'Battlefield' TV Series Coming From Paramount

Michael Sugar, who recently won an Academy Award for producing Spotlight, is attempting to bring EA's Battlefield to the small screen. The video game franchise, which is very popular for its highly-addictive online multiplayer mode, was created in 2002, starting with Battlefield 1942. Since then, Battlefield has gained a following of 60 million players, and with a fanbase that massive, UTA and Paramount smell an opportunity.

Below, learn more about the Battlefield TV series.

Battlefield, which is developed by EA DICE and published by Electronic Arts, is maybe known more for its online play than its storytelling, but this isn't the first time we've heard about a TV adaptation based on the game. Back in 2012, Sony TV and Happy Madison were working on an hourlong action-comedy based on Battlefield: Bad Company. John Eisendrath, a current executive producer of The Blacklist and a former writer on Alias, collaborated on the series, but outside of the first announcement, we heard little else about that now likely dead project.

As for this Battlefield TV series, it's being produced by Anonymous Content's Michael Sugar and Ashley Zalta. In a statement, Sugar commented on the "highly coveted piece of IP":

'Battlefield' has a tremendous built-in, engaged fan base, making it a highly coveted piece of IP primed for long-form adaptation. 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.

President of Paramount TV Amy Powell added:

Paramount TV actively seeks smart content from all sectors that will resonate with audiences and translate to compelling programming. 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.

Anonymous Content and Paramount TV have a first-look production deal for scripted television programming, but Battlefield is the first video game adaptation they've worked on together. At this moment, more video game adaptations are in the works for film than television, but this isn't the only video game property we've heard about being developed for TV. Back in 2014, a handful of television adaptations of Sega games were in the works, including Virtual Fighter and Crazy Taxi (the latter of which is not hard to imagine as a show).