A shopping mall full of zombies. A cadre of muscle-bound world warriors decapitating foes left and right. An alternate universe where Cold War superheroes investigate a conspiracy. It hasn’t been lost on Electronic Arts that these films settings make for excellent interactive experiences on or off the silver screen — and that their director, Zack Snyder, has a particular talent for making films that feel like video games to begin with.
Today, in an attempt to harness that creativity, EA has signed Snyder to a three-game deal… and more.
Like Steven Spielberg before him — who, the press release notes, will also be working at the same studio — Snyder will serve as creative director on new intellectual properties which Electronic Arts will then develop, publish and distribute as full game franchises. Where this deal differs, however, is what happens after these franchises take off. According to the release, the Snyder-EA deal also “includes efforts to extend the game franchises into theatrical motion pictures,” which will presumably then be directed by Snyder himself.
There’s more at work here than just a celebrity director hiring. This move is EA’s latest validation for trends started by the likes of Capcom and Radar Group to not merely franchise video game properties across multiple media, but to develop themfrom the ground up with that ambition.
Full press release:
LOS ANGELES–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:ERTS - News) 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.
Leave a Reply