Author Topic: Haha, holy shit - Sam Raimi directing "World of Warcraft" (Read 2735 times)

The Fake Shemp · « **on:** July 22, 2009, 02:38:17 AM »

A quick IM from Synthesizer Patel.

Patel: I blame you.

Quote from: AICN

Hey folks, Harry here for one last night in Austin before flying down to Geek Mecca aka Comic Con. The great thing about Comic Con is it shakes a lot of juicy fruit from the tree of movie coolness - and we get tons of material, but not much of it is exclusive. As it is a pretty intense rat race there of all us online types chasing the same stories. Well...

This is one of those exclusives that untold geek hours have been spent trying to get to the truth of the matter. I first heard this 3 weeks ago, and spent a lot of time trying to nail this story down. And we finally have.

The last major update that we had on AICN on the WORLD OF WARCRAFT came from Moriarty here, back in 2007 The last major bit I heard was a rumor that Uwe Boll was offering Blizzard untold tonnages of gold left crowns of undetermined origin to direct - and that allegedly BLIZZARD laughed his ass out of the place. In Mori's piece we were supposed to get this movie in 2009 with a $100 million budget. With LEGENDARY's main man telling BLIZZCON that it'd be over that figure. And there was some concept art.

Well, I don't have concept art. I don't have the firm release date, but I do know who is directing the WORLD OF WARCRAFT film and that is Sam Raimi. It will come out in trades later this week or next. But you can take this one to the bank. Sam is going to make a huge budget fantasy bit of unfuckingimaginable coolness - and it will be yanked from the WORLD OF WARCRAFT.

Now - isn't that the sort of Awesome we're supposed to get to kick start Comic Con with? I think so.

I really think this is going to be amazing. How about you?

... I don't know what to think about this.

Enl · « **Reply #1 on:** July 22, 2009, 02:52:37 AM »

That's not Evil Dead 4. Bad Raimi, bad!

OptimoPeach · « **Reply #2 on:** July 22, 2009, 02:53:42 AM »

lol, I guess it should come as no surprise that Knowles thinks it's going to be "amazing". Stupid, stupid, stupid.

Warcraft lore has always been convoluted nerd drivel, and it's only gotten worse since the release of WoW, so I don't see them turning this into a cohesive film. Starcraft would make a kickass movie, though.

Phoenix Dark · « **Reply #3 on:** July 22, 2009, 03:03:23 AM »

DAY ONE

spoiler (click to show/hide)

unless i have a raid scheduled

[close]

ManaByte · « **Reply #4 on:** July 22, 2009, 03:15:06 AM »

Topher Grace is Arthas

Bruce Campbell has a cameo as an innkeeper hawking hearthstones.

Fresh Prince · « **Reply #5 on:** July 22, 2009, 03:18:50 AM »

It has zombies, Willco!

The Fake Shemp · « **Reply #6 on:** July 22, 2009, 03:24:49 AM »

Oh, make no mistake, I will be there day one to support dear 'ole, Sam. Hell, I'd probably buy two tickets if he made a four-hour epic entitled "Jews and Liberals Suck Cock" that was literally four hours of jews and liberals sucking cock.

It's just weird to see him tackle what is (as someone already stated) "nerd drivel" after what looked like a return to form with Drag Me to Hell.

I mean, I'd even take Spider-Man 4 in hopes that he was trying to redeem himself.

But WoW?

The Fake Shemp · « **Reply #7 on:** July 22, 2009, 03:27:57 AM »

Full Press Release:

Quote

Blizzard Entertainment® and Legendary Pictures Sign Sam Raimi to Direct Upcoming Warcraft® Movie

Raimi, acclaimed director of the blockbuster Spider-Man series, will bring the forces of the Horde and the Alliance to life in epic live-action film. Charles Roven's Atlas Entertainment will produce alongside Raimi's Stars Road Entertainment.

