Bloodborne Movie: Jacksepticeye Reveals He’s the “Vibe Checker” Behind the Adaptation

The upcoming animated Bloodborne movie has been shrouded in mystery since Sony announced it earlier this year, but Seán McLoughlin, better known as Jacksepticeye, has finally offered a much clearer idea of what he actually does behind the scenes.

In a new appearance on the 100 Questions with Tom Simons podcast, the co-producer explained that he has a significant say in the adaptation, including which ideas move forward and who gets brought onto the project:

I’m sort of the vibe checker. To be like, yeah, ‘not that.’

It is a fitting description for someone who has spent years calling Bloodborne his favorite game. In the interview, Jack also opened up about the long conversations that led to his involvement, the skepticism surrounding his attachment to the movie, and how he plans to make sure the adaptation remains worthy of the world that inspired it.

Jacksepticeye Has More Control Over the Bloodborne Movie Than You Might Think

No bad ideas allowed, apparently. | Credits: 100 Questions with Tom Simons/YouTube

McLoughlin’s involvement did not begin with the movie announcement. He said he was first contacted about what he thought of Bloodborne and what an adaptation could look like. That eventually turned into conversations about bringing him onto the project, although it took a long time before everything came together.

The fact that the 31M+-subscriber-strong YouTuber is a producer on the film is already known, but his latest comments give us a much better idea of what that actually means. When Simons asked how much sway he has over the movie and exactly “how high up in this movie” he is, Jack simply answered, “Quite a bit.”

He went on to explain that the “people” on the “calls” listen to him “above almost anyone else.” His role includes telling the team when an idea works, when it does not, and when something should not be pursued at all. He also has a say in who gets hired and is involved in vetting the people who come aboard.

That last part matters to Jack because he does not want the movie made by people who have no idea what Bloodborne is. He has already seen the skepticism around his own involvement, with around 80% of the responses he received being critical. Still, he said he would probably react the same way if someone attached a YouTuber to his favorite game.

The Bloodborne Movie Won’t Simply Recreate the Game

For all the mystery surrounding the movie, Jack did offer one clear idea of what he wants the adaptation to be. He is not trying to turn the game into a film scene by scene, nor does he want to compete with what FromSoftware already created:

I am not trying to be the game. I’m not trying to one up the game, and I’m not trying to compete with it or tell the same story. I’m trying to honor the universe that’s there and tell as good a story as I can within it.

That also happens to be one of the few real clues we have about the movie itself. Sony announced the R-rated animated Bloodborne film at CinemaCon earlier in April this year, with PlayStation Productions, Lyrical Animation, and Jacksepticeye attached as producers. Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group president Sanford Panitch also said the adaptation would stay true to the spirit of the game.

Beyond that, almost everything remains under wraps. There is still no release date, director, writer, cast, plot synopsis, trailer, or footage, and there has been no announcement that the movie will follow the Hunter’s story from the game. For now, Jack’s comments suggest that fans should expect a new story within the Bloodborne universe rather than a direct retelling of what they’ve already played through.

That’s all for now. Would you rather see the Bloodborne movie tell a completely new story in Yharnam, or adapt something more directly from the game? And does Jacksepticeye having this much creative input change how you see the adaptation? Let us know in the comments below!