Persona is Coming to TV with a New Netflix Series
Atlus' supernatural high school RPG sounds like perfect TV fodder
Netflix is developing a live-action TV series based on Atlus' Persona role-playing game franchise, according to a new report. The series is being developed by production company Story Kitchen, which produces the Sonic the Hedgehog film franchise for Sega, and 21 Laps, the production company founded by Shawn Levy (Deadpool & Wolverine, Free Guy), who produced Stranger Things.
According to Variety, which first reported the story, Christopher Monfette is attached to write the adaptation and to serve as executive producer and showrunner. Monfette previously served as writer and producer on shows such as Star Trek: Picard, Syfy’s 12 Monkeys, and Fox's 9-1-1. He's also a writer and producer on Marvel Television's upcoming VisionQuest for Disney Plus.
Netflix's Persona adaptation doesn't sound like a done deal, but it reflects the streamer's investment in video game adaptations. Netflix has adapted Riot Games' League of Legends into the animated series Arcane, and has released animated series based on Castlevania, Cyberpunk 2077, Devil May Cry, and Tomb Raider. Netflix has had less success on the video game live-action adaptation front; it's delivered the one-and-done Resident Evil and is still working on a BioShock movie.
Persona is making the jump to TV after 30 years
Atlus' Persona series began in 1996 with Persona for the original PlayStation. A spinoff of the Shin Megami Tensei series, Persona has spawned four mainline sequels and a long list of spinoffs and rereleases. The most recent mainline entry, Persona 5, was released in 2016. Persona 6 was announced in early June, but the game does not have a release date.
The concept of Persona is certainly ripe for adaptation. The Persona games typically focus on a group of Japanese high school students who balance their daily lives with supernatural adventures and the ability to summon forth Personas to help them in battle against the forces of evil.
The next Persona release from Atlus is a remaster of 2008's Persona 4, dubbed Persona 4: Revival. That game will launch on Feb. 18, 2027, for PlayStation 5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X.