Frank Lee wants to build a citywide, interactive version of ‘War of the Worlds’

Frank Lee is at it again.

The Drexel professor behind the biggest video game in the world is now planning his next project: a citywide video game version of H.G. Wells’ “War of the Worlds.”

The city is backing his idea, which it will submit to the Bloomberg Philanthropies Public Art Challenge. At least three cities will get up to $1 million to produce their art installations. Lee’s project was chosen out of 65 entries, according to a city press release.

He’ll work with Drexel professor and artistic director Adrienne Mackey. Bloomberg Philanthropies will announce the winners in the spring of 2015.

Here’s more information on the idea:

War of the Worlds: Philadelphia is a proposal to renew H.G. Wells’ classic drama of a martian invasion through city-wide, interactive game play and theater presented in iconic city sites and in accessible, neighborhood centers. War of the Worlds will merge large-scale video game play and theater, creating a shared civic moment. The theater aspect of War of the Worlds will be responsive to the choices of the audience playing the video game in real time.