One of the reasons Steven Spielberg is such a compelling filmmaker is because of the variety of material he takes on. In recent years, he’s directed an Indiana Jones sequel, an adaptation of Tintin comic books and an Abraham Lincoln biopic.
Now, Spielberg is about to jump from a Cold War spy thriller (Bridge of Spies) to a futuristic story of virtual video games. He’s signed on to direct an adaptation of Ernest Cline’s 2011 novel, Ready Player One.
The book takes place in 2044 and focuses on a virtual-reality video game player who attempts to solve a series of puzzles placed in a game called OASIS. Whoever discovers these Easter eggs and unlocks the various puzzles will take over the OASIS creator’s company and vast fortune.
https://youtu.be/ifXryyx4erU
As Deadline‘s Anita Busch points out in reporting the story, the tricky thing about adapting this book for the big screen is the number of references to iconic characters and movies from pop culture in the story. Either Warner Brothers will have to pay licensing fees and acquire rights to use those properties in the film, or alternatives that resemble those references will need to be created.
Putting those consideration aside, the more exciting aspect of the story is the virtual-reality world of OASIS and the opportunity it provides to a director like Spielberg. Other filmmakers might get the technical part of that right, giving viewers something we haven’t previously seen. But Spielberg has a talent for storytelling and capturing imagination that few directors have been able to match. It’s a potentially fantastic combination.
By the way, Ready Player One is currently available for $2.99 on Amazon Kindle, if you’re interested.
[Deadline]
