Avi Arad has optioned the movie rights to Bioware’s sci-fi action role playing game Mass Effect.

In the game you play as an elite human soldier named Commander Shepard, who sets out to explore the Galaxy in the year 2183. Thirty-five years prior, humans discovered a technology built by an extinct alien race which has allowed them to break free of the solar system. But the galaxy is trapped in an endless cycle of extinction. Every 50,000 years, an ancient machine race invades the galaxy and wipes out all advanced organic civilizations.

The term Mass Effect, is described as “a newly discovered physics phenomenon that has properties along the lines of other physics forces such as gravity and electromagnetism.” In the game, certain creatures can manipulate the mass effect, much like electric eels can make use of electromagnetism. Humans can also get these abilities through prosthetics.

Avi Arad is best known as the producer of the Spider-Man films and Iron Man, but many forget that he was involved with some Marvel’s unspectacular film projects like Hulk, Elektra, Punisher, Fantastic Four, and Ghost Rider. Arad also produced the Bratz movie, Man-Thing, the upcoming Punisher: War Zone and a film based on the toy robot Robosapien. So I’m not convinced that the project is in the right hands with Arad. It all depends on which director is hired to bring the game to the big screen.

Bioware has said that the game is the first part of a trilogy, which gives a potential film adaptation franchise possibilities. I’ve never played the game as I have a strong affliction for role playing games, but the concept certainly sounds like it could be made into a fun sci-fi film. To give you a better idea of what the game is like, watch the game’s trailer below:

source: Variety