(Updated 01/02/2024)
The relationship between movies and video games has grown closer as technology and game design bridge the gap between game and movie storytelling. "Until Dawn," released for the PlayStation 4 in 2015 and recently remade for the PlayStation 5, is very firmly in the "narrative experience" column as far as games go. It's not about action, but about making choices for characters — which would make it seem like an obvious choice to adapt to a movie.
But the game is not so straightforward. With players constantly making choices throughout the story, there is no one central ending. And there is no single predictable fate for any given character. And so, now that the UNTIL DAWN movie is on the way, we're curious to see what choices the filmmakers have made. While we wait for a trailer, here's everything we know about UNTIL DAWN.
What's the Until Dawn Release Date?
Sony Pictures and Screen Gems will release UNTIL DAWN in movie theaters on April 25, 2025.
Is There a Trailer for Until Dawn?
There is no trailer for UNTIL DAWN right now. Because it is based on a game, you might see fan-made trailers using game footage on various platforms. But no official footage from the UNTIL DAWN movie has been released to the public.
The movie filmed from August to October of 2024, so we might see a trailer soon. The next Screen Gems movie set for release is HEART EYES, coming in February 2025, so at the latest we'll probably see the UNTIL DAWN trailer attached to that release.
What Is the Plot of Until Dawn?
We are assuming that the movie will follow a storyline similar to that of the game, which may not end up being entirely correct. But it's a good place to start, at least. In game form, UNTIL DAWN follows eight people trying to survive a night on Blackwood Mountain. They're all on the mountain for a slightly bizarre memorial/reunion following the deaths of two friends, twin sisters, at a similar party on the mountain a year earlier.
In the game, which is more of an interactive narrative than a traditional action or survival horror title, players make choices that affect how events of the night unfold. Every character involved can live, and all can die, with virtually every combination in between as a possibility as well. The game has hundreds of possible endings.
Will Rami Malek Be in the Until Dawn Movie?
The game featured Rami Malek as Josh Washington, the brother of the twin sisters whose deaths precipitate the reunion a year later. He's a pivotal character in the game, and even got a new ending in the game remake released in late 2024.
Right now we don't know who plays Josh in the movie. While it could be Malek, that seems unlikely given his significantly elevated status as an actor in the years following the creation of the game. There's also the fact that Malek is now ten years older than the college student he played in the game. But you never know! It would certainly be an exciting development for fans to see Malek return for the movie.
Hayden Panettiere also played a key role in the game, but she is not expected to return for the movie.
Does the Until Dawn Movie Feature the Same Characters as the Game?
Good question! Right now, we don't know if UNTIL DAWN is a direct adaptation of the game featuring the same characters, or if it follows characters unique to the movie.
The movie's Wikipedia article lists characters that are not from the game, but without any attribution for that info. Since unverified rumors are the source of the character lineup, we'll wait for the trailer or other official word.
The only character verified as a returning character from the game is the psychiatrists Dr. Alan J. Hill. In the game, he was played by Peter Stormare, who returns to the role for the movie.
Who's in the Cast of Until Dawn?
Right now, in addition to Stormare, the confirmed cast of UNTIL DAWN includes Ella Rubin, Michael Cimino, Ji-young Yoo, Odessa A'zion, Maia Mitchell, and Belmont Cameli.
Until Dawn Is From the Lights Out Filmmaker
Swedish filmmaker David F. Sandberg, who rose to fame thanks to his 2016 horror movie LIGHTS OUT, is directing UNTIL DAWN. This marks his return to horror following time in the DCEU, where he made the two SHAZAM movies.
UNTIL DAWN opens on April 25.
All images courtesy of Sony Computer Entertainment.