HOLLYWOOD TO MAKE
TEKKEN MOTION PIC
Copyright 2004 www.tombraiderchronicles.com
[ May 21st 2004 ]
Variety
is reporting this week that one of the most recognizable
franchises in gaming is headed to the big screen.
A film based on the Tekken series is reportedly
underway and slated to begin production in late
summer 2004. With a budget of $40 million, the
title has Charles Stone (Drumline) in talks to
direct the film from a script by Tomb Raider writers
Mike Werb and Michael Colleary. The film is reportedly
co-financed by Gaga, the Tokyo-based studio behind
the cult hit Zeiram and owner of the Onimusha
film rights. Despite its close Japanese ties,
the film is expected to be an almost all-American
film.
As fans
of the series should know, this isn't the first
time that the rights to Tekken have been acquired
for a film adaptation. In 2002, production house
Crystal Sky Entertainment acquired the rights
to adapt the series, and while New Line Cinema
was in negotiations with the company to co-fund
and distribute the film, it appears that duty
will rest with Miramax subsidiary Dimension Films.
Dimension Films, most popular for the Scream series,
has also specialized in distributing English-dubbed
versions of Asian action films, such as Legend
of Drunken Master and Twin Warriors.
Additionally,
and likely the most exciting news, is that the
sixth installment of the videogame series might
be in the works as well. The article states that
"Tekken 5 is in production and games rights-holder
Namco is understood to be developing a new game
based on the movie". While this information is
unconfirmed as of now, we can only hope that the
new movie will spawn yet another addition to the
highly regarded fighting series.
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