Honestly, if you’ve spent any time screaming at a partner while trying to navigate a vacuum cleaner boss fight, you know why an It Takes Two television show sounded like a slam dunk. The game was a juggernaut. It didn’t just win Game of the Year in 2021; it basically redefined what a co-op narrative could be.
But here we are in 2026, and the "small screen" dreams for Cody and May feel a bit like they’re stuck in a toy box that nobody can quite pry open.
The buzz started back in 2022. Amazon MGM Studios snatched up the rights, and big names like Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and his Seven Bucks Productions team jumped on board. The hype was real. We were promised a "Pixar-esque" adventure that would translate the game’s chaotic energy into a serialized format. Then, things got... quiet. Too quiet.
Why the It Takes Two Television Show is Stalled
Video game adaptations are having a massive moment right now, but that doesn't mean they're easy. Converting a game that requires two people to play into a show where people just sit and watch is a narrative nightmare.
Josef Fares, the outspoken mastermind behind Hazelight Studios, hasn't been shy about his feelings. In recent interviews, he’s basically called the Hollywood development process "bulls—t." His frustration is palpable. While he’s been busy launching Split Fiction (which is already getting its own movie buzz with Sydney Sweeney attached), the original It Takes Two television show and movie projects have been languishing in "development hell."
📖 Related: Who is Really in the Enola Holmes 2 Cast? A Look at the Faces Behind the Mystery
The core issue? Scheduling and vision.
Pat Casey and Josh Miller, the writers behind the Sonic the Hedgehog movies, were tapped to pen the script. They’re good. They know how to handle blue hedgehogs and wacky physics. But they’re also incredibly busy with Sonic 3 and Violent Night 2. Toss in The Rock’s insane schedule—between live-action Moana and his return to the Fast & Furious world—and you have a recipe for a project that keeps getting pushed to the back burner.
The Reality of "Priority Development"
When Amazon announced this as a "priority," fans expected a trailer within eighteen months. That’s not how it works.
- Script Iterations: How do you handle Dr. Hakim? That talking Book of Love is charming in a game but could easily become the most annoying character in TV history if the tone isn't perfect.
- The CGI Budget: A faithful It Takes Two television show would be wildly expensive. You’re talking about a world where humans are dolls, squirrels are insurgent fighters, and garden tools are lethal weapons.
- The "Split" Problem: The game relies on a split-screen mechanic. Translating that visual identity to a standard 16:9 television show without it feeling like a gimmick is a massive hurdle for directors.
What Fans Actually Want to See
If this show ever actually makes it to Prime Video, it can't just be a scene-for-scene remake of the game. We've played that. We know Cody is a bit of a pushover and May is a workaholic.
👉 See also: Priyanka Chopra Latest Movies: Why Her 2026 Slate Is Riskier Than You Think
What the It Takes Two television show needs to explore is the "why" behind the divorce. The game brushes over the specifics of their fallout to keep the pacing fast. A TV series has the luxury of time. We need to see the "pre-doll" Cody and May. We need to feel the weight of Rose’s sadness before the magic kicks in.
People aren't searching for this show because they want to see a CGI squirrel. They're searching because the story of a failing marriage being saved by a literal "out-of-body" experience is deeply human. It’s relatable, even if the circumstances are absurd.
Comparing it to Other Game Hits
Look at The Last of Us or Fallout. Those succeeded because they expanded the lore. They didn't just copy the controller inputs. If Amazon tries to make the It Takes Two television show a simple kids' cartoon, they'll miss the adult audience that made the game a hit. The game is dark. I mean, let's not forget the elephant scene. You know the one. If the show doesn't have that edge, it's not really It Takes Two.
The Seven Bucks Connection
Dwayne Johnson’s involvement is a double-edged sword. On one hand, his name brings a massive budget and global visibility. On the other, his projects tend to follow a very specific, "family-friendly blockbuster" template.
✨ Don't miss: Why This Is How We Roll FGL Is Still The Song That Defines Modern Country
There were rumors he might voice Cody or even play a live-action version in some sort of meta-framing device. Honestly? That feels risky. Cody needs to be a bit of an everyman—vulnerable and flawed. If you cast a guy who looks like he could bench press the shed they’re trapped in, the stakes feel a little different.
Is it Actually Happening?
As of mid-2026, the project isn't "canceled," but it’s definitely on ice.
Hazelight has moved on to their next project, Split Fiction, and the momentum for an It Takes Two television show has shifted toward a potential feature film instead. Some insiders suggest Amazon might consolidate the TV and movie ideas into one big-budget streaming event rather than a multi-episode season.
It makes sense. A two-hour movie might be easier to produce than ten episodes of high-end CGI.
What You Can Do Now
While you wait for Hollywood to get its act together, there are a few ways to scratch that itch:
- Replay the Game: Seriously. With the new 2025/2026 updates and "Friend's Pass" still active, it remains the best way to experience the story.
- Watch the "Making Of" Documentaries: Hazelight released some great behind-the-scenes footage that shows how they choreographed the "one-shot" sequences that the TV show is struggling to replicate.
- Follow Story Kitchen: This is the production company (founded by Derek Kolstad and Dmitri M. Johnson) actually doing the heavy lifting on the adaptation. They are the ones to watch for real casting leaks.
- Keep an eye on Split Fiction: Since this is Hazelight's new "Golden Child," any success there will likely fast-track the older It Takes Two projects.
The It Takes Two television show remains one of the most anticipated "what-ifs" in gaming history. Whether it ends up as a Prime Video masterpiece or a forgotten press release depends entirely on whether the producers can find the "collaboration" the game so famously preaches.