Asteroids on collision course with big screen
Universal comes out on top of bidding war to bring Atari arcade classic to theaters; producer of G.I. Joe, Doom films attached.
In May, Atari Inc. CEO Jim Wilson spoke about the company's plans to boost revenues by licensing out some of its considerable stable of classics. One such licensing agreement has come to light today, as The Hollywood Reporter has news of a big-screen adaptation for Asteroids in the works.
According to the Reporter, Universal Pictures beat out three other parties in a bidding war for the film rights to the arcade classic. Casting is yet undetermined, but the movie's script is being penned by Matthew Lopez, with Lornezo di Bonaventura set to produce.
It's a big summer for di Bonaventura, who also has his name attached to current box-office champ Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, and next month's G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra. As for Lopez, he worked on Disney's Bedtime Stories and Race to Witch Mountain, as well as the upcoming Nicolas Cage vehicle The Sorcerer's Apprentice.