* Press Release
* Source: Blizzard Entertainment, Inc.
* On Wednesday July 22, 2009, 1:00 am EDT

Raimi directed the Spider-Man trilogy, which has broken box-office records around the world and garnered five Academy Award® nominations. Known for his imaginative filmmaking style, richly drawn characters and offbeat humor, Raimi wrote and directed the cult classic, The Evil Dead and produced 30 Days Of Night. He most recently wrote and directed the supernatural thriller, Drag Me To Hell.

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

Charles Roven’s producing talents were recently seen with last summer’s blockbuster The Dark Knight, which grossed in excess of $1 billion, was nominated for eight Academy Awards® and won two. His body of work also includes the widely acclaimed Batman Begins and the sci-fi classic 12 Monkeys. Roven, with Atlas producing partner Alex Gartner, will be producing with Legendary Pictures CEO Thomas Tull, Legendary’s Chief Creative Officer Jon Jashni, Raimi and Raimi’s producing partner Joshua Donen. Raimi’s partner, Robert Tapert, will be an Executive Producer and Blizzard Entertainment’s Senior Vice President of Creative Development, Chris Metzen, a Co-Producer.

“Partnering with Sam Raimi exemplifies Legendary's mandate of marrying the highest quality intellectual property to world-class filmmakers,” said Legendary’s Tull. “Sam's passion for 'Warcraft' is undeniable and we know that he will create an incredible film worthy of Blizzard's phenomenal franchise. We look forward to collaborating with our partners at Warner Bros. and continuing our successful relationship with Chuck in bringing this rich new world to the screen.”

“Blizzard Entertainment and Legendary Pictures have a shared vision for this film and we searched at length to find the very best director to bring that vision to life,” said Paul Sams, chief operating officer of Blizzard Entertainment. “From our first conversation with Sam, we could tell he was the perfect choice. 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.”

“Blizzard Entertainment’s Warcraft has become a second home for millions of players and Sam’s experience and talent make him the perfect director for this remarkable and action-packed world,” said Atlas’ Roven. “Alex and I are proud to be working with Sam and re-teaming with our friends at Legendary and Warner Bros.”

The film will fall under Legendary Pictures’ co-production and co-financing deal with Warner Bros. “Warcraft is emblematic of the kind of branded, event films for which our studio is best known. We have enjoyed great success with our partners at Legendary, and this is an incredible opportunity for us to work with Sam on a project that is so eagerly anticipated by so many,” said Jeff Robinov, President, Warner Bros. Pictures Group.

Blizzard Entertainment’s Warcraft universe is a rich fantasy setting that revolves around the epic conflict between the opposing forces of the Horde and the Alliance. Since its debut in 1994, Warcraft has developed a loyal following across the globe, with several bestselling, award-winning PC games and a range of popular licensed products including novels, action figures, apparel, comic books, board games, and more. World of Warcraft®, Blizzard Entertainment’s subscription-based massively multiplayer online role-playing game set in the Warcraft universe, is the most popular game of its kind in the world. Its most recent expansion, Wrath of the Lich King™, is the fastest-selling PC game of all time, with more than 2.8 million copies sold in its first 24 hours of availability and more than 4 million in its first month.

Further details about the upcoming Warcraft movie, including cast and targeted release date, will be revealed as development progresses.

ManaByte · « **Reply #8 on:** July 22, 2009, 03:30:54 AM »

In a perfect world the movie would be CG done by Blizzard's cinematics people.

But this will probably be to The Hobbit what Eragon was to LOTR.

The Fake Shemp · « **Reply #9 on:** July 22, 2009, 03:33:27 AM »

Gary Whitta actually wrote the script for this!

Is there any nerd property that man doesn't have his hand in nowadays?

spoiler (click to show/hide)

If Sam Raimi makes a Gary Whitta penned film, I think I will be heartbroken that I was not the first Internet fanboy to write a Sam Raimi movie. :'(

[close]

The Fake Shemp · « **Reply #10 on:** July 22, 2009, 03:50:23 AM »

Hey, ManaByte, you going to ComiCon?

ManaByte · « **Reply #11 on:** July 22, 2009, 04:10:41 AM »

Not this year.

ManaByte · « **Reply #12 on:** July 22, 2009, 04:46:56 AM »

Spider-man 2 says you're wrong.

