'Tetris' Movie — Described as an 'Epic Sci-Fi Thriller' — to Be $80M U.S.-China Co-Production

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By Patrick Brzeski, The Hollywood Reporter

Chinese media mogul Bruno Wu and producer Larry Kasanoff have unveiled a new joint venture to develop and finance film projects for the worldwide market. Named Threshold Global Studios, the banner’s first project will be an $80 million film adaptation of the iconic video game Tetris.

Related: The Classic Video Game ‘Tetris’ Is Becoming a Movie (from Sept. 2014)

The film is being packaged as an “epic sci-fi thriller.” The partners say it will be an official China-U.S. co-production, with a Western and Chinese ensemble cast. Shooting is expected to take place in China in 2017.

Threshold Global Studios is a partnership of Kasanoff’s Threshold Entertainment Group and Wu’s Seven Star Works.

Kasanoff is understood to be at the Cannes Film Festival meeting with sales agents.

Related: ‘Warcraft’ Trailer: Orcs vs. Humans vs. Orcs
The partners said in a statement: “The team has been working with The Tetris Company for over a year, and with the formation of Threshold Global Studios, financing has been secured, the story has been created, and now Wu and Kasanoff will co-produce.”

Threshold’s Jimmy Ienner is executive producing with The Tetris Company and Seven Stars. Line Producer Dane Smith (Transformers, Harry Potter, Spider-Man) will be responsible for implementing the unique Tetris VFX developed especially for the film.

“Threshold Global will make cross-cultural movies for the global market,“ said Kasanoff and Wu, jointly.

Related: ‘Mortal Kombat’: Untold Story of the Movie That ‘Kicked the Hell’ Out of Everyone

“Tetris, one of the most recognized video game franchises of all time, is a perfect first project for this strategy,” adds Kasanoff, producer of Mortal Kombat. “For our debut project, Threshold Global Studios will bring one of the most beloved, cross-generational gaming brands in the world to the big screen.”

Watch a trailer for documentary ‘Ecstasy of Order: The Tetris Masters’: