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Dead Island Movie Back in Development

Publisher Deep Silver is taking another attempt at making its zombie game Dead Island into a movie.

According to Deadline, Deep Silver has partnered with Occupant Entertainment to package, produce, and finance a movie based on the game, set on a paradise island infested with the undead.

“The Dead Island universe offers a rich and unique setting that can expand beyond the pure gaming experience,” Deep Silver owner Koch Media CEO Dr. Klemens Kundratitz said. “We are very much looking forward to seeing Dead Island open up to new audiences and showing off the fun everybody at Deep Silver has with this brand.”

If the news sounds a little familiar it’s because Deep Silver made a similar deal with Lionsgate back in 2011, though that project fell through. When the rights reverted back to Deep Silver, it took the project to Occupant, which was one of the original bidders.

At the time, Lionsgate said that its interest in Dead Island was sparked by the original CGI trailer for the game, which went on to garner millions of views on YouTube and a Golden Lion award at Cannes at the International Festival of Creativity (an advertising award).

In addition to Dead Island 2 for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC, Deep Silver is also working on on the MOBA Dead Island: Epidemic, and the stealth-based Escape Dead Island for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC.

Emanuel Maiberg is a freelance writer. You can follow him on Twitter @emanuelmaiberg and Google+.

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