Just one day after the announcement that the first two Earthworm Jim platformers will be released on the Virtual Console -- and following months of rumblings about a series revival -- Interplay announced today that it has teamed up with original creator Douglas TenNapel to develop a new Earthworm Jim game, as well as other media projects.
The game is tentatively titled Earthworm Jim 4, according to today's press release, and TenNapel will be a creative consultant on the title. Additionally, TenNapel will simultaneously assist with the creation of an "animated series and feature film to expand the well-known brand." The previous TenNapel-produced Earthworm Jim animated series, which aired on The Kids WB! for two seasons in 1995 and 1996, remains a cult favorite among franchise aficionados.
No word yet on platforms or an intended release target for Earthworm Jim 4 or the other projects, but such details are sure to follow as Interplay and TenNapel ramp up production. Of course, this is not the first attempt to revive the franchise with a new iteration in recent years -- just last summer, a original Earthworm Jim title for PSP was quietly canceled by Atari.
