Famous American director James Cameron has partnered with French publisher and developer Ubisoft to produce the accompanying game for the upcoming movie Avatar.
With blockbusters like True Lies, Terminator 1&2, The Abyss and Aliens in his back yard, Cameron is set to begin a new adventure, exactly 10 years after his massive success with multi-awarded Titanic. Avatar, the director’s latest endeavor, has been in the works for a decade and besides directing it, Cameron has also written the script.
The movie, set to debut onto the big screens sometimes in the first half of 2009, marks the return of the critically acclaimed actress Sigourney Weaver, which has worked with Cameron at the first Aliens film. Weaver will be joined by Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldana and by Academy Award-winning visual effects house, WETA Digital, whose contribution to the Lord of the Rings trilogy and King Kong movie has received numerous lauds.
WETA “will incorporate new intuitive CGI technologies to transform the environments and characters into photorealistic 3D imagery that will transport the audience into the alien world rich with imaginative vistas, creatures and characters.”
"Avatar" follows the story of an ex-Marine who finds himself thrust into hostilities on an alien planet filled with exotic life forms. As an Avatar, a human mind in an alien body, he finds himself torn between two worlds, in a desperate fight for his own survival and that of the indigenous people.
The original script by Cameron was set on an exotic alien world and deals with a tender romance between a female alien and a human-alien hybrid. Their romance was set against the growing hostility of a peaceful race of people harassed by humans who've installed an army base and plan to encroach on their land.
The film's budget is around $190 million.
"Ubisoft is excited to partner with 20th Century Fox and James Cameron on this important project. ‘Avatar’s’ rich scenario, onscreen action and special effects will provide a wealth of inspiration to create a unique interactive experience," said Yves Guillemot, chief executive officer of Ubisoft.
"True to their reputation, Ubisoft's creative teams are looking forward to recreating Cameron's high definition 3D environment in a compelling game for film and game fans."
James Cameron commented: "For the movie ‘Avatar’ we are creating a world rich in character, detail, conflict and cultural depth. It has the raw material for a game that the more demanding gamers of today will want to get their hands on- one that is rich in visuals and ideas, and challenging in play. I told the Ubisoft team I wanted them to be free to do their very best work, and not think of this as a movie-based game.
They responded with a fully realized presentation which captured the soul of the world and the characters, while promising to be a knockout game on its own terms. Their passion inspired my confidence that they are going to do something transcendental."
Elie Dekel, Executive Vice President of Fox Licensing and Merchandising added: "James Cameron's "Avatar" will re-define the movie-going experience forever. Cameron's vision and innovative approach to film-making demand that we align this breakthrough project with the most talented and creative partners in the world.
As we embark on the incredible journey that is "Avatar," we are thrilled to be collaborating with Ubisoft on the development of the video game. After an extensive review, it became clear the talented Ubisoft team is uniquely able to bring Cameron's vision into the interactive realm."
