A Troubling Revelation: ‘Life Is Strange’ Writer Confirms Creators Are Not Involved in Amazon TV Show

The highly-anticipated TV adaptation of the beloved video game Life Is Strange has been met with a wave of concern from its dedicated fanbase. Following the official announcement from Amazon MGM Studios, Christian Divine, a co-writer on the original game, delivered a stunning and disheartening revelation on social media. In a simple but impactful post, Divine stated, “The only people not involved are the creators.” This comment has sparked a heated debate within the community about the importance of creative input from original developers and raises questions about whether the show can truly capture the emotional core and nuanced storytelling that made the game a cultural phenomenon.

The news is particularly jarring given the recent success of other video game adaptations, such as HBO’s The Last of Us and Amazon’s own Fallout, both of which benefited from the direct involvement of their original creators. For a game as reliant on its narrative and character relationships as Life Is Strange, the lack of a creative voice from its original studio, Dontnod Entertainment, is a major red flag for fans. The show, which is being led by showrunner Charlie Covell, will be produced by Square Enix, Story Kitchen, and Margot Robbie’s LuckyChap Entertainment. While a talented team is in place, the absence of the key individuals who crafted the world of Arcadia Bay is a significant point of contention.

The Disconnect Between Publisher and Creator

The lack of involvement from Dontnod Entertainment is not entirely surprising. The studio’s relationship with publisher Square Enix, which owns the Life Is Strange IP, has been a source of speculation for years. After developing the first two games, the franchise was handed over to Deck Nine for subsequent titles. This history of a creative shift at the developer level now appears to be extending to the television adaptation, where Square Enix is involved as a producer but the original creators are not.

• A Question of Authenticity: The core of Life Is Strange is its emotional resonance, its memorable characters, and the difficult, choice-driven narrative that explores heavy topics like teenage angst, mental health, and destiny. Without the original writers, Christian Divine and Jean-Luc Cano, guiding the story, fans fear that the show will lose the subtle, heartfelt tone that made the game so special. The fear is that the series will become a hollow imitation, a generic teen drama with a time-travel gimmick.
• A Different Kind of Adaptation: Unlike a game with a more linear plot, Life Is Strange is built on player choices. The game’s ending, in particular, is a point of deep debate among fans. It is unclear how the TV show will handle this, but without the creators’ guidance, the decision could be seen as a betrayal of the source material.
• The Fallout Precedent: While some fans point to the success of Fallout, which did not have the direct involvement of creator Todd Howard in the writing room, there is a key difference. The original Fallout games were developed with a strong sense of a creative vision that was already well-defined. Life Is Strange, on the other hand, is a much more personal story, and its success is directly tied to the unique voices of its creators.

A Risky Gamble for Amazon

Amazon’s decision to move forward with the series without Dontnod’s input is a major gamble. While the involvement of a renowned writer like Charlie Covell and the backing of a major production company like LuckyChap is a strong point in the show’s favor, the fan response has been overwhelmingly negative. The most vocal fans have expressed their displeasure on social media, with many stating they will not watch the series if the original creators are not involved. This kind of consumer backlash, while not always fatal, can severely damage the reputation of an adaptation before it even airs.

The show’s success will ultimately depend on whether it can win over a new audience while still honoring the spirit of the original game. However, for a franchise built on a foundation of emotional connection and a passionate community, starting the adaptation process with a public display of disrespect for the original creators is a very risky way to begin this new chapter in the Life Is Strange universe.