FEATURE
Gaming on the Big Screen
Movie studios are scooping up video game licenses left and right. Check out this crop of games coming soon to a theater near you.
Historically speaking, video game films belong on Hollywood's F-list. Time and again we're fooled into thinking that our beloved game franchises will sparkle on the silver screen, only to watch second-rate studios and terrible scripts deliver straight-to-DVD performances. Yes, Uwe Boll, we're looking at you.
But perhaps the tide is turning. Recent pictures based on Tomb Raider, Silent Hill, and Resident Evil performed admirably at the box office, as is the current Hitman flick. Hollywood is certainly paying attention -- it's time we did, too. Here's a rundown of some of the biggest game-to-film adaptations currently in the works.
Street Fighter (Capcom)
Not to be confused with the Sonny Chiba martial arts classic or the critically-panned 1994 action mess starring Jean-Claude Van Damme, the all-new Street Fighter movie centers around femme fatale Chun Li. The story is still tightly under wraps, though we suspect it has something to do with a secret tournament, a gaggle of worldly brawlers and a nefarious scheme or two. Hyde Park Entertainment has tapped little known scribe Justin Marks to write the script and Andrzej Bartkowiak (Doom, Cradle 2 the Grave) to direct. Its release is currently planned to coincide with the 20th anniversary of the franchise in 2008.
Pitch it: Bloodsport meets Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, with fireballs!
Ditch it: Could be more like the first Street Fighter movie. Ugh.
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World of Warcraft (Blizzard)
Nine million worldwide subscribers make Blizzard's behemoth a can't-miss property. That bodes well for Legendary Pictures, who secured the rights to a Warcraft film back in 2006. Set one year prior to the events depicted in the popular MMO, the film will focus on an Alliance hero (sorry, followers of Thrall - it's not easy being green in Hollywood.) While they've yet to announce a director or potential cast, they've proposed a roomy $100 million budget and are approaching it as an epic war film. The hordes will have to wait, though: at the Blizzcon convention this past August, it was announced that the film is scheduled for a 2009 release date.
Pitch it: The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers meets The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King, but with fewer hobbits and more orcs.
Ditch it: The Warcraft mythology is actually pretty rich. Too bad it will probably be boiled down into a couple hours worth of green screen fight scenes and cheesy inspirational speeches.
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God of War (Sony)
Gamers have been clamoring for a film based on Sony's vengeful demigod since it first hit shelves in 2005. That classical dream could become a modern day reality, but not any time soon. Though a script by noted screenwriter David Self (Road to Perdition) has been completed, Universal holds the rights to the movie and has kept its progress hidden from prying eyes. Swashbuckling game developer David Jaffe, the man behind the first game in the series, has gone on record that he wants to see actor Djimon Hounsou (Amistad, Blood Diamond) in the role of Kratos.
Pitch it: Clash of the Titans meets 300.
Ditch it: Seriously effects-heavy. If it doesn't score a titan-sized budget, that could pose a problem.
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Halo (Microsoft)
Shortly after Halo 3 obliterated sales records, film execs began blaming it for sluggish numbers at the box office - and apparently, they want revenge. Once thought to be in the hands of fantasy guru Peter Jackson, the Halo film is currently dead in the water. After Jackson bailed out, the film adaptation of Microsoft's money machine fell into the lap of short film director Neill Blomkamp. Unfortunately, issues between joint rights holders Fox and Universal started eating away at the project's foundation, which officially gave way earlier this year. But with a project this lucrative, we don't expect it to stay down for long.
Pitch it: Independence Day meets Rambo.
Ditch it: Halo's story isn't its strong suit, and without Jackson at the helm, it could turn into Starship Troopers in the blink of an all-seeing eye.
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The Sims (EA)
No story, no main characters, and no marketing angle? "No problem!" proclaimed 20th Century Fox, who earlier this year blew gamer minds by announcing that they picked up the rights to a film version of Will Wright's blockbuster social experiment. We know it will be live-action and will be produced by John Davis (Norbit), but we have no idea what it could possibly be about. Other than picking wallpaper and peeing in the living room.
Pitch it: Neighbors meets The Stepford Wives.
Ditch it: Ninety minutes of watching an animated dollhouse full of mannequins with severe bladder issues doesn't sound very fun.
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Gears of War (Microsoft)
Alien scum were no match for Marcus Fenix and his ragtag band of not-so-merry men. Let's see how New Line Cinema handles the invasion, as the studio locked up this 360 action doozie in early 2007. Currently slated for a 2009 release, the film's script is being written by Stuart Beattie (Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl). Gamers longing for authenticity shouldn't fear, though, as Gear designer Cliff Bleszinski will serve as an executive producer. No word yet as to who will play lead grunt Fenix.
Pitch it: War of the Worlds meets Predator.
Ditch it: Still no director, still no lead actor, still a second-banana to Halo.
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Page 2: Soldiers, sands and samurai on the silver screen? >>
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Posted: 28 Nov 2007