Karyn Kusama to Direct Amazon's "Life Is Strange" TV Series

Karyn Kusama has been confirmed as the director for the first two episodes of the upcoming "Life Is Strange" TV series, which is being developed for Amazon Prime Video. In addition to directing, Kusama will also serve as an executive producer through her production company, Familystyle. The series is based on the popular video game franchise created by Don’t Nod Entertainment and later developed by Deck Nine, with Square Enix as the publisher.

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The series will follow the story of Max, a photography student portrayed by Tatum Grace Hopkins, who discovers her ability to rewind time while attempting to save her childhood best friend, Chloe, played by Maisy Stella. As they navigate this newfound power, the duo investigates the mysterious disappearance of a fellow student, revealing a darker side to their town and facing life-altering decisions.

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Kusama is recognized for her work on critically acclaimed projects, including the Showtime series "Yellowjackets," for which she received three Emmy nominations. Her previous collaborations with Amazon include directing episodes of "The Man in the High Castle," "Dead Ringers," and "The Consultant." The series will be written by Charlie Covell, who is also the showrunner and an executive producer, alongside Dmitri M. Johnson, Michael Lawrence Goldberg, and Timothy I. Stevenson from Story Kitchen, and Jen Roskind.

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The original "Life Is Strange" game was released in 2015 and received widespread acclaim, leading to multiple sequels and spin-offs, including "Life Is Strange: Before the Storm" (2017), "The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit" (2018), "Life Is Strange 2" (2018), and "Life Is Strange: True Colors" (2021). The franchise has garnered over 20 million players as of 2023, indicating its significant impact on the gaming community.

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Kusama's involvement has been met with enthusiasm, given her track record in both television and film. The collaboration between Amazon and the creative team aims to bring the rich narrative of the "Life Is Strange" universe to a broader audience.

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While the announcement has generally been positive, some fans of the original game have expressed concerns about the adaptation process, particularly regarding how the series will handle the game's themes and character development. Critics worry that the transition from video game to television may not capture the essence of the original storytelling.

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The series is currently in production, with no official release date announced yet. Fans of the franchise are eagerly awaiting updates as the project progresses, particularly in light of the upcoming game "Life Is Strange: Reunion," set to launch on March 26, 2026, which will conclude the story of Chloe and Max.

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• “Kusama’s involvement comes not long after it was reported that Maisy Stella and Tatum Grace Hopkins have been cast in the roles of Chloe and Max, respectively.” — Variety

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• “The series comes from Square Enix, Story Kitchen, and LuckyChap, with Amazon MGM Studios producing.” — Variety

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