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EA Signs Zack Snyder To Three Game Deal
Visionary Director Tackles Gaming
In a move that mirrors their earlier deal with Steven Spielberg, EA has signed director Zack Snyder to create three new games for them. Snyder, the director of 300 and the upcoming Watchmen movie, will develop three original games for the mega-publisher. The IP’s, created in conjunction with EA Los Angeles, will belong to EA, but Snyder will own their movie rights.
EA Games president, Frank Gibeau, explained; "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."
So far, Zack has made his name working on other people’s IP’s, so it’s tough to predict what sort of new ideas he will bring to EA. What are clear, however, are his abilities as a visual storyteller. How they will translate to an interactive medium remains to be seen, but if his games have even half the intensity, style, and visual flair of 300, we and EA are in for some decidedly interesting new properties.
The press release from EA follows:
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, Sep 29, 2008 (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(TM) 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 SPORTS(TM), EA(TM), EA SPORTS Freestyle(TM) and POGO(TM). 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 SPORTSFreestyle, 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.
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Comments
Zack Snyder's Boom Blocks?
Also: who's psyched for the Watchmen movie?
the game will be entirely in slow motion.
I'm pumped for watchmen, but it may be forever before we get to see it thanks to fox. Fun drinking game, watch 300 and take a shot or chug every slow mo scene. you'll be drunk 20 min in. The full length movie without slow motion is 36 min.
Please please please let him make a zombie game!!! He would easily create one that beats out Dead Rising. Who didn't love his Dawn of the Dead remake? So solid.
Zach Snyder's dialogue is terrible (ex. 300) and his directing practices are suspect. You're allowed to use real sets, Zach. The amount of green screens used is not directly proportional to film quality (see Dawn of the Dead vs. 300). And if I'm going to pay $8 for a movie, don't put a film grain effect over it so it looks like it's coming in on a TV station with poor reception.
That stuff being said, if this takes the Bioshock film our of Uwe Boll's hands I'm all for it.