Warner Bros. Announces December 2017 Date For READY PLAYER ONE

It's been five years since Warner Bros. began developing an adaptation for author Ernest Cline's award-winning bestseller novel, Ready Player One, with master filmmaker Steven Spielberg getting on board to direct back in March. Now, the studio has finalized a press release announcing an official release date for December 2017.

There's no plot yet, but readers familiar with the source material may have an idea about where it will go in sum; The book, published in 2011, takes place in dystopian future Oklahoma City where a young gamer named Wade Watts who, with the help of four rival players, battles a powerful and dangerous corporate plutocrat in search of several late-twentieth century clues and treasures in the ultimate race for a billion dollar prize and the fate of the virtual utopian world, OASIS, and the legacy of its late creator.

The book became a worldwide phemomenon among readers since its release and Spielberg's attachment earlier this Spring has been nothing short of electric for fans of the property, so this is one to keep on eye on for the next couple of years.

BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The game is on in 2017. Warner Bros. Pictures, Village Roadshow Pictures and DreamWorks Pictures’ “Ready Player One”—the already much-anticipated sci-fi action adventure, to be directed by Steven Spielberg—has been slated for release on December 15, 2017. The announcement was made today by Dan Fellman, President, Domestic Distribution; Sue Kroll, President, Worldwide Marketing and Distribution; and Veronika Kwan Vandenberg, President, Worldwide Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures. 

A three-time Academy Award winner, Spielberg (“Schindler’s List,” “Saving Private Ryan”) is directing “Ready Player One,” based on Ernest Cline’s bestseller of the same name, which has become a worldwide phenomenon. The film is being produced by Spielberg; Donald De Line, under his De Line Pictures banner; Dan Farah; and Spielberg’s longtime colleague Kristie Macosko Krieger; with Bruce Berman serving as executive producer. De Line and Farah originally brought the project to Warner Bros. 

“Ready Player One” marks a return to Warner Bros. for Spielberg, who previously directed the studio’s “Empire of the Sun,” “The Color Purple” and “A.I. Artificial Intelligence,” in addition to producing the hits “Gremlins” and “The Goonies.” 

In making the announcement, Fellman stated, “Any film from Steven Spielberg is an event film, so it felt right to date this thrilling new project from one of our greatest filmmakers for the holiday season.” 

Sue Kroll added, “From the success of the book, ‘Ready Player One’ already has a devoted following, and we’re excited for its fans and moviegoers everywhere to see this fantastically innovative story come to life. We know it couldn’t be in better hands, and look forward to working with Steven and the producers to bring it to the big screen.” 

Kwan Vandenberg said, “There are few directors with the global stature of Steven Spielberg, so we are thrilled to be delivering his latest adventure to audiences worldwide.” 

A presentation of Warner Bros. Pictures, Village Roadshow Pictures and DreamWorks Pictures, “Ready Player One” will be distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, and in select territories by Village Roadshow Pictures.