Video game publisher and developer Ubisoft may not be too happy with Hollywood for how it adapted the Prince of Persia series to the big screen, leading them to finance their own future video game adaptations with the newly formed Ubisoft Motion Pictures, but they’re holding no grudges against the star of the movie.
Jake Gyllenhaal will attempt to lead another big budget, high profile video game adaptation, this time based on the brand new hit IP Tom Clancy’s The Division.
Variety has the scoop that Jake Gyllenhaal is attached to star in an adaptation of The Division video game which launched just months ago, setting not only the first-day sales record for Ubisoft, but becoming the fastest-selling new IP ever for the industry.
Similar to how Michael Fassbender is starring and producing Assassin’s Creed - the first movie out of Ubisoft Motion Pictures - Gyllenhaal will also be listed as producer for The Division. This seems to be the Ubisoft strategy going on their film front, building projects around bankable high-profile stars. While nothing’s come of it lately, Tom Hardy is attached to star and produce Splinter Cell for the company. However, since the last game in the series didn’t sell well, it seems to have taken a backseat to Ubisoft’s current flagship game adaptions.
There’s also a Ghost Recon film on the backburner that Michael Bay was set to develop, and if the upcoming (and radically different) Ghost Recon Wildlands game is a hit (it does look awesome from the brand new trailer!) don’t be surprised to see that film on the fast-track as well.
The Division was acclaimed for its visuals and word design when it released in March, but its story and mission design were notably lackluster. Still, the idea of special Strategic Homeland Division agents being activated in a time of crisis to maintain a sense of governed security in contaminated downtown New York is a neat one. There’s a lot of cool tech, neat villains, and plenty of fun set pieces to build an action-thriller out of on the big screen.
Other properties in development at Ubisoft Motion Pictures include Far Cry and Watch Dogs.
Developing…
Source: Variety
