Bitten by the movie bug, Roberts did something that seemed brash at the time: He negotiated the film rights from Origin and left to go on his own. But just after he opened his new company, Digital Anvil, in Austin, Tex., Roberts got a nice vote of confidence in the way of an estimated $75 million investment from Microsoft. And in case anyone wondered how serious he was about making his cinematic dreams come true, he signed director Robert Rodriguez (El Mariachi, The Faculty) as a partner — although Anvil's publicist admits that Rodriguez has since been too busy for much collaboration or even advice. Based in part on the success of his games, Roberts then struck a deal with Fox that helped cast and distribute the big-screen Wing Commander.

While the Wing Commander film riffs on the original series — a newbie pilot, Christopher Blair (Prinze), has to fend off an alien attack — the film opts for a World War II aesthetic over the game's Star Wars-y vibe. "We're trying to include some surprises, but without alienating the fans," says the director. Meanwhile, if there's anyone more nervous than Roberts about the film's success, it's probably the folks over at Origin, which retains the Wing Commander name and continues to churn out products in the series. "[As the game's producers,] the concern is, what if the feature film doesn't perform well?" says Neil Young, Origin's general manager. "What if it just isn't very good?"

In that case, Roberts at least still has a lucrative day job; his next project is to complete Digital Anvil's upcoming game Freelancer, due in stores in 2000. And no matter the outcome of his directorial debut, Roberts says this trip to the faraway galaxy of Hollywood won't be his last.

May the Force be with him.

Originally posted Mar 12, 1999 Published in issue #476 Mar 12, 1999 Order article reprints
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