Big-screen adaptation of racing franchise set for 2014 release; Act of Valor director attached, with executive producer of She's Out of My League writing the screenplay.

Need for Speed will soon powerslide its way into movie theaters, as Electronic Arts and DreamWorks Studios today announced a partnership that gives the production company film rights to the long-running racing franchise.

Need for Speed has had cinematic aspirations for a while now.

Planned for a 2014 debut, the Need for Speed film is being described by EA as "a fast-paced, high-octane film rooted in the tradition of the great car culture films of the '70s while being extremely faithful to the spirit of the video game franchise." The project will not be based on any single game in the series.

Directing the film will be Scott Waugh, best known for helming Act of Valor, a military movie starring active-duty US Navy SEALs. Possibly more relevant to the Need for Speed project will be Waugh's experience on stunt crews for dozens of films, including Torque, The Italian Job, and Biker Boyz. Waugh will be filming a screenplay penned by George Gatins, the executive producer of DreamWorks' 2010 comedy She's Out of My League. Gatins developed the Need for Speed film's story with his brother John, who is producing the film and also wrote the scripts for Real Steel and the upcoming Flight.

Production on the film is expected to start in early 2013. As for the gaming franchise, it has a new installment in the works, as Criterion Games' Need for Speed Most Wanted is set for release October 30.

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