Arkham Asylum Writer Picked For Area 51 Screenplay

Comic book and graphic novel writer Grant Morrison (Arkham Asylum, Justice League of America) has been hired to tackle the screenplay for the film adaptation of Midway Games' Area 51, according to a new report. According to the new report from Variety, the film will be produced by How to Lose a Guy In 10 Days' Christine Peters of CFP Productions. Penn Station Entertainment's Dean Georgaris (scriptwriter for Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life) and Michael Aguilar will also be involved in the film, as well as Stan Winston's production company, which previously has worked on the film adaptation of Doom. Currently, Morrison regular contributes to a number of comic and graphic novel series, including writing stints on DC Comics' Justice League of America, Doom Patrol and Animal Man, and has also written for Marvel's New X-Men and Fantastic Four. As the Variety article notes, Morrison also write the acclaimed Batman graphic novel Arkham Asylum, which has sold over 500,000 copies worldwide. He is also involved in the screenplay for a New Line adaptation of his 'We3' comic miniseries from DC imprint Vertigo. The film rights were first picked up from Midway Games in 2004, before the release of the first FPS remake of the popular alien-infestation arcade shooter. No word has been given on a production or release date on the film. The latest next-gen version of the franchise, the Harvey Smith-produced Blacksite: Area 51 is due for release this summer on PC, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360.