Warner Premiere announces plans to produce a web-based film series based on Hawken, the upcoming mech combat game, recalling the surprising story of film plans for the property shortly after it was announced. Here's word:

Warner Premiere today announced it has secured the rights to develop a web series for the highly anticipated futuristic mech shooter game "Hawken." The game, available December 12, 2012, is set in a post-apocalyptic, over industrialized planet where humans are battling for dwindling resources. Initial plans for the web series will take fans through crucial events that spawn this grim fight for survival. Copper Media, a new division of Silver Pictures Entertainment, Warner Bros. Digital Distribution and DJ2 Entertainment are attached to produce. Further details about the production will be announced in the coming months. The rights for "Hawken" were secured by DJ2 Entertainment, which is represented by WME and Morris Yorn.

"Hawken" has already become an online sensation with over 300,000 users registered for the closed beta currently scheduled for this fall. When the free-to-play game is finally released to the public on December 12 it will be playable via numerous means, including the Gaikai platform , a cloud streaming game service accessible by PCs Macs, Facebook or any tablet device.

“We believe 'Hawken' is a cutting-edge gaming franchise that lends itself to multiple platforms and we're very excited to work with Copper Media and DJ2 to develop it into a top-flight digital series," said Eva Davis, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Warner Premiere. "Warner Bros. Digital Distribution proved there is a way to reach a sizable and passionate audience with this type of property, as we have seen with 'Mortal Kombat: Legacy' which has reached over 70 million views since its debut."

"We're thrilled to be working with forward thinking partners like Warner Premiere, Warner Bros. Digital Distribution, Copper Media and Meteor Entertainment’s CEO Mark Long on such a cutting-edge creative venture," said Dmitri Johnson, CEO/Partner of DJ2 Entertainment. "This is an exciting, emerging medium and a fresh new way to bring 'Hawken' to a tech-savvy audience” added Dan Jevons, CCO/Partner of DJ2 Entertainment.