Our sister site Dvice noted that Variety has announced DJ Caruso will direct a movie based on Dead Space, Electronic Arts' sci-fi horror game. However, it'll be a while before this one makes it to the screen, as this isn't the usual deal where a studio puts up the money, signs on talent, and starts the cameras rolling on an available sound stage. Instead, the producers, Electronic Arts, and Mr. Caruso will cast about for a script, at which point they'll auction the property off to various studios, at which point one of them will presumably put up enough money to do a sci-fi haunted house movie.

In case Mr. Caruso's name isn't familiar to you, you can get a sense for what he does by renting his last two features, Eagle Eye and Disturbia, in which Shia LaBeouf runs around without the benefit of giant robot CG or an aged Harrison Ford. Eagle Eye even features a nice EA plug at the end.

Variety notes that EA is currently swimming in these kinds of deals.

"Dead Space" becomes the fifth EA title to percolate as a feature property. Aside from the "Dante's Inferno" film that will be produced by Strike Entertainment partners Eric Newman and Marc Abraham, EA is in business with Universal on "Army of Two," with Scott Z. Burns ("The Bourne Ultimatum") scripting and Scott Stuber producing. EA's "The Sims" is being developed by producer John Davis and "Mass Effect" by "Spider-Man" producer Avi Arad.