Looney Tunes: Back in Action announced

Warner Bros. Consumer Products has today announced an exclusive copublishing agreement with Electronic Arts to produce, market, and distribute Looney Tunes: Back in Action. The game, which is in development at UK-based Warthog, is based on the upcoming movie of the same name and, if everything goes according to plan, will be released on the same day. Today's announcement marks the first time Warner Bros. Consumer Products has partnered to copublish a game.

"Looney Tunes: Back in Action is breaking new ground in an ever-expanding market for Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment with a copublishing partnership with Electronic Arts to produce this original game," said Mark Matheny, executive vice president, international, for Warner Bros. Consumer Products. "We have had much success with the straight licensing model for our interactive business, and now we have taken our involvement in game production a layer deeper by being closer to the creative process that brings our brands to this important entertainment medium."

"We are combining the strength of Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and our knowledge of the Looney Tunes property with the distribution expertise of Electronic Arts and the talented development of Warthog to create a captivating movie-based game," said Philippe Erwin, vice president, interactive, for Warner Bros. Consumer Products. "We are working closely with the filmmakers to develop the game, which will heighten the interactive experience for players."

In the movie, Looney Tunes characters--including Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Taz, and Tweety Pie--embark on an adventure to recover the mythical Blue Monkey diamond alongside Brendan Fraser and Jenna Elfman. The game will feature several levels inspired by locations in the film, such as Hollywood, Las Vegas, and the jungles of Africa, and it will allow players to switch between Daffy Duck and Bugs Bunny as they race from level to level in search of the diamond.

"Working directly with Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and Electronic Arts on the Looney Tunes: Back in Action video game, we are delighted to form a close relationship with the creative minds behind the film to produce an authentic gaming experience," said Ashley Hall, managing director of Warthog. "Warthog has a proven track record of working well with both Warner Bros. and Electronic Arts and are looking forward to making an engaging, successful game."

The PS2, GameCube, and GBA versions of Looney Tunes: Back in Action are all scheduled for release alongside the movie in November. We'll bring you more information as soon as it becomes available.