20th Century Studios to Adapt Hit Roblox Game '99 Nights in the Forest' into Feature Film

Shonda Rhimes

Prolific television creator ("Grey's Anatomy," "Scandal") and author on creativity and empowerment.

20th Century Studios is making its foray into adapting video games for the big screen, securing the rights to the widely popular Roblox title, '99 Nights in the Forest.'

This initiative marks a significant step for the studio, now under Disney's umbrella, as it taps into the burgeoning trend of transforming video game narratives into cinematic experiences. The game, created by Grandma's Favourite Games, immerses players in a survival horror scenario where they must navigate a haunted forest for 99 nights, aiming to rescue four missing children while confronting menacing creatures. Despite being less than a year old, '99 Nights in the Forest' has rapidly ascended to become the seventh most-played game on Roblox, boasting close to 26 billion lifetime visits and an impressive 90.6% player satisfaction rating. It also holds the third spot for peak player count on the platform, frequently attracting hundreds of thousands of concurrent players.

David Greenbaum, president of Disney's live-action division and 20th Century Studios, expressed enthusiasm for the project, highlighting the game developers' imaginative vision. He emphasized the studio's excitement to expand upon the game's established global fanbase. The creators of '99 Nights in the Forest' also shared their excitement, acknowledging the nostalgic influence of Disney and 20th Century films on their upbringing. They look forward to bringing the terrifying world of their game to a broader audience through an entirely new medium. While the project is in its early stages without a designated writer or director, and no producers currently attached, the game's creators—Alec Kieft, Matthew Hufton, and Cameron Angland—are slated to serve as executive producers. J.R. Young will oversee the film's development for 20th Century Studios, with Michelle Kamme playing a key role in securing the rights deal.

The adaptation of '99 Nights in the Forest' represents a thrilling convergence of interactive entertainment and filmmaking, promising to deliver fresh and captivating stories to audiences worldwide. This move reflects a forward-thinking approach to content creation, celebrating creativity and innovation across diverse platforms.