Tokyo drift

DreamWorks has snapped up the film rights to the Need for Speed franchise, and expects the racing series to make its theatrical debut in 2014. Siblings John and George Gatins have been drafted in to pen an original story, which is said to be loosely based upon the games but not a specific entry. EA will produce the movie alongside John Gatins and Mark Sourian. Finally, Scott Waugh, of Act of Valor fame, will direct.

DreamWorks founder Steven Spielberg said:

I’m excited about getting back into the creative trenches with John and George Gatins and my partners at EA to bring to life an exhilarating script based on an epic video game that seems to have been made for the movies.

This is a big piece of business for DreamWorks and we are grateful to Frank Gibeau, Pat O’Brien, Kevin Maher and John and George for choosing us to deliver their goods.

Meanwhile, EA explained that the movie will be a "fast-paced, high-octane film rooted in the tradition of the great car culture films of the 70s while being extremely faithful to the spirit of the video game franchise”. Uh-huh.

“In Need for Speed the cars are hot, the racing is intense and the story keeps players at the edge of their seat,” the publisher concluded without a hint of irony.