Stargate and Independence Day director Roland Emmerich is heading back to the stars, albeit just about everywhere but the big screen, with the filmmaker announcing the upcoming launch of Space Nation, a multimedia franchise that will span video games, a live-action TV series, and animated shorts.
The new project is being spearheaded by Emmerich, producer Marco Weber (The Thirteenth Floor) and game developers Jermone Wu (World of Warcraft) and Tony Tang (Warframe) and is a space opera that “puts players on an epic journey to unravel the mysteries of the Telikos Cluster – a universe inhabited by alien species and driven by three main factions with distinct ideologies and goals.”
“Hollywood’s increasing interest in video games reflects a wider recognition of gaming’s popularity and storytelling potential,” said Emmerich. “The expansive universe we’re building in Space Nation is a tremendous opportunity to captivate audiences wherever they consume entertainment with innovative new forms of storytelling.”
“The landscape of entertainment is evolving rapidly, and we see an incredible opportunity to redefine its boundaries,” added Jerome Wu. “With our collaborative efforts, we aim to transform the way content is consumed, shared, and experienced.”
Space Nation is set to launch as a multiplayer online role-playing game with an alpha test launching in August 2023 ahead of an anticipated commercial release for the game in the second quarter of 2024. This will then be followed by a TV series and animated shorts, with plans for further spinoff games.
Originally published July 2, 2023. Updated July 1, 2023.
