Atari Announces 10-Movie Deal With Universal for Video Game

Video games are the hot new thing in Hollywood AKA the next content library to mine for ideas and stories. Atari has announced a 10-movie deal with Jurassic World and The Odyssey studio Universal to adapt some of the company's legendary video game properties for the big screen.

Atari revealed a partnership with Entertainment 360 and Universal Pictures to potentially develop 10 of Atari's classic games into films. While not all projects may materialize, Universal has already acquired the first film from the deal, with Matt Reilly and Carl Hampe on board for writing and production. The specific title of this initial project remains undisclosed, described only as an 'original spec' from Reilly, a former Universal executive turned screenwriter, and producer Hampe, known for his work on Hellboy and Jungle Cruise.

The list of Atari properties included in the deal comprises Asteroids, Adventure, Berzerk, Breakout, Centipede, Crystal Castles, Millipede, Missile Command, Pong, and Yars' Revenge. Atari's CEO Wade Rosen expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, aiming to translate the essence of their iconic brand and games into a new cinematic experience. This initiative comes amidst a surge of over 50 video game movies in various stages of development in Hollywood, with upcoming releases including Zach Cregger's Resident Evil movie in September and Street Fighter in October.