Mumbai: Universal Pictures Digital Platforms Group (UPDPG) is creating a video game based on Universal Pictures’ blockbuster action-thriller Wanted, starring James McAvoy, Morgan Freeman and Angelina Jolie.
The game will be published worldwide by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and is being developed by renowned game developer GRIN, best known for its work on the Tom Clancy: Ghost Recon Advanced War fighter series and the upcoming Bionic Commando. The film, which was released on 27 June, has earned $192 million in worldwide box office to date.
Based upon Mark Millar’s graphic novel series and helmed by visuals director Timur Bekmambetov, Wanted tells the tale of one apathetic nobody’s transformation as he is introduced to a new life and new powers that he never knew existed. With the film’s successful release, the world has been introduced to a hero for a new generation, Wesley Gibson.
"Wanted is a film with a fantastic visual style, an in-your-face attitude and edge-of-your-seat action sequences, and moviegoers around the world have resoundingly embraced it," said Universal Pictures Digital Platforms Group interactive vice president and general manager Bill Kispert.
"From the time we read the script and saw the film’s pre-visual material, it was clear that Wanted was a powerful property — one that was well poised to deliver an engaging gaming experience. We look forward to working closely with the film’s creative team to extend Wanted’s mythology and to expand the story behind the Fraternity of Assassins."
The Wanted video game will feature intense third-person action, taking combat to a new level with iconic moves — such as "curving bullets" and "Assassin Time" — drawn directly from the film, as well as an innovative, multi-layered cover mechanic. The storyline of the game will pick up where the movie leaves off, providing fans with another chapter to explore both Wesley’s journey into becoming an umber assassin and the epic fiction of the Fraternity.
"Wanted is a striking property with gripping action, which presents strong gaming possibilities," said Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment president Martin Tremblay. "Publishing the Wanted game is an excellent opportunity for us to team with Universal on a global property with terrific cross-platform potential. Players will get to immerse themselves in the Wanted universe with a stunning visual experience and engaging game play."
The project also re-teams UPDPG with executive game producer Pete Wanat, who has previously collaborated with the film studio on critically acclaimed movie-based games The Thing, The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay, and Scarface: The World is Yours.
"The team at GRIN has a proven track record of creating action games that push the envelope in terms of game play and combat," said Wanat.
The Wanted game, in development since early 2007, will be available later this year for consoles and personal computer.
