British director Hasraf ‘HaZ’ Dulull is adapting his debut game, Astro Burn, into a TV series while also preparing for a second season of his YouTube chat show.
Hasraf ‘HaZ’ Dulull Adapts ‘Astro Burn’ into a TV Series
EXCLUSIVE: British director Hasraf ‘HaZ’ Dulull is adapting the first game from his new transmedia company into a TV series, while also preparing for a second season of his YouTube chat show.
Astro Burn: A New Transmedia Venture
Dulull, who is also a screenwriter and game developer, revealed to Deadline that he is in discussions with partners regarding an animated TV adaptation of Astro Burn, which was announced earlier this year as the inaugural project from his Beyond the Pixels label.
“From an industry perspective, recent news about Amazon MGM developing a series based on the game Split Fiction, along with the impressive work my friends at [Tomb Raider TV series producer] Story Kitchen are doing, shows that transmedia is now integral to the IP creation process in film and TV,” he stated. “My next project, Astro Burn, exemplifies this. Although it’s my debut indie game, we’re already developing it simultaneously as a TV show concept and engaging with producing partners at this early stage.”
Strategic Partnerships and Aesthetic Vision
Dulull mentioned he is “building strategic alliances with consumer brands such as Bitmap Books, Hyperkin, Razer, MyArcade, and others that align with the Beyond the Pixels content brand.”
The series is set to feature a unique pixel art aesthetic reminiscent of classic console games.
Gameplay and Narrative
In a YouTube announcement video, Dulull described Astro Burn as a “side-scrolling bullet hell shoot ’em up” that will be available on PCs via the Steam platform later this year, with mobile versions to follow shortly after.
The game follows a witty astronaut returning home after an interstellar mission, only to discover Earth encircled by a mysterious structure, with the only path to the surface being through it. “This game is a love letter to the classic console shooters I grew up obsessing over,” Dulull added.
The Rising Importance of Video Game IP
As TV and film producers explore new avenues for developing and funding content, video game IP has become increasingly significant, with titles like Fallout, Tomb Raider, and Twisted Metal leading the way. “We’re witnessing a shift,” Dulull remarked. “Hollywood producers are closely monitoring emerging game IPs with robust community engagement or high Steam wishlist rankings, getting involved before the game even launches. This accelerates the pipeline for TV development.”
Dulull emphasized that the video game sector, projected to generate over $522B in revenue by 2025, has excelled at connecting with audiences and fanbases, a strategy that will inform Beyond the Pixels moving forward.
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“Games have consistently outperformed film and TV in building community,” he said. “At Beyond The Pixels, that’s a core principle: engaging audiences early in the creative process using platforms like Discord and Reddit, so they become part of the journey. This organic involvement fosters stronger, more meaningful connections with the IP.”
Innovative Approaches to Content Creation
Dulull noted that this convergence is not only creative but also structural. “We’re developing projects with aligned creative, technical, and ownership models across film, TV, games, and even comics.”
For Beyond the Pixels, Dulull indicated this could influence casting decisions. “Casting strategies may lean into the influencer space – if we’re creating content for today’s audiences, we need to meet them where they are: YouTube, Twitch, Roblox, and beyond,” he stated.
A New Chapter for Dulull
Dulull departed from his previous company, HaZimation, earlier this year. HaZimation co-founder Paula Crickard has since rebranded the company as Atelier 11, focusing on becoming a “boutique transmedia studio committed to shaping the future of storytelling across film, animation, gaming, and TV series” – similar to Beyond the Pixels, but with a shifted focus.
“I’m genuinely excited about this new chapter,” Dulull expressed. He clarified that the split was amicable, as both parties had differing goals as producers. “I have immense respect for Paula and will always have, so if a project aligns, we could collaborate, but right now we are on different trajectories in our careers and companies.”
Beyond the Pixels is being funded by Dulull himself, with revenue generated from his debut feature film, The Beyond (2018), still contributing. “I also have several strategic partners assisting in financing specific projects, but overall, I’m intentionally pursuing a non-traditional route,” he added. “The old financing models are outdated – we need new, flexible approaches that resonate with how audiences discover and support content today.”
Additionally, a second season of the Beyond the Pixels chat show is in the works, which featured notable guests like The Walking Dead actress Sarah Wayne Callies in its first season. Dulull noted that “the beauty of platforms like YouTube” lies in the data they provide, informing producers on how to adjust formats and shape strategies. He added, “several transmedia projects are in active development,” beyond the announced slate.
