Electronic Arts and Starz Media's Film Roman are starting production on an animated movie based on DANTE'S INFERNO. The feature-length project will expand on the story in EA's new, game coming out for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 in 2010.
Just as the poem and game take players on a stunning journey through the nine circles of Hell, the DANTE'S INFERNO animated feature will also follow Dante as he travels through limbo, lust, gluttony, greed, anger, heresy, violence, fraud and treachery in search of his true love, Beatrice. Both are based on part one of Dante Alighieri's classic poem, THE DIVINE COMEDY, better known as DANTE'S INFERNO.
To give added distinction among each of the nine circles, EA and Film Roman (co-producers on the "Dante's Inferno" project) are taking the step of commissioning unique visions from multiple studios with experience creating some of the top anime in the industry to tell this classic story. Film Roman's Joe Goyette (DEAD SPACE: DOWNFALL) is the producer on the project, Victor Cook (THE SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN, HELLBOY ANIMATED: BLOOD & IRON) is directing and Brandon Auman (IRON MAN: ARMORED ADVENTURES) is writing.
"The animated feature will be a great companion piece to the game," said Jonathan Knight, Executive Producer and Creative Director for DANTE'S INFERNO. "The feature will explore aspects of the poem that the game does not, and will provide more insight into the characters and the unique story adaptation that the game has established."
A live-action feature adaptation of the property is also in the works at Universal Pictures, with X-MEN 2 and SUPERMAN RETURNS co-writer Dan Harris on board to write the script.
DANTE'S INFERNO marks the second such collaboration between the videogame company and the animation studio. In 2008, Film Roman produced DEAD SPACE: DOWNFALL, an animated feature prequel to EA's award-winning videogame DEAD SPACE, both of which were both worldwide successes.
Starz Media will introduce the DANTE'S INFERNO animated feature to the international television community as it continues global sales of DEAD SPACE: DOWNFALL at the MIPTV market, March 30-April 3 in Cannes, France. Anchor Bay Ent. will hold exclusive worldwide home entertainment distribution rights to DANTE'S INFERNO, while Starz Media's Worldwide Distribution group will handle international television and domestic syndication sales and Starz Digital Media will be responsible for all digital distribution globally.
The DANTE'S INFERNO game is being developed at EA Redwood Shores. For more information about the game, visit www.dantesinferno.com.
