Far Cry: The Series
By Sioph LealWith HBOs adaptation of Naughty Dog's The Last of Us, video game fans can finally see that their favourite game can be adapted well and delve deeper into the story without gameplay. With epic titles like BioShock, Ghost of Tsushima, Assassins Creed and Fallout set to be adapted, we thought we’d look at a series that has no announced plans for a live action version- Far Cry.
Like the games, we would hope any live action iteration would also be an anthology series showcasing vast locations and an array of characters. Don’t worry, we’re hoping they skip Far Cry: Primal as well.
Season 1: Rook Island
Far Cry 3 is easily one of the best games in the franchise with Vaas Montenegro as a memorable villain, so it makes sense to expand the audience and hook people with this game as a starting point. Add the lawless yet beautiful Rook Islands to the mix and it will create some interesting visuals to contrast the violence and suffering that happens on the islands.
Seeing the Islands through Jason as he explores the Islands, the culture and becomes a fighter to save his friends, he could be a compelling hero and a TV adaptation could provide more depth to the character that lacked a little in some parts of the game. What might be tricky to pull off is the magical Tatau Dennis gives Jason to aid his quest. The burning glow might not work on the screen, but we think if they only hint at the magical qualities it could work. Like how Yellowjackets haven’t confirmed if there is something supernatural in the wilderness or if the wilderness and the trauma changed them. That could work for Jason given all he goes through.
Season 2: Yara
Yes, you read that right. Instead of going straight to Far Cry: 4, we thought to go to the sixth instalment and head to Yara, a tropical paradise under the rule of dictator Antón Castillo who wants to restore Yara back to its glory with his son, Diego, as his heir. Unlike the previous season, we wouldn’t follow an outsider, but native Dani Rojas who wants to escape the oppressive regime. It might be controversial, but we think this season should end with the alternative ending that has Dani leaving Yara…
Season 3: Kyrat
Far Cry: 4 is my favourite of the game series regarding story. Set in the fictional Kyrat, American-Kyrati born Ajay Ghale returns to his birth country to scatter his mothers’ ashes and is taken by the self-proclaimed King of Kyrat, Pagan Min, but rescued by the rebellious group The Golden Path that was founded by his late father. There is a rich story to be told in Kyrat and we think it could be an interesting twist to have two timelines running simultaneously for this season. Ishwari’s story could run alongside her sons as we see the past and present with the ending of the game being the season's end as well as Ishwari’s last day in Kyrat. It would provide an emotional full circle moment when her ashes are scattered combined with Ajay’s struggle with the two factions of the Golden Path, his mothers wish, Pagan’s interest in him and rediscovering his heritage would culminate in an epic finale, but which ending we are not sure.
In the secret ending of Far Cry 6, it was revealed to Ajay that the CIA and America were involved in Kyrat because Pagan secret had a vault filled with nuclear ICBMs placed under the palace but didn’t know where they were targeting, just that it was somewhere in Montana which leads us to the penultimate (or final) season….
Season 4: Hope County
With the revelation of the ICBMs pointed towards Montanna, we could see CIA operative Willis Huntley open the season with that news and send the Deputy for intel. Willis would have been in every other season, but we could see more of his presence in Hope County. The cult aspect would be intriguing, and we would hope for a longer season than the others to explore the Seed family and their influence on the different areas of Hope County. The resist ending makes the most sense and is deemed by most as the canon ending due to New Dawn and we hope it is the live action ending. The struggle would be in the Deputy in the game, they had no discernible personality and no voice actor to bring life into the game. How the Deputy reacts and immerses themselves in the world would be a fresh new take for the writers but a good opportunity for something new to the franchise.
Season 5: New Dawn
If there is a fifth season, and we’re torn if there should be, then New Dawn would be the natural ending given the nuclear plots at the end of season 3 and 4. Set seventeen years after season 4, a devastated new world that takes Far Cry back to a survivalist game could be the way to go. We could see people try to rebuild their world, but the mystery of The Judge would be one of the main draws and revealed at the end. There would be the mystical powers of Eden’s Gift like the Tatau in the first season and it would be interesting to, somehow, see the fates of the previous locations. Eden’s Gift could also incorporate the Bliss from the previous season, combined with the nuclear devastation. Mixing the two could have a great, hallucinogenic effect, or would an apple truly alter you? It would be the only season to continue the storyline of the supporting characters, for example the Rye family’s assistance in Far Cry 6 and how it would continue in New Dawn.