In terms of execution and perception, many movies in response to games have arise short, however the Warcraft film should be different, Blizzard Entertainment believes. Speaking with GameSpot today at BlizzCon, COO Paul Sams explained why the Warcraft film cannot suffer the identical fate.
“On the end of the day, because we recognize that there has not been–I’m sorry to claim–a spectacular online game movie, we needed to ensure that we didn’t rush it and we didn’t just attempt to push something out and do wrong things,” Sams said.
“And we also made this decision that we do not intend to make a game movie. What we needed to make is a good fantasy movie that the source material happens to be coming from a online game franchise,” he added. “Similar to other great fantasy movies came from other sorts of source material.”
Sams explained that Blizzard has partnered with the appropriate people in order for the Warcraft film doesn’t fall on its face like a few of those who have come before it.
“So what we’ve done is we’ve really spent many of time looking to make sure the screenplay is superb, that we partner with an appropriate people who have tremendous experience of success and understanding how you can connect to the audience and create a tremendous story and incredibly deep characters.”
The Warcraft film is in production at Legendary Pictures, the studio behind Christopher Nolan’s acclaimed Batman movies, in addition to 300 and The Hangover series. Blizzard didn’t simply farm out the film to Legendary, though. Sams explained that Blizzard has worked side-by-side with Legendary from the start, encompassing everything from casting to costume design. Every little thing of the method was collaborative, Sams said.
“We’re really enthusiastic about, we believe within the team, and we expect that come 2015, we will have something special,” Sams said.
In the director’s chair for the Warcraft movie is Duncan Jones (Moon), who’s “talented as hell,” consistent with