David Farnor | On 11, Jun 2019

Jessica Chastain and Jake Gyllenhaal will star in Netflix adaptation of The Division.

The Ubisoft video game quickly became the fastest-selling new IP in video game history when it first launched and currently has more than 20 million players. The Division 2 launched in March 2019 to positive reception. Adapting a video game into a film, though, has always been a poison chalice, no matter how large the fan base. While many studios have taken a shot at drinking from it before, it is now Netflix’s turn to have a go.

The streaming giant certainly has an impressive list of talent to do it. As well as Chastain and Gyllenhaal in front of the camera, Netflix has tapped David Leitch (Deadpool 2, Atomic Blonde, The Fast & Furious Presents: HOBBS & SHAW) to direct and Rafe Judkins to pen the screenplay – he is currently creating the upcoming series Wheel of Time for Amazon, based on the hit fantasy novels. Chastain and Gyllenhaal will produce the film, with 87North Productions, Nine Stories, Freckle Films and Ubisoft Film and Television also producing.

The film will take place in the near future, where a pandemic virus spreads via paper money on Black Friday, decimating the city of New York and killing millions. By Christmas, what’s left of society has descended into chaos. A group of civilians, trained to operate in catastrophic times, are activated in an attempt to save who and what remains.

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