If you’ve been keeping an eye on the growing wave of video game adaptations into animated series, the name Adi Shankar is likely already familiar. Known for his stylish and gritty takes on popular franchises, Shankar has established himself through critically acclaimed adaptations of Castlevania and the upcoming Devil May Cry anime. With a track record of delivering fan-favourite series that blend faithfulness to source material with distinct creative flair, anticipation around any future projects is always high, and it’s now time for Duke Nukem to get some love.
In a recent interview with Esquire, Shankar confirmed that he has successfully secured the adaptation rights to the Duke Nukem franchise from Gearbox Software. He clarified, however, that these rights are strictly for adaptation and not for creating new video games.
Staying True to Duke Nukem
While Shankar did not confirm that an animated Duke Nukem project is currently in active development, he expressed a clear vision for what he wants the adaptation to be. According to him, this is a character who cannot and should not be moulded by large corporations.
“Once a big company gets involved, Duke stops being Duke,” he stated firmly. He emphasised that any potential adaptation would be done on his own terms, without outside interference.
In the same interview, Shankar also touched on the upcoming second season of Devil May Cry, which has been officially confirmed. He teased that the new season will feature a noticeable shift in both style and tone compared to the first season. A key reason for this change is the involvement of Vergil, a central character in the Devil May Cry lore, whose presence will bring new dynamics to the narrative.
At this stage, it remains uncertain whether Shankar’s newly acquired rights to Duke Nukem will lead to a full-fledged adaptation. However, given his passionate approach and history of delivering compelling animated adaptations, fans of the franchise have reason to be cautiously optimistic.
