Starbreeze Entertainment together with VICE Studios (Gangs of London) have partnered with Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson and his G-Unit Film & Television, to executive produce an adaptation of Starbreeze's iconic, long-running video game franchise Payday for global audiences.
"G-Unit Film & TV has built cinematic crime stories that connect with audiences around the world. Teaming up with Starbreeze and VICE Studios and bringing the world of Payday to the screen gives us the chance to build something big, a high-energy franchise that pushes the heist genre forward," said Jackson.
Since its launch in 2011, Payday has gone from a game to a global phenomenon. Over 15 years of continuous development have made the PAYDAY name synonymous with heisting, serving a massive community of more than 50 million players.
The game's masked protagonists have proven that no score is too audacious, no enemy too powerful, and no fortune enough to stop their criminal ambitions. The cinematic heists mix high-octane action in exciting heist locations with stories about betrayal, conspiracy, and corruption.
"Payday has always been about the fantasy of getting away with it. Curtis and G-Unit don't do subtle, and neither do we. This is not about playing it safe; it's about doing the franchise justice with people who are as immersed in the world as we are," said Adolf Kristjansson, CEO of Starbreeze Entertainment.
“VICE has always been drawn to stories that live outside the lines, and Payday is exactly that kind of world,” said Amy Powell, President of VICE Studios. “G-Unit understands what makes PAYDAY tick, and they're bringing a perspective that's true to the franchise without playing it safe.”
The partnership is a central piece of Starbreeze's strategy to grow Payday into a world-leading, ever-evolving heist universe across all forms of entertainment. It follows Starbreeze's continued investment in the franchise's core games, and sits alongside other recent moves to expand Payday into new formats and platforms with carefully selected partners.