EXCLUSIVE: ZQ Entertainment, Hitman feature franchise producer Prime Universe Films, and Longevity Pictures have taken the exclusive motion picture and television rights to indie video game developer, Dual Effect’s survival horror franchise Tormented Souls.

ZQ is financing the development and co-Financing the production. The project will be produced by Prime Universe’s Adrian Askarieh, ZQ’s Ara Keshishian and Petr Jakl, and Longevity’s Majd Nassif.

Gabriel Araneda Quijada and Germán Araneda Quijada of Dual Effect will serve as EPs. Pure Imagination Studios’ Josh Wexler will also be onboard as an EP.

Tormented Souls was originally released on Steam by developer Dual Effect and publisher PQube Games. It then expanded onto PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo Switch, spawning the sequel Tormented Souls 2. The video game is set inside the decaying halls of the abandoned Wildberger Hospital. Tormented Souls follow Caroline Walker as the search for two missing twin girls pulls her into a nightmare of grotesque experiments, supernatural forces, ancient evil and terrifying secrets buried beneath the hospital’s walls.

 “The game creates genuine dread while telling a compelling emotional story. Our goal is to honor everything fans love while delivering a terrifying cinematic experience worthy of the franchise,” said ZQ’s Ara Keshishian and Petr Jakl.

“Tormented Souls is exactly the kind of intellectual property we love pursuing,” said Adrian Askarieh, President of Prime Universe Films, “The game has grown from its indie roots to now boasting a passionate worldwide audience. We believe this is the beginning of a major horror franchise.”

Duel Effect was represented by PQube Games Askarieh was represented by Lichter, Grossman, ZQ and Longevity were represented by attorneys, Patrick Josten and Martin Bareb.