The First Image from Steven Spielberg’s ‘Ready Player One’ is Filled with Nostalgic Easter Eggs

Details regarding the film adaptation of Ernest Cline’s 2011 hit novel Ready Player One have been pretty quiet lately.  There’s been a lot of buzz from fans regarding the adaptation but, not much info has been released just yet.  On Friday however, Entertainment Weekly gave us our first look into the Steven Spielberg-created OASIS world.

For those not familiar, Ready Player One is based on the science-fiction novel written by Ernest Cline which follows character Wade Watts aka. Parzival (played by Tye Sheridan) who lives in a dystopian wasteland in the year 2044.  Through the use of virtual reality created by James Halliday (Oscar-winner Mark Rylance), Watts escapes from his surroundings to a place much more pleasant; a virtual wonderland comprised of all things 80s.  But there’s more at stake than just a pleasant escape.  Halliday has pretty much gone missing but, through the game he has left behind, players must search for clues and Easter eggs leading them to a prize.  The winner of the game wins the OASIS and its company Gregarious Games.

There is no one better to direct an 80s Easter egg themed film than Steven Spielberg whose work pretty much shaped the cinematic universe from the decade.  In fact, Cline credits Spielberg as being his inspiration to become a writer saying:

“If I hadn’t grown up on a steady diet of Steven Spielberg movie…. His work directly influenced the narrative and the way that I told the story, so to have him directing, it’s too perfect to even be possible. And somehow it’s happened.”

The first image from the film shows Sheridan as Watts in his “fortress of solitude,” fully decked out in OASIS virtual reality gear.  If you look closely at the photo, however, you’ll notice that all around him are Easter eggs for us, the viewer, to find.  For example, the newspaper articles on the wall show us exactly what Halliday looks like and the titles of the articles are sure to be key to the story line.  On the other side of the room, we see some awesome 80s references including a tin He-Man lunch box, garbage pail kids stickers, and Garfield stickers.  There’s much more hidden in plain sight in the photo to take a close look and see what others you can find!

In addition to  Sheridan and Rylance, the film also stars Olivia Cooke (Art3mis), Lena Waithe (Aech), T.J. Miller (I-R0k), Simon Pegg (Ogden Morrow) and Rogue One’s Ben Mendelsohn (Nolan Sorrento)

Ready Player One is scheduled to release in March 2018.  Check out the first photo below!