Karl Urban wants to play John Marston in Red Dead Redemption movie
The Boys star Karl Urban has declared his interest in playing John Marston if a Red Dead Redemption movie ever happens. But Rockstar Games remains firmly against Hollywood adaptations, making this dream casting unlikely despite growing actor interest.
Karl Urban has thrown his hat into the ring for a Red Dead Redemption movie, specifically eyeing the role of John Marston. Following Jack Black's recent plea to Rockstar Games for a similar opportunity, Urban told Square Mile that Red Dead Redemption is "one of my favourites" and declared his interest in playing the iconic outlaw.
Key Takeaways
- Karl Urban expressed strong interest in playing John Marston in a Red Dead Redemption movie during an interview with Square Mile.
- Jack Black previously stated similar interest in a Red Dead Redemption film adaptation.
- Rockstar Games has consistently rejected movie adaptations, calling them a 'huge risk' with poor economics.
- John Marston is the protagonist of 2010's Red Dead Redemption and secondary character in the 2018 sequel.
- Dan Houser explained Rockstar's stance, citing concerns over control and the historical reputation of video game movies.
What Karl Urban said about John Marston
According to Square Mile, Urban was asked about video game adaptations he'd love to star in, having played Johnny Cage in the upcoming Mortal Kombat 2. His response was immediate and enthusiastic: "Red Dead Redemption is one of my favourites. Red Dead is a fantastic game."
Urban explained that whilst he didn't have early access to gaming culture due to financial constraints as an unemployed actor in Sydney during the 1990s, Red Dead was one of the games that "spoke to me" when he finally had the chance to play. Then came the money quote: "I mean, come on, John Marston! I'd love to play that character."
The Lord of the Rings and The Boys star certainly has the rugged screen presence for the role. John Marston is the gruff protagonist of 2010's Red Dead Redemption and a secondary character in 2018's Red Dead Redemption 2 — a former outlaw forced by federal agents to hunt down his old Van der Linde gang members to protect his family.
Why this movie will probably never happen
Urban's enthusiasm is admirable, but Rockstar Games and parent company Take-Two have shown zero interest in letting Hollywood adapt their properties. Dan Houser, Rockstar's co-founder and former head writer, explained the company's stance in 2024 when discussing why a Grand Theft Auto movie "never made sense."
"Why would we do this?" Houser recalled asking film executives. "What you've described is you making a movie and us having no control and taking a huge risk, that we're going to end up paying for with something that belongs to us."
The economics simply don't work for Rockstar. "We had what we considered to be multi billion dollar IP, and the economics never made sense. The risk never made sense. In those days, the perception was that games made poor-quality movies," Houser explained.
This puts Urban in the same boat as Jack Black, who recently admitted he doesn't think video game movie adaptations will get Rockstar's blessing, despite his own interest in the franchise.
What this means for Red Dead fans
The buzz around a Red Dead Redemption movie may be a bit overhyped for now, especially given Rockstar Games' history of avoiding adaptations. Still, growing actor interest and fan discussion could signal rising demand that might eventually influence future decisions.
For now, fans can look forward to Red Dead Redemption coming to new platforms including Netflix Games and mobile devices. Rockstar seems more interested in expanding their games' reach than adapting them for cinema.
Urban joining the conversation alongside Jack Black does show the enduring appeal of the Red Dead universe. Both actors understand the characters and clearly respect the source material — which is more than you can say for most video game adaptations that actually get made.
Where to play Red Dead Redemption
Red Dead Redemption and Red Dead Redemption 2 are available on PlayStation, Xbox, PC, and Nintendo Switch. The original game is also coming to Netflix Games for subscribers, expanding access to the beloved Western adventure that has captured Hollywood's attention.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will there be a Red Dead Redemption movie?
No official Red Dead Redemption movie is in development. Rockstar Games has historically been reluctant to adapt its video game properties, citing concerns over control and risk, as expressed by co-founder Dan Houser.
Which actor wants to play John Marston?
Karl Urban, known for 'The Boys' and 'The Lord of the Rings', has expressed a strong desire to play John Marston in a potential Red Dead Redemption movie during an interview with Square Mile.
What other actors are interested in a Red Dead Redemption movie?
Jack Black has also previously stated his interest in starring in a Red Dead Redemption movie, though he acknowledged that Rockstar Games is unlikely to greenlight such a project.
Why won't Rockstar Games make a Red Dead movie?
Rockstar's Dan Houser explained that movie adaptations present too much risk with poor economics. The company wants to maintain control over their multi-billion dollar IP and avoid the historical reputation of poor-quality video game movies.
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