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It’s “unlikely” that a new Earthworm Jim game will ever be developed, the character’s creator Doug TenNapel has suggested.
Responding to comments made by the series’ designer David Perry last month, who said that he was “sure” a new Earthworm Jim would be released in the future, TenNapel stated that he “doesn’t see how it’s going to happen, and if it does, it will likely be done without me”.
“EWJ is not under my character control,” said TenNapel, replying to a post on his website.
“I once shook DP’s [David Perry’s] hand in his office, in front of Mike Dietz and he promised me that I would maintain creative control (I don’t), that would always get my royalty (I don’t), and that I would always get credit as the creator of the character (I don’t. Read the back of the Majesco Jim packaging.).
He continued: “D.P. is entitled to his opinion of what would make Jim a great character, all of us would disagree on certain things, and all of us would agree on certain things. But he’s not entitled to his own history. For the record, I would never work on a Jim game if someone else was in charge of expressing the character in the game.
“I think EWJ has largely been ruined over the last 20 years, and I’ll fix him, but not if I don’t get to make the character and game correctly.”
TenNapel believes that such an opportunity is “unlikely”, however.
“I’d still be honoured to work on the EWJ game, graphic novel, movie and toy line. I’d be happy to work with the original team, D.P., Interplay and if it was up to me there would be 10 high quality, funny, creative, versions of each of these out by now.
“I don’t have the control, and it hasn’t happened. Unless something changes, I don’t see how it’s going to happen, and if it does, it will likely be done without me. If the fans think EWJ is just a name, then they’ll want those titles.
“So is a Jim game likely? DP thinks it’s likely, I think it’s unlikely.”
TenNapel is currently developing a comic, toy line, video game and movie for his latest creation Nnewts.
Beyond 2010’s HD re-releases, a new Earthworm Jim game hasn’t been released since 1999.
