Dragami Games is turning Lollipop Chainsaw into a live-action movie, and the irony is that the man who wrote the original game is not the one making it happen. James Gunn helped pen the 2012 title, but he’s too busy remaking the DCU to touch this adaptation, so the movie is being built without him.
The news comes on the heels of Deadline’s Sept. 18 report, which confirmed the project exists as an “R-rated action comedy” prequel to the first game. It follows the announcement of Lollipop Chainsaw 2 Back2Back at Tokyo Game Show earlier in the week. The project currently has a creative and production team of international filmmakers and producers, though no director or major Western film studio is attached yet.
Gunn’s Exit From the Adaptation
James Gunn wrote the original Lollipop Chainsaw back in 2012, when the game was released by Suda51’s Grasshopper Manufacture. He was flirting with a full-time move into gaming before Guardians of the Galaxy came calling, and the Chainsaw credits reflect that early dalliance with the medium.
Reviews at the time were mixed, but the game became a cult classic anyway. It also left its mark on Gunn’s own work — one of the more memorable Harley Quinn scenes in his The Suicide Squad draws directly from the game’s sensibility.
Now Gunn is tied up with the DCU remake, so he’s out of the picture for this adaptation. That means the movie is being made without the writer whose voice gave the game its tone in the first place.
What We Know About the Movie So Far
Deadline’s report describes the film as a prequel to the first game, focusing on protagonist Juliet Starling. The project is still early, so it currently just has a creative and production team of international filmmakers and producers.
Dragami Games told Deadline it’s “pleased to be working with such an experienced and passionate international team — one that understands what makes Lollipop Chainsaw special while embracing the opportunity to create something new.”
No director or major Western film studio appears to be attached to the Lollipop Chainsaw movie at this time.
Dragami’s Track Record
Dragami Games acquired the rights to Lollipop Chainsaw in the early 2020s and re-released it. The company has drawn criticism for RePop’s rough state at launch, for not involving many of the original creators in these new projects, and for making anti-DEI comments last year.
Despite that baggage, Dragami is pushing ahead with Lollipop Chainsaw 2 Back2Back, an anime series, and now this live-action movie. The company is clearly betting that the Chainsaw brand can carry multiple formats at once.
Why This Matters
The Chainsaw story is a strange one. Gunn wrote a game that became a cult classic, then went on to direct films that owe a debt to that game’s style. Now his original game is getting a movie adaptation that he can’t be part of because of other commitments.
It’s a reminder that IP ownership doesn’t always mean creative control. Dragami holds the rights, but Gunn’s involvement in the original is a footnote to this adaptation, not its centerpiece.
The movie is also positioned as a prequel, which means it could potentially expand the world of Juliet Starling beyond the events of the first game. Whether it captures the game’s irreverent tone remains to be seen.
Key Facts Box
- Game release: Lollipop Chainsaw (2012), Suda51’s Grasshopper Manufacture
- Writer: James Gunn
- Movie report: Deadline, Sept. 18
- Tokyo Game Show announcement: Lollipop Chainsaw 2 Back2Back
- Gunn’s current project: Remaking the DCU
- Studios attached: None announced
The Bottom Line
The Lollipop Chainsaw movie is a real thing, and it’s being made without James Gunn. That’s the whole story, and it’s oddly fitting. Gunn gave the game its voice, then moved on, and now the property is being expanded in ways he can’t participate in.
Whether the movie lives up to the game is a question for later. For now, the fact that it’s happening at all is worth noting.
Lollipop Chainsaw Is Getting An Official Live-Action Movie Prequel.
Source material: “Lollipop Chainsaw Is Getting An Official Live-Action Movie Prequel,” Polygon.
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