Atari Closes Deal with Universal to Adapt 10 Games for the Big Screen

According to Deadline, Atari has struck a deal with Universal Pictures to develop 10 of its classic intellectual properties for the big screen, in partnership with Entertainment 360.

The studio has already acquired the first project, a film based on an Atari IP, with a script by Matt Reilly and Carl Hampe, who are also producing alongside Guymon Casady (Entertainment 360).

The full list of games that could get adaptations includes Asteroids, Adventure, Berzerk, Breakout, Centipede, Crystal Castles, Millipede, Missile Command, Pong and Yars' Revenge. The idea is to turn these classics into large-scale action-adventure productions.

The deal was sparked by an original script from Reilly, a former Universal executive who transitioned into screenwriting, and Hampe, producer of Hellboy. “Matt Reilly and I grew up playing Atari 2600 games and have remained fans ever since. The best Atari games dropped you into a world and let your imagination do the rest."

Atari CEO Wade Rosen said: "“For more than five decades, Atari has created games and worlds that have remained part of popular culture long after their original release. We are excited to work with Universal and Entertainment 360 to bring the spirit of our iconic brand and games to a new medium.”