LOS ANGELES, CA (July 11, 2016) – Paramount Television and Anonymous Content have optioned the rights to one of the most successful and dynamic videogames, Battlefield™, from DICE, an Electronic Arts Inc. studio. Michael Sugar, 2016 Academy Award winner, and Ashley Zalta from Anonymous Content will serve as executive producers.
The Battlefield series has consistently been praised by critics for its world-class multiplayer gameplay, and is recognized for delivering the premier all-out war experience across land, sea and air. The award-winning Battlefield franchise has amassed more than 60 million players worldwide since debuting in 2002, and the franchise continues to boast highly-engaged audiences across its catalogue titles.
“Paramount TV actively seeks smart content from all sectors that will resonate with audiences and translate to compelling programming,” said Amy Powell, President, Paramount TV. “EA’s Battlefield has an incredibly dynamic narrative, coupled with a loyal fan base, which will allow us to bring this exciting and unique property to the small screen. We look forward to working with EA and Anonymous Content and thank Michael Sugar for his tenacity in bringing us this exciting project.”
“Battlefield has a tremendous built-in, engaged fan base, making it a highly coveted piece of IP primed for long-form adaptation,” said Michael Sugar, partner, Anonymous Content. “Together with EA and Paramount TV, we’ll develop the Battlefield TV series with the same commitment to robust storytelling that has made the game such a runaway success for nearly fifteen years.”
“Battlefield is one of the most loved properties among our players,” said Patrick Söderlund, Executive Vice President, EA. “We are thrilled that Anonymous Content and Paramount TV will look to introduce fans to Battlefield through a new medium.”
Battlefield continues the partnership between Anonymous Content and Paramount TV, which have a first-look production deal for scripted television programming across broadcast, premium cable, cable and online audiences. This marks the organizations’ entrée into content based on a videogame franchise.
“Michael’s track record speaks for itself,” added Patrick O’Brien, Vice President of EA Entertainment. “Combined with his passion for Battlefield, we cannot imagine a better team than Anonymous Content and Paramount for this project.”
Previously announced projects from Paramount TV and Anonymous Content include “Thirteen Reasons Why,” ordered straight-to-series by Netflix, based on the New York Times bestselling YA book by Jay Asher and executive produced by Selena Gomez; “Maniac,” a 10-episode, straight-to-series to be directed by Cary Fukunaga starring Emma Stone and Jonah Hill, ordered by Netflix; “Spoonbenders” based on Daryl Gregory’s highly anticipated novel; a series based on New York Times Bestselling book from Rebecca Traister, “All the Single Ladies: Unmarried Women and the Rise of an Independent Nation;” a series based on Rachel Kushner’s National Book Award finalist “Telex from Cuba,” adapted by Oscar®-nominated screenwriter, Phyllis Nagy (CAROL); a drama series based on Caleb Carr’s “The Alienist” from Emmy® Award-winner Cary Fukunaga, Academy Award®-winner Eric Roth and Academy Award® nominee Hossein Amini executive producing; “Berlin Station,” a 10-part series shooting in Berlin set to premiere in fall 2016 on Epix; “Legbreakers,” an English language version of the hit Swedish drama series “Torpederna,” pilot will be written by Irvine Welsh; and “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes: and Other Lessons from the Crematory,” adapted and executive produced by “Nurse Jackie” co-creator, Evan Dunsky, based on Caitlin Doughty’s New York Times Best-Selling memoir.