"Breaking Bad" star Aaron Paul is going from one kind of speed ... to another.
Paul, who has won two Emmy Awards for his portrayal of methamphetamine dealer Jess Pinkman in the hit TV show, will be getting behind the wheel for a movie based on the "Need for Speed" racing game franchise, Electronic Arts announced Monday.
Paul has been cast to play the lead in the film, which will be produced by DreamWorks Studios and directed by Scott Waugh ("Act of Valor").
According to Electronic Arts, publisher of the game franchise, the movie adaptation will be "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 film adaptation will not be based on a specific game, but instead will be based on the overall series.
The "Need for Speed" franchise got its start when the first racing game launched back in 1994. The series has since seen more than a dozen installments and has sold more than 150 million copies worldwide, generating an estimated $4 billion in revenue, according to EA. The latest game — “Need for Speed Most Wanted” — launches Oct. 30.
"Need for Speed is one of the most action-packed entertainment experiences you can find," said Patrick Soderlund, Electronic Arts executive vice president. "Like the game series itself, the cast for the movie needs to be edgy and cool. Aaron Paul is a rising star — a great choice for the film lead."
Paul, who has appeared in the HBO series "Big Love" as well as films like "Smashed" and "Mission Impossible III," has won two Emmy Awards for "Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama" for his work in "Breaking Bad."
According to Electronic Arts, production on the "Need for Speed" film is scheduled to start early next year with a theatrical release planned for February, 2014.
Winda Benedetti writes about video games for NBC News. You can follow her tweets about games and other things on Twitter here @WindaBenedetti, and you can follow her on Google+. Meanwhile, be sure to check out the IN-GAME FACEBOOK PAGE to discuss the day's gaming news and reviews.
