Electronic Arts has been taking some interesting risks as of late. Dead Space is, by my reckoning, one of the best horror games to come about in years despite being a genre largely untapped by the company in the past. Then we have Mirror's Edge, with its parkour-flavored action, on the horizon which has more than a few of us at Destructoid salivating.

Now, Variety is reporting that EA has an unannounced title in the works based on one of the greatest literary masterpieces of all time. According to their article, the game is based on the first portion of Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy, "Inferno." They go on to suggest that it will be a modernized retelling of the poet's journey through Hell and that we can expect its release in 2009. Adding weight to the rumor is a trademark filing by EA back in February for the name "Dante's Inferno" to be used in videogames, film and television.

My interest is certainly piqued. "Inferno" is positively bursting at the seams with ideas that could inspire amazing environments, creatures and situations. Liberties would have to be taken with a good chunk of the plot, as hanging out and chatting with dead philosophers is not likely to make for compelling gameplay, but the potential is certainly there.

I do shudder a little bit to think of what could come out of the second Bolgia of the Eighth Circle, however. Reserved for excessive flatterers, sinners who wind up there spend eternity immersed in a river of human excrement. Imagine the possibilities.