Deadline is exclusively reporting that Amazon Studios is nearing a deal with Electronic Arts to develop a series based on the best-selling sci-fi video game franchise Mass Effect.

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The video game franchise, created by Casey Hudson, Drew Karpyshyn and Preston Watamaniuk, is developed by BioWare and EA. It originally launched in 2007, with the first game and the following two sequels focusing on Systems Alliance Navy veteran Commander Shepard, who must fight against an ancient machine race that intends to wipe out all existence in the galaxy. The sequels, Mass Effect 2 and Mass Effect 2, were released in 2010 and 2012 respectively. The franchise has also produced a spinoff game, Mass Effect: Andromeda (released in 2017), as well as multiple mobile games, and a new game that is currently in development.

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This information was detailed in an article in relation to Deadline talking with Amazon Studios head Jennifer Salke, where they looked at how genre has emerged as a key programming area for the streamer and a continuing development focus, what with the success of The Boys and most recently The Wheel of Time’s debut the previous weekend, and let’s not forget the much anticipated launch of The Lord of The Rings series coming to the streamer next year. Salke said:

You will see us continuing to invest in fantasy genre of all kinds, we have a genre-focused team on the ground in Studios who work tirelessly with our creative partners on those slates, and you can look forward to more.

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This news is one I’ve been waiting to hear for a long time. I absolutely adore the original trilogy, the universe that Hudson, Karpyshyn, Watamaniuk & co. created, and the characters, good lord the characters! If ever Mass Effect was to be adapted, it is ripe for a series adaptation in comparison to a film adaptation because of how rich the Mass Effect universe is. And with The Expanse coming to an end at Amazon, it would certainly fill that sci-fi gap on the streamer. Let’s not forget the tease and hype earlier in the year however in relation to Henry Cavill posting on social media about reading paper for a ’secret project’, though I have a hunch it’s more related to the upcoming game…but what if?