MediEvil Movie Adaptation with Jack Black and Tenacious D: The Sony Project That Almost Happened

The MediEvil franchise has earned a cult following since its debut on the original PlayStation in 1998, captivating players with its unique blend of gothic adventure, humor, and memorable character designs.

Developed in-house by Sony Interactive Entertainment, the series quickly secured its place as a beloved classic, spawning sequels and remakes across multiple generations of PlayStation hardware.

With the rising success of video game movies—exemplified by titles such as The Super Mario Bros.

Movie, Sonic the Hedgehog, and Minecraft starring Jack Black—fans have long speculated about which iconic franchise could be next for a cinematic adaptation. Recently, fascinating insights emerged from writer and producer Ben Mekler, known for his work on Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight and Die Hart.

Mekler revealed that there was once a serious attempt to bring MediEvil to the big screen, and none other than Jack Black, renowned actor, musician, and gaming enthusiast, was deeply involved.

Mekler explained, “We were extremely close to making a MediEvil film, with Jack Black attached and Tenacious D set to compose the soundtrack.” This project would have brought together the comedic sensibilities of Black and his band Tenacious D with the quirky, dark fantasy world of MediEvil—a combination that held immense promise for both longtime fans and newcomers. Unfortunately, the MediEvil movie adaptation did not progress beyond the planning stages.

Still, the story underscores Hollywood’s growing interest in mining the rich narrative and stylistic themes found in established video game IPs.

MediEvil’s journey continues to be relevant.

Following the original title’s release on PlayStation in 1998, it received a sequel in 2000.

The franchise was later revived with MediEvil: Resurrection on PSP in 2005 and a full remake for PlayStation 4 in 2019, both developed and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment.

These releases introduced a new generation of players to Sir Daniel Fortesque’s adventures, reaffirming the series' nostalgic appeal. Former Sony Interactive Entertainment America President and CEO Shawn Layden recently spoke about his enduring connection to MediEvil.

“This game has always resonated with me since its inception, and I admired the creative team so much that we secured a sequel which was equally innovative and enjoyable, and even managed to get it remastered for PS4,” Layden said.

He added that if given the opportunity, he would love to revisit the franchise, describing MediEvil as the series he would most like to bring back once more. As Sony continues to explore its extensive catalogue of franchises, and as video game adaptations grow ever more ambitious, the story of the MediEvil movie remains a fascinating chapter in the evolving relationship between gaming and Hollywood cinema.

For now, fans can revisit Sir Daniel’s quest on PlayStation, hopeful that new developments for the series may one day materialize.

PlayStation Sony Jack Black MediEvil Sony Interactive Entertainment Tenacious D Ben Mekler Shawn Layden