DiCaprio Cast as Atari Founder in Bushnell Biopic

June 9, 2008 2:50 PM

Leonardo DiCaprio is attached to star as Atari founder Nolan Bushnell (pictured left) in a new feature film detailing the gaming godfather's life, according to Variety.

Bushnell, with fellow Atari founder Ted Dabney, founded Atari in 1972. The company was critical in bringing video games to North American audiences via arcade games, home gaming consoles and consumer-oriented personal computers.

Pitched with the title "Atari", the film will be produced by DiCaprio's production company Appian Way. The script was written by Brian Hecker and Craig Sherman, both independent writers with little Hollywood experience.

DiCaprio's Appian Way is currently at work on a number of projects, including an adaptation of the classic sci-fi anime Akira in a partnership with Warner Bros. The actor is perhaps best known for his appearances in Titanic, Gangs of New York and The Departed.

Aaron Linde

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tohm82

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June 9, 2008 2:53 PM

Christ on a bike, I wish they wouldn't fuck with Akira.
- ErikTehRed
  
   reply
  June 9, 2008 3:13 PM
  
  At least it's not Uwe Boll! I'm pretty confident that anything DiCaprio is in/oversees will not be crap. I was a skeptic of DiCaprio at first (Titanic was way overhyped) but after seeing his work recently I really think he is a great actor.
  - tohm82
    
     reply
    June 9, 2008 3:17 PM
    
    Yeah, I guess. Still though, Akira.
    - Schnapple
      
       reply
      June 9, 2008 6:34 PM
      
      Gary Whitta, a hardcore gamer and the co-host of the Game Theory Podcast, did the script treatment. He's also doing the script treatment for the Diablo movie. That's pretty promising to me.
      - dedgecko
        
         reply
        June 9, 2008 7:15 PM
        
        Isn't that the old editor in chief from PC Gamer back in the day?
        
        Schnapple
        
         reply
        June 9, 2008 8:57 PM
        
        Yes it is. He also did some script work for the PREY game
        
        dedgecko
        
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        June 9, 2008 9:24 PM
        
        I hope it was some of the better parts...
      - IHATEDUST
        
         reply
        June 9, 2008 10:05 PM
        
        If Blizzard trusts him with Diablo, I'll give him the benefit of the doubt with Akira. That is going to be one tough title to bring mainstream.