I’ve been saying for a while that Black Mirror was the ideal property for Netflix to turn into a choose your own adventure-type story. It wasn’t constrained to any typical narrative style, and the scenario could be twisted and contorted to even give an in-show reason for this difference in format. Additionally, Netflix has already expressed their interest in creating a non-linear story, going so far as to tell us to expect it at some point.

Then Black Mirror: Bandersnatch came into our view. Recent reports indicated this would be a random, standalone episode released in the next couple days, and I even speculated this could be the long-awaited choose your own adventure we’ve been waiting for. Now, a leak from the Korean Media Rating Board seems to confirm that, in addition to other details.

First off, it shows a running time of 312 minutes. That means there are over five hours of content for audiences to enjoy. While some may think this could hint at a full season of episodes, the idea of a choose your own adventure seems more plausible, especially given the name Bandersnatch, which is linked to an unreleased 1984 video game, which seems like perfect Black Mirror fodder.

RELATED –  New Black Mirror Episode Or Season Hitting Later This Month?

If you look at the landing page for the “film,” some folks see it has a runtime of 90 minutes. So what does this mean? Does it mean the 312-minute-runtime is incorrect? While I have no other details to base this on, I’d imagine that 90 minutes is how long the narrative is, but given a choose your own adventure style of “gameplay,” there are over five hours of total footage, giving the audience opportunities to meaningfully influence the story.

Personally, I love this idea and can’t wait to sit down and enjoy it for myself. While I wouldn’t call myself a huge fan of Black Mirror, I do appreciate it when the episodes are done well. More importantly, though, I see this as a fun and creative step forward with the medium. We’re at a point where film and TV need to evolve to stay relevant in an increasingly competitive world, where screens are pulling at audiences in every which direction. This could end up as the starting point of a bold, new way to tell stories…even if it ends up being a bit of a dud.

But what  do you think of all this? Does a choose your own adventure film seem like a good idea to you? Let us know your thoughts down below!

Don’t forget to share this post on your Facebook wall and with your Twitter followers! Just hit the buttons on the top of this page.

SOURCE: Korean Media Rating Board (via Esquire)