Banking that the demon-slaying mercenary Dante will be as popular on the big screen as he is on video-game consoles, Screen Gems has purchased the film rights to Capcom's Devil May Cry series with an eye toward a new franchise.

Variety reports that Kyle Ward, who penned the upcoming adaptation of the third-person shooter Kane & Lynch for Lionsgate, has been hired to write the screenplay, which centers on Dante's crusade avenge his mother's death by killing demons.

Originally conceived as a sequel to Capcom's Resident Evil series, Devil May Cry proved such a radical departure from that franchise that it was quickly developed as a new property. The hack-and-slash game debuted in October 2001, spawning a franchise that's sold more than 10 million copies worldwide and inspiring novels, comics, an anime series and collectible statues and action figures. Capcom announced fifth game in the series, DmC Devil May Cry, in September. Developed by Ninja Theory, it will feature a younger version of Dante.

Screen Gems' four-movie Resident Evil franchise has grossed more than $580 million worldwide.