The project first announced to be in the works almost five years ago (before the novel was even published), Warner Bros. and Village Roadshow have found a director for their planned big screen take on Ernie Cline’s Ready Player One in none other than Steven Spielberg! The three-time Academy Award winner will both direct and produce from an adapted screenplay by Zak Penn. Cline’s book, a New York Times bestseller, has been published in 40 countries and is officially described as follows:
In the near future, outcast teenager Wade Watts escapes from his bleak surroundings by logging in to the OASIS, a globally networked virtual utopia where users can lead idyllic alternate lives. When the eccentric billionaire who created the OASIS dies, he offers up his vast fortune as the prize in an elaborate treasure hunt. Along with gamers from around the world, Wade joins the adventure, and quickly finds himself pitted against powerful corporate foes and other ruthless competitors who will do anything, in the oasis or the real world, to reach the treasure first.
“We are thrilled to welcome Steven back to Warner Bros,” says Greg Silverman, President, Creative Development and Worldwide Production, Warner Bros. Pictures. “We had an historic series of collaborations in the 80s and 90s and have wanted to bring him back for years. As for READY PLAYER ONE, we have always felt that Steven was the dream director for this project.”
Spielberg’s latest Bridge of Spies, reteams him with leading Tom Hanks and is set to hit theaters this October 16. He’s also just beginning production on the Roald Dahl adaptation The BFG and is expected to begin work on Ready Player One immediately thereafter.
Donald De Line, Dan Farah and Kristie Macosko Krieger will also produce with Jesse Ehrman and Racheline Benveniste overseeing for the studio.
