Derek Connolly, the screenwriter known for his work on the Jurassic World trilogy, is set to adapt Sega’s 1993 fighting game Eternal Champions into a live-action film. This project is being developed by Skydance, with Toru Nakahara, who has overseen the Sonic movies, acting as one of the producers. Eternal Champions was originally released as a fighting game for the Sega Genesis and is known for its unique storyline involving a cosmic being who resurrects historical figures to compete in a martial arts tournament. The winner of this tournament is granted a second chance at life to save Earth, while the others return to their original fates.
The adaptation aims to bring the game’s cult classic appeal to a new audience by infusing it with energy and a unique storyline, similar to the approach taken in recent successful video game adaptations like Sonic the Hedgehog and Detective Pikachu. This film is part of a broader trend of video game adaptations, following the success of movies like The Super Mario Bros. Movie.
Derek Connolly is currently working on several notable projects in addition to the live-action adaptation of Eternal Champions. These include:
- The Legend of Zelda: Connolly is writing the script for a live-action movie adaptation of the popular video game series. The film is being directed by Wes Ball and produced by Sony and Nintendo.
- Transformers/G.I. Joe Crossover: He is also penning the script for an upcoming crossover film that combines the Transformers and G.I. Joe franchises. This project is being developed by Paramount Pictures and Hasbro Entertainment.
- Metal Gear Solid: Connolly has been involved in writing a script for a film adaptation of the Metal Gear Solid video game series.
These projects highlight Connolly’s involvement in adapting popular video game franchises into films, showcasing his role in bringing these iconic stories to the big screen.
