- Image from Until Dawn courtesy of Supermassive Games

Until Dawn’s 2025 Shocking Ultimate Writer Snub

Originally posted on Total Apex Gaming | By James Clark | Last updated May 3, 2025 4:42 PM ET

The Until Dawn movie dropped in theaters on April 25, 2025, and it’s already making waves—but not just for its chills and thrills. Fans of the 2015 video game noticed something missing: the game’s writers, Larry Fessenden and Graham Reznick, didn’t get credited in the film. This has sparked a big conversation in the gaming world about who deserves recognition when games turn into movies. For more updates on gaming controversies, head over to Total Apex Gaming’s news section.

What Happened with the Credits?

Here’s the scoop. Fessenden and Reznick wrote the script for the Until Dawn game, which is so huge it earned a Guinness World Record for the longest script in a graphic adventure game. But the movie credits only mention “based on the Sony game,” leaving the writers out. According to SlashFilm, the Writers Guild of America (WGA) often credits the studio instead of individual game writers when a film’s story diverges from the original. The Until Dawn movie does have a new plot and characters, though it keeps a few nods like Dr. Hill, played by Peter Stormare. Still, many feel the original writers deserved a mention for their foundational work.

How the Community Responds

Until Dawn Video Game Writers Not Credited in the Movie, and They’re Not Happy About It.

•No mention in credits: Larry Fessenden and Graham Reznick names were omitted entirely, despite the film closely following the game’s plot and dialogue.

•Industry double standard?: HBO’s… pic.twitter.com/77vSFvI9fo

— Gaming.Bo3.gg (@Gaming_bo3gg) April 30, 2025

The gaming community isn’t letting this slide quietly. Kim MacAskill, who used to work as a narrative director at PlayStation, launched a Change.org petition to get Fessenden and Reznick credited. It’s picked up 167 signatures so far. On social media, opinions are split. A post from @Gaming_bo3gg on X pointed out that Neil Druckmann got credit for The Last of Us adaptations, so why not here? Others argue the movie’s fresh storyline justifies the omission. Either way, it’s got people talking.

Why This Matters Beyond Until Dawn

This isn’t just about one movie—it’s a sign of a bigger issue. As more video games get adapted, the industry’s still figuring out how to credit game creators fairly. Hollywood Reporter notes there’s no standard yet, and that’s a problem. Reznick even said on BlueSky that guilds need to catch up with how games and movies overlap today. It’s a push for clearer rules that could shape future adaptations.

Final Thoughts

The Until Dawn movie credits issue has brought in $18 million globally, but the real story is the debate it’s sparked. Should game writers get their names on the big screen? It’s a question that’s dividing fans and creators alike. For the latest on this and other gaming topics, visit Total Apex Gaming.

This article first appeared on Total Apex Gaming and was syndicated with permission.

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