At the start of July we learned Universal Pictures were getting set to adapt Atari’s classic 1979 video game Asteroids into a full length feature film.  Universal’s plans were largely scoffed at by the wider community because the game was seen to lack the depth required to translate to a decent feature film.

To find out just how much depth the film really could have, IGN cornered Asteroids producer Lornezo di Bonaventura while he was promoting G.I Joe: The Rise of Cobra.  Bonaventura doesn’t give away a lot, but he does confirm the story will be based upon a deeply crafted mythology.

“It’s funny because people say there’s nothing in the game, but that’s not entirely right,” Bonaventura told them. “I was attracted to Asteroids, plain and simple, because I think what it tells you is that there’s going to be this big thing in space.”

“We’ve crafted a really strong, deep mythology for the thing. Without divulging too much about it, it’s two lead characters – two brothers – who have to go through a seminal experience to figure out their relationship, against this huge backdrop.”

And how will the film relate to the game, apart from being set in space?

“Well you’d better have some guys in spaceships blowing stuff up” he continued “or else you haven’t honoured the fun of Asteroids.”

The screenplay is in the hands of Matt Lopez (Race to Witch Mountain, Bedtime Stories and The Wild).  Lopez is also penning upcoming film’s The Sorcerer’s Apprentice and My Samurai.

Asteroids is slated for a 2012 release.

Atari's video game 'Asteroids'

Universal Pictures have scored the rights over three other studios to adapt Atari’s classic 1979 video game Asteroids into a full length feature film.

If you’re not as old as me and don’t know what Asteroids is (which would be odd since the game has spawned numerous versions of itself over the last thirty years), it’s that game where you have a triangle that represents a ship and you shoot other odd shapes that represent asteroids as they fly at and passed you whilst also trying to take out the odd flying saucer.  Sounds like a crappy game but in its day it was one of the best and oh so addictive.

Matt Lopez has been hired to write the screenplay.  Lopez’s previous credits include Race to Witch Mountain, Bedtime Stories and The Wild.  His upcoming films include The Sorcerer’s Apprentice and My Samurai.  Given the summary of the game above is the full background story Lopez has virtually a blank slate with which he can develop the plot of the new film.  When you think about that you can’t help but wonder why there was ever a need for a bidding war to secure the rights to the adaptation since, well, there’s virtually nothing to adapt.

In any case, the film will be produced by Lorenzo di Bonaventura whose previous productions include Stardust, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, G.I. Joe: The Rise of the Cobra, Constantine and Doom.

It’s too early to confirm additional details.