Netflix Targets Persona for Live-Action Expansion
Netflix is developing a live-action series based on the Persona role-playing game franchise, according to reports from Variety. The project is in early development, with Story Kitchen—the production house behind the Sonic the Hedgehog films—and Shawn Levy’s 21 Laps Entertainment attached to lead the adaptation.
Monfette Tapped to Lead Creative Vision
Christopher Monfette will serve as writer, showrunner, and executive producer. He brings extensive experience in genre television, having worked on Star Trek: Picard, the Syfy series 12 Monkeys, and Fox’s 9-1-1. Monfette is currently a writer and producer on the Marvel Television project VisionQuest for Disney+.
He will be supported by 21 Laps, founded by Shawn Levy. Levy is a veteran of high-profile genre projects, including Netflix’s Stranger Things, as well as the feature films Deadpool & Wolverine and Free Guy.
Streaming Strategy Meets Gaming Lore
This project signals Netflix’s ongoing commitment to building a library around established gaming intellectual property. The streamer has already seen success with animated adaptations like Arcane, alongside series based on Castlevania, Cyberpunk 2077, Devil May Cry, and Tomb Raider.
Live-action efforts, however, have proved more difficult to land. While Netflix launched a Resident Evil series, it was limited to a single season. Other projects, such as a planned BioShock film, remain in development as the company looks to mirror the success competitors have found with properties like The Last of Us or the Sonic films.
The Persona Formula Explained
Developed by Atlus, the Persona series debuted in 1996 as a spinoff of the Shin Megami Tensei franchise. The games follow a consistent narrative structure: a group of Japanese high school students must balance the mundane pressures of daily life with supernatural threats. Players engage in turn-based combat using "Personas," which are manifestations of the characters’ psyches.
The franchise has expanded through four mainline sequels and numerous spinoffs. While the most recent mainline entry, Persona 5, arrived in 2016, Atlus has confirmed that Persona 6 is in development, though a release date has not been provided.
Reviving the Classics
While fans await news on the Netflix adaptation and the next mainline game, Atlus is moving forward with a remaster of the 2008 title Persona 4. Titled Persona 4: Revival, the game is scheduled for release on February 18, 2027. It will be available on PlayStation 5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X.
Project Overview
- Production Status: The Persona series is in early development at Netflix, involving Story Kitchen and 21 Laps.
- Creative Team: Christopher Monfette, known for 12 Monkeys and Star Trek: Picard, is set to serve as showrunner and writer.
- Franchise History: The Persona series, which debuted in 1996, is a spinoff of the Shin Megami Tensei series and remains one of Atlus’ most successful RPG properties.
- Upcoming Game: Atlus is currently preparing for the February 18, 2027, launch of Persona 4: Revival.