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Lionsgate has optioned the film rights for Dead Island, the zombie survival game developed by Deep Silver. The profound impact of the teaser trailer to the game has caused quite a stir, even outside of gaming circles, enough to push the new IP into movie adaptation territory.

“Like the hundreds of journalists and millions of fans who were so passionate and vocal about the Dead Island trailer, we too were awestruck,” said Lionsgate co-COO and motion picture group president Joe Drake. “This is exactly the type of property we’re looking to adapt at Lionsgate – it’s sophisticated, edgy, and a true elevation of a genre that we know and love. It also has built in brand recognition around the world, and franchise potential.”

The new movie will hope to bring forth a more human touch to the accounts of survival and struggle in a post-zombie world. The intent is to expand upon the emotions elicited from that powerful trailer, enough to perhaps give a gaming movie that is not immediately classified as a ‘gaming movie.’

To help push the adaptation along, the studio has announced that Sean Daniel of The Mummy and Tombstone will be heading up production of the film. Also attached is Stefan Sonnenfeld, who has worked with major directors including J.J. Abrams and Gore Verbinski. Daniel and Sonnenfeld will act as executive producers.

[Source: Industry Gamers]