Dmitry Glukhovsky’s book Metro 2033 was successful enough to earn its own videogame adaptation in 2010 by sticking to the novel’s post-apocalyptic setting of Moscow, Russia. Recently the upcoming film based on Glukhovsky’s 2005 story was cancelled due to the story being relocated in America’s District of Columbia.

According to VG 24/7, the author told the videogame outlet that due to MGM Studios decision to allow F. Scott Fraizer to “Americanize” the Russia-set story. Glukhovsky states:

The project with MGM optioning this book and developing a script had brought us to nothing and the rights reverted to me, So currently we are speaking with a new set of producers about a possible adaptation but this is a very long and difficult process. I’m still optimistic. We’ll see if the release of Metro Exodus can push the IP across a little bit the oceans and see how that works.

He continues stating that the alternatives used for the cancelled film’s setting only further pushed away the original plot of communism and xenophobia. “In Washington DC, Nazis don’t work, Communists don’t work at all, and the Dark Ones don’t work. Washington DC is a black city basically” Glukhovsky tells VG 24/7. “They had to replace the Dark Ones with some kind of random beasts and as long as the beasts don’t look human, the entire story of xenophobia doesn’t work which was very important to me as a convinced internationalist. They turned it into a very generic thing.”

Glukhovsky concludes by telling the outlet that despite the success his series have made either it being the books or videogames, Americans are afraid of the Russia and prefer a more familiar set story.

It was discussed that Glukhovsky is eager to bring his story to film, but the future for the story set in Moscow’s metro system isn’t looking too bright currently. Though we might not see the film anytime soon, fan can look forward to the approaching Metro Exodus which is set to release for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC on February 22, 2019.

Source: VG24/7