Oregon Trail Movie Will Blend Action-Comedy and Musical Numbers

Apple is in the early stages of developing a film adaptation of the classic educational video game, Oregon Trail. This upcoming action-comedy film will include musical numbers akin to those found in the Barbie movie. The project plans to explore a historical adventure involving a 19th-century covered wagon train journeying to the Willamette Valley, Oregon. Will Speck and Josh Gordon are set to direct while Kenny and Keith Lucas, along with Max Reisman, are tasked with the screenplay. Renowned songwriting duo Benji Pasek and Justin Paul, known for their work on La La Land, are involved in creating the musical elements. As a significant cultural reference, Oregon Trail has been a beloved title among gamers across generations.

The Oregon Trail movie will chronicle the journey of a 19th-century covered wagon train heading to the Willamette Valley in Oregon, infused with action, comedy, and musical numbers to provide a light-hearted, irreverent take on the historical adventure.

The Oregon Trail game originally debuted as a text-based adventure in 1971, produced by the Minnesota Educational Computer Consortium from 1975 onward. Over the years, it has become iconic, often humorously referenced in pop culture as players faced challenges like disease and wildlife while on their voyage. This film marks a continuation of the trend of adapting classic video games into movies, joining other franchises like Super Mario Bros. in the cinematic realm, although with varying degrees of financial success.