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Lionsgate to Adapt 'Dead Island' Zombie Video Game for Big Screen

by Ethan Anderton
September 27, 2011

Lionsgate is already behind one of the most anticipated adaptations of 2012 with The Hunger Games slated to hit theaters in March, but now the production company has announced acquisition of another high profile title, this time from the world of video games. In a press release, Lionsgate has announced their option of the film rights to Dead Island, the best-selling video game for XBOX 360, Playstation 3 and PC. Centering on an island where vacationers become terrorized by a quickly spreading zombie outbreak, the film hopes to capitalize on the hype surrounding the teaser trailer for the game from last year. More details below!

Here's the Dead Island trailer in question which raked in nearly 10 million views in just two days:

That trailer above went on to win the Golden Lion in Cannes at the International Festival of Creativity, the advertising industry's highest honor, and it was featured by Adweek on their annual list of the World's Best Commercials. Just like the game, the film will focus on the people trying to survive by using only the available materials and the island's natural "weapons" to protect themselves from the viscous and growing legions of the undead. However, the press release notes, "Like the trailer that will serve as its primary creative inspiration, the film Dead Island will be an innovation of the zombie genre because of its focus on human emotion, family ties and non-linear storytelling." Of course, "The Walking Dead" series on AMC already seems to be doing that, so I'm not sure how much of an "innovation" that will be. Otherwise, this sounds like yet another installment in the zombie subgenre of horror that may or may not work.

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grimjob

yeah. It was only a matter of time. I own this game, and it is amazing! But as the past has taught us, video game adapations into film rarely, if ever, work. But we'll see. The Walking Dead is wonderful, so hopefully they'll learn something from how that was adapted.
- Anonymous
  
  Amazing? You must really like opening suitcases...
  - Sam Doyle
    
    Opening suitcases? You must have given up pretty early.
rocKKicker

i truely hope it doesnt fall into that pit of forgotten zombie movies..
Kaim

Adapting a video game with no story is never a good sign..
- SF
  
  From what I hear, the movie will be based on the trailer. So maybe it will focus on the family depicted in the trailer. Should be interesting.
  - Xerxexx
    
    That's a short movie. Dad's a badass, though.
Nate Carroll

Great trailer, fun game, gonna be a bad movie. But it's zombies so I'll see it. It's not like there's some fascination storyline here. They're making the movie based on the trailer, not the game which me and my friends beat in a couple of days.
Tester

Yes, because this type of story has never been told before !!!
Michael Lee

Been reading that the game itself is just okay and nothing more. So in reality its just another zombie movie, but this time it takes place on an island.
Anonymous

slow mo, reverse, piano, kids + zombies ='s unsettling...
Samp

Well, before The Walking Dead (which I love) there was 28 Days Later, too.
Pilgrim_UK

Although the film may be crap you cant knock this trailer as one of the best out there for a game.
Cheiler

The dad kinda looks like Chris Evans
Chris

Take the name, base the movie off the hype/trailer? Are you effin' kidding me?