Square Enix’s video game series Thief is set to get the movie treatment from Straight Up Films, which has acquired the film rights. The adaptation is to be produced with Adrian Askarieh and Roy Lee, Variety reports.
They’ll be joined by Straight Up’s Marisa Polvino and Kate Cohen while Sandra Condito will serve as executive producer along with Source Rock and Square Enix’s Khalid Jones. Adam Mason and Simon Boyes (Misconduct) have signed on to write the screenplay.
The original game, Thief: The Dark Project was developed by Looking Glass Studio and released in 1998 for PC and spawned three sequels. The latest game, Thief, launched in February 2014 for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One with Eidos Montreal developing the game.
“This popular game is entirely unique within the genre, which is why we’re particularly excited to be working with these canny, dedicated filmmakers to bring it to the screen,” Polvino and Cohen commented.
Lee is attached to produce with his Vertigo Entertainment label and his movie credits include producing The LEGO Movie and executive producing The Departed and The Ring. He’s also developing Dungeons & Dragons, Death Note, and The Minecraft Movie.
Askarieh meanwhile will produce under his Prime Universe production banner and his credits include Hitman and Hitman: Agent 47.
Major video game movie adaptations scheduled for release this year include the Warcraft movie this summer and Assassin’s Creed in December. Thief seems like an odd choice for adaptation given that the latest game was generally received poorly but presumably it must have sold well enough for this deal to go through.