Zack Snyder to Create Video Games
It used to be that Hollywood types were found slumming by writing comic books but the new option for creators between films may be creating video games. Slashfilm reports that Zack Snyder has signed with Electronic Arts to create three games for the company. EA, interestingly, will own the intellectual property, but Snyder’s production entity, Cruel & Unusual Films, would make any films based no the games.
EA had a similar deal with Steven Spielberg, signed in 2005 and the first effort, Boom Blox for the Nintendo Wii finally arrived this summer proving that Spielberg is a very good film director. Despite good reviews and his name, sales have been sluggish at best.
“A dialogue needs to be established between filmmakers and game producers,’ Snyder said at Comic-Con International. “It’s not marketing; it can’t be an afterthought.”
Snyder’s adaptation of the Watchmen is scheduled for March 6 release. After that, he has been announced as directing three different projects, all pencilled in for 2010 release. The first, Guardians of Ga’Hoole, is his first animated effort. Another is The Last Photograph but perhaps most interesting is his recently mentioned 300 prequel notion.
This could work out amazingly. I love EA games, although I typically only play their sports releases. It does make me wonder though: stunning graphics and highly-developed storylines never hurt, but the quality of a title typically hinges on gameplay. I wonder if Snyder's direction will be able to affect the games on that level…