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The Sims movie planned

EA bringing a film version of its popular lifestyle series to the big screen.

The integration between games and movies has grown steadily over the last few years, and now one of the biggest gaming franchises is getting involved. 20th Century Fox will be making a film version of The Sims, reports Variety. The screenplay will be written by Brian Lynch, but it is not yet known who the director or other "talent" involved will be.

The Sims movie will be a "live-action version," reports the newspaper, presumably meaning that it will feature real-life actors and actresses as opposed to animations. It is not known how the producers intend to adapt the life simulation series for movie goers. The feature film project has been set up with producer John Davis, with Steve Asbell overseeing the project for Fox and EA's Rod Humble managing the property for Electronic Arts.

Brian Lynch wrote and directed the movie Big Helium Dog, a 20th Century Fox mockumentary comedy released in 1999. John Davis' production credits include Eragon, When a Stranger Calls, and Norbit.

EA's Sims Studio head Rod Humble commented, "The Sims has done an interactive version of an old story, which is what it's like to have infinite power and how do you deal with it. Given that that's an old story, you can imagine how easily that would translate to traditional storytelling."

The first Sims game, which was created by Will Wright, was released on the PC in 2000, and PlayStation 2, Xbox, and GameCube versions followed in 2003. It spawned a series of expansion packs for the original game, a sequel, The Sims 2, and a series of expansion packs for the sequel, too. The Sims 3 is currently in development, along with a Wii and Nintendo DS game called MySims. In total, the games in the series have sold more than 85 million copies worldwide.

860 Comments

  • MadeInFinland

    Posted Oct 5, 2009 7:30 pm GMT

    Um... so... Earlier today I stated in my Physic's class the following line:
    "Haha! They're making a Spore movie as well. What's next, a Sims movie? That would be terrible."
    Naturally curious, I search it up... and... whaddaya know...

  • derekristow

    Posted Aug 24, 2008 6:03 am GMT

    Well, this is Fox. They are rich enough to do anything they want. They are making a new series where goal is to JUMP THROUGH A HOLE IN THE WALL. They laugh in the face of impossibility and idiocy to bring you the slum of cable TV.

  • Killzi

    Posted Aug 21, 2007 8:10 am GMT

    This is going to be the most miserable failiure EVER!

  • simfan4ever

    Posted Jul 12, 2007 6:07 pm GMT

    Seriously? (moment of silence.........) I am a fan of the GAME....*sigh* it's going to be another "mario brothers", "Doom" and "Street Fighter" disapointment. Unless they make it about peoples everyday lives and they find out they are being controlled by someone higher up....hehe aawww man I dont know if I should laugh or cry. Im ashamed of EA

  • DbzGokussj4

    Posted Jul 10, 2007 2:38 pm GMT

    FOX starting with SIMS the movie. Thats probably going to end up like Dragon ball z live action movie.

  • aplourey

    Posted Jun 28, 2007 11:05 pm GMT

    "The Sims has done an interactive version of an old story, which is what it's like to have infinite power and how do you deal with it. Given that that's an old story, you can imagine how easily that would translate to traditional storytelling."

    Not really, no. It'll be interesting to see how it ends up.

  • pizzamanopenup

    Posted Jun 23, 2007 7:17 pm GMT

    This is probably going to be one of the most boring movies ever.

  • ultimaxer

    Posted Jun 21, 2007 3:07 pm GMT

    okok.... in the sims you can do whatever you want... you CANT do what you want in a movie... how would this work out

  • dead_bart_03

    Posted Jun 13, 2007 1:21 pm GMT

    Yeah... It is going to be very strange!!

  • theKSMM

    Posted Jun 11, 2007 11:50 pm GMT

    Wait, lemme see if I got this right...

    The Sims, which was originally intended to be a "life simulator" is being adapted into a movie which will portray a story based on a set of simulated lives? Isn't that what movies are supposed to do anyway? Without all the simulation, I mean.

    I'm confused.

  • Rtrace1

    Posted Jun 6, 2007 3:53 am GMT

    Sounds interesting, I want to see what they can do with such an interesting game. But I hope it does not end up like the Mario movie.

  • Roninblade0

    Posted Jun 6, 2007 3:43 am GMT

    I'm voting 'The Apocalypse' in the poll... EA Games produces great GAMES.... but a movie of a game with no storyline except one the player creates themself, doesn't sound like it'll work out well.

  • brujagio

    Posted Jun 5, 2007 2:43 pm GMT

    Funny how all the poll selections are against the movie...

  • -Thaft

    Posted Jun 5, 2007 1:17 pm GMT

    This whole idea is retarded. I can't fathom people actually wanting to go see this. Simulation of human daily activities in reality TV format, on "THE BIG SCREEN!"

