CCP have inked a new deal to bring the universe of EVE Online to television and comic fans worldwide. A new deal with the production company of Icelandic filmmaker Baltasar Kormákur has been signed to create a new television series inspired by the player-submitted stories on the True Stories of EVE website. In a lot of ways, it seems like EVE is about to one-up Defiance.

“The EVE universe is full of astounding stories of epic battles, daring heists, and gripping political intrigue, all of which will make for an amazing television series,” said Baltasar Kormákur. “The opportunity to interact with the fans of the EVE Universe directly opens up all sorts of exciting possibilities.”

“The inhabitants of the notorious and beloved EVE Universe have ten years’ worth of dramatic stories to tell,” added Hilmar Veigar Pétursson, CEO of CCP.  “Our close collaboration with Baltasar and his creative team gives me confidence that we will capture EVE’s essence, inspiring millions of TV viewers with visions of humanity’s future.”

Kormákur is currently in post-production of his film 2 Guns, which stars Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg and is set to release on August 2nd, 2013. Kormákur is also filming the pilot episode of HBO’s new series, The Missionary.

Television isn’t the only medium CCP is targeting. The EVE developer also announced a new deal with Dark Horse Comics to create a new EVE comic and Sourcebook. The new comic series, EVE: True Stories, will debut this fall and, like the television series, will feature a series of short stories based on actual player-submitted experiences from the True Stories of EVE website.

“As we move into the second decade of EVE, the universe we share with our players is more alive than ever with stories that deserve to be celebrated and honored,” said Yohei Ishii, Vice President, Business Development, North America at CCP. “We look forward to sharing the stories inspired by these unique experiences with the world.”

The comics will be available for free via the Dark Horse Digital website and mobile app along with a hardcover graphic novel featuring the full array of stories with additional bonus materials set to release this winter.

In addition to the comic, CCP and Dark Horse will also release EVE: Source, a new book considered to be the definitive guide to the EVE universe. The book will feature 184-pages of fully-colored artwork, lore, setting, races, and extensive backstory about the EVE universe. EVE: Source will be available this winter in hardcover and digital form.

"It's going to take everything we've got to capture the amazing visuals and rich history of the EVE Universe in a single volume," said Dave Marshall, Editor, Dark Horse. "As we fill it with material from EVE Online’s stellar space combat to the ‘boots on the ground’ action of DUST 514’s planetary conflicts, EVE: SOURCE is shaping up to be one of the most stunning books we've ever published.”

With the Odyssey expansion on the horizon, DUST 514 launching next month, EVE celebrating its second decade of war in space, and a cross-media expansion of the EVE universe dedicated to the players that helped shape the space sandbox, it will certainly be an interesting year for EVE and DUST 514 players.

Sources: CCP Press Releases