Secret Level Producer Expresses Greater Concern for Fan Reaction Than Critical Opinion

The challenge of satisfying every individual, particularly within the gaming community, is a reality well understood by Tim Miller, the producer behind Amazon’s upcoming series, Secret Level. This animated anthology comprises 15 episodes, each drawing direct inspiration from a distinct video game franchise, spanning from vintage titles like Pac Man to contemporary multiplayer games such as Honor of Kings. While collaborating with numerous publishers and developers presents a significant undertaking, Tim revealed to BBC Newsbeat: “We’re not afraid of the companies. We’re afraid of the fans.” Secret Level represents Prime Video’s most recent substantial investment in adapting video games for television, building on the considerable success of its Fallout adaptation earlier in the year. The entertainment industry has increasingly turned to video games, which frequently possess established and passionate fanbases, as a fertile ground for new television series and movies. Recently, Amazon and Games Workshop disclosed an agreement for the streaming service to develop films and TV series situated within the Warhammer universes. Notably, an episode of Secret Level draws its narrative from Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, a successful title released this year by developer Saber Interactive. Dave Wilson, the director of Secret Level, noted that the game’s universe is underpinned by “40 years of lore,” which necessitates careful consideration when adapting it for television. He cited the example of the space marines, whose guiding principle is “they shall know no fear.” Dave explained, “If you take that too literally you can’t really have a hero make a choice if he’s not afraid of the consequences of that choice, right?” He concluded, “So there is the literal interpretation of what that means, and then there’s the storytelling interpretation.” The cast of Secret Level includes several prominent Hollywood actors, such as Keanu Reeves, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Kevin Hart. Additionally, the series incorporates performances from actors recognized for their contributions to video games, including Laura Bailey, known for her role in The Last of Us: Part II. Clive Standen, who provided the voice for the lead character in this year’s successful Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, will portray the same role in the episode inspired by that game. Dave observed that video game actors now command a significantly higher profile than in the past, and he believes that fans are eager to support the performers behind their beloved characters and appreciate the “continuity” of their involvement in related projects. He stated, “So much of the success is built from those actors setting those franchises up.” He added, “I think it’s weird in a way just to sort of cast them aside when Hollywood comes calling.” Tim highlighted that the film stars who participated were drawn by their interest in the material. He commented, “It’s not like it’s a huge paycheque for them.” He further explained, “There’s so many people in the world that play games, it is a huge clubhouse now. And there’s a lot of movie stars that are in that clubhouse. They play video games too.” Initial reviews for Secret Level have varied from highly favorable to somewhat lukewarm, with critics expressing both consensus and divergence regarding their preferred episodes. Speaking to Newsbeat, the show’s creators acknowledged a degree of apprehension concerning the public’s reception of the series. Online discussions pertaining to gaming often escalate into intense exchanges. An example of this is Concord, a game featured in the 15 episodes—Sony’s short-lived online shooter that the PlayStation maker removed offline in under two weeks. The developers and staff involved in that project subsequently faced online abuse. Tim expressed his hope that discussions surrounding Secret Level would not reach similar levels of intensity. He stated, “I would say in general that I wish that there was less toxicity in the discourse, whether it’s on the internet or in the public sphere.” He elaborated, “Because it just stops people from wanting to communicate with each other.” He concluded, “I would love to see that go down a little bit and everybody realise that sometimes you may not hit the mark, but most people are earnest and trying to do a good job and trying to create something.” Newsbeat broadcasts live at 12:45 and 17:45 on weekdays, with past episodes available for listening here. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the material found on external websites. Details concerning our external linking policy can be found here.