After nearly 25 years, four main releases, and countless expansion packs, one of the most influential games of all time is getting the big-screen treatment with The Sims movie. One of the most anticipated upcoming video game movies, the adaptation of the sandbox game franchise is also one of the most mysterious and intriguing projects expected to release at some point in the future.
If you’re a longtime fan of the series, played the first game back in the day, or have never actually played it before, there’s a good chance you’re wondering what the Sims movie is going to be about, who’s trying to make it happen, and other things we should expect. If that’s the case, stick around because we’re about to break down everything we know about The Sims.
What Is The Sims Release Date?
As much as we would love to go into the details about The Sims release date and the other movies it will compete with when it makes its debut, the truth is that that information hasn’t been revealed yet. But considering the movie was announced in March 2024, it’s looking less and less likely that we’ll see it on the 2025 movie schedule, but we’ll have to wait and see when a date is announced.
Not to temper expectations, but the upcoming Minecraft movie, which is slated to open in April 2025, was in development for around a decade before Warner Bros. pressed “play” on the adaptation’s production. However, Puck reported (via Collider) in May 2024 that Amazon MGM had picked up the distribution rights for the Sims movie, which could mean we find out about a possible release date in the not-so-distant future.
The Sims Cast Has Not Yet Been Revealed
Though The Sims doesn’t have iconic characters on the same scale as Mario, Sonic, and other video games that have been turned into movies over the years, there are some staples to the franchise. Premade families like the Goths, the Pancakes, the Landgraabs, and the Newbies have long been a part of the series going back to its earliest days for the most part, so it wouldn’t be surprising if they show up. But keeping with the spirit of the games, hopefully, the movie instead focuses on a newly created character or family who interacts with those staples, if they are included.
At this time, no cast members of The Sims cast have been announced, which isn’t all that surprising since the video game adaptation was just announced not long before the time of this writing. However, if the Minecraft cast, as well as other recent similar titles, is any indication, we could see some big-name talent speaking Simlish sometime soon.
What Will The Sims Movie Be About?
As mentioned above, The Sims, unlike the vast majority of video games that have been adapted over the years, doesn’t really have a story, instead allowing the players to create their own scenarios for their created characters. That being said, the team behind the project will be like the millions of gamers who have played the various titles in the franchise over the years in that they can pretty much do whatever they want when it comes to the story that is told in the upcoming adaptation. Though there are some mistakes to be made in the games, the sandbox nature of the series has allowed many of us to live vicariously through our sims, which could make for a unique story when the film eventually arrives.
The games, which were first created by Will Wright and developer Maxis back in 2000, have largely allowed players to create houses of varying scales (depending on jobs or use of the “rosebud,” “kaching,” and “motherlode” money cheats), but we’ve seen various expansion packs that have allowed the sims to travel to other places -- some inspired by real places around the world. Whether or not the movie takes audiences to wildly imaginative locations or not is anyone’s guess at this point.
Margot Robbie’s LuckyChap Production Company Is Spearheading The Project
While we don’t yet know a lot about the plot or cast of The Sims, we do know that Margot Robbie’s LuckyChap Entertainment production company is spearheading the upcoming video game movie. In March 2024, The Hollywood Reporter revealed that Robbie’s company, which was behind the 2023 box office and pop culture phenomenon that was Barbie, will be working alongside Roy Lee and Mira Yoon of Vertigo Entertainment to develop and produce the project.
Vertigo is no stranger to video game movies, as the company is currently involved with the aforementioned Minecraft adaptation, Netflix’s Bioshock, and the upcoming Until Dawn film. The company has also helped produce films like The Lego Movie, It, The Departed, and dozens of others over the years.
Kate Herron, Who Helmed Loki Season 1, Is Set To Direct The Sims Movie
In addition to having Margot Robbie’s LuckyChap Entertainment involved with The Sims, the movie will also feature the creative talents of filmmaker Kate Herron, who, according to Variety, will be writing and directing the video game movie. If Herron’s name sounds familiar, it could have something to do with the fact that she helmed the first season of Loki on Disney+ back in 2021. Herron is writing the script with Briony Redman, whom she recently collaborated with for an episode of Doctor Who.
This won’t be Herron’s only upcoming video game project, as she is set to serve as one of the directors of The Last of Us Season 2, which is slated to premiere on HBO (and for anyone with a Max subscription) in 2025.
Electronic Arts, Which Publishes The Sims Games, Is Involved With The Film Adaptation
Electronic Arts, which has published The Sims franchise since its inception nearly 25 years ago, will also have a hand in the film adaptation of one of its biggest games. According to the same report by THR mentioned above, the publisher will be involved in both a creative and producing capacity, but how big that role will be has not yet been announced.
This Isn’t The First Attempt At Making A Movie Based On The Sims
Back in 2007, when the franchise was a little more than a half-decade old, there were plans to turn it into a feature film. In May 2024, The Guardian ran a profile on the never-materialized project and interviewed its screenwriter, Brian Lynch, about what it was about and why it never panned out. During the interview. Lynch, who would go on to write films like Puss in Boots, Minions, and The Secret Life of Pets movies, came up with a “wish-fulfillment” story in which a shy teenager realized his actions in The Sims came to life in his town. What would have started with a plan to create everything the boy ever wanted would then turn into an out-of-control situation.
Though Electronic Arts and 20th Century Fox, which was going to make the film, loved the idea and gave it the green light, the project eventually fell by the wayside for a number of reasons. Lynch told The Guardian that casting a group of unknowns for the lead roles and financial factors, and languished in developmental hell for years to come.
The Sims Fans’ Responses Have Ranged From Apprehensive To Cautiously Optimistic Since Its Announcement
With The Sims being around for as long as it has, it should be no surprise that there are a lot of die hard (and vocal) fans of the games out there on the internet. And while one would expect to see a ton of backlash about such a beloved property that means so much to gamers, fans have been cautiously optimistic about the adaptation being spearheaded by Margot Robbie.
Fans like notkahnjunior on TikTok, took to social media to have a little fun with the announcement by making an entire post in Simlish. And the cherry on top came in the final seconds as they talked about the game while a lit stove burned out of control in the background. And then there are popular Sims content creators like lilsimsie, who made what can best be described as a longtime fan’s powerpoint presentation on YouTube, to talk about the news and what could come from it.
Expect to hear a lot more about The Sims movie in the coming months. But in the meantime, there are still plenty of great and exciting titles on the 2024 movie schedule worth checking out.
