'Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell' movie in the works?

The popular video game series "Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell" could soon be sneaking its way into movie theaters.

The fist game was released in 2002.

Deadline is reporting that a number of studios are hovering around the project, including Warner Bros. and Paramount Pictures, which may be the current frontrunner.

The Ubisoft video game series consists of five installments (plus a PSP edition), the first of which was released in 2002. The games follow protagonist Sam Fisher, a highly-trained agent of Third Echelon, a fiction black-ops division inside the NSA. A sixth game, "Splinter Cell: Blacklist" is set for release in 2013.

As of June 2010, the series had sold more than 22 million copies. It has also spawns a series of novels which currently stands at six.

The video game company launched Ubisoft Motion Pictures in January to handle film and TV productions, and "Splinter Cell" was among the properties targeted for a film adaptation. The others were "Assassin's Creed" and "Ghost Recon," also endorsed by Clancy.

Ubisoft planning film adaptations for 'Assassins Creed,' 'Splinter Cell' and 'Ghost Recon'

Variety is reporting that game maker Ubisoft is planning film adaptations of three of its most popular franchises:  "Assassins Creed," "Splinter Cell" and "Ghost Recon."

Ubisoft Motion Pictures was launched in January to handle film and TV productions.

"Our strategy is not to diversify but to bolster the appeal of our franchises -- that's why we want to make sure our films will reflect the brands accurately and consolidate our fan base while expanding beyond the games' primary target audience," Variety quoted Jean de Rivieres, senior VP of international marketing and distribution.

 He went on to say the company is planning on meeting with studios in June on the projects.

"Assassin's Creed" follows the ages long conflict between the Templars and Assassins, mixing history and science-fiction throughout the three-game (and soon to be four-game) series.

"Splinter Cell" and "Ghost Recon" are most military action games based on the works of author Tom Clancy.