Half-Life 2 Art Director At Work On Film, New Game

Viktor Antonov, the Half-Life 2 art director who's responsible for the look of the game's immersive City 17, is at work on a movie, which will spawn a video game sequel. Antonov is working with production company DQE on the animated 3D stereoscopic film, The Prodigies, as art director. Warner Bros Pictures, Studio37 and Kinology will be managing sales and distribution. The Prodigies is based on a 1982 novel by Bernard Lenteric, in which five young teenage "prodigies" are violently assaulted, prompting them to take vengeance on the world. The fate of the world hinges on a sixth prodigy, who may join the five or fight against them. On Antonov's website, he said he's been working on the conception and visual design of The Prodigies film since January 2008. Aside from co-writing a Prodigies comic book that will serve as a film prequel, he said he's directing a Prodigies video game that will be a sequel to the film. In 2006, he founded the design and production studio The Building in Paris, France. DQE said that the global budget for the film is $28 million and is also produced by Onyx Films and Fidelite Films. The company said the film is fully funded, in production and slated for a March 2011 release. DQE has offered its animation services to partners including Electronic Arts, Universal Pictures, Marvel Comics and others.