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Asteroids on collision course with big screen - Report

Universal comes out on top of bidding war to bring Atari arcade classic to theaters; producer of G.I. Joe, Doom films attached.

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In May, Atari Inc. CEO Jim Wilson spoke about the company's plans to boost revenues by licensing out some of its considerable stable of classics. One such licensing agreement has come to light today, as The Hollywood Reporter has news of a big-screen adaptation for Asteroids in the works.

The original Atari 2600 cartridge art is much more eye-catching than the game itself.
The original Atari 2600 cartridge art is much more eye-catching than the game itself.

According to the Reporter, Universal Pictures beat out three other parties in a bidding war for the film rights to the arcade classic. Casting is yet undetermined, but the movie's script is being penned by Matthew Lopez, with Lorenzo di Bonaventura set to produce.

It's a big summer for di Bonaventura, who also has his name attached to current box-office champ Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, and next month's G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra. As for Lopez, he worked on Disney's Bedtime Stories and Race to Witch Mountain, as well as the upcoming Nicolas Cage vehicle The Sorcerer's Apprentice.

This won't be Atari's only trip to the multiplex. Leonardo DiCaprio has signed on to play Nolan Bushnell in a bio-pic about the company founder.

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