It’s a hella exciting time to be a Life is Strange fan. Not only is a brand-new game on the way this March, but the latest news is that the Life is Strange TV adaptation from Prime Video has found the perfect actors to play Max and Chloe.
Tatum Grace Hopkins (Queen of Versailles) will take on the awkward mantle of shy geek Max Caulfield, with Maisy Stella (My Old Ass) stepping into the spiked boots of troubled punk, Chloe Price. Hopkins celebrated the announcement on Instagram, wearing a shirt that eagle-eyed Life is Strange fans instantly recognized as a reference.
The adaptation is based on the critically acclaimed video game franchise from Dontnod, which follows photography student Max, who discovers she can rewind time after witnessing a tragic incident involving her childhood best friend, Chloe. The pair team up to try to understand Max’s new powers, all while investigating the mysterious disappearance of Rachel Amber. Their investigation leads them to uncover a dark side of Arcadia Bay, one that forces them to make an impossible choice.
Rumors of a TV series based on the time-bending narrative adventure have circulated since 2016, but it was only in September last year that the project was confirmed to be greenlit, with The End of the F***king World creator Charlie Covell serving as executive producer and showrunner. The news left some fans feeling conflicted about how the series would handle a game with two very different endings.
The new casting reveal hasn’t exactly eased my concerns about that all-important and life-shattering ending of the original game, but it does leave me feeling hopeful about the direction Prime Video is taking the adaptation. The casting of Stella in particular seems an inspired choice, as her portrayal in My Old Ass of someone navigating the minefield of sexual expression and queer identity was poignant and deeply authentic. While Life is Strange blends sci-fi, fantasy, and mystery with a modern-day setting, queerness still plays a key role in Max and Chloe’s relationship. It’s too soon to say whether that’ll be addressed openly in the adaptation, but if it is, I know Stella has the range to play it beautifully.
After a decade with these characters, only time will tell if Hopkins and Stella will be able to capture the same emotional intensity (or the cringeworthy dialogue) as the original game. Considering the positive fan reaction so far, however, it looks as though the Life is Strange community is ready for whatever the TV adaptation is willing to throw at them, shaka brah.
