Stars, writer join play for latest “X-Men” game

By John Gaudiosi

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) – Activision’s new “X-Men:
The Official Game” is the latest example of the growing
integration between Hollywood and games. It not only includes
the likenesses and voices of several stars from the movie, it
also brought in a screenwriter from “X-Men: The Last Stand” to
make sure the game remained true to the Twentieth Century Fox
and Marvel Studios film.

Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Alan Cumming and Shawn
Ashmore will reprise their film roles as Marvel’s comic book
mutants Logan/Wolverine, Professor Charles Xavier, Kurt
Wagner/Nightcrawler and Bobby Drake/Iceman respectively.

“When you plan on producing a game that features characters
that the fans have come to know well in film, one of the things
you must address is having your audience perceive your
characters as ‘genuine,”‘ said Activision executive producer
Scott Bandy. “One of the best ways to ensure this is to work
with the same talent that has brought the character to life in
the films.”

The game, which will be released May 16, serves as a
prequel to “X-Men: The Last Stand,” which bows May 26. Zak
Penn, one of the film’s screenwriters, was brought in to
co-write the videogame with scribe Chris Claremont, who is
renowned from the franchise’s comic book incarnation.

“My job was to sync up the film with the game,” said Penn,
who’s an avid gamer. “The game’s based on the comic universe,
which is different than the film world. I was charged with
bringing the game characters into the reality of the movie.”

Having written dialogue for these actors for the past three
films, Penn worked with Activision to create cut scenes —
non-interactive cinematic sequences that advance a video game –
that remained true to the film universe. Penn previously worked
on Activision’s “Fantastic 4″ videogame, which also blended
film actors with Marvel comics.

Penn said that Activision’s other “X-Men” game franchise,
which is based solely on the Marvel comics, influenced the new
film.

“We watched the ‘X-Men Legends’ games with second unit
director Simon Crane to get ideas for the new movie,” said
Penn, who’s one of a growing number of Hollywood writers that
grew up gaming.

“Having these actors renew their movie characters in
immerses gamers in the ‘X-Men’ movie universe,” said Will
Kassoy, Activision VP of global brand management. “Players will
experience epic battles and uncover the events behind
Nightcrawler’s mysterious disappearance and the roles the X-Men
and Brotherhood play in the upcoming film.”

The new “X-Men” game allows players to harness Wolverine’s
combat rage, experience Nightcrawler’s acrobatics and
teleportation powers, and tear through the air on Iceman’s ice
slide. The game takes place between the events of “X2″ and
“X-Men: The Last Stand.”

“X-Men: The Official Game” will be the first super hero
game to incorporate next generation graphics. Activision is
also working on “Marvel: Ultimate Alliance,” a new current and
next generation game that will feature super heroes like the
X-Men, Spider-Man, Thor, Elektra and Captain America. Next
summer, Activision is expected to bring a new game tied into
Sony Pictures’ “Spider-Man 3″ movie to gamers for current and
next generation consoles.

Microsoft is working on a massively multiplayer online game
based on the Marvel Comics, including the X-Men and Spider-man,
for Xbox 360.

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter