Movies
‘Dead Space’ Video Game Being Adapted for Big Screen Terror
Good news, bad news, which you want first? The good news is that the Electronic Arts hit video game Dead Space (an experience that reminds me of Paul W.S. Anderson’s Event Horizon) is on course to become a sci-fi/horror film. The bad news is that Eagle Eye and Disturbia helmer D.J. Caruso is attached to direct. Eagle Eye is nearly unwatchable (27% on Rotten Tomatoes), so handing him such a beloved new video game franchise is a little scary. More on the announcement can be found inside.
EA will produce the film with Temple Hill partners Marty Bowen and Wyck Godfrey. The producers, EA and Caruso have been listening to takes from prospective screenwriters, and once they set a writer and EA signs off on a creative direction, they will auction the property to studios. That will likely happen in early September.
The last EA property to follow that course was “Dante’s Inferno” — a journey through the depths of hell; Universal made the deal after a four-studio bidding battle.
“Dead Space” is set in the 26th century in deep space, where an engineer who responds to a distress signal from a mining ship finds the vessel infested with monstrous creatures called Necromorphs. The creatures are human corpses, reanimated by an alien virus.
EA launched the game in 2008 and is working on the second and third installments.
“Dead Space” becomes the fifth EA title to percolate as a feature property. Aside from the “Dante’s Inferno” film that will be produced by Strike Entertainment partners Eric Newman and Marc Abraham, EA is in business with Universal on “Army of Two,” with Scott Z. Burns (“The Bourne Ultimatum”) scripting and Scott Stuber producing. EA’s “The Sims” is being developed by producer John Davis and “Mass Effect” by “Spider-Man” producer Avi Arad.
Temple Hill’s Bowen and Godfrey are producing “Gears of War,” a live-action adaptation of the Microsoft and Epic Games’ vidgame for New Line, with Len Wiseman attached to direct and Chris Morgan scripting.
Caruso is also developing “Defender,” the Gary Witta-scripted DreamWorks drama that Alex Kurtzman and Robert Orci are producing.
Christopher Landon (Happy Death Day, Freaky) is staying busy here in 2024, directing not only the werewolf movie Big Bad but also an upcoming thriller titled Drop.
The project for Blumhouse and Platinum Dunes is being described as a “fast-paced thriller,” and Deadline reports today that Violett Beane (Truth or Dare) has joined the cast.
Newcomer Jacob Robinson has also signed on to star in the mysterious thriller. Previously announced, Meghann Fahy (“White Lotus”) will be leading the cast.
Landon recently teased on Twitter, “This is my love letter to DePalma.”
Jillian Jacobs and Chris Roach wrote the script.
Michael Bay, Jason Blum, Brad Fuller and Cameron Fuller — “who brought the script in to Platinum Dunes” — are producing the upcoming Drop. Sam Lerner is an executive producer.
THR notes, “The film is a Platinum Dunes and Blumhouse production for Universal.”
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