Back in November 2024, Amazon first revealed it was developing a live-action series based on the beloved Mass Effect video game franchise. Now, we're getting a clearer picture of who'll be steering the ship. Doug Jung, known for his work on Apple TV+'s The Chief Of War, has officially signed on as showrunner for the highly anticipated adaptation, according to Deadline.
Interestingly, Dan Casey, who wrote Fast & Furious 9, has reportedly been working on the script for over a year, even before Jung's involvement. This suggests the project has been in active development for quite some time.
In Mass Effect, players take on the role of Commander Shepard, an elite soldier in 2183, as humanity navigates its new place in a vast galactic society ruled by the Citadel Council.
Shepard is sent to the colony of Eden Prime to secure a Prothean beacon—an artifact from a long-dead race whose technology powers modern civilization. The mission is derailed by an attack from the Geth, synthetic beings led by rogue Spectre Saren Arterius. Saren activates the beacon, giving Shepard a vision of mass destruction.
At the Citadel, Shepard tries to expose Saren but lacks proof—until a Quarian, Tali, presents evidence linking him to a mysterious device called the Conduit and the Reapers, ancient machines believed to periodically wipe out all advanced life.
Saren is declared a traitor, and Shepard becomes the first human Spectre, granted authority to hunt him down. With the starship Normandy and a diverse crew, Shepard uncovers Saren’s plan to use the Citadel as a gateway for a Reaper invasion, led by the sentient Reaper Sovereign.
This Mass Effect series isn't the only collaboration between Amazon MGM Studios and Electronic Arts. Their partnership, which began with a deal in 2021 for Amazon to create content based on EA's vast library of characters and intellectual property, is expanding.
In addition to bringing Commander Shepard's galaxy-spanning adventures to the small screen, the two companies are also working on a film adaptation of EA's incredibly popular life simulation game, The Sims. This movie is being developed in conjunction with Margot Robbie's (Barbie) LuckyChap Entertainment, adding another layer of excitement.
More recently, Amazon MGM Studios finalized a deal for a feature-length adaptation of Hazelight's Split Fiction video game, which is also published by Electronic Arts. Jon M. Chu is set to direct this project, with Sydney Sweeney (Euphoria) attached to star.
It's clear that Amazon is betting big on EA's rich catalog of games, with several promising adaptations already in the pipeline. Are there any other EA games you'd love to see adapted for film or television?