“Once completed, you can engage me in debate on whether you think it is art”
Roger Ebert, influential film critic andFinal Fantasy: The Spirits Withindefender, has quietly announced intentions to make a film adaptation of a videogame or “mobile app.”
“And gamers beware, I am even thinking about a movie version of a video game or mobile app,”Ebert wrote on his blog,announcing his plans for 2013, after a recent recurrence of cancer. “Once completed, you can engage me in debate on whether you think it is art.”
Ebertmade a name for himself with gamers in 2005when he dismissed the medium, saying, “But for most gamers, video games represent a loss of those precious hours we have available to make ourselves more cultured, civilized and empathetic.” He later took back these comments and apologized in 2010. (“I was a fool for mentioning video games in the first place.”) And ever since fans and readers have been leaving comments on his film reviews telling him to check out the latest 90+ Metascore releases (BioShock InfiniteandJourney, as of late).
Given Ebert’s history with games and the brief, tongue-in-cheek announcement, it’s hard to tell if he is jesting, merely teasing something that will never come, or earnestly announcing a project he is excited for.
I have reached out to Roger Ebert for comment and will update, should he respond.
