The comedy star will battle “iconic” video game foes in feature version of 2010 viral smash
It’s been a few years since Patrick Jean’s viral-video hit Pixels got picked up for feature-adaptation by Adam Sandler’s Happy Madison productions, but Sony Pictures announced on Monday that the film is headed into production at the end of the month.
While Jean’s original video was essentially a plot-free “gag reel” of comic setpieces depicting 80s arcade creatures wreaking pixelated havoc in New York City, the film is planned as a sci-fi/action-comedy with human main characters and a storyline involving aliens who invade Earth after mistaking intercepted transmissions of classic videogames as threats. Sandler will play a retired former arcade high-score champion who is asked by The President (Kevin James of Paul Blart: Mall Cop) to use his gaming skills to defend the planet. Other characters will include Michelle Monaghan as Sandler’s weapons-expert love-interest, Josh Gad (Olaf from Frozen) as a conspiracy theorist and Peter Dinklage as Sandler’s rival from their arcade days. Chris Columbus (Home Alone, Harry Potter) will direct from a script by longtime Sandler collaborators Tim Herlihy and Timothy Dowling.
Sony will reportedly follow the lead of The Lego Movie and Wreck-It Ralph in aquiring iconic videogame brands and characters to appear in the film. The original short featured appearances by expys of Pac-Man, Space Invaders, Frogger, Tetris, Arkanoid and Donkey Kong.
Source: Deadline