    Where's my pistol? Suicide is imminent.

  • supercman

    Posted Jun 5, 2007 12:45 pm GMT

    What is the plot gonna be?

  • phegox

    Posted Jun 5, 2007 12:06 pm GMT

    it is just for money, and if they make THE SIMS MOVIE then they will release the sims movie THE game. $$$$$$

  • ParasiteArtist

    Posted Jun 5, 2007 8:44 am GMT

    Not interested... Unless they have robots!

  • 2w-sephiroth

    Posted Jun 5, 2007 5:17 am GMT

    blorg13 said:
    oooooooh I think I figured out the plot, it's about some dude who gets the power to control people through his computer in a sims like manner, hilariouse hijinks will ensue.

    ***

    I was thinking that the idea of having a sims movie would be terrible but yet again you got to think that is a good idea! a way of controling everyone lifes and making everything go wrong and interesting thru a computer or something. Althought.... that dud that made does 3 weird movies.... I think the movie wont be as good...

  • evilmonkey_clou

    Posted Jun 5, 2007 4:16 am GMT

    How do you make a open ended, aimless game into a movie, again?

  • gufu

    Posted Jun 4, 2007 8:32 pm GMT

    Pum, pum, pum, bam!
    Be afraid... be very afraid...

  • Arthur_Yami

    Posted Jun 4, 2007 7:22 pm GMT

    What are they trying to do with this?

    What's the next!? A Zoo Tycoon movie!?

  • mofd

    Posted Jun 4, 2007 7:09 pm GMT

    The Sims is a great game. But thats it, A GAME. How th F@&% are they gunna make it a movie. This will probably be the worst thing we have ever seen

  • Hippoboy

    Posted Jun 4, 2007 6:39 pm GMT

    How can you make a movie on a game where you play as people
    WTF?

  • FredArmstrong

    Posted Jun 4, 2007 6:29 pm GMT

    i bet the story will be like some dude that gets the power to control peoples lives ...that or just the story all the original sims charecters

    either way its got BAD BAD BAD BAD UNBELIEVABLY BAD written all over it

  • Gargantrithor

    Posted Jun 4, 2007 4:41 pm GMT

    I wonder what Maxis thinks of all this.

  • fullmetalsonic

    Posted Jun 4, 2007 2:02 pm GMT

    the sims is an great game but as an movie.....will.....*runs* (10mins later) ok will kill three hours...off my life time

  • Insania_aeger

    Posted Jun 4, 2007 12:16 pm GMT

    Norbit...enough said.

  • Carnage143

    Posted Jun 4, 2007 12:09 pm GMT

    How in the world are they going to pull this one off? Well I hope theyget Paul W.S. Anderson r Uwe Boll to direct it. That way it will be a guranteed success.

  • chanuteplaya93

    Posted Jun 4, 2007 11:38 am GMT

    i agree, the stupidest idea ever. like, they should concentrate on the more b3tter games like god of war, mgs, halo, maybe gta, but the sims? really retarded

  • JackLumber

    Posted Jun 4, 2007 11:12 am GMT

    wow. Not only is this a terrible idea to begin with, but they've put about the worst people you could imagine on it. This guy produced Eragon and Noribt? Those were easily the 2 worst movies of the last year.

  • SonOfSparda018

    Posted Jun 4, 2007 4:02 am GMT

    Sounds strange but the end result might be good... have to wait & see!

  • lordrakan2002

    Posted Jun 4, 2007 1:25 am GMT

    TV is already over-charged with reality-shows.
    Stupid...
    Imagine if they spoke Simlish!

  • connell66

    Posted Jun 4, 2007 12:34 am GMT

    This sounds pretty stupid to me.

  • _white_rabbit

    Posted Jun 3, 2007 8:22 pm GMT

    So basically, its going to be an hour an a half of watching poeple go to the toilet, cook dinner and sleep?! Can I book tickets now?

  • TRH4469

    Posted Jun 3, 2007 5:30 pm GMT

    lame idea make a metal gear solid one

  • HXCDEW

    Posted Jun 3, 2007 4:50 pm GMT

    I want Ratchet & Clank, Jak & Daxter, and Solid Snake, in a single movie fighting the most evil enemy there is in the galaxy! Jack Thompson!

  • aedman

    Posted Jun 3, 2007 3:41 pm GMT

    Yawn! What were they all too lazy do some thing fun with their computers.? Oh how little faith!

  • ketchupclaw

    Posted Jun 3, 2007 3:33 pm GMT

    Why don't they make a Jak and Daxter movie. Who knows, Danny Devito would be a good Daxter.

