March 22^nd, 2005 (11:48pm) - Electronic Arts has revealed that acclaimed Hollywood writer/director John Milius to be the screenwriting talent behind the WWII storyline of Medal of Honor European Assault, the latest from the widely successful Medal of Honor franchise.

A graduate of the prestigious USC film school, Milius shared an Academy Award nomination with Francis Ford Coppola for the screenplay of "Apocalypse Now" (1979) and is perhaps best known for writing and directing fast-paced action films such as "Dillinger" (1973), "Conan the Barbarian" (1982), and "Red Dawn" (1984). Film fans may also recognize his signature style within the many memorable lines and scenes he’s crafted including "Go ahead, make my day" for "Dirty Harry" (1971) and the U.S.S. Indianapolis scene in "Jaws" (1975). He is a personal friend of the Coen brothers and was the inspiration for the character of Walter in "The Big Lebowski" (1998).

Executive Producer Dan Winters believes John Milius—a military history buff—was the obvious choice, “The Medal of Honor franchise stakes its reputation on epic, cinematic action, and so does John Milius. It’s a natural fit!”

Milius jumped on the opportunity. “Video games provide a great medium for storytellers like me, and the authentic WWII subject matter of the Medal of Honor franchise is a great premise for a storyteller,” explained Milius. “As someone who has long been considered a creative cowboy, I really enjoyed collaborating with the dynamic creative talent of EALA’s development team on the intense action-filled story of Medal of Honor European Assault. It took me back to when I had first started in the entertainment industry, back to my days as a USC film student, and sharing ideas with visionary thinkers like Steven Spielberg and George Lucas.”

In Medal of Honor European Assault gamers will play as US Army Lieutenant William Holt, hand-picked by William “Wild Bill” Donovan to be the first field agent of the newly formed Office of Strategic Services—the OSS. As Lieutenant Holt, your classified missions take place in WWII Europe and are of critical importance to the Allies. You will be tasked with gathering intelligence regarding the development and deployment of the deadly Nazi Tiger Tank and more significantly, stopping the Nazi plan to develop and harness atomic energy. In the pursuit of this goal you are thrust into action in all the pivotal battles of WWII Europe, including St. Nazaire, North Africa, Stalingrad, and the Battle of the Bulge.

Scheduled to ship this summer, Medal of Honor European Assault will be available on the PlayStation 2, Xbox, and GameCube.