Avi Arad, the producer of the forthcoming movie adaptations of Mass Effect, Uncharted, and Metal Gear Solid has spoken with China Daily, and revealed that good progress is being made on the Uncharted film while Metal Gear Solid is three years away and Mass Effect is at least five.
Arad has overseen such adaptations as Iron Man and Spider-Man so he knows a thing or two about adapting something for a movie format.
He starts off by praising the Resident Evil series as the most successful game adaptation to date.
"Converting games to film hasn't been done yet successfully, though Resident Evil did very well—it was actually a great series. I remember when Bernd Eichinger started it. I was working with him, I just couldn't do that at Marvel but I had a good feeling about it, it's a fantastic franchise."
Arad believes that the dynamic of the Uncharted series should adapt well to the big screen.
"I think Uncharted will be very successful. It's a father and son game. There are things about it that are interesting. I think the world of antiquities theft, there are many countries in the world that realised they're being robbed and they're trying to recoup these important pieces. Now, the script has a lot of character [and] I think that has a shot at being the first one [to succeed]."
He adds that he will be having dinner with Kojima soon to discuss the Metal Gear movie which is at least three years away.
"Metal Gear Solid, is actually full of storytelling," said Arad, who added that he draws on Operas and the Bible for inspiration for stories and that in Metal Gear "you have Cain and Abel."
Arad seems particularly impressed with the idea of Mass Effect wherein humans are very much the outsiders but says the movie is five or six years away.
"It's a big idea, that we, humans, are the least developed, the least trusted, it's an interesting mirror image of our world, we are the aliens now," said Arad. "Love the project, it's getting there, it's been a lot of work; some movies take five, six years before they're ready."
The producer is also currently working to adapt Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures for Disney XD.
