If you click on a link and make a purchase we may receive a small commission. Read our editorial policy.

Blacklight

Set to be a film, a comic book AND a video game, making for an exhausting round of charades.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. – March 17, 2009 - Independent video games developer Zombie Studios has reached an agreement with Fox Atomic, a unit of Fox Filmed Entertainment, and production company Union Entertainment to develop its military action franchise “Blacklight” as a feature film, comic book series and video game. The announcement was made jointly by Zombie CEO Mark Long, Fox Atomic President Debbie Liebling, and Union President Richard Leibowitz.

An original property created by Zombie Studios, “Blacklight” is a covert military action epic set twenty-five years in the future. The three companies will work together on a movie and comic book series to be produced by Fox Atomic and a multi-platform video game that will be produced by Zombie.

Both the film and the video game will be written by Jason Dean Hall, a veteran writer whose latest film, SPREAD, sold at Sundance to Summit. He is also writing projects for DreamWorks and Universal.

“We are excited by the huge potential “Backlight” has to succeed across multiple platforms -- theatrical features, comics books, and video games,” said Liebling, “it offers us a remarkable franchise opportunity for film.”

“From the start, I have envisioned ’Blacklight’ as a story that spans all of the forms of media I enjoy most,” stated Long. “It’s an ambitious project and I’ve been fortunate to find partners at Fox Atomic and Union who share that same vision. We are cooperating on the comic, game and movie at levels that are unprecedented in the industry.”

“'Blacklight' plays to Union’s strengths as a film and game production company, allowing us to help bring a great property to consumers in both media,” added Leibowitz, a producer on the project.

Richard Leibowitz will produce and Dmitri Johnson and Dan Jevons will executive produce for Union. Mark Long, in addition to developing the video game, will serve as an executive producer on the feature. Zak Kadison and R. Eric Lieb will oversee for Atomic.

The “Blacklight” film, video game, and comics will feature the same characters and high caliber military action, but with unique, intersecting storylines that complement each other. No release dates for any of the properties have yet been announced.

Concept Art

Concept art for the movie and game can be downloaded here: http://www.mediafire.com/file/zhmomymgbmi/Blacklight Zombie.jpg

About Fox Atomic

Fox Atomic ( http://www.foxatomic.com) is a culturally branded entertainment company producing theatrical movies and digital content targeting the 17-24 year old demographic. Atomic also houses a graphic novel division. Formed in 2006, this entity of Fox Filmed Entertainment produces and acquires product spanning all media. Fox Atomic is a unit of Fox Filmed Entertainment, a unit of Fox Entertainment Group.

About Zombie Studios

Zombie Studios ( http://www.zombie.com) an industry-leading independent video games developer based in Seattle that has worked on top tier properties including “America’s Army” and “Shrapnel”.

About Union Entertainment

Union Entertainment ( http://www.unionent.com) is the only talent management and production company specializing in video games today. Based in Hollywood, the content capital of the world, Union has been instrumental in designing, packaging, writing, developing and producing award-winning games that span all platforms and genres.

Fox Atomic, Fox Searchlight, and Fox are trademarks or registered trademarks of Fox Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. Zombie Studios and BLACKLIGHT and all related characters are trademarks of Zombie Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Contacts

Twentieth Century Fox/Fox Atomic

Gregg Brilliant

gregg.brilliant@fox.com

Zombie Studios

Mark Long , 206-623-9655

mark@zombie.com

Union Entertainment

Richard Liebowitz , 310-274-7040

rich@unionent.com

###

Author
GamesIndustry International avatar

GamesIndustry International

Contributor

GamesIndustry International is the world's leading games industry website, incorporating GamesIndustry.biz and IndustryGamers.com.