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Paramount Acquiring Film Rights to Midway Games' Area 51

Paramount Pictures is acquiring the worldwide film rights to Midway Games' AREA 51, an action-packed thriller videogame scheduled for release in March 2005 for PlayStation2 and Xbox.

"AREA 51 brings some of the most cutting-edge technology to the gaming world," said Christine Peters (HOW TO LOSE A GUY IN 10 DAYS) who will be collaborating with the game developer to produce the film. "Bringing the game's riveting and suspenseful concepts to the big screen will be an exciting motion picture breakthrough."

"We are delighted to be working hand in hand with Midway Games to translate this innovative game into a provocative film, said Donald De Line, president of Paramount Pictures and vice chairman of the Motion Picture Group. We look forward to bringing all the excitement gamers will feel playing AREA 51 to theaters everywhere."

David Duchovny provides the voice of specialist Ethan Cole of the Hazardous Materials Division in the game, which also features Powers Boothe as Major Bridges and recording artist Marilyn Manson as Edgar, the gray alien. Players will take on the role of Cole, who has been sent to investigate a distress signal from Area 51 where a viral outbreak shuts down the research facility, automatically locking all scientific and military personnel inside for quarantine. Conspiracy theories and alien autopsies concerning Area 51 are far worse than anyone could ever imagine.

Paramount Pictures is part of the entertainment operations of Viacom, Inc., one of the world's largest entertainment and media companies and a leader in the production, promotion and distribution of entertainment, news, sports and music.

Midway Games Inc. is a leading developer, publisher and marketer of interactive entertainment software. For more info. visit www.midway.com.

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