Electronic Arts (EA) and Starz Media are making an animated prequel film to EA's upcoming sci-fi horror video game "Dead Space".

The animated prequel, being developed by Starz Media subsidiary Film Roman, will take off from where the comic book series on which it's based ends, leading to the beginning of "Dead Space" the game.

Incidentally, Film Roman has been working for several years with EA on projects based on their games. The subsidiary so far has to its credit works like The Simpsons, King of the Hill, and Wow! Wow! Wubbzy!.

Film Roman President and COO, Scott Greenberg, reportedly said that with "Dead Space" slated for a Halloween launch, the company is looking to release the animated film between mid-September and late October, initially as a TV special in multiple markets, followed by a home video release through Starz's home entertainment company, Anchor Bay Entertainment.

The film, targeted at moviegoers who fancy sci-fi animated flicks, is expected to have a TV version a tad muted as compared to the DVD one, where there will be a lot more gore plus harsher language.

Meanwhile, "Dead Space" is part of a larger deal between EA and Starz Media, who are working together on two other animated projects.