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Hollywood producer Avi Arad talks Uncharted, Mass Effect, Metal Gear films
The Uncharted, Mass Effect, and Metal Gear Solid films are all coming along, albeit slowly, Hollywood producer Avi Arad revealed to Kotaku. Arad has had his hand in many successful comic book adaptations, such as Blade, Spider-Man, X-Men, and Iron Man. Now, he believes that it's time video game adaptations have their turn in the spotlight, and who better to lead that charge than handsome treasure hunter, Nathan Drake? "I think Uncharted will be very successful," Arad said. "Now, the script has a lot of character [and] I think that has a shot at being the first one [to succeed]." The Uncharted film does not have a projected release date, and is currently listed as "announced" on IMDB. Arad also said that when he looks at Metal Gear Solid, he sees the story of Cain and Abel. It's pretty obvious Arad meant the remark not to be taken literally, but it does make the Cain and Abel story seem just a bit cooler if you imagine them as cloned super-soldiers with giant, nuclear dinosaur robots. Arad told Kotaku he would be sitting down with Kojima soon to discuss the film and negotiate further details, but its release is likely three or more years away. Lastly, Arad touched on the Mass Effect film, which is "getting there," though the final release is likely five or six years away. "It's a big idea, that we, humans, are the least developed, the least trusted, it's an interesting mirror image of our world, we are the aliens now," Arad said.
Metal Gear Solid movie coming, care of Columbia Pictures
You'll have to be more specific in your snide commentary the next time you think to call Metal Gear Solid a movie. There will be a proper film based on the popular Konami property, said X-Men and Spider-Man producer Avi Arad, who announced the project at a special Metal Gear 25th anniversary event in Japan.Metal Gear Solid designer and figurehead Hideo Kojima hinted at a film project back in March, suggesting that the franchise in its current state wouldn't be quite compatible with Hollywood. The extent of his participation is currently unclear, as is the film's production schedule, plot and likelihood of relying on nanobots to explain all the weird-ass things that happen.The film will come courtesy of Columbia Pictures, and be praised and lambasted in equal measure for its use of 40-minute long "audience participation scenes."
Rumor: Uncharted movie gets new writers
Last we heard about the movie version of Uncharted, it was in the hands of writer Kyle Ward, who most recently penned the big screen adaptation of Kane and Lynch. According to a rumor being reported by LatinoReview.com, Ward has been removed by Sony and producer Avi Arad, who didn't want to wait on the script while Ward finished his current project, Hitman 2. Reportedly, Sony is considering filling his slot with Thomas Dean Donnelly and Joshua Oppenheimer, the duo that's currently writing a relaunch of Conan. The bigger surprise, of course, is that movies based on video games have scripts. Who knew?
inFamous to sizzle on the big screen
Sony Pictures wants to bring Cole MacGrath to the big screen, with THR.com reporting that inFamous has already been drafted into a screenplay by Sheldon Turner. Best known for his work on The Longest Yard remake and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning, Turner managed to pique the interest of Hollywood hotshots Avi and Ari Arad, who will both produce the new film. It's not exactly a stretch, considering the two are also working on the Uncharted movie. InFamous makes for good film fodder, if we may say so. There's plenty of super badassery to watch, a love story (which all movies have to have nowadays, we guess) and – with the right lead (we're thinking Samuel L. Jackson, or maybe Gene Hackman) – this could make for one entertaining flick. Of course, being a video-game-turned-movie, the odds are certainly stacked heavily against it. [Via VG247]
Avi Arad producing Uncharted: Drake's Fortune film
Avi Arad, the producer of blockbusters such as the Blade series, X-Men series and an upcoming Everquest movie, has been revealed as the producer of a cinematic adaptation of Uncharted: Drake's Fortune. In an interview with Kotaku, the 60-year old producer (Kotaku has him listed as 33, leading one to suspect they are actually speaking with Ari Arad, Avi's son) talks about how Nathan Drake isn't just an Indiana Jones clone. Drake is a complicated character, according to Arad. "He's not a benevolent guy, but he's certainly not a great guy. Indiana Jones was always a good guy and he relentlessly did the right thing. Drake is a guy who's being hauled over to virtue throughout the game." The film won't bring you to the island as quickly as the game did, according to the producer. Instead, the film will add some background to the story and "explore some of the modern day piracy that's going on today in South America." How do you feel about this film thus far? Is Arad the right guy for the job? Or would you rather have Brett Ratner? [Via Variety]
Rumor: Ex-Marvel Studios boss lands Mass Effect film rights
Variety reports that former Marvel Studios head, Avi Arad, has optioned the rights to produce a Mass Effect movie from Electronic Arts. Arad, whose production company is already working on a film adaptation of Lost Planet, is considered the driving force behind the renaissance of Marvel's comic properties in Hollywood. Should this rumor pan out, there remain numerous hurdles between acquiring film rights and actually getting said film made ... let alone up on the big screen. Arad will need a screenwriter, for one – preferably someone who's respectful of the source material. He's already got David "Solid Snake" Hayter on Lost Planet; who would you like to see pen the Mass Effect script, in a dream situation?
