Video game movies are no longer a gamble – now they’re a bidding war, and the latest prize appears to be Battlefield.
Sony Pictures has emerged as the frontrunner to acquire a feature-film adaptation of Electronic Arts’ long-running military shooter franchise, with Michael B. Jordan attached to produce and potentially star and Christopher McQuarrie lined up to write, direct and produce.
According to reports, the project attracted interest from multiple studios before Sony moved into talks to secure the package.
Sony has not commented publicly on the negotiations.
Enter McQuarrie
If the deal closes, Sony would be teaming up with one of Hollywood’s most established action filmmakers.
McQuarrie, known for his work on the Mission: Impossible franchise, is attached to write, direct and produce the adaptation.
Plot details remain under wraps, but the filmmaker’s involvement suggests Sony is aiming for a large-scale theatrical event rather than a smaller streaming release.
Jordan attached
Jordan is attached as a producer and could also star in the film, though reports note that any acting role will depend on multiple factors.
Additional producers include Jesse Stern of Electronic Arts, Carter Swan of Emerald Neon, Roy Lee plus Miri Yoon of Vertigo and Elizabeth Raposo, president of Jordan’s Outlier Society.
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Why Battlefield?
The Battlefield franchise has been around since 2002, beginning with Battlefield 1942.
Over the years, the series has explored different historical and modern military settings while building a reputation for large-scale multiplayer warfare.
The most recent entry, Battlefield 6, was released last year and became the franchise’s best-selling title according to industry reports cited by Variety and The Hollywood Reporter.
Familiar rivalry
Although no deal has been officially announced, the move sets up an interesting situation in Hollywood.
Battlefield’s longtime rival, Call of Duty, is already being developed as a film adaptation, with Paramount moving forward on a big-screen version.
For years, the two franchises competed in the gaming world.
They may soon be competing in movie theatres as well.
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