Atari continues its major comeback and is now setting its sights on the big screen. The legendary company has signed a deal with Universal Pictures, in partnership with production company Entertainment 360, to develop film adaptations based on ten of its most iconic franchises.

Ten games to adapt, no less

The agreement covers the adaptation rights for: Asteroids, Adventure, Berzerk, Breakout, Centipede, Crystal Castles, Millipede, Missile Command, Pong, and Yars' Revenge.

Universal has already secured the first project to emerge from the partnership: an original screenplay written by Matt Reilly (former Warner executive) and Carl Hampe (Hellboy, Chuck, Point Break), who will also serve as producers alongside Guymon Casady of Entertainment 360.

The studio has not revealed which game will be adapted first, nor whether it intends to build an "Atari Cinematic Universe" connecting several of these franchises, following the trend popularized by Marvel and potentially embraced by the Mario franchise as well.

Riding the pop culture wave

Atari CEO Wade Rosen told Deadline that the company's more than fifty-year history has allowed its brand to remain part of popular culture long after the original releases of its games. He said he is excited to collaborate with Universal and Entertainment 360 to bring that spirit to a new medium.

A familiar gamble

This isn't the first time Hollywood has looked to Atari's catalog. Film projects based on Missile Command and Centipede were announced back in 2016, while an Asteroids movie was already in development at Universal in 2009. None of those projects ever made it to the big screen.

Whether this latest attempt will finally succeed remains to be seen, especially at a time when video game adaptations are enjoying growing success, with recent hits such as The Super Mario Bros. Movie and the Sonic film series.

What has changed this time is the context. Over the past few years, Atari has taken several positive steps, including the acquisitions of Nightdive Studios and Digital Eclipse, the release of a new game by Jeff Minter, and a renewed focus on highlighting its extensive retro catalog. The company has also moved away from its previous ventures into cryptocurrency, lending greater credibility to this new cinematic initiative.

Sources: Deadline, Engadget, PC Gamer, Shacknews

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