Universal Options Unreleased ‘Dante’s Inferno’ Video Game Instead of Novel

Posted by Dr. Cole Abaius (cole.abaius@filmschoolrejects.com) on November 3, 2008

I figured you’d want to start your Monday with some really baffling news, and thankfully, the fine folks at Universal are more than willing to provide. According to Variety, the production giant has purchased an EA property entitled (possibly) “Dante’s Inferno,” a game that hasn’t even been released yet. The price tag? An unnamed option fee against a purchase price with seven figures in it.

Little is known about the game, since it doesn’t exist in the marketplace yet, except that it sees some sort of hero or heroes descending into Hell. Much like the novel that the video game completely stole their (possible) name from.

So basically, the only thing we know about the game is that they’ve stolen the name and concept from a classic novel.

Which begs the question – why not just option Dante’s novel instead?

It’s likely, and this is just speculation, that the game will actually be based around some sort of clever rogue cop named Dante- perhaps one from Raccoon City or one created in The Sims – that travels down into Hell to complete some world-saving task like finding Pope Pius XII and stopping Satan from teaming up with Saddam Hussein to take over the world. Just speculation.

My other speculation is that this, like almost all video game films, will fail miserably. Or maybe I’m just bitter that a classic is getting ripped off. Maybe the video game will feature aliens or something to make it more original.

Even more baffling is why four major production companies would be part of the bidding war for a game that could totally flop upon release. Hollywood sure does like rolling the dice, eh?

What do you think? Am I being unfair? Can EA Games successfully take us into Hell in time for Universal to drag us back down there? If this is infringement, can Zombie Dante Alighieri sue Universal and demand brains?

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D Train

I agree, this is very strange. I doubt this game will be the new killer ap. This has to be some kind of inflated bidding war based on rumors and agents with large egos and execs with no brains. Strange how Hollywood works. They're in a bidding war over an unreleased game while Halo and Metal Gear Solid sits on a shelf somewhere. And one more thing before I'm done... How much do you want to bet that Gears of War will be rated PG-13?

Rob Hunter

Some great points Cole, but 'Divine Comedy' which contains 'Inferno' is an epic poem, not a novel. Perhaps it was that same confusion that led Hollywood to bid on the game instead of just making a movie on the original source material. Seems silly, especially since the original poem is in the public domain so the rights are free.

Cole Abaius

Thanks for keeping me honest Hunter. I could have used you when I was looking for The Iliad and The Odyssey in the non-fiction section.

Mladen

I'm still suprised they haven't made a Legend of Zelda movie.

790

LOL Cole,,,, that photo is so cool!!! ;-) lmao

I wrote a piece on this myself,,,, (MOVIEGUYS.ORG) ,,,,
Universal and EA are basically teaming up to produce a killer film and a killer movie...
I hope they pull it off !!!!! I'm sure it will also become a new ride/ attraction at Universal Studios Tour.

(Synergy) or should I say (Sinergy) ???
I don't know!?

Nish

This really makes no sense, even for Hollywood. I know most execs seem to have their heads up their arses, but c'mon guys, whats going on. Your supposed to be screwing over the movie going masses not yourselves by buying the rights to something that is free in the public domain. Unless they know something that we dont?

Natas

Probly cuz they wanna throw in all kinds of subliminal messages and symbology into it since its based on hell.

Anonymous

I doubt it. Subliminary messenging has already been ruled psychologically ineffective. Plus, I think even the creators at EA are a bit smarter than that. Satanic worship will not be part of either the game or the movie. Third, Dante was a Catholic and so The Inferno is a Christian-based poem.

Anonymous

This is just what I've read. I did a little research on it and apparently, the movie was actually planned first (but still probably won't give Dante justice) and EA got wind of it before anything was really done about the film. As far as the game goes, I completely agree. It is taking Dante's epic poem and desecrating it. To be fair, perhaps the game will follow some kind of similar progression but needed action sequences to make the game interesting. Still, it really does ruin a masterpiece.

Universal Options Unreleased ‘Dante’s Inferno’ Video Game Instead of Novel

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