OptimoPeach · « **Reply #13 on:** July 22, 2009, 04:48:05 AM »

Quote from: Borys on July 22, 2009, 04:45:23 AM

This movie will be huge.

The Fake Shemp · « **Reply #14 on:** July 22, 2009, 05:05:48 AM »

@ Borys

Damn, ManaByte, just when I needed you to do some dirty work.

Bloodwake · « **Reply #15 on:** July 22, 2009, 05:10:33 AM »

Lmfao.

I'm still not banking on a WoW movie to be anywhere near good.

Kara · « **Reply #16 on:** July 22, 2009, 05:30:22 AM »

tyvm Raimi I love you.

WrikaWrek · « **Reply #17 on:** July 22, 2009, 07:03:27 AM »

And Gore Verbinski was going to direct Bioshock, and Lens Wiseman was going to direct Gears of War, etc

Yeah sure.

WrikaWrek · « **Reply #18 on:** July 22, 2009, 07:30:01 AM »

Quote from: Kosma on July 22, 2009, 07:17:21 AM

Yeah but unlike Halo and Metal Gear, Warcraft is a franchise that matters and is popular around the world.

You might be right about Metal Gear, but Halo? Really? Cmon kosma.

And why do internet gaming forum posters always bring up the CG shit? Lol, fuck CG movies.

Reb · « **Reply #19 on:** July 22, 2009, 07:55:24 AM »

I'm thinking this will be crap.

cubicle47b · « **Reply #20 on:** July 22, 2009, 09:38:53 AM »

Quote from: Phoenix Dark on July 22, 2009, 03:03:23 AM

DAY ONE

spoiler (click to show/hide)
unless i have a raid scheduled
[close]

Perfect.

tiesto · « **Reply #21 on:** July 22, 2009, 10:01:46 AM »

Ugh, sounds horrible... then again I hate WOW

Eel O'Brian · « **Reply #22 on:** July 22, 2009, 10:26:28 AM »

they should have a contest where the winners would get to see their Wow characters in the background scenes or something

spoiler (click to show/hide)

being killed by some lame monster made up for the movie

[close]

Kestastrophe · « **Reply #23 on:** July 22, 2009, 10:29:25 AM »

Quote from: Green Man on July 22, 2009, 07:57:31 AM

I'd rather have the jackass that directed GI JOE. GOD DAMMIT.

They could certainly do worse than Raimi, imo. Spiderman 3 was shit, but the first two were solid

FlameOfCallandor · « **Reply #24 on:** July 22, 2009, 10:33:04 AM »

Awesome maybe this will be as good as Drag me to Hell.

Dickie Dee · « **Reply #25 on:** July 22, 2009, 11:01:23 AM »

I think he's probably a good fit, Warcraft has always had a goofy, cartoony element alongside it's "epic seriousness" I think Raimi can balance both those things.

Tauntaun · « **Reply #26 on:** July 22, 2009, 11:36:56 AM »

Time to put some bolt rounds in WoW fans. smh

tehjaybo · « **Reply #27 on:** July 22, 2009, 12:08:27 PM »

I, for one, am interested to see how they do this. I'd like it to play through the storyline of Warcraft 3, up into WoW. I think that would be cool.

etiolate · « **Reply #28 on:** July 22, 2009, 01:08:46 PM »

The funny thing is that WoW's story is just D&D mad libs, contrived and convoluted. No cohesion or meaning to it at all. So there's not much to work with story wise, and yet, no matter what the story they make up is, bitches will cry it messes up 'the lore'.

border · « **Reply #29 on:** July 22, 2009, 01:44:53 PM »

I can't think of any other director I might have preferred (maybe Christopher Nolan?), so I guess Raimi is as good a choice as any.

I think the main problem is that there are so many races and classes that people will want to see represented in the film, but it'd be cumbersome at best to give every race a major role. Plus there are so many races that will just look stupid or goofy when played by a live-action actor (undead, troll, elf, gnome, etc).

Quote from: etiolate on July 22, 2009, 01:08:46 PM

So there's not much to work with story wise

There's 3 games and several novels. I think they can find something to work with in there.

