CHRISTINA HENDRICKS AND SEAN FARIS CAST IN NEED FOR SPEED THE RUN

 

from images wikia

GaplekNews--Let it never be said that EA can't create a bit of chatter in the TPS offices with their press releases. When the news that Christina Hendricks was going to be making her video game debut in Need for Speed The Run, some (okay, Sam) celebrated it with the kind of enthusiasm only a guy with a giant soft spot for busty redheads can. Oh, and there's some vampire dude that's playing the lead guy. 

Even if you aren't aware of the Man Men and Firefly bombshell (or her y chromosome-sporting buddy), this announcement shouldn't come as a huge surprise. EA has long been courting Hollywood hotties for roles in previous Need for Speed entries -- from Maggie Q in Undercover to Emmanuelle Vogier in Carbon to Josie Maran in Most Wanted. Needless to say, things are following a trend. Still, that won't stop the stars from sounding off about the opportunity. 

"I’ve definitely done my share of intense action scenes in movies but it’s totally different and thrilling to actually be a character and driver in Need for Speed The Run. I got a kick out of seeing myself in the game, it’s totally me! I’m a huge fan of the Need for Speed series so I jumped at the opportunity to be a part of the game,” Faris explains. 

"It’s very exciting to be part of Need for Speed The Run. I’ve never been a video game character before so this is definitely a first for me. It’s been fantastic fun to do something so different and to show a different side of myself as well," adds Hendricks. 

"Need for Speed The Run brings unprecedented racing action into an expansive race course which encompasses a coast-to-coast race from the Golden State to the Empire State, boasts Jason DeLong, The Run's Executive Producer. "Our innovative, all-new performance capture technology pushes the boundaries of character animation allowing us to perfectly capture Christina and Sean’s likeness resulting in an engaging narrative experience coupled with top-notch racing.

" The back story goes something like this: Faris' character, Jack Rourke, has gotten into a little trouble with the mob, who want to off the guy thanks to some sizeable unpaid debts. Hendricks, as Sam Harper, has the means to get Jack into the San Fran-to-New York race (where the grand prize is $25 million -- more than enough to pay off those debts), so she kicks the $250,000 entry fee his way. Presto blammo, the pair are bestest best friends. 

Obviously a storyline isn't exactly something the Need for Speed games have been hailed for, but with each attempt, EA seems to at least be moving closer and closer to something Hollywood level in terms of visual execution. With DICE's Frostbite 2 Engine (the same backbone used for Battlefield 3) powering the racer, we know one thing's for certain: the game's sure going to look good. And hey, Christina Hendricks isn't exactly going to hurt matters either. totalplaystation