Sam Raimi Readying Warcraft for Big Screen

Petrah · 07-22-09, 11:40 AM

Ran across this news article and thought I would share

http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/b135...craft_big.html

Goodbye, nasty Evil Dead demons. Hello, orcs, trolls, elves, dwarves, knights, gnomes, raiders, conjurers and warlocks—and just in time for Comic-Con.

Sam Raimi, the innovative director behind the Evil Dead and Spider-Man trilogies, has signed on to helm a big-screen version of World of Warcraft, heralded by the Guinness Book of Records as the most popular massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) of all time.

Gamers rejoice!

Getting his Avatar freak on, the filmmaker is teaming up with Legendary Pictures to translate Blizzard Entertainment's hit online game and fantasy universe—which follows various heroes on a Lord of the Rings-type quest on the planet of Azeroth—into what is hoped will be a blockbuster film franchise.

"At its core, Warcraft is a fantastic, action-packed story," reveled Raimi. "I am thrilled to work with such a dynamite production team to bring this project to the big screen."

"From our first conversation with Sam, we could tell he was the perfect choice," added Blizzard's chief operating officer Paul Sams. "Sam knows how to simultaneously satisfy the enthusiasts and the mainstream audience that might be experiencing that content for the first time. We're looking forward to working with him to achieve that here."

Helping Raimi realize his fantastical vision will be Charles Roven, veteran producer of last year's biggest hit, The Dark Knight, which is now the second-highest grossing movie ever—not far behind Titanic.

He'll supervise production on Warcraft through his Atlas Entertainment banner, while Legendary will coproduce and cofinance the flick with Warner Bros.

The helmer's propensity for thrills and chills mixed with an inventive camera style and a touch of slapstick comedy often compared to the Three Stooges earned him a cult following, starting with 1981's camp horror classic Evil Dead, which spawned two successful sequels.

After branching out into comic-book adaptations (1990's Dark Man), he took a stab at more mainstream fare (1995's box-office bomb The Quick and the Dead, 1998's acclaimed thriller A Simple Plan, and the 1999 baseball weeper For Love of the Game) before returning to genre filmmaking with 2000's The Gift.

Those credits ultimately prepared him for the job of a lifetime, making the first of what would eventually be three hit movies based on Marvel Comic's Spider-Man.

After taking a break to make the just-released comedy horror flick Drag Me to Hell, Raimi is due to start lensing a fourth Spider-Man adventure this fall, which will unspool in 2011.

If it doesn't get stuck in development hell, expect World of Warcraft to storm theaters as early as 2012.

Cralor · 07-22-09, 11:43 AM

I read this on MMO-Champion this morning.

I consider it good news.

***Cairenn*** · 07-22-09, 11:45 AM

It's all over the place, and no wonder.

Petrah · 07-22-09, 11:48 AM

I kinda figured it would be

My roomie hit me with this little gem before I even had a chance to open Feedly and read it for myself lol. I'm really excited about seeing WoW on the big screen, and can hardly wait!!

MidgetMage55 · 07-22-09, 12:27 PM

Couldn't think of a better director than Sam Raimi to direct it. Even the movies that bombed in the box office that he directed are still some of my favorites. I love his atypical style for camera work. If i had heard any other director i might not be as excited for a solid outcome.

I'm very much looking forward to it.

**Seerah** · 07-22-09, 12:42 PM

Sweet! Finally looks like it's getting off the ground.

If it doesn't get stuck in development hell, expect World of Warcraft to storm theaters as early as 2012.

DON'T JINX IT!

Torhal · 07-22-09, 12:43 PM

Oh, come on...I'm pretty sure Uwe Boll would do an excellent job!

/sarcasm off

Petrah · 07-22-09, 12:58 PM

Originally Posted by Torhal

Oh, come on...I'm pretty sure Uwe Boll would do an excellent job!

/sarcasm off

jadakren · 07-22-09, 01:00 PM

Originally Posted by Torhal

Oh, come on...I'm pretty sure Uwe Boll would do an excellent job!

/sarcasm off

WAIT WHAT?

you mean Uwe Boll isn't going to direct this movie??!!

brb, kittens -> oven -> pie

**Seerah** · 07-22-09, 01:35 PM

Originally Posted by Silenia

Could it be... Satan?!?

Zimran · 07-22-09, 01:38 PM

Originally Posted by Silenia

If it doesn't get stuck in development hell, expect World of Warcraft to storm theaters as early as 2012.

Apparently the Mayans were right.

us2006027321 · 07-22-09, 02:37 PM

/excited ><

voodoodad · 07-22-09, 02:49 PM

Originally Posted by Zimran

Apparently the Mayans were right.

Yes, but the Mayans said Dec 21, 2012 so hopefully it'll be a Summer release!

Hopefully, the global cooling that Hades is currently experiencing will not have any effect by then...

Yhor · 07-22-09, 02:51 PM

Originally Posted by Seerah

Could it be... Satan?!?

Well isn't that speciaal?

That was one of my favorite skits Seerah, thank you.

I'll be going to the theater for this movie. I'm not hugely excited, but it is long overdue on the reel. Good luck to the development team pulling this one off, I hope it's more 'out of the books' than 'from the game'.

Petrah · 07-22-09, 04:19 PM

I love to read! I guess I should get the books sometime and read em.

Miralen · 07-22-09, 05:09 PM

I've definitely got to be the only person I guess that sees a horrible movie. Now I could be wrong but many movies based on games have come before and have faded away due to how horribly bad they are. I just don't foresee this movie as being all that and a bag of cookies. Though as I said I could be wrong I have been wrong about movies before but it isn't very often, but alas this will be a movie I will most likely skip seeing in the theaters and wait to watch it when it comes out on DVD. Unless of course I am razzled and dazzled by the trailer which again I don't think will happen. Sorry folks, though I may play World of Warcraft and like the game, I just don't see this as being great and epic as most other people might.

Though as I have stated twice in here, My view points might change come a trailer, but until one is released I don't think this will be very good.

voodoodad · 07-22-09, 05:19 PM

/Agree with Miralen. I can't think of a single movie based on a game that was worth going to the theater for. As far as Sam Raimi directing, yeah he's put out a couple of good ones, Spiderman I and II namely, but he also did Spiderman III which probably put an end to the franchise unfortunately.

Studio Exec: A dance number in the middle of the new Spiderman Movie? Really???

Sam Raimi: Yeah! YEAH! It'll be GREAT! Just wait!

AsheruWolf · 07-22-09, 06:48 PM

Oh goody now we can see what a emo night elf would look like...

Jesamyn · 07-22-09, 07:07 PM

I'm also with Miralen and voodoodad on this one. I'm not really excited right now, but admittedly might change my tune if I see a good trailer OR if a bunch of my non-WoW-playing friends rave about it.

Torhal · 07-22-09, 09:19 PM

Originally Posted by Miralen

<snip> Now I could be wrong but many movies based on games have come before and have faded away due to how horribly bad they are. <snip>

This is precisely why I mentioned Uwe Boll. Horribad game/comic movies.