The extent of how dark, twisted, and hostile the internet can be showed itself over the summer of 2014. It’s a sordid, ugly story that’s too long to summarize here, but it all started when the ex-boyfriend of indie game developer Zoe Quinn published an "essay" revealing intimate details about her personal and professional life, which spun into an allegation that her relationship with an editor at Kotaku led to favorable reviews for her games. This was entirely false, but that fact was overlooked as Quinn became the target of harassment, threats of violence and rape, and hacks of her online accounts. It got even uglier as those who defended Quinn were then themselves targeted. It was a shining example of how toxic the environment on the internet can be for women. And now Quinn’s story is headed to the big screen.
Deadline reports that producer Amy Pascal has acquired the rights to Quinn’s upcoming memoir, "Crash Override: How To Save The Internet From Itself," which will be published next September. Rebecca Angelo and Lauren Schuker Blum will pen the screenplay, and actresses are already showing interest in the material, with Scarlett Johansson said to be the "keenest."
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“Gaming and internet message boards used to be niche interests, mostly for young men. In the past few years, however, they’ve gone mainstream. Millions of people — including women and other marginalized people — have taken an interest in the platforms, image boards, and discussion forums that once belonged by default to a much smaller population," Quinn wrote in her proposal. "Most gamers give zero fu*ks about this. Like the rest of us, they’re just here to play games. But a vocal minority are clinging onto the brand of Cheetos-and-Mountain-Dew exclusionary identity ‘hardcore gamer,’ muttering ‘fu*kin casuals’ under their breath.”
No word yet on who might direct, but it’s not the only interesting project Pascal has brewing. The producer is also developing "An Extraordinary Man," with Anne Hathaway attached to the Tammany Hall-set movie. So, two projects to keep an eye on as they get moving.