Universal to develop big-screen 'Asteroids'

Universal has acquired the big-screen rights to Atari's classic video game "Asteroids," and Matthew Lopez is set to write the script.

The arcade game debuted in 1979 and had players control a spaceship that could shoot rocks and flying saucers. One of the game's goal was to avoid smashing into them.

As the Hollywood Reporter points out, the game doesn't have a storyline, which means Lopez will have to generate a film based on a completely new idea.

To be honest, I don't see why studios would launch into a bidding war over this. Considering Lopez will basically start from scratch, I wonder how he will incorporate the concept of the game withouth creating a boring project.

"Asteroids" is one of many games to come to the big screen. "Monopoly," "Battleship" and "Candyland" are also in development already.