When the statement “think Willy Wonka, The Matrix, and Avatar rolled into one” is used, and not referring to a drug-induced coma, you can understand why a studio like Warner Bros. would greenlight the project. Not only did the studio become interested after that description, but it won in a bidding war for the project against other studios such as Paramount.
The film is based on a book that hasn’t even been released yet about a teenage boy who escapes his bleak reality into a virtual one, uncovering an epic adventure along the way. Ernie Cline (Fanboys) is penning the script with Green Lantern producer Donald De Line stepping in to produce.
The description actually feels more like Reboot meets It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World, but we can understand why they went with the appeal of Avatar. Check out the logline, courtesy of Heat Vision, and judge for yourself.
In the near future, outcast teenager Wade Watts escapes from his bleak surroundings by logging in to the Oasis, a globally networked virtual utopia where users can lead idyllic alternate lives. When the eccentric billionaire who created the Oasis dies, he offers up his vast fortune as the prize in an elaborate treasure hunt.
Along with gamers from around the world Wade joins the adventure, and quickly finds himself pitted against powerful corporate foes who will do anything, in the oasis or the real world, to reach the treasure first. Think Willy Wonka, The Matrix, and Avatar all rolled into one.
No word on when we can see more from this project, but with Warners ramping up their Comic-Con presentation for next month, you can be sure we’ll see at least a little bit from Ready Player One at the show.
