Why Ashly Burch is the Perfect Choice for Aloy in a Live-Action Horizon Zero Dawn Movie

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Summary

  • Horizon Zero Dawn‘s visual appeal and narrative could translate well to the big screen with CGI and marketing.
  • Actress Ashly Burch, who portrayed Aloy in the games, would be a fitting choice for the live-action adaptation.
  • Using actors from the video games in live-action adaptations, like Burch, can enhance the authenticity and connection for fans.

It’s been announced by Sony that Columbia Pictures is working on a live-action film adaptation of Horizon Zero Dawn, one of Sony’s top-selling console exclusives known for its visually captivating gameplay. Given the increasing trend of video games being adapted into movies, it was only a matter of time before fans could witness Aloy on the big screen.

At a recent Sony press conference during CES, it was announced that a movie based on “Helldivers 2” and an anime adaptation of “Ghosts of Tshushima” are in the works. Initially, Netflix had been discussing an original series for “Horizon Zero Dawn,” but when the appointed showrunner, Steve Blackmann, was accused of fostering a toxic work environment, plans for this series were scrapped. Now, Columbia Pictures is taking charge of transforming the “Horizon” game series into a movie instead of a TV show. This could be beneficial because the game’s narrative primarily supported exploration and free roaming, making it easier to condense the storyline into a two-hour film rather than a series.

Horizon Zero Dawn Will Fit The Big Screen Perfectly

People who have experienced either game will often note the game’s captivating sceneries and jaw-dropping graphics. Rather than focusing on the main storyline quests, many players prefer to engage in side quests and explore the vast open-world environment. Consequently, Columbia Pictures could effectively replicate a setting akin to the games, creating an visually stunning cinematic experience. By promoting these visuals effectively, they might even attract a whole new, non-gaming audience.

As a devoted fan, I’d say the storyline of the Horizon games shares a striking resemblance with popular young adult film franchises like The Divergent Series and The Hunger Games. These movies were spun off from novels for young adults and centered around a lone female protagonist’s journey in a dystopian future America. Intriguingly, much like Katniss from The Hunger Games, Aloy also employs a bow and arrow, but instead of hunting human adversaries, she uses it to vanquish mechanical dinosaurs – quite the twist!

Ashly Burch As Aloy Is

Aloy, known for her success in the Horizon games on PlayStation, has become a recognizable figure, characterized by her long red braids, tribal attire of the Nora tribe, and her combination of calmness and fierce determination. She’s always ready to lend a helping hand and fight for justice. In the game series, Aloy is portrayed by actress Ashly Burch, who contributes both voiceovers and motion capture performances, making her uniquely qualified to embody Aloy. Interestingly, it’s uncommon for video game adaptations to cast the original actors in live-action versions. Arthur Morgan’s voice actor, Roger Clarke, has voiced his displeasure with this trend, expressing that he would only approve of a Red Dead Redemption adaptation if he could play Arthur Morgan himself. Clarke also thinks it’s unfair to overlook the game actors who breathe life into their characters during adaptation to live action.

Actors who lend their voices to video game characters are frequently viewed as just voice artists (a fact that Clarke is quick to dispute), which may be the reason they’re not often considered for live-action adaptations. However, modern video games increasingly employ face capture technology in addition to motion capture. As a result, skilled video game actors like Burch feel at ease delivering performances through voice, physical movements, and facial expressions.

There are some instances where this pattern doesn’t hold true. For example, Merle Dandridge reprised her role as Marlene in the TV series “The Last of Us,” and Jeffery Wright is slated to play Isaac once more in the upcoming season this April. Notably, Dandridge’s portrayal of Marlene in the show was remarkably consistent with her initial performance when the game was launched in 2013. Her impressive act may encourage studios to consider using actors from the source games they’re adapting in the future.

Beyond her video game roles, Burch boasts a diverse acting background, having starred in numerous web series and Apple TV’s original show “Mythic Quest”, where she is also a writer and co-producer. Consequently, stepping into live-action film as the lead wouldn’t seem unusual for her. Although it would be her debut in a leading role for a feature film, her understanding of Aloy’s character, coupled with her extensive experience, makes her an undeniably suitable choice for the part.

The main challenge in choosing Burch for the role of Aloy lies in her physical appearance compared to the game version. Specifically, she doesn’t have red hair and has distinct facial characteristics that differ from those of Aloy. However, since the Horizon series features futuristic elements, it is anticipated that Columbia Pictures will utilize CGI and special effects to make Burch’s likeness more aligned with Aloy’s. The studio might opt for computer-generated imagery (CG) or prosthetic makeup in order to achieve this. Whether they choose to do so depends on the level of accuracy the studio aims for. Some adaptations allow for greater creative freedom and cast actors who may not physically resemble the video game character but instead embody their personality and emotions.

In Ashly Burch, who shares both Aloy’s voice and her facial and body expressions from the game, being cast as Aloy in a movie adaptation would make fans feel like they’re watching their favorite character come alive on the big screen. If Columbia Pictures decides to use practical and special effects for the Horizon Zero Dawn film, there are numerous ways they could ensure Burch’s appearance aligns with that of Aloy, should that be the creative path they choose to follow.

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2025-04-07 19:24