Things are moving quickly for “Fanboys” writer Ernie Cline. On Thursday, he scored a six-figure advance for his sci-fi book “Ready Player One” from Random House and now, he’s added another six-figures to his pocket as Warner Bros. have snagged the feature film rights.
Described as a cross between “Avatar,” “The Matrix” and “Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory,” the film follows a teenager who “escapes his bleak life in an idyllic virtual world called Oasis. He then finds himself competing in a treasure hunt against ruthless foes after the game’s founder dies and offers his fortune as the grand prize.” Frankly, it sounds like WB are on the hunt for a “Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World” to call their own.
Naturally, Cline will adapt his own book for the big screen. While the premise doesn’t exactly thrill us, it is an indication that in the wake of a sluggish box office, studios are looking at original material rather than relying on comics and franchises. Particularly for Warner Bros., who saw both “The Losers” and “Jonah Hex” tank hard so far this year, it’s no surprise they are changing up their game plan.