Atari announced in August 2026 a deal with Universal Pictures to develop movies based on 10 classic Atari video game properties [1, 2, 3].
The titles included are Asteroids, Adventure, Berzerk, Breakout, Centipede, Crystal Castles, Millipede, Missile Command, Pong, and Yars' Revenge [1, 2, 3]. Universal Pictures holds the option to create films based on all these games [1, 2, 3].
A feature film adaptation based on one currently undisclosed Atari game is already in development. The screenplay is written by Matt Reilly and Carl Hampe [1, 2, 3]. Producer Guymon Casady of Entertainment 360 is attached to the project. Casady said, “Carl and Matt saw an opportunity to take that same spirit and build an original, large-scale adventure around it. From the moment we read the screenplay, we believed there was a great movie here” [3].
Atari CEO Wade Rosen expressed enthusiasm about bringing the brand’s iconic games to a new audience. Rosen highlighted Atari’s lasting cultural impact since its founding in 1972: “For more than five decades, Atari has created games and worlds that have remained part of popular culture long after their original release… We are excited to work with Universal and Entertainment 360 to bring the spirit of our iconic brand and games to a new medium” [2].
Universal previously acquired rights to develop an Asteroids movie in 2009 but did not produce it [3]. Atari is currently owned by Atari SA, formerly Infogrames Games, which could allow for adaptations of other properties beyond these 10 games in the future [2].
