Overview

• Adi Shankar secured non-gaming Duke Nukem rights from Gearbox in 2025, opening the door to a new screen adaptation.
• The adaptation may take the form of a television series or feature film, though Shankar has not specified which format he will pursue.
• Shankar intends to preserve the franchise’s anti-establishment tone, calling his acquisition a “middle finger to everybody” resisting corporate control.
• It remains unclear how this deal affects Legendary Entertainment’s dormant Duke Nukem movie, which was announced in 2022 with John Cena and Cobra Kai creators attached.
• Shankar is currently focused on producing Devil May Cry Season 2 for Netflix and has not disclosed any release date or cast for the Duke Nukem project.