We all went apeshit when the emotional, well-crafted trailer for DEAD ISLAND hit earlier this year. Will the film have the same effect on us?
Lionsgate today announced that it has optioned film rights from Deep Silver to develop a feature inspired by DEAD ISLAND, which became a viral media sensation when its
haunting, artful trailer launched in February 2011.
The video game Dead Island was published by Deep Silver for Xbox 360, Playstation 3 and PC.
It was released in the United States on September 6th, 2011 and was the number one selling game
both in the U.S. and the U.K. upon its local releases. The game has sold over two million units to
date.
The game centers on vacationers whose island paradise becomes a living hell when a zombie
outbreak quickly spreads. Cut off from the rest of the world, the survivors have only the
available materials and the island’s natural “weapons” to protect themselves from the viscous
and growing legions of the undead. In addition to the award-winning trailer and video game,
the Dead Island intellectual property will be simultaneously developed by Deep Silver into
forthcoming graphic novels, novels and other extensions.
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. Said Joe Drake of the property’s acquisition, “Like the hundreds of journalists
and millions of fans who were so passionate and vocal about the Dead Island trailer, we too
were awestruck.” He continued, “This is exactly the type of property we’re looking to adapt at
Lionsgate – it’s sophisticated, edgy, and a true elevation of a genre that we know and love. It also
has built in brand recognition around the world, and franchise potential.”
The film DEAD ISLAND is currently in the early development stage with producers attached.
Sean Daniel (THE MUMMY, TOMBSTONE) will spearhead
production through his Sean Daniel Company. Jason Brown of The Sean
Daniel Company and Missy Papageorge for Sonnenfeld’s Sunny Field Productions are executive
producing, with Sarah Perlman of Sunny Field Productions serving as co-producer.