On one fateful day in 2013, moviegoers worldwide came face to face with arguably one of the most physically accurate live-action versions of Superman with Henry Cavill in Man of Steel. The sheer rugged physique and undeniable charisma brought forth by the British actor gave way to a profound screen presence, earning him a permanent place in fans’ hearts. Soon after his role as Geralt of Rivia in Netflix’s The Witcher, laid further credence to his acting range and led fans to wonder about him essaying the protagonist in the then-just-released video game, Red Dead Redemption 2.

The calls for a movie adaptation of the same grew so loud that even the actor decided to lay bare his thoughts.

Henry Cavill once shed light on his thoughts on a Red Dead Redemption movie

In December 2021, during the red carpet premiere of The Witcher season two, Henry Cavill revealed his fondness for Red Dead Redemption 2 to Gamereactor with “I recognize I’m a bit late to it, but I’m really enjoying it, and so something like that would be great to make into a movie.” The remarks piqued the burning curiosity of fans and gamers worldwide with unanimous agreement on his fit as Arthur Morgan, the game’s protagonist.

Released in 2018 by Rockstar Games, the game followed a fictional Van der Linde gang set in the American Old West in 1899 revolving around Morgan’s quest to live a life during its pursuit. Famed for its realism, the game’s theme, likeability, and approach to the protagonist won many hearts. Finally, Henry Cavill proving his mettle in video-game adaptations like The Witcher and historical settings like Enola Holmes along with his widely public love for gaming made him the best fit for a Red Dead Redemption movie adaptation.

With Cavill’s love for the game and fans’ vision aligning in the same direction, why a movie of this sort has failed to materialize yet remains a puzzler.

Why Rockstar Games just would not have its video games as live-action?

Earning a revenue in the billions and standing tall as one of the most recognized studios in gaming, Rockstar Games holds the IP not only for Red Dead Redemption but also for the juggernaut Grand Theft Auto franchise. Despite the prospects of a live-action movie on any of those franchises earning them massive revenue, the studio as well as its parent company, Take-Two Interactive’s CEO Strauss Zelnick taking a “very selective approach to licensing”.

The rationale comes as a possible failed adaptation may severely hurt the brand reputation of the video games. Moreover, with Henry Cavill’s own The Witcher season three suffering that grueling fate, it would not be a far guess to understand the company’s reservations. Regardless, for the ex-Superman, new opportunities have recently come down raining.

What are your thoughts on a Red Dead Redemption live-action movie starring Henry Cavill? Let us know in the comments below.