Remember all those “previously on Hardline” intros at the start of each Battlefield: Hardline mission? Those TV show-style aspirations are finally starting to become a reality, as Battlefield is getting its very own TV series.
Which titles from our list of the best FPS games would you like to see get on the telly?
It’s not clear which flavour of Battlefield we’re getting – po-faced contemporary military, Bad Company’s tongue-in-cheek fun, historical seriousness or a weird cops ‘n’ robbers spinoff – but we do know it’s coming from Paramount TV andAnonymous Content, responsible for True Detective.
Michael Sugar, 2016 Academy Award winner, and Ashley Zalta from Anonymous Content will serve as executive producers. No network is attached to the series yet.
“Paramount TV actively seeks smart content from all sectors that will resonate with audiences and translate to compelling programming,” said Amy Powell, Paramount TV president. “EA’s Battlefield has an incredibly dynamic narrative, coupled with a loyal fan base, which will allow us to bring this exciting and unique property to the small screen. We look forward to working with EA and Anonymous Content and thank Michael Sugar for his tenacity in bringing us this exciting project.”
No doubt Paramount are very excited about tapping Battlefield’s fan-based of 60 million players.
“Battlefield has a tremendous built-in, engaged fan base, making it a highly coveted piece of IP primed for long-form adaptation,” said Michael Sugar, partner, Anonymous Content. “Together with EA and Paramount TV, we’ll develop the Battlefield TV series with the same commitment to robust storytelling that has made the game such a runaway success for nearly fifteen years.”
“Battlefield is one of the most loved properties among our players,” added Patrick Söderlund, Executive Vice President, EA. “We are thrilled that Anonymous Content and Paramount TV will look to introduce fans to Battlefield through a new medium.”
This will be the first videogame adaptation handled by both Paramount and Anonymous Content, so at least they have a shot of getting it right. With something like Battlefield, at least they’re not tied down by lore or fan expectations. It could actually be good, but let’s not hold our breath just yet, eh?