Tye Sheridan takes the lead in "Ready Player One"

Ernest Cline's "Ready Player One" was a huge pop-culture hit and is certainly a novel that fan's have been eager to see unfold on the silver screen. If you grew up in the '80s the novel truly spoke to you and likely had you waxing nostalgic about the good old days. In fact, after reading it I found myself craving '80s films to watch and video games to play. Fortunately I got my classic arcade fix at Neon Retro Arcade in Pasadena, CA.

Warner Bros. announced that they would be bringing the novel to the big screen. Adapted by Ernest Cline, from his own novel, and to be directed by Steven Spielberg it is shaping up to be an event film for 2018. The novel's back cover teases what's to come.

In the year 2044, reality is an ugly place. The only time teenage Wade Watts really feels alive is when he's jacked into the virtual utopia known as the OASIS. Wade's devoted his life to studying the puzzles hidden within this world's digital confines—puzzles that are based on their creator's obsession with the pop culture of decades past and that promise massive power and fortune to whoever can unlock them. But when Wade stumbles upon the first clue, he finds himself beset by players willing to kill to take this ultimate prize. The race is on, and if Wade's going to survive, he'll have to win—and confront the real world he's always been so desperate to escape.

Deadline is reporting that Tye Sheridan (Tree of Life, Mud) has been cast as Wade, the young protagonist of the novel. He will be joining Olivia Cooke, who will play Art3mis, and Ben Mendelsohn, who will play Nolan.