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Lionsgate Acquires Rights to Turn Dead Island Into a Movie

Finally, the movie based on the trailer for a video game that wasn't terribly representative of the game itself will come to fruition.

Finally, Hollywood has cut out the middle man and is simply making movies based on independently produced video game trailers.
Finally, Hollywood has cut out the middle man and is simply making movies based on independently produced video game trailers.

The movie rights to Dead Island, Techland and Deep Silver's tropical zombie nightmare game, have been haggled over for either months, or years, depending on who you ask. Studio interest peaked when the publisher put out that now infamous teaser trailer of a CG family becoming zombie brunch in backward slow-motion, but rights disputes going back long before that trailer's conception have muddied the waters, seemingly preventing us, the game-loving masochists who actually watch movies based on video games, from seeing a 90 minute version of that trailer starring real actors.

However, according to Deadline, the dust has finally settled on that rights dispute, and Lionsgate has come out on top. Lionsgate has more than its share of popular horror franchises under its banner, including Saw, Hostel, and The Last Exorcism. It also produced the Oscar Best Picture winner Crash, for whatever that's worth.

While the story simply states that the rights were acquired for Dead Island, the quote from Lionsgate rep Joe Drake lends a good bit of credence to the theory that the only reason they care about this thing is because of that trailer, which became such a massive viral sensation overnight.

“Like the hundreds of journalists and millions of fans who were so passionate and vocal about the Dead Island trailer, we too were awestruck,” said Lionsgate’s Joe Drake. “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.”

There you have it. Get ready for Night of the Living Dead meets Memento meets National Lampoon's Vacation. Actually, come to think of it, that doesn't sound half bad...

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ryanwho

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Edited By ryanwho

That's enough Brendan. Time out.

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ThePhantomStranger

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“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.”

Blatant Lies.

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Sarnecki

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Edited By Sarnecki

It's not just lies it's not true. NOTHING about the Dead Island trailer is a true elevation of the zombie genre. What a bunch of horse shit.

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Meowshi

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Edited By Meowshi

@Xeirus said:

@Meowshi said:

@Xeirussaid:

@Sarnecki said:

Dead Island is the hallmark card of trailers. It`s empty cheap emotions and a reverse time gimmick that`s implemented for no reason but style.

you don't say............. you could say that for any game trailer in the past 5 years.......

No you can't. Most game trailers don't try to elicit any emotion from the viewer other than, "Are you psyched about shooting guns at people?!?! Hell yeah, bro!"

Please don't comment on anything I post on this site from now on thanks. At least until i find a way to block people. I don't want you following me to each post, "kid".

No one is following you. I didn't even recognize your name. I was just responding to a post in a thread. I'm certainly not going to memorize your name just so that I can meticulously make sure I don't respond to one of your posts, so I guess you're out of luck. The fact is, you're not remotely interesting enough to warrant the effort, and its laughable that you think you're capable of leaving some sort lasting impression on me.

Anyway, like I said; your point about game trailers is largely inaccurate. Dead Island's trailer was memorable because it was so unique. That's the reason why a major film company just paid to grab the rights for it.

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Meowshi

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Edited By Meowshi

@Sarnecki said:

It's not just lies it's not true. NOTHING about the Dead Island trailer is a true elevation of the zombie genre. What a bunch of horse shit.

How many zombie children have you've seen in a major motion picture or video game, recently?

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Xeirus

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Edited By Xeirus

@Meowshi said:

@Xeirus said:

@Meowshi said:

@Xeirussaid:

@Sarnecki said:

Dead Island is the hallmark card of trailers. It`s empty cheap emotions and a reverse time gimmick that`s implemented for no reason but style.

you don't say............. you could say that for any game trailer in the past 5 years.......

No you can't. Most game trailers don't try to elicit any emotion from the viewer other than, "Are you psyched about shooting guns at people?!?! Hell yeah, bro!"

Please don't comment on anything I post on this site from now on thanks. At least until i find a way to block people. I don't want you following me to each post, "kid".

