Paramount Pictures and Microsoft yesterday unveiled a new movie showcase through the computer giant’s Xbox Live online gaming service. Dubbed the Xbox Movie Showcase, the new feature debuted on Xbox Live today and expands on a relationship the two companies started in December.
The Xbox Movie Showcase, said the two companies, will offer up free downloadable content for Xbox Live users, including HD movie trailers, exclusive theme packs, and graphics allowing Xbox gamers to customize their gaming experiences. The first two films to be featured in the Xbox Movie Showcase will be the action-thriller “Mission: Impossible III,” starring Tom Cruise and directed by J.J. Abrams (the creator of “Lost” and “Alias”), hitting theaters May 5, and “Nacho Libre,” a comedy starring Jack Black and directed by Jared Hess, the director of “Napoleon Dynamite,” in theaters June 16.
Also as part of the agreement, stars of highlighted Paramount films, such as Black in “Nacho Libreâ€, will participate in Xbox’s “Game with Fame,” where gamers can enter for a chance to play a game online against the celebrities.
“Paramount shares our commitment to providing an entertaining and meaningful gaming experience for Xbox gamers,” said Aaron Greenberg, Group Marketing Manager, Xbox Live, in a statement. “We’re excited to be starting out on this multi-picture campaign and look forward to continuing to provide compelling entertainment experiences to gamers everywhere.”