While Madrid-based video game developer Pyro Studios is most known for its RTS game series, Commandos, they’re also known for its film company llion Animation. After the release of Commandos 3: Destination Berlin in 2003, Pyro Studios’ founders started on a few films with lllion Animation.
Today, New Line Cinema announced the purchase of llion Animation’s first computer graphics (CG) film called Planet 51. The film was co-directed by Jorge Blanco, Javier Abad and Marcos Martinez, whom all worked throughout the Commandos’ game series development.
In addition to the film, Pyro Studios will develop a video game to coincide with the film’s planned release in 2009. There were no details revealed about the game other than they will be for "five leading console platforms."
Planet 51 will mark New Line’s reentry into the animation film business in 40 years and the company is already pushing the film into production. The film’s plot is below:
"Written by Joe Stillman ("Shrek"), the story is set on Planet 51, whose inhabitants live in fear of an alien invasion. Their paranoia is realized when astronaut Capt. Charles "Chuck" Baker arrives from Earth. Befriended by a young resident, the astronaut has to avoid capture in order to recover his spaceship and return home."
Pyro Studios’ latest iteration in the Commandos series was 2006’s Commandos: Strike Force. Despite the game rejecting the series’ signature RTS gameplay for a traditional FPS gamescape, the game was met with largely negative reviews.
[Via Hollywood Reporter]
