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.
“Tell Me Lies” actor Sonia Mena is joining the recently announced Chase Yi on Paramount and Blumhouse’s new Paranormal Activity movie, Deadline reports this afternoon.
Ian Tuason (Undertone) will direct the eighth installment in the Paranormal Activity film franchise, set to release in theaters May 21, 2027.
Plot and character details remain tightly guarded at this stage, but the original Paranormal Activity, created by Oren Peli, first hit theaters in 2007. Its groundbreaking minimalist approach to found-footage ghost stories has spawned a seven-film franchise that’s grossed nearly $900 million worldwide.
It followed a couple terrorized by a strange presence shortly after moving into their suburban home.
While we wait for further news on plot or whether the demonic Toby will reappear, Tuason previously revealed to Bloody Disgusting that technology will play a huge role in his vision: “Technology — camera technology — has advanced to a point where it’s become a big part of the film and what I want to do there.”
That brings this project full circle for Tuason, as it was the original Paranormal Activity that inspired the filmmaker’s haunting debut, undertone.
Franchise originator Oren Peli will produce for Solana Films, with James Wan and Jason Blum producing for Blumhouse Atomic Monster. Michael Clear and Judson Scott will exec produce for Blumhouse Atomic, with Alayna Glasthal overseeing the project for the company. Other exec producers include Steven Schneider for Room 101, Inc., Dan Slater and Cody Calahan.
While we wait to learn more, a Paranormal Activity stage play arrives this summer.