Midway announces The Wheelman @ Gaming Target

Written by John Scalzo on February 22, 2006

News: Vin Diesel to star in the game and the movie.

This morning, Midway announced a new partnership between themselves, MTV, Paramount and Vin Diesel's Tigon Studios to create The Wheelman. The Wheelman is being developed simultaneously as a movie and a game. Diesel himself has signed on to play the hero in both.

УWith The Wheelman we have created the first integrated franchise being launched for both the gaming and film industries,Ф said Vin Diesel. УIn collaborating with Midway, MTV and Paramount, TIGON Studios has brought together an incredible team to execute this project.Ф

УWe believe The Wheelman is a groundbreaking new model for our industry,Ф said David F. Zucker, president and CEO, Midway. УWe intend to create a broad-arcing experience, simultaneously developing entertainment properties across a number of mediums, with Vin Diesel right at the center of it all.Ф

According to Midway, Diesel will play a retired Wheelman who comes out of retirement to protect a woman from his past.

Midway declined to say more, but idiotic Hollywood industry paper Variety has revealed that the game is in development for the PS3 and Xbox 360 for a late 2007 release. They also said that The Wheelman game would be a prequel to the movie. The game's budget was also disclosed and it is apparently approaching the $15 million range, ridiculous money for a single game.

We drive more Wheelman news to you shortly.