July 26^th, 2005 (1:40pm) - Electronic Arts announced today that model and actress, Josie Maran, will star in Need for Speed Most Wanted launching in November 2005. EA has created a new process that takes Hi-Definition footage of live actors and coverts them into synthetic-looking videogame characters. This revolutionary new process delivers never-before-seen character, motion and facial fidelity with seamless integration into true 3D game environments.

Maran has played supporting roles in hit films including Van Helsing, Aviator and Thelma. She is currently the Maybelline cover girl and has graced covers for Glamour, Self, Vogue, Marie Claire, Seventeen and Lucky Magazine. In Need for Speed Most Wanted, Maran takes on the role of a local street racer named Mia. Maran’s character pulls players deeper into the illicit street racing world of Need for Speed Most Wanted as they try to earn respect by beating the top racers on the scene to rise to the top of the Blacklist.

"Video games are much more personal than films since it’s an interactive experience for the audience; it’s like being invited into their home," said Maran. "For Need for Speed Most Wanted, we performed in front of a green screen, much like a Hollywood set, so all the gamers will see will be real-life video of the actors merged into environments from the game; it’s simply amazing."

EA has also tapped into top Hollywood talent including director, David Footman, cinematographer, Brian Pearson, as well as EA’s own Senior Art Director and two-time Academy Award nominated visual effects supervisor, Habib Zargarpour, for the green screen video shoot with Maran. Footman’s credits include blockbuster films such as The Day After Tomorrow and X-Men, Pearson worked on the hit TV show, Dark Angel, as well as feature films, I, Robot and Underworld: Evolution, and Zargarpour worked on Twister and The Perfect Storm.

Developed in Vancouver, B.C. by EA Canada, Need for Speed Most Wanted will be available in November 2005 for the PlayStation 2, Xbox 360, Xbox, GameCube, Nintendo DS, Game Boy Advance, PSP, and PC.