Universal and Verbinski Plan Online Fantasy Role-Playing Film

Universal and "Pirates of the Caribbean" director Gore Verbinski have acquired a 2007 Wall Street Journal article they will use as the basis for a film about the online fantasy role-playing world and its detrimental impact on the real lives of players.

Verbinski will develop the film as a directing vehicle; Steven Knight (Eastern Promises) will pen the script.

The article by Alexandra Alter focuses on a married man who spends as many as 20 hours a day on a computer, existing through an avatar who is a thriving, musclebound entrepreneur. In reality, he is a diabetic, chain-smoking 53-year-old.

Verbinski will produce with Alain Chabat, Stephanie Danan and Sarah Shepard of WAM Films. The project takes root at the studio through Verbinski's Uni-based Blind Wink Prods. banner.

Thoughts:

Sounds kind of interesting. I was waiting for someone to make a film about this and it looks like now is the time. Curious to see how this turns out.