Last Updated on Sep 6, 2026 @ 11:58:11 AM.
Hellraiser: Revival is just over a month away, and after some time with the game at Gamescom, I got the chance to chat with two of the minds responsible for the true-to-form adaptation of Clive Barker’s iconic franchise, Emil Esov and Antony de Fault, Game and Narrative Director’s respectively.
During our chat, it was evident that both they, and judging by my hands-on, the rest of the team, really understood what it meant to adapt Hellraiser. It’s an iconic and incredibly unique franchise that has stood the test of time, and while niche in its audience, it is an audience that knows exactly what it wants.
One click and you're done. Thank you!
When asked what other horror IPs the two of them would like to get their hands on, they both have significantly different answers, albeit both exciting. Narrative Director Antony de Fault said:
“I mean, I’ll just say it Hyperion. Like, not to adapt, and it’s not directly horror, but there’s a lot of horror in that. And it’s very similar themes like cosmic horror, religious horror, body horror with the cruciform parasite. That would be kind of a dream. Project. We’ve talked about it a few times. It’s not on the cards, which is how I’m able to say it. But that’s something we would absolutely love to do. Do you have one maybe from horror movies?”
De Fault was directing that question towards Emil Esov, Game Director, who had been largely quiet during the exchange on the subject, bar nodding his head feverishly to the Hyperion comment. Instead of offering his own suggestion though, he took a slightly different route when prompted by de Fault:
“Well, not really. Not to this degree. Because Hellraiser, in a way, is pretty unique, right? And it has this cerebral vibe to it. Other IPs would have to be in the same vein, I guess, for me, to be interesting. So I don’t see anything right now that has not already been adapted.”
Taking over once more, de Fault said:
“I’ll give a left field answer, which is that I would love to make something original but with Robert Eggers and Sean. So let’s put that out there on the record.”
What followed was a big derailment of the original interview, no longer just discussing Hellraiser, but also discussing our mutual love of Robert Eggers filmography, although a difference of opinion on his opening feature The VVitch. De Fault and Esov both love it, with de Fault adamant he could “convince me” why it’s Eggers best work.
There’s no doubt about it, the team behind Hellraiser: Revival clearly have a penchant for nailing the feeling and atmosphere of licensed IP, if my time with the game at Gamescom is anything to go by. Eggers is notoriously specific in his stories, so it’d be interesting to see how that’d translate to the video game medium.
What do you think about the above? Would you like to see Saber Interactive get its teeth into a Robert Eggers project?
For your next read, check out our thoughts on The Defiant, an old school WW2 shooter more in line with Medal of Honor than Call of Duty, or how Asobo Studio doesn’t want to be a AAA studio.
Luke Addison is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Thumb Wars. Having previously been a part of multiple outlets over the years, including building an entire gaming team from nothing to something, he thought it best to forge his own path and answer only to himself. As likely to be found playing the latest game as he is in the kitchen relaxing (by cooking), he always brings the same bold and brash attitude to everything he does, with a heavy leaning on sarcasm and dry wit!
