According to Variety, 300 scribe Michael Gordon has signed on to write a screenplay based on the EverQuest MMORPG (Massively Multi-Player Online Roleplaying Game).  Former Marvel Studios chief Avi Arad is producing the film for Sony/Columbia.  The EverQuest movie has been in development at Sony for several years, but this is the first time that a major writer has been attached to the project.

 

Sony Online Entertainment introduced the EverQuest MMORPG in 1999.  At its peak (before the onslaught of World of Warcraft), EverQuest had 450,000 subscribers paying 10 dollars a month to participate in the D&D-style online adventure.  It was so addictive to some players that it earned the sobriquet 'EverCrack.' 

 

Players form their character by choosing from one of 14 races and then select their character's class (wizard, cleric, ranger, knight etc.) and set off to explore the fantasy world of Norrath.  Gordon's task will be creating an EverQuest narrative that won't appear to be another warmed-over D&D pastiche.