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WB Picks Up Ernie Cline's New Geek Novel 'Ready Player One'

by Alex Billington
June 18, 2010
Source: AICN, Deadline

Another great original concept. Yesterday, writer Ernest "Ernie" Cline sold the rights to his debut novel to Random House for around $500K. A movie deal was sure to follow and it definitely did. Both AICN and Deadline report that Warner Bros won the bidding war that started up yesterday for Cline's new book titled Ready Player One. The book is a cyber thriller that Harry Knowles called "the most awesome 80's geek novel ever written" even though it's set in the future. Green Lantern producer Donald De Line negotiated the sale and will be producing for Warner. Cline will also be writing the first few drafts of the screenplay.

Here's the plot of Ready Player One: A teenager named Wade Watts escapes his bleak surrounds by logging in to the Oasis, a globally networked virtual utopia where users can lead idyllic alternate lives (sounds like Second Life). When the game's eccentric billionaire creator dies, he offers up his vast fortune as the grand prize in an elaborate treasure hunt. Watts is pitted against powerful corporate foes and ruthless competitors who'll do anything, in the Oasis and real world, to reach the treasure first. It's described as Willy Wonka, The Matrix, and Avatar all rolled into one, which actually sounds kind of awesome. I can't wait to read it!

Although I didn't love Fanboys, I know Cline is a geek through-and-through and can write great material, so I'm looking forward to reading the novel and seeing the movie, however many years it takes to make it to the big screen. Ready Player One sounds like a great original thriller dabbling in the computer world, so I don't think I need to explain why it's right up my alley. We'll keep you updated on status of both book and movie!

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johnny Crow

Sounds like snow crash meets rat race. Could be good.
Eli

Way to go for Cline. This has lots of potential as a film. Although selling the rights to my work would be like driving a stake through my heart... no people. I'm not a vampire...
Sher cook-bean

GO ERNIE!!!! Go where you need to go and think the way you know best and success is just a pen and paper away. Excited for ya!!!!!!!
obeshawone

I have a copy of the advanced reader's edition and it is AWESOME. I couldn't put it down.

Ix_net

I have an advance too, blew through it in a few days. Great book

http://www.facebook.com/rurugby Edmund Charles Davis-Quinn

Will be interesting how they make a movie that is set so much in a virtual world
Parzival2

I hope they let Cline have COMPLETE controll of the creative process.... THIS BOOK IS A MUST!!! IF YOU LIVED TROUGH ANY PART OF THE 80's AND/OR ARE A GAMMER 5 STARS! THIS GAME IS "CANON"