Zack Snyder, director of the muscle-bound movie 300 and the upcoming Watchman adaptation has signed with Electronic Arts. The contract is for Snyder to make three games with all of the rights of going straight to EA. Hopefully, anything Snyder creates is better than the PSP version of 300. Which, I believe, is almost terrible enough to make any decent videogame enthusiast sick to their stomach.
Snyder will be working with EA Los Angeles, which is the same team that worked with Steven Spielberg on Boom Blox and are in the process of bringing more of Spielburg’s imagination to consoles. No word on what Snyder is planning to bring to us, but I can only hope that it will involve more abs, bronze, and phalanxes.
This idea of directors doing videogames has really got me thinking. If I could choose any director to do a videogame I would instantly choose Paul Verhoeven. Even though Starship Troopers and Robocop are outrageously dated I think his vision could succeed in the medium. He also did Total Recall, but that game is out of the conversation considering that it was the greatest title to ever grace the NES.
Full press release after the break.
EA Signs Acclaimed Hollywood Filmmaker Zack Snyder for Three Game Deal
Visionary Filmmaker of 300 and Watchmen Brings Creative Craftsmanship to Interactive Entertainment
LOS ANGELES–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:ERTS) today announced that renowned filmmaker Zack Snyder will bring his unique vision to the development of three original EA games. Snyder will lead the creative direction of the games while working in partnership with the production team at EA Los Angeles, the same studio currently collaborating with Steven Spielberg on Boom Blox™ and other games in development with Mr. Spielberg. Snyder’s recent works include hit movies, “The Dawn of the Dead” and “300”. He is also currently working on an adaptation of “Watchmen” based on the legendary comic book series, due to release in March 2009.
Under the agreement with Cruel & Unusual Films, EA will own the intellectual properties and the game franchises will be developed, published and distributed worldwide by EA. The relationship between Snyder and EA includes efforts to extend the game franchises into theatrical motion pictures. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
“I think video games are cool because they offer an opportunity to tell a story in an entirely unique way,” said Zack Snyder. “Being a long time fan of the games EA creates, I look forward to collaborating with them.”
Frank Gibeau, President of EA Games Label said, “Zack Snyder has a fresh and bold creative style that resonates with our core audience. Zack is the perfect partner for joining us in creating powerful new interactive fiction.”
The deal was brokered on behalf of Mr. Snyder and Cruel & Unusual Films by Creative Artists Agency.
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 SPORTSTM, EATM, EA SPORTS FreestyleTM and POGOTM. In fiscal 2008, EA posted GAAP net revenue of $3.67 billion and had 27 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
EA, EA SPORTS, EA SPORTS Freestyle, POGO and Boom Blox 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.
About Cruel & Unusual Films
CRUEL & UNUSUAL FILMS is a film production company housed at Warner Bros. and headed by co-presidents Zack and Deborah Snyder, along with producer Wesley Coller. Cruel and Unusual Films’ projects are trademarked by visually-arresting filmmaking combined with an original point of view with the goal of creating a completely different experience for the audience.
The company is in post-production on the best-selling cult classic graphic novel Watchmen for Warner Bros. with Larry Gordon, Lloyd Levin and Deborah Snyder producing for the studio. The film is based on the graphic novel by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons. Most recently, Snyder directed and Deborah Snyder executive produced the smash hit 300 for Warner Bros. The company is currently in production on the animated film Guardians of Ga’Hoole as well as developing the action fantasy Sucker Punch, which Snyder is co-writing with Steve Shibuya from an original story by Snyder. Cruel & Unusual is also in development on Illustrated Man, The Last Photograph and Cobalt 60.
