EA's Inferno to get big screen adaptation News

Universal has outbid rival studios to nab film rights to the mysterious EA videogame based on Dante's Inferno.

The movie-maker forked out a seven-figure sum for the privilege, according to Variety, and the project will be overseen by game creator Jonathan Knight.

He's mostly managed Sims projects up until now, but lists an "Unannounced New IP Franchise" on his Linked In profile for Xbox 360, PS3 and PC.

Variety reckons the game will be called Dante's Inferno and will be released next year.

Dante's Inferno, the poem, explores the Christian afterlife, as Dante traipses through nine circles of Hell to get to Purgatory and eventually Heaven. EA will apparently interpret this as fighting supernatural baddies.

Interestingly, this will be the first unknown IP that EA has turned into a film, having previously preferred to adapt properties after their videogame launch.

The publisher signed a tip top Hollywood agency in the summer to make significant strides in this area. Adaptations of The Sims, Army of Two and Mass Effect are all sure things, then, with Need For Speed and Mirror's Edge also tipped to make the big-screen transition.