The world of video game adaptations is about to get even bigger.
In a lengthy blog post outlining the future of its massively popular The Sims franchise, publisher Electronic Arts confirmed a previous report that it’s moving forward with a movie based on the games. To do that, EA is partnering with Amazon MGM Studios and LuckyChap Entertainment, Barbie star Margot Robbie’s production company. On top of that, Loki director Kate Herron will helm and co-write the currently untitled film.
However, EA didn’t explicitly state whether the film will be live-action or animated. Further, The Sims boss Kate Gorman told Variety it will release in theatres, although EA representatives clarified after the interview was published that those distribution plans are still being finalized.
Then there’s the big question of Robbie herself. As it stands, it’s unclear whether the two-time Oscar nominee plans to star in the film, given that she sometimes only produces films, including last year’s Saltburn and this month’s My Old Ass from Canada’s Megan Park. That said, Robbie’s involvement in the film in any capacity is a big boon for The Sims. On the one hand, a film based on the video game life sim series in which characters talk a gibberish ‘Simlish’ language seems bizarre, but Robbie also helped turn Barbie, of all things, into a cultural phenomenon, so if anyone can do it, it’s her.
In its blog post, EA notes that it’s “still too early to share more about the movie,” but it says to look forward to updates next year when the company celebrates the 25th anniversary of The Sims.
Notably, this marks EA’s first big push into the adaptation space. While the company has dabbled in the animated space with the likes of the direct-to-video Dead Space: Downfall and Netflix’s Dragon Age: Absolution, a (presumably theatrical) adaptation of The Sims with big names like Amazon and Margot Robbie certainly add clout to this project.
EA is also joining the likes of Nintendo (Universal’s The Super Mario Bros. Movie), PlayStation (HBO’s The Last of Us), Sega (Paramount’s Sonic the Hedgehog movies) and Konami (Netflix’s Castlevania) as video game giants that have partnered with Hollywood to adapt their properties.
Image credit: EA
Source: EA
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