In an unusually early bidding war, four studios are battling for a new videogame from Electronic Arts -- that hasn't yet been announced publicly, per VARIETY.
About a journey through the depths of hell, sources say the game is likely to be titled DANTE'S INFERNO, and while EA has cleared the title for use, it has not officially titled it. EA and its representation declined to comment Thursday evening.
Universal, Paramount, New Regency and MGM were still warring Thursday, although Warner Bros. dropped out earlier in the day. Despite varied box office success, studios are eager to jump on branded videogame properties with tentpole potential. Comics and graphic novels are also hot.
Hollywood usually likes to wait at least until press previews of games are released, and usually see how they sell until committing. EA has been very active in licensing deals recently. This week, it sold ARMY OF TWO to Universal with Scott Z. Burns to write and Scott Stuber to produce with EA. Fox is working on a THE SIMS adaptation with producer John Davis and producer Avi Arad has optioned MASS EFFECT.
Universal, for one, has also acquired major properties BIOSHOCK with Gore Verbinski to direct and GOD OF WAR for Brett Ratner to direct.
