Ready Player One is one of this books that re-energized a lot of people to get back to reading, and tied in enough video game pop culture references to keep them interested. It was just a matter of time until someone decided to make a movie – and we finally get our first look:
Ready Player One follows Wade, played by Tye Sheridan (who also played Cyclops in the new X-Men movies), who retreats into a virtual world in order find a virtual treasure that will ultimately change his life. But getting to the finish is going to be a lot harder, and potentially deadlier, than he thinks. The cast includes Lena Waithe, Olivia Cooke, Ben Mendelssohn, Simon Pegg, T.J. Miller, and Mark Rylance.
For those wondering why the song in the trailer sounds so hauntingly familiar, it’s because it is a rendition of “Pure Imagination” from the original 1971 Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. And for those of you who noticed the Iron Giant in the trailer, great news – director Steven Spielberg says that it will play a big part in the film, and that there will also be other characters out of pop culture, like from Lord of the Rings, Back to the Future, Akira and even Tron.
As someone who read the book, the trailer looks a lot more action-packed than the original story, with the weird racing simulation being particularly intense. I do hope that, at their core, they stick to story because there are plenty of twists and turns to be had there, and turning into just another glitz-over-substance storyline because you have the technology to do so would be a tragedy. It’s one of those times I definitely recommend reading the book first before you see the film.
Ready Player Ones hits theaters on March 30, 2018.
The Akira looking bike has an Atari symbol on it.