Dante's Inferno matching Dead Space movie-for-movie

Electronic Arts seems to have a plan for its new M-rated properties: launch a direct-to-DVD animated movie with the game and develop a big budget feature film to expand the franchise in the long run.

"Dead Space," of course, had its animated DVD movie "Downfall" (below left) that came out along with the game in October. A feature film is being developed by Temple Hill Productions, the company behind "Gears of War" and "Twilight."

"Dante's Inferno" (above right) is further ahead on the theatrical feature path. It has already been set up at Universal Pictures and has a writer penning a script. Today comes news that Film Roman, the Starz Entertainment unit behind "Dead Space: Downfall" is also doing a direct-to-DVD version of "Dante's" that will come out with the game next winter.

 The only details about the "Dante's" project to come out are that separate anime studios are being tapped to create the nine different levels of hell.

News was revealed today as Starz is apparently looking to sell both animated movies to international TV buyers at the MIP market this week.