Diablo 5 Cinematics Have Started Filming, Blizzard Confirms

Ever wonder what goes on behind the scenes of your favorite game's epic cutscenes? For Diablo 5, it's officially lights, camera, action — well, almost. Neil David Carter, the cinematics director for the Diablo series at Blizzard, just gave us a tiny but tantalizing peek at the production process. He posted a photo on Twitter of an empty soundstage, ready for the crew and actors to work their magic. His caption? "First shoot Diablo 5." That's it. No spoilers, no hints about who's in it or what's happening. But it's a huge step forward for a game we still know very little about.

Let's rewind a bit. Diablo 5 was announced at this year's BlizzCon with a snazzy trailer, but we haven't seen any gameplay yet. So while we're all hungry for details, this little update confirms that the wheels are turning — specifically, the cinematic wheels. Day one of filming means the script is likely still in flux, and scenes could change or get scrapped entirely. That's just how film and TV productions roll, and game cinematics are no different. So don't expect a full plot leak anytime soon.

As for when you'll actually get to play it, Diablo 5 is currently eyeing a 2029 release window. That leaves plenty of time for the devs to sculpt the next installment of the beloved series. But, as always, delays happen. In fact, Chris Wilson, a central designer on Path of Exile, thinks we might be waiting until 2030 or beyond for the fifth Diablo to arrive. That's a lot of time for the cinematics to get another pass — or two.

Now, the big question: who's starring in these scenes? We don't know yet, but Blizzard has a history of pulling in big names. MCU actor Simu Liu did an advert for Diablo 2: Resurrected, and recent games have featured the likes of Debra Wilson and Ralph Ineson. Any of them would be worthy additions to this iteration. But for now, we're in the dark.

It's all go at Blizzard HQ, though. With cinematics underway and a release window set, we'll be back in Sanctuary before we know it. In the meantime, keep an eye on Carter's Twitter — he might drop another cryptic clue. What do you think? Are you hyped for Diablo 5, or are you taking a wait-and-see approach? Let us know in the comments!