Publisher Electronic Arts and multimedia firm Starz today announced that they are working to transform three EA franchises into animated releases, with the first being a movie based on EA Redwood Shores' upcoming survival horror title Dead Space.

A prequel to the game itself, the Dead Space feature will take place after the comic book, explaining the circumstances that lead to the events of the title's creepy alien invasion. It is slated to debut alongside the game, which hits PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 on October 31.

At present, Starz plans to air the movie via broadcast first, with a DVD release following. The animation will be handled by the company's Film Roman unit.

"With the video game, comic book and now animated movie, Dead Space has become a true multimedia brand," said game executive producer Glen Schofield. "Each of these elements delivers the story to new audiences and tells it from different aspects and perspectives."