Warner Bros. Fast-Tracking Heavy Rain Movie With Deadwood's Milch

Warner Bros. has signed NYPD Blue and Deadwood creator David Milch to write and direct a movie adaptation of Sony and Quantic Dream's million-selling PS3-exclusive adventure game Heavy Rain. Variety reports the project has been fast-tracked for quick development by the studio as part of a "first-look" deal with Bob Shaye and Michael Lynne's Unique Features, which reportedly acquired the Heavy Rain movie rights last May. "David Milch's incredible ability to transform intense and complex storylines into gripping, popular drama makes him the perfect partner for us to have on Heavy Rain, " Shaye told Variety. The ambitious Heavy Rain game followed four protagonists with different perspectives on a murder mystery, with a variable storyline that hinged on player decisions. Creator David Cage reportedly penned a 2,000-page script for the game, which received generally positive reviews. Heavy Rain sold over a million units worldwide in its first two months on sale. The title was the 22nd best-selling game in the U.S. for the first quarter of the year, according to tracking firm NPD. But data from game-trading site Goozex showed Heavy Rain as the most-requested game for trade in 2010, suggesting a strong second-hand market for the story-focused title.