The highly anticipated Until Dawn movie is on the way, but many fans of the original video game are wondering why Hayden Panettiere and Rami Malek won’t be appearing in the film adaptation. One of the most notable aspects of the 2015 video game is its cast, featuring numerous famous movie and television actors who provided motion capture performances in Until Dawn. Two of the biggest names from the original game are Hayden Panettiere and Rami Malek, who played crucial roles in the success of the game. Despite this, they will not be featured in the upcoming Until Dawn movie.
In Until Dawn, Rami Malek portrays Josh, the brother of Bela, who invites the game’s main cast of characters to the lodge that serves as the primary setting for the story. Meanwhile, Hayden Panettiere plays Sam Giddings, the outsider friend who serves as the protagonist of the game. Both actors are significantly involved throughout the video game, which emphasizes its story and places them at the center of the gameplay experience. Because of this, many Until Dawn fans are surprised by their absence from the upcoming film.
The reason for Hayden Panettiere and Rami Malek not returning to the Until Dawn movie revolves around the fact that their roles did not align with the film’s narrative. Although the Until Dawn movie shares its title with the video game, it is significantly different from its source material. The film will tell an entirely new story with a completely different cast. The Until Dawn movie is neither a remake nor a sequel to the original Until Dawn tale, meaning that the characters portrayed by Rami Malek and Hayden Panettiere were not needed.
In recent years, video game adaptations have been slowly turning around their reputations, and this film provides an opportunity to address previous criticisms that plagued the genre. While some elements from the video game—such as the Wendigo and the cabin setting—remain, the overall premise diverges greatly. The upcoming Until Dawn movie will follow a fresh group of friends who visit a cabin, only to find themselves hunted by a mysterious killer. After each character is killed, they awaken at the start of their time in the cabin again, realizing that each new day brings a fresh and deadly threat, forcing them to survive until dawn.
Given the popularity of the Until Dawn story, fans hoped that the film adaptation would closely follow the original narrative while also bringing back Hayden Panettiere and Rami Malek. Nevertheless, even if the movie were to be a faithful representation of the video game’s plot, the return of both Panettiere and Malek would still not have been feasible. Since its release, the Until Dawn game is now ten years old, with Rami Malek being 43 and Hayden Panettiere being 35 as of this article’s writing. Until Dawn is meant to showcase a group of young adult friends, and at this moment, neither actor fits this demographic.
This scenario applies to almost every member of the original Until Dawn cast. Essentially, the only character whose age would not pose a problem is the 71-year-old Peter Stormare, who played the psychiatrist Dr. Hill in the game. Interestingly, Stormare is returning in the Until Dawn movie but will portray an entirely different character. Most of the other roles in the Until Dawn movie will be filled by younger actors, creating a cast that resembles the youthful group featured in the original game.
Interestingly, it appears that the decision not to bring back Hayden Panettiere was not solely hers to make. In one interview, Panettiere expressed her desire to reprise the role of Sam in the Until Dawn movie. Despite her wish to play Sam, she acknowledged that her character would not be included in the movie. It was initially thought that the film would revisit the game’s storyline, and Panettiere mentioned the potential actress who would portray Sam should “get off my mark” (via Reddit).
Numerous video game movies and television adaptations are in development, promising to adapt popular series, from recent multiplayer hits to established classics. While Rami Malek has yet to share his thoughts on the Until Dawn remake, it seems likely that his absence from the film was not a decision made by him, mirroring Panettiere’s own comments.
While some fans of the video game may feel disheartened by the movie’s new direction, there lies the possibility that the Until Dawn film could emerge as an outstanding successor to the original game. The intriguing premise and fresh cast might offer a creative spin on an already rich narrative, enticing old fans while capturing new audiences. The stage is set for the film adaptation, which may just redefine how we perceive video game storytelling on the big screen.
