Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:ERTS) and Starz Media announced today the
development of an animated movie prequel to the highly anticipated
sci-fi survival horror game Dead Space™.
The companies also have animation projects in development for two other
EA franchises. The relationship kicks off with this Dead Space prelude
that will deliver new details on the horrifying tale the game will
unleash this Halloween.
The script for the Dead Space animated feature picks up the plot
where the original comic book series ends and leads up to the beginning
of the Dead Space game. The story focuses on the events aboard a
futuristic mining spaceship, the USG Ishimura, after it pulls a
mysterious artifact from a remote dig site. The artifact triggers the
sudden invasion of a long-dormant alien presence, and the Ishimura’s
crewmembers find themselves locked in a frantic struggle to survive. The
animated feature is slated to premiere at the same time as the game is
launched.
This project signals both companies’ belief
that mass-appeal games provide opportunities for new and exciting
programming in a variety of different media. This announcement comes at
a time when the video game industry is valued at more than $30 billion
worldwide for packaged goods, wireless and online games in calendar year
2007 and game-inspired entertainment is pervasive in movie theaters, on
TV and across online media.
Starz Media is currently in discussions with broadcasters worldwide that
have already expressed interest in airing Dead Space, which is
scheduled to be released via broadcast TV and then on DVD. The company
will launch international sales of the animated feature at the upcoming
MIP-TV market in Cannes, France. Starz Media will also market the movie
through its home entertainment company Anchor Bay Entertainment, as well
as via online and wireless distributors.
The deal with Starz Media and its animation unit Film Roman reflects EA’s
growing commitment to developing filmed entertainment projects based on
the company’s games. For Film Roman, the
venerable animation company behind "The
Simpsons,” "King of
the Hill” and the pre-school hit "Wow!
Wow! Wubbzy!,” the booming video game
business is fertile territory for developing new hit movies and series.
"Due to the richness and complexity of
stories that have evolved for video games, they have become a type of
entertainment that can span generations and provide fantastic
inspiration for other forms of media; especially in the realm of
animated features,” Film Roman President and
COO Scott Greenberg said. "We’re
particularly thrilled to be starting off with Dead Space.” "We are really excited to be working with
Film Roman to create an animated feature that will tell the portion of
the Dead Space saga between the comic and game,”
said Glen Schofield, Executive Producer for Dead Space. "With
the video game, comic book and now animated movie, Dead Space has
become a true multimedia brand. Each of these elements delivers the
story to new audiences and tells it from different aspects and
perspectives.”
Film Roman is producing "Dead Space”
in alliance with Digital Tetra Inc., in Korea. The Gotham Group of Los
Angeles, a leading animation representation company, helped put the
production arrangement together.
Under development at EA Redwood Shores, Dead Space is not yet
rated by PEGI or ESRB. For more information about the game, go to the
website at www.deadspacegame.com.
About Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts Inc. (EA), headquartered in Redwood City, California, is
the world's leading interactive entertainment software company. Founded
in 1982, the company develops, publishes, and distributes interactive
software worldwide for video game systems, personal computers, cellular
handsets and the Internet. Electronic Arts markets its products under
four brand names: EA SPORTS™, EA™,
EA SPORTS BIG™ and POGO™.
In fiscal 2007, EA posted revenue of $3.09 billion and had 24 titles
that sold more than one million copies. EA's homepage and online game
site is www.ea.com. More information
about EA's products and full text of press releases can be found on the
Internet at http://info.ea.com.
About Starz Media:
Starz Media, LLC, is a programming production and distribution company
operating worldwide. It includes the Film Roman, Anchor Bay
Entertainment, and Manga Entertainment brands. Its units create animated
and live-action programming -- including theatrical films -- and
programming created under contract for other media companies. It
distributes that programming, and programming acquired from outside
producers, through home video retailers, theaters, broadcasters, ad
supported and premium television channels, and Internet and wireless
video distributors in the US and internationally. Starz Media (www.starzmedia.com)
is an operating unit of Starz, LLC, which is a wholly owned subsidiary
of Liberty Media Corporation, and is attributed to Liberty Capital
Group, a tracking stock group of Liberty Media Corporation.
EA, EA SPORTS, EA SPORTS BIG, POGO and Dead Space are trademarks or
registered trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. in the U.S. and/or other
countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective
owners.
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