"Dead Island" Set To Become A Film Franchise At Lionsgate

Not even tropical paradises are safe from a zombie invasion.

Not Available Lead
Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

Not Available Lead


When the first trailer for Deep Silver's video game Dead Island was released, it nearly broke the Internet in half with a hefty amount of gore and zombie action. But despite the crowd-pleasing violence, it was also beautifully composed and was a perfect example of how video games have evolved into a more sophisticated storytelling medium. The game focuses on a tropical island that gets overrun by zombies and the poor vacationers that get caught in this horrific battle against the undead. The first bit of footage may have been an internet sensation, but, as is the case most of the time, the final game fell below expectations a little bit when it was released

That hasn't stopped Lionsgate Studios from attaining the movie rights to the game in hopes of creating a full-fledged zombie epic, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Lionsgate sees Dead Island as a potential franchise that could spawn more than one movie, in hopes of becoming a studio tent-pole. 

“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,” Lionsgate motion picture group president, Joe Drake, said in a statement. 

The initial trailer for the game was viewed over 10 million times and the game went on to sell over two millions copies and counting, so there is plenty of visibility for the project. But the success of a Dead Island movie really relies on whether or not it can differentiate itself from the plethora of other zombie movies and TV shows already out in the world. 

[Via The Hollywood Reporter]

Latest in Pop Culture