'Tetris' movie to be $80M U.S.-China co-production

Chinese media mogul Bruno Wu and producer Larry Kasanoff have unveiled a new joint venture to develop and finance film projects for the worldwide market. Named Threshold Global Studios, the banner's first project will be an $80 million film adaptation of the iconic video game Tetris.

The film is being packed as an "epic sci-fi thriller." The partners say it will be an official China-U.S. co-production, with a Western and Chinese ensemble cast. Shooting is expected to take place in China in 2017.

Threshold Global Studios is a partnership of Kasanoff's Threshold Entertainment Group and Wu’s Seven Star Works.

Kasanoff is understood to be at the Cannes Film Festival meeting with sales agents.

The partners said in a statement: "The team has been working with The Tetris Company for over a year, and with the formation of Threshold Global Studios, financing has been secured, the story has been created, and now Wu and Kasanoff will co-produce."

Threshold’s Jimmy Ienner is executive producing with The Tetris Company and Seven Stars. Line producer Dane Smith (Transformers, Harry Potter, Spiderman) will be responsible for implementing the unique Tetris VFX developed especially for the film.

“Threshold Global will make cross-cultural movies for the global market,“ said Kasanoff and Wu.

“Tetris, one of the most recognized video game franchises of all time, is a perfect first project for this strategy,” adds Kasanoff, producer of Mortal Kombat. "For our debut project, Threshold Global Studios will bring one of the most beloved, cross-generational gaming brands in the world to the big screen.”