  • SamuraiSul

    Posted Jun 3, 2007 2:14 pm GMT

    It won't be that bad.. Think about it. There was an old-school Twilight Zone that had all these strange characters in this empty metal container, confused as to why they're all there. And at the end of the episode, you find out that the ballerina dancer, the World War II vet, the doctor, and the cowboy were nothing more than action figures stuck in a toy box. There'll probably be some kid-actor playing the characters of 'The Sims' game at the end, or something.

  • FilthyYamBag

    Posted Jun 3, 2007 1:10 pm GMT

    since they probably will do this (dumb idea). i wonder if they've had any discussions with Drew Carey about a part. I mean he's one of the biggest fans of the game. -Stupid Hollywood

  • Hellraiser3899

    Posted Jun 3, 2007 11:19 am GMT

    You know what would be funny, if all the dialogue was in Simlish.

  • gamerkid99

    Posted Jun 3, 2007 10:22 am GMT

    we don't need a Sims movie, nothing special there

  • KaH-LenS

    Posted Jun 3, 2007 10:18 am GMT

    Nonsense, Hollywood sucks. They make movies out of anything. Don't need a movie of THE SIMS !!!! TV is already over-charged with pain-in-the-*ss reality-shows. Normally, i'm neutral about news on the Web but this one is not good for my mojo...

  • NA3D

    Posted Jun 3, 2007 6:05 am GMT

    The only way this might be good is if they have the game live and real live, and someone struggling between what is real and what is game OR a game character or more helping out a real person in their life? I dont know, I doubt it will be half as worthy as Butterfly effect even.

  • scumbag69

    Posted Jun 3, 2007 5:55 am GMT

    "John Davis' production credits include Eragon, When a Stranger Calls, and Norbit."

    geez quality movies there.............

  • john1912

    Posted Jun 2, 2007 10:23 pm GMT

    "The Sims movie will have Jim Carrey and Nicolas Cage in it and be like the Truman Show, only with Nicolas Cage and a lot more suspense.:"

    ............ /Slow mocking clap

  • -THA-hamst3r

    Posted Jun 2, 2007 9:59 pm GMT

    Some friends and I discussed this topic recently:

    The Sims movie will have Jim Carrey and Nicolas Cage in it and be like the Truman Show, only with Nicolas Cage and a lot more suspense. The film will start with Jim Carrey being diagnosed with prostate cancer before deciding to move to Switzerland...at which point he will realize that he can't leave the one block radius around his house and begins to question the green crystal shard floating above his head. Nicolas Cage then shows up to explain to him what's going on but he can only speak in Simlish. Frightening to Jim, he attempts to talk to Nicolas and the same Simlish gibberish is all that he can speak. The two decide to band together and figure out what is going on. Later that night, Nicolas is murdered by a omnipotent assassin who removes all the ladders from the pool after he jumps in. Jim is now on his own again and must fight to figure out what is happening to his world. Special guest appearances by Toby McGuire as The Player, Steve Carrel as the dead body of Nicolas Cage and Robert Dinero as a toaster.

    Movie trailer: Nicholas Cage: "What's going on? I woke up today, turned on the radio and everything is gibberish. I know this song and I know it has lyrics and these aren't it." Jim Carrey: "Nothing makes any sense. Furniature just appears in my house. My house that has no ceiling. My house. has. no. ceiling! And the crystal shards, for **** sake." Nicolas Cage: "I get up, I eat breakfast, I go to work and the next thing I know I'm back home again, it's like the day never happened." Jim Carrey: "I must be going out of my mind. Everything is like I was born yesterday." *cue dramatic sound*
    *The Sims logo*
    Jim Carrey: "...and I'm starting to think maybe I was..."

    All the dialogue from the trailer is obviously internal monologue, as they can only speak Simlish. Which will be portrayed in the film in how they will think something in English then attempt to convey that point in Simlish to much dismay.

    This would be the right way to make The Sims movie. So, Mr.Michael Bay, if you'd like to steal this, be my guest.

  • Jab_Jackal

    Posted Jun 2, 2007 6:12 pm GMT

    Haha... It'll be a great movie! Trust me. I think i might enjoy a movie where it is just like the sims. I think its going to be a comedy.

    You know.. watching real life people make fools out of themselves. They should definitely speak only in simmish!

  • johneese

    Posted Jun 2, 2007 5:27 pm GMT

    Wtf? who are they going to make a movie about a human simulation game?

  • theone86

    Posted Jun 2, 2007 5:23 pm GMT

    A movie about a game that simulates real life? This may sound stupid, but why do I need to go to the movies to watch that? I can see that around me everyday.

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