Atari has announced a partnership with Universal Pictures and Entertainment 360 to develop movies based on 10 classic Atari video game properties. The deal, announced at San Diego Comic-Con, gives Universal the right to develop feature films from Atari intellectual property, with the understanding that not all projects will necessarily move forward. According to Deadline, Universal has already purchased the first project from the agreement. The first film is described as an “original spec” script by Matt Reilly, who has also produced and previously worked in Universal executive roles. Carl Hampe is attached as a writer/producer, with his prior credits including work on 2019’s Hellboy and Jungle Cruise.
The 10 Atari properties listed for the film slate are Asteroids, Adventure, Berzerk, Breakout, Centipede, Crystal Castles, Millipede, Missile Command, Pong, and Yars’ Revenge. Entertainment 360 is set to produce through Guymon Casady, with the specific production team tied to the first project already assembled. Atari CEO and chairman Wade Rosen says the company is excited to bring the Atari brand and games to a new medium.