No one is following you. I didn't even recognize your name. I was just responding to a post in a thread. I'm certainly not going to memorize your name just so that I can meticulously make sure I don't respond to one of your posts, so I guess you're out of luck. The fact is, you're not remotely interesting enough to warrant the effort, and its laughable that you think you're capable of leaving some sort lasting impression on me.

Anyway, like I said; your point about game trailers is largely inaccurate. Dead Island's trailer was memorable because it was so unique. That's the reason why a major film company just paid to grab the rights for it.

You're so well read, I assume you impress everyone you meet.

Every single post you make is a troll post, just looking through you list is a joke. Just go away, you aren't clever, you aren't smart, and no one is interested in how full of yourself you seem to be.

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George_Hukas

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Edited By George_Hukas

@Meowshi said:

@Sarnecki said:

It's not just lies it's not true. NOTHING about the Dead Island trailer is a true elevation of the zombie genre. What a bunch of horse shit.

How many zombie children have you've seen in a major motion picture or video game, recently?

Not a movie or a game, but the first episode of The Walking Dead. Shot in the head, too. I see why you left out TV though, makes you right.

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Xeirus

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Edited By Xeirus

@George_Hukas said:

@Meowshi said:

@Sarnecki said:

It's not just lies it's not true. NOTHING about the Dead Island trailer is a true elevation of the zombie genre. What a bunch of horse shit.

How many zombie children have you've seen in a major motion picture or video game, recently?

Not a movie or a game, but the first episode of The Walking Dead. Shot in the head, too. I see why you left out TV though, makes you right.

Just ignore him, you can tell my his recent posts he's only here to fight and be right.

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Meowshi

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Edited By Meowshi

@George_Hukas said:

@Meowshi said:

@Sarnecki said:

It's not just lies it's not true. NOTHING about the Dead Island trailer is a true elevation of the zombie genre. What a bunch of horse shit.

How many zombie children have you've seen in a major motion picture or video game, recently?

Not a movie or a game, but the first episode of The Walking Dead. Shot in the head, too. I see why you left out TV though, makes you right.

I didn't intentionally leave it out! It's just that when I think of "zombie" entertainment, the first thing that comes to my mind is movies and games. You know, since The Walking Dead is literally one of only two zombie television shows I have ever seen, and I watch a lot of television. You're right though. The opening scene in the Walking Dead was so memorable because it was something you don't see often.

And I suppose you could count the zombie-baby in Dawn of the Dead, though that came off as more of a joke.

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Meowshi

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Edited By Meowshi

@Xeirus said:

@Meowshi said:

@Xeirus said:

@Meowshi said:

@Xeirussaid:

@Sarnecki said:

Dead Island is the hallmark card of trailers. It`s empty cheap emotions and a reverse time gimmick that`s implemented for no reason but style.

you don't say............. you could say that for any game trailer in the past 5 years.......

No you can't. Most game trailers don't try to elicit any emotion from the viewer other than, "Are you psyched about shooting guns at people?!?! Hell yeah, bro!"

Please don't comment on anything I post on this site from now on thanks. At least until i find a way to block people. I don't want you following me to each post, "kid".

No one is following you. I didn't even recognize your name. I was just responding to a post in a thread. I'm certainly not going to memorize your name just so that I can meticulously make sure I don't respond to one of your posts, so I guess you're out of luck. The fact is, you're not remotely interesting enough to warrant the effort, and its laughable that you think you're capable of leaving some sort lasting impression on me.

Anyway, like I said; your point about game trailers is largely inaccurate. Dead Island's trailer was memorable because it was so unique. That's the reason why a major film company just paid to grab the rights for it.

You're so well read, I assume you impress everyone you meet.

Every single post you make is a troll post, just looking through you list is a joke. Just go away, you aren't clever, you aren't smart, and no one is interested in how full of yourself you seem to be.

You are the one ignoring the topic of discussion and trying your hardest to insult me. I'm not the one trolling here. This is not the way the Giantbomb forums operate. You should have lurked more before posting. You aren't going to fit in well acting like this.

