Derek Connolly, the screenwriter known for his work on the Jurassic World trilogy, is set to adapt Sega’s 1993 fighting game Eternal Champions into a live-action film. This project is being developed by Skydance, with Toru Nakahara, who has overseen the Sonic movies, acting as one of the producers. Eternal Champions was originally released as a fighting game for the Sega Genesis and is known for its unique storyline involving a cosmic being who resurrects historical figures to compete in a martial arts tournament. The winner of this tournament is granted a second chance at life to save Earth, while the others return to their original fates.
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The adaptation aims to bring the game’s cult classic appeal to a new audience by infusing it with energy and a unique storyline, similar to the approach taken in recent successful video game adaptations like Sonic the Hedgehog and Detective Pikachu. This film is part of a broader trend of video game adaptations, following the success of movies like The Super Mario Bros. Movie.
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Derek Connolly is currently working on several notable projects in addition to the live-action adaptation of Eternal Champions. These include:
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- The Legend of Zelda: Connolly is writing the script for a live-action movie adaptation of the popular video game series. The film is being directed by Wes Ball and produced by Sony and Nintendo.
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- Transformers/G.I. Joe Crossover: He is also penning the script for an upcoming crossover film that combines the Transformers and G.I. Joe franchises. This project is being developed by Paramount Pictures and Hasbro Entertainment.
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- Metal Gear Solid: Connolly has been involved in writing a script for a film adaptation of the Metal Gear Solid video game series.
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These projects highlight Connolly’s involvement in adapting popular video game franchises into films, showcasing his role in bringing these iconic stories to the big screen.