"Chimps" gets game treatment from Brash

SAN DIEGO (Hollywood Reporter) - Brash Entertainment is developing a video game based on the upcoming movie "Space Chimps," from Vanguard Animation and Starz Media.

The "Chimps" game, which has been in development for more than a year, will be available for Microsoft XBox 260, Sony PlayStation 2 and Nintendo's Wii and DS systems.

Mitch Davis, co-founder, chairman and CEO of Brash Entertainment, said the company had worked closely with the makers of the film, which is being produced by John H. Williams ("Shrek") and Barry Sonnenfeld.

"We were with them from the very beginning on site at the studio in Canada," Davis said. "They shared all the assets, from conceptual art to the music, and they gave a lot of ideas on how the game could extend the story arc of the movie."

Said Vanguard CEO Terry Bootlick: "Starting early with Brash definitely gave us the opportunity to sync up the schedules and collaborate along the way. We've shipped assets on a regular basis to Brash, and they've exposed us to their script, design documents and additional characters they were thinking of creating."

Bootlick said the film is on track to be completed in February. Fox will release it July 18.

"Chimps" follows the adventures of a mischievous circus chimp named Ham, voiced by Andy Samberg, who leads a mission into space to explore a mysterious new planet.

Davis said the "Chimps" game will be on shelves a few weeks before the film's debut, following a formula Brash used successfully with its first title, a game based on the holiday hit "Alvin and the Chipmunks."

Brash was founded in June with the goal of creating content based on theatrical franchises. It has deals in place with Warner Bros, Fox, Universal, Vanguard and Lionsgate.

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter