Space Invaders is indeed another game from our youth that is getting the movie treatment according to the LA Times.
Warner Bros. is negotiating to acquire feature rights to the landmark shooter from Taito, the Japanese company that originally manufactured the game. If the rights issues all work out, the project would bring on Hollywood fixtures Mark Gordon, Jason Blum and Guymon Casady as producers.
Hey, if H’wood is going to make a movie based on Asteroids, Space Invaders is a slam dunk idea.
But what about other ’80s video games? When are they going to get the movie treatment? Take the jump for our list of 10 Video Games That Shouldn’t, But Probably Will Be Turned Into Movies, along with our elevator pitch to the dumb-asses brilliant executives who green light these projects.
10. Dig Dug
Even though there is a spoof video already out there, this has The Rock written all over it as his big action movie comeback.
9. Frogger
It’s the story of a young frog who has had his girl taken from him, and he must embark on a quest across dangerous terrain to save her. PIXAR, get to work.
8. Donkey Kong
I know, I know, King Kong has already been remade a million times, but throw in an Italian plumber, and suddenly that Mario Brothers movie doesn’t look so bad.
7. Pong
In the not too distant future, wars will be fought virtually. The loser dies, the winner lives. Two and a half hours of stunning visual graphics… IN 3D!
6. Moon Patrol
It’s kind of like 2001: A Space Odyssey, but instead of trippy monoliths and whacky slit-scan sequences, it follows the adventures of Moon Cop (probably played by Arnold Schwartzenneger), on his last day of duty before retirement patrolling the vast wasteland of Oceanus Procellarum. He’s been partnered with a new scrub, and the two must track down a gang of smugglers. They never find them. It will be directed by M. Night.
5. Battlezone
A modern take on warfare… IN 3D!
4. Q*bert
Instead of funny characters jumping from cube to cube, this movie is a humorous take on modern office politics.
3. Pole Position
This movie features the lovely ladies of the adult video industry vying for the top spot at a local strip club.
2. Centipede
When James Cameron comes a calling for the sequel to Avatar, Centipede has him covered.
1. Kaboom
In Ye Merry Olde England, a crazed bomber is threatening the Queen. It’s up to a band of rag-tag heroes to use their wits (and slings and arrows) to save the day!
What do you think? Will I be a movie mogul before sundown?
6 Comments
What about Space Invaders is worth paying someone for the rights? Everything would have to be created from scratch. Is it just for a trademarked name or logo? The game is nothing but repetition.
Frogger and Centipede seem like the most likely candidates for movie treatment.
However, I love your interpretation/predictions on Q*bert and Pole Position.
Don’t forget that Donkey Kong, Q*Bert, and Pole Position all had Saturday Morning cartoons at one point, so they already have existing moving picture ‘adaptations’ to build on. Also the Dig Dug fan trailer IS pretty awesome.
“We have a crappy movie we need to sell!!”
“Quickly! To the internet!! There has to be some franchise we can tie it to.”
What about Missile Command? or did they already make that movie with Matthew Broderick in 1983?
There is a mobile phone advert in the uk based on the idea of turning snakes in to a movie,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBJxgNkFxlI