Universal gets movie rights to iconic Atari classics like Asteroids and Pong

From Arcade to Epic: Universal Bets Big on Classic Atari Games

Hollywood is hungry for new content, and this time, the feast is coming from the golden age of arcade gaming. Universal Pictures has just struck a massive deal with Atari and Entertainment 360, securing the rights to develop feature films based on ten of the company’s most iconic video game franchises.

This partnership aims to transform a legendary library of classic titles—from simple vector graphics to sprawling space adventures—into a slate of large-scale action-adventure movies. The deal is set to bring decades of gaming history directly to the big screen.

Among the properties slated for cinematic adaptation are beloved classics such as Asteroids, Missile Command, Pong, Centipede, and Adventure, among others.

The vision behind this collaboration goes beyond simple reboots. The plan is to harness the core spirit of these games—the pure imagination they sparked—and build original, blockbuster narratives inspired by Atari’s catalog.

The creative engine for the first film is already underway. Universal has secured an original feature screenplay by Matt Reilly and Carl Hampe, who will be producing the project alongside Guymon Casady from Entertainment 360. This team reportedly envisioned a massive adventure inspired by Atari’s history rather than a straight-up adaptation of any single classic title.

Atari, whose legacy spans over five decades in popular culture, views this move as a significant opportunity to bridge the gap between gaming history and cinematic storytelling. Their chairman and CEO, Wade Rosen, expressed excitement about working with Universal and Entertainment 360 to breathe new life into their iconic brand.

While modern video game adaptations—like those for Super Mario Bros., Sonic the Hedgehog, and Five Nights at Freddy’s—have demonstrated Hollywood’s appetite for gaming, Atari’s library presents a unique challenge. Many of these foundational games are defined by simple gameplay concepts rather than complex narratives.

Yet, the appeal remains undeniable. As one of the creators noted, the best Atari games had a remarkable ability to drop players into immersive worlds, allowing imagination to take over. The talent behind the screenplay believes this same spirit can translate perfectly to the cinematic medium.

With Universal now controlling development across ten iconic properties, the studio is clearly positioning the gaming brand as a rich source for its next wave of blockbuster adaptations. While release dates and casting remain under wraps, it is clear that the era of classic arcade adventures is about to hit the silver screen.