Mass Effect film focusing on first game

SAN DIEGO--Legendary Pictures carted in a whole host of high-profile talent to talk about its portfolio of upcoming films at Comic-Con 2011, ranging from The Seventh Son star Jeff Bridges to Bradley Cooper, who plays the archangel Lucifer in Alex Proyas' Paradise Lost. Somewhat out of place at the star-studded panel were Casey Hudson and Mark Protosevich, who were on hand to offer morsels of information on the Legendary Pictures-produced Mass Effect film.

Unfortunately, as the Mass Effect film is still quite early in production, the duo had little to say by way of firm details on the film. Instead, Protosevich spoke at length about the tumultuous relationship Hollywood has had with the game industry. According to the screenwriter, Hollywood is often seduced by the game industry, in that it's easy to think that a game's action scenes would translate well to film.

However, very few of these games have any of the other necessary elements to become a quality film, he said. Hollywood writers and producers fail to ask difficult questions like whether the game has a good story, an interesting world, or evocative themes.

Mass Effect is a different animal, he said, because not only are the action scenes enticing, but there's also a substantive universe to flesh out a film with. Protosevich said that it's a real challenge getting Mass Effect into a single film, but that the team is focusing on the first game in the trilogy.

Legendary Pictures also provided updates on the Guillermo del Toro-directed Pacific Rim, as well as Jeff Bridges' The Seventh Son and Bradley Cooper's Paradise Lost. Check back with GameSpot later for a full video of Legendary Pictures' panel.