I haven’t done this before on the blog. Just running most of a press release but in this case I have to make an exception. It’s just easier to let Fox tell us about the movie than my attempt 🙂
Sony Pictures Entertainment announced today [July 22, 2014] that the studio has brought together an extraordinary number of iconic video game companies, whose classic characters – including PAC-MAN, Donkey Kong, Centipede®, Galaga, Frogger, Q*bert, and Space Invaders – will be featured in the highly-anticipated action comedy Pixels, starring Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Michelle Monaghan, Peter Dinklage, Josh Gad, and Brian Cox, and directed by Chris Columbus. The film will be released in the UK on May 27, 2015.
In Pixels, when intergalactic aliens misinterpret video-feeds of classic arcade games as a declaration of war against them, they attack the Earth, using the games as models for their various assaults. President Will Cooper has to call on his childhood best friend, ’80s video game champion Sam Brenner, now a home theatre installer, to lead a team of old-school arcaders to defeat the aliens and save the planet. Monaghan plays the team’s unique weapons specialist.
Companies with classic arcade games that are teaming with Sony Pictures on the film include:
- Atari® Interactive: (Asteroids®, Breakout®, Centipede® and Missile Command®)
- Konami Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd. (Frogger)
- BANDAI NAMCO Games Inc. (PAC-MAN, Galaga, and Dig Dug)
- Nintendo (Donkey Kong)
- Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. (Q*bert)
- Taito Corporation (Space Invaders)
- Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment (Joust, Defender, Robotron and Wizard of Wor)
Commenting on the announcement, the film’s director, Chris Columbus, said, “There would be no way to make the movie without these legendary characters – they are as important to the film as the roles that Adam, Kevin, Michelle, Peter, Josh, and Brian are playing. It was a real thrill to see everything come together exactly as we envisioned it, and we’re grateful to have all of these fantastic companies on board.”
Producer Allen Covert added, “These classic characters are part of the DNA of the project, so it was critical that we work together to bring them on board. Fortunately, they were all extremely receptive. We approached them with a deep love for their characters and a respect for the elements that make them unique and iconic, and we’ve worked with the companies to incorporate those elements into the film.”