Joe Molotov · « **Reply #30 on:** July 22, 2009, 02:18:05 PM »

Bruce Campbell as Leeroy Jenkins

Great Rumbler · « **Reply #31 on:** July 22, 2009, 02:22:50 PM »

Quote from: Joe Molotov on July 22, 2009, 02:18:05 PM

Ted Raimi as Leeroy Jenkins

Fixed.

Bruce Campbell should be the Lich King.

ManaByte · « **Reply #32 on:** July 22, 2009, 02:38:58 PM »

They can just save money and dub over Star Wars Episode 3 and you'll basically have the Arthas/Lich King story right there.

ManaByte · « **Reply #33 on:** July 22, 2009, 03:09:18 PM »

Where did I say acting? Did you even read the post? I said dub over.

Arthas is basically just Anakin/Vader but in a fantasy setting.

The Fake Shemp · « **Reply #34 on:** July 22, 2009, 03:19:39 PM »

Except Arthas was never a whiny bitch and got tons of tail.

Bloodwake · « **Reply #35 on:** July 22, 2009, 03:54:04 PM »

Am I the only one who thought Ian McDiarmand kicked some ass in Episode III?

Probably.

Mr. Gundam · « **Reply #36 on:** July 22, 2009, 04:02:19 PM »

Quote from: Willco on July 22, 2009, 03:33:27 AM

Gary Whitta actually wrote the script for this!

Is there any nerd property that man doesn't have his hand in nowadays?

spoiler (click to show/hide)
If Sam Raimi makes a Gary Whitta penned film, I think I will be heartbroken that I was not the first Internet fanboy to write a Sam Raimi movie. :'(
[close]

He went back and edited his post to make no mention of him writing the script. And then everyone who responded to him did as well.

The Gary Whitta fanboys at GAF are funny.

The Fake Shemp · « **Reply #37 on:** July 22, 2009, 04:18:37 PM »

Why did he delete that? I wonder if he was supposed to keep it under wraps.

The Fake Shemp · « **Reply #38 on:** July 22, 2009, 04:39:55 PM »

No, he wrote three drafts and, unlike you, he's a professional screenwriter. If it's a now defunct script, I still couldn't imagine them telling him to keep his trap shut unless they plan on using parts of his screenplay in any future drafts.

Diunx · « **Reply #39 on:** July 22, 2009, 05:22:15 PM »

No Bruce Fucking Campbell no Diunx watching it.

The Fake Shemp · « **Reply #40 on:** July 22, 2009, 05:35:43 PM »

Bruce Campbell better play a member of the horde.

ManaByte · « **Reply #41 on:** July 22, 2009, 06:41:26 PM »

Bruce Campbell will be Illidan.

ferrarimanf355 · « **Reply #42 on:** July 22, 2009, 09:26:22 PM »

Quote from: Great Rumbler on July 22, 2009, 02:22:50 PM

Quote from: Joe Molotov on July 22, 2009, 02:18:05 PM
Ted Raimi as Leeroy Jenkins

Fixed.

Bruce Campbell should be the Lich King.

YES. OH GOD YES.

[youtube=560,345]LkCNJRfSZBU[/youtube]

LEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEROY JEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEENKINS!

ManaByte · « **Reply #43 on:** July 22, 2009, 09:42:04 PM »

That was staged, FYI.

Great Rumbler · « **Reply #44 on:** July 22, 2009, 09:56:21 PM »

Quote from: ManaByte on July 22, 2009, 09:42:04 PM

That was staged, FYI.

YES. WE KNOW ALREADY. GOD.

Olivia Wilde Homo · « **Reply #45 on:** July 22, 2009, 10:05:12 PM »

So choggle pants is going to pen the script? Interesting.

ferrarimanf355 · « **Reply #46 on:** July 22, 2009, 10:09:51 PM »

I hope it ends up looking like this.
[youtube=560,345]A8yjNbcKkNY[/youtube]

spoiler (click to show/hide)

YOUR MOTHER WAS A HAMSTER AND YOUR FATHER SMELT OF ELDERBERRIES. I FART IN YOUR GENERAL DIRECTION.