Just offering my advice. I'm sure you won't listen.

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TheJoker138

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Edited By TheJoker138

To stay true to the Dead Island experience, the digital projector copies of the movie just won't work for the first week. Then all copies will randomly stop during the movie, and start over from the beginning. Sometimes characters will be magically transported to other locations that they haven't been to for 20 minutes in a cut, and then go back in the next cut.

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MooseyMcMan

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Edited By MooseyMcMan

They should just take out the zombies and call it "Trucks: The Movie."

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Evilsbane

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Edited By Evilsbane

@Buzzkill said:

@manthorp said:

I hope the entire movie is in reverse.

This ^

If it is, its already the best movie ever made.

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ratzombie

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Edited By ratzombie

I can't be the only one that read "Joe Drake" as John Drake throughout the article. GiantBomb be breaking my brains.

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Edited By SHADOWINFINITE

Worth seeing

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mewarmo990

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Edited By mewarmo990

I don't really understand why they had to fight over the rights, even with that trailer. It was well made and the reverse time gimmick was used to good effect, but other than it's a generic scene from a zombie apocalypse. Maybe it was emotionally moving because there was a little girl in it and it was in slow motion.
 
Once this move gets made, it's just going to be like every other zombie movie. Nothing about Dead Island as a movie would conceptually distinguish it in the genre unless the acting and writing turns out to be great, which I doubt it will be (based on the history of most video game tie-in movies).
 
Anyway, sure, if the whole thing is played in reverse and slow-mo, I'll go out and see it.

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championfetus

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Edited By championfetus

Hey Lionsgate! I've got something sophisticated and edgy you can milk!

It's my penis.

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XxRANGAxX

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Edited By XxRANGAxX

Hey, I thought Lionsgate was too busy make more Saw films...

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TheVideoHustler

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Edited By TheVideoHustler

If the movie is anything like the trailer. I will cry for hours

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MeatSim

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Edited By MeatSim

They should play that song from the trailer through the entire movie.

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Edited By nh_213

What the fuck? Dead Island practically just came out and they're going to make a movie about it?

At best it will be a generic zombie movie set on an island that achieves modest box office success.

At worst it will be a colossal waste of money and time (I'm betting on the latter)

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BR4DL3I9H

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Edited By BR4DL3I9H

I am sorry but even though i am enjoying the hell out af dead island the story is meh. The only decent thing about the story is the tape recordings, and they are entirely missable. I don't understand the logic behind this; sure, the trailer was incredible and very moving, which is saying a lot for what the game actually is, but turning that into a movie. Seriously? Are you serial?

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camdon

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Edited By camdon

Cool, franchise potential from a horror movie sub-genre that has been milked to death and back already.

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Edited By ryanwho

@TheJoker138 said:

To stay true to the Dead Island experience, the digital projector copies of the movie just won't work for the first week. Then all copies will randomly stop during the movie, and start over from the beginning. Sometimes characters will be magically transported to other locations that they haven't been to for 20 minutes in a cut, and then go back in the next cut.

Sounds like a David Lynch production.

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Meowshi

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Edited By Meowshi

@nh_213 said:

What the fuck? Dead Island practically just came out and they're going to make a movie about it?

At best it will be a generic zombie movie set on an island that achieves modest box office success.

At worst it will be a colossal waste of money and time (I'm betting on the latter)

Or it will be hugely successful like Dawn of the Dead, Zombie Land, The Walking Dead, and other very popular zombie franchises.

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Mikey2D

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Edited By Mikey2D

Who do you voodoo?

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Mcbrownies

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Edited By Mcbrownies

@championfetus said:

Hey Lionsgate! I've got something sophisticated and edgy you can milk!

It's my penis.

WIN

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fullmetal5550

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Edited By fullmetal5550

They are going to turn the Dead Island Trailer into a movie? That makes no sense.

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Edited By monstuman443

@rmanthorp: best. idea. ever.