable town transformed by an unknown evil" and encounters "terrifying figures both familiar and new." The project was first unveiled in October 2022, and fans got their first glimpse at Return to Silent Hill's version of Red Pyramid Thing — AKA Pyramid Head — in May 2024.

Christophe Gans' initial venture into the Silent Hill universe with his first film, based loosely on the first game, followed the story of mother Rose searching for her missing daughter, Sharon, in a town where it snows in summer. Despite the screenplay being penned by Oscar-winning writer Roger Avary, known for Pulp Fiction, our review gave it a modest 5/10, stating, "So there we have it. Our worst fears realized yet again. The video game-to-film genre has endured more than a decade of mediocrity. Silent Hill is probably the smartest and best-looking video game adaptation yet, it just doesn't have much else going for it. After all, video games are about entertainment, and Silent Hill is a chore to sit through."

Silent Hill 2 (2024) Review Screens

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The second film in the series, Silent Hill: Revelation, directed by Michael J. Bassett and loosely based on Silent Hill 3, received a less favorable 4.5 in our review: "Silent Hill Revelation 3D is an inferior sequel in every way, shape and form, a horror sequel that fails to either intrigue or scare, and one that just might have killed the franchise cold-dead."

Return to Silent Hill is scheduled for a "wide theatrical release in America" later this year, as promised by Cineverse, raising hopes for a revival of the beloved franchise.