[close]

spoiler (click to show/hide)

NOW GO AWAY OR I WILL TAUNT YOU A SECOND TIME-AH.

[close]

chronovore · « **Reply #47 on:** July 22, 2009, 10:43:32 PM »

Raimi-haters can choke on my spastic, pencil-pierced Deadite log.

Between the Evil Dead series and Xena, Raimi is the most qualified director in the world to handle WoW.

Great Rumbler · « **Reply #48 on:** July 22, 2009, 10:47:04 PM »

Xena

chronovore · « **Reply #49 on:** July 23, 2009, 04:20:22 AM »

Quote from: Great Rumbler on July 22, 2009, 10:47:04 PM

Xena

ManaByte · « **Reply #50 on:** July 23, 2009, 04:35:12 AM »

It was awesome how Xena went from villain on Hercules, to hero in her own series, and then became a lesbian soap opera...with weapons.

Phoenix Dark · « **Reply #51 on:** July 23, 2009, 04:42:51 AM »

So he didn't get The Hobbit job...instead he's doing WoW?

ManaByte · « **Reply #52 on:** July 28, 2009, 06:55:17 PM »

http://www.wired.com/underwire/2009/07/alt-text-warcraft/

Quote

Day 1
I’ll say it: I, Sam Raimi, am a genius. My decision to hire actual World of Warcraft players as extras was a stroke of brilliance. We get lots of publicity, they work for free and some of them are bringing their own swords! This is going to be great.

Day 2
OK, problems. To start with, there’s a huge line of extras waiting to get on the set, and every time we get a bunch of them in, the scenery crashes. My technical advisers say this is normal for a launch, and they’re working on it. In the meantime, they suggest that I build several identical sets, and encourage the extras to transfer to the other sets.

Day 12
We’ve got the set problem worked out, but I’m still getting a lot of complaints from the extras. They’re saying the sides are unbalanced, that the Horde side has Scarlett Johansson and the Alliance just has Halle Berry. I asked my technical advisers what calms nerds down, and they said I should add a Scarlett Johansson to the Alliance and a Halle Berry to the Horde to make things fair. They also said, and I’m quoting here, “Nerf Shia LaBeouf.” I fired them.

Day 33
I can’t believe how hard it is to get any work done on this project. There are extras goofing off everywhere, but it takes an hour of asking around to get a group of 10 of them together to shoot a scene. And then, just when we’re about to start filming, one of them suddenly has to leave because his mother needs him to clean his room or something.

Day 48
I’m starting to regret firing the technical advisers. Someone needs to explain to me how these dorks think. For instance, whenever the extras “kill” someone during a battle scene, they immediately stop fighting and start grabbing pieces of his costume. Even the ears! If I didn’t know better, I’d think someone was paying them for detached body parts, but that’s crazy talk.

Day 75
Why is it that every time we wrap for the day, one of the extras asks me to “open a portal to Dalaran”? Is he asking for drugs?

Day 103
I can’t tell you how pissed off I am. I keep giving the extras simple instructions for the final battle scene: When Kel’Thuzad raises his staff, run left. When he raises his orb, run right. That’s all there is to it, but every time we shoot, a bunch of extras run the wrong way, right into the pyrotechnics. Every time! We must have tried shooting the scene two dozen times and someone always screws it up. Worse yet, we keep having to put shooting on hold while they get their armor repaired.

Day 108
I think I’ve got it. A production assistant suggested I provide the extras with incentives they understand. I’ve ransacked the prop department for every cheesy fantasy tchotchke and outfit I could find, and I’ve started handing them out at the end of a day’s work. I thought I’d have to give everyone something, but it turns out I can just give them, like, five things and let them fight over who gets them. They’ve set up their own elaborate rules for who gets what, but it’s made them a lot more efficient, and I’m finally getting some decent scenes filmed.

Now if I could just get them to stop dancing.

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Author Topic: Haha, holy shit - Sam Raimi directing "World of Warcraft" (Read 2735 times)