Chris Columbus, whose last movie was 2010's "Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief," is in early talks to direct "Pixels" for Sony Pictures and Adam Sandler's Happy Madison banner, an individual familiar with the project has told TheWrap.
Columbus is expecting an offer next week to adapt Patrick Jean's popular Internet short, which Sony acquired in 2010 with the goal of developing the project as an action-comedy in the vein of "Ghostbusters." Sony would like to have the movie ready for release in summer of 2015.
The film finds characters from 1980s video games wreaking havoc in New York City.
Sandler and his Happy Madison partner Jack Giarraputo are producing with Benjamin Darras, Johnny Alves and Matias Boucard of One More Production, while Jean will executive produce.
Tim Herlihy penned the original script, which has since been rewritten by Tim Dowling, who wrote Happy Madison's hit comedy "Just Go With It."
"Pixels" is expected to be one of Happy Madison's largest productions to date, so Columbus, who launched the "Harry Potter" franchise, would be considered a coup should his deal close.
Happy Madison, which is currently producing the Sandler comedy "Blended" for Warner Bros., has "Grown Ups 2" opening via Sony on July 12.
Columbus is repped by WME and Hansen, Jacobson.
The Hollywood Reporter first reported the news of Columbus' potential involvement.
