After languishing in development for several years, Electronic Arts is starting to move forward with their video game adaptation Dead Space. Writer Justin Marks helped develop the story alongside producer Neal H. Moritz, with Philip Gelatt (Europa Report) writing the most recent draft that will be developed further with yet another screenwriter.

The first Dead Space game was released in 2008, centering on engineer Isaac Clarke who must do battle with re-animated corpses aboard a mining spacecraft. The initial game spawned sequels in 2011 and 2013. Little is known about the adaptation's story line. D.J. Caruso was previously attached to direct several years ago, but there is no director on board at the moment. EA's Patrick O'Brien revealed at the company's Comic-Con panel they plan to shop Dead Space around to studios, once the script is finalized.

EA is following in the footsteps of video game publisher Ubisoft, a company which is now developing scripts itself, instead of selling the rights to Hollywood studios. Ubisoft has adaptations of Assassin's Creed, with Michael Fassbender attached to star, and Splinter Cell with Tom Hardy, currently in the works.

Here's what EA's Patrick O'Brien said about the company's new approach to video game adaptations.

"We decided we have to pitch the projects as scripts. EA was batting 0 for 5 before we began funding scripts. We've had our knocks in the studio system."

The video game company has Need for Speed, starring Aaron Paul, hitting theaters next February. No production schedule was given for Dead Space.