Video game adaptations are having a serious moment right now. You’ve seen The Last of Us make everyone cry on HBO, and Fallout basically took over the internet for a month. So, it was really only a matter of time before someone looked at the Game of the Year winner from 2021 and thought, "Yeah, we can film that." But the It Takes Two TV adaptation is a different beast entirely. It’s not a gritty post-apocalyptic survival story or a high-octane shooter. It’s a story about a messy divorce, a neglected kid, and two people trapped in the bodies of handmade dolls.
Honestly, it’s a weird pitch for a television show.
If you played the game, you know the vibe. Cody and May are on the brink of splitting up. Their daughter, Rose, makes two dolls that look like them, cries over them, and suddenly—magic. The parents are shrunken down and forced to work together by a sentient, thrusting self-help book named Dr. Hakim. It’s colorful, it’s frantic, and it’s deeply emotional. But translating that specific "co-op only" energy into a scripted series is where things get tricky.
Who is actually making this thing?
Let's talk logistics because that’s usually where these projects die in "development hell." Back in early 2022, Hazelight Studios—the developers behind the game—partnered up with dj2 Entertainment. If that name sounds familiar, it’s because they’re the ones who helped bring Sonic the Hedgehog to the big screen. They clearly have a type. Shortly after that, Amazon Studios jumped into the fray.
Amazon is putting serious money behind this. They didn't just option it; they put it into "priority development." They’ve also brought on Pat Casey and Josh Miller, the writers who handled the Sonic movies. This tells us a lot about the intended tone. It’s probably not going to be a dark, prestige drama. Expect something that leans into the whimsical, fast-paced comedy-adventure territory, even if the underlying theme is a failing marriage.
💡 You might also like: Greatest Rock and Roll Singers of All Time: Why the Legends Still Own the Mic
Seven Bucks Productions is also involved. That’s Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson’s company. There’s been a ton of rumors flying around about whether The Rock will actually star in the It Takes Two TV show. While nothing is set in stone, it’s hard to imagine his production company being this involved without him at least voicing Cody or making a cameo.
The Elephant in the Room (Literally)
We have to talk about Cutie the Elephant. If you know, you know.
There is a specific scene in the game involving a plush elephant queen that is, frankly, traumatizing. It’s the moment players realized that It Takes Two wasn't just a "cute" game; it was a dark exploration of what parents do to "fix" their children's sadness. If the TV show skips this, fans will complain that it's too sanitized. If they keep it in, it might be the most controversial scene in a "family-friendly" show since Watership Down.
The writers have a massive hurdle here. In a game, you’re the one pulling the strings, which makes the cruelty of Cody and May feel like a shared burden. In a TV show, you’re just a spectator. If the characters are too mean to each other—or to the toys in their way—the audience might just stop rooting for them.
📖 Related: Ted Nugent State of Shock: Why This 1979 Album Divides Fans Today
The pacing of the game is also incredibly varied. One minute you’re playing a third-person shooter against squirrels, and the next you’re in a dungeon-crawler or a flight sim. A television series can't really do that without feeling disjointed. The showrunners have to find a way to make the "levels" feel like a cohesive journey through a house and garden, rather than just a series of random set pieces.
Why it might actually work better than other adaptations
Most games struggle to become movies because they lack a strong emotional core. Mortal Kombat is about hitting people. Uncharted is about finding treasure. But the It Takes Two TV project has a built-in emotional arc that is universal. Everyone understands the pain of a family drifting apart.
What to expect from the narrative:
- A deeper look at Rose’s life while her parents are "missing" in the doll world.
- More backstory on why Cody and May gave up on their dreams (his gardening, her engineering).
- A version of Dr. Hakim that is hopefully slightly less annoying than the game version.
- Physical comedy that utilizes the shrunken-down perspective—think Honey, I Shrunk the Kids but with more existential dread.
The game is about "collaboration." In the TV show, that has to manifest through dialogue and character growth. You can’t just have them jump on platforms for forty minutes. You need them to argue, reminisce, and slowly rediscover why they liked each other in the first place. It’s a romantic comedy trapped inside a Pixar-fever-dream.
The Reality of the Release Date
Don't hold your breath for a trailer next week. Production on these kinds of hybrid live-action/CGI shows is notoriously slow. Given the involvement of Amazon and the current slate of other adaptations like God of War, we are likely looking at a late 2025 or even 2026 release.
👉 See also: Mike Judge Presents: Tales from the Tour Bus Explained (Simply)
There’s also the question of format. Is this a limited series? An ongoing show? Personally, I think it works best as a single, tight season. You can’t drag out a divorce reconciliation for five years without it becoming exhausting. You want to see them get back into their bodies, hug their kid, and then roll the credits.
Moving forward with the hype
If you're a fan waiting for the It Takes Two TV show, the best thing you can do is revisit the source material with a critical eye. Notice how the environments reflect the characters' internal states. The "Cuckoo Clock" level isn't just about time; it’s about May’s feeling that she’s running out of it. The "Garden" is about Cody’s neglected passions.
To keep up with the latest updates, here is what you should actually be watching:
- Follow Josef Fares on social media. He’s the director of the game and a total firebrand who usually leaks info before he’s supposed to.
- Keep an eye on Amazon Prime Video’s "Coming Soon" investor reports.
- Replay the game with someone you haven't played it with yet. Seriously, it’s the best way to remember why this story matters.
The transition from controller to remote control is always risky. But with the original creators involved and a studio that’s currently winning the "streaming wars," Cody and May might just have a shot at a second life. Just... brace yourselves for the elephant scene. It’s coming.
Next Steps for Fans:
If you want to stay ahead of the curve, keep a close watch on dj2 Entertainment's production slate. They are currently the gatekeepers for several high-profile game adaptations. Also, check out the 2024 interviews with the Sonic writing team; they’ve dropped subtle hints about how they approach "unfilmable" game mechanics by focusing on "character-first" scripts. This is the exact philosophy they are bringing to the table here. Finally, make sure your Amazon Prime subscription is active, as this is where the series will exclusively land when it finally drops.