Seth Rogen is producing a Console Wars TV show, based on the 2014 book by Blake J. Harris. “Console Wars” is a non-fiction novel retelling the rivalry between Sega and Nintendo in the 1990s. Kong: Skull Island‘s Jordan Vogt-Roberts will direct the pilot episode.
Rogen and Evan Goldberg are producing the Console Wars TV show for Legendary Television. It was not announced where or when the show would air. Rogen and Goldberg announced plans to turn the book into a film back in 2014, but the movie never panned out.
Vogt-Roberts is set to direct the pilot written by Mike Rosolio. Vogt-Roberts directed Kong: Skull Island, which made over $500 million at the box office last year. Rosolio has written for the TV series American Vandal and Sean Saves the World.
Console Wars largely followed then-Sega of America CEO Tom Kalinske. Kalinske headed Sega of America from 1990 to 1996, and was key to the success of the Sega Genesis. “Sega does what Nintendon’t” came from his time as CEO, alongside other anti-Nintendo ads, and risky price cuts for the Genesis. Harris chronicled Kalinski’s meteoric turnaround for Sega of America, and the disdain Sega of Japan held for his input. Sega consoles quickly fell out of favor, with the Saturn and Dreamcast selling poorly compared to rival Nintendo and Sony consoles.
Harris’ book recounts the bitter rivalry between Sega and Nintendo during the 16 and 32-bit generation. The book was criticized for using fabricated dialogue to retell events, but garnered praise for the depth of research. Harris interviewed a number of people from Sega of America, Nintendo, and others from the industry for Console Wars.
The move to TV could be a boon for the story of Console Wars, as it covers a five-year time span. Rogen’s Point Grey Pictures has produced TV series like Preacher, and movies like Blockers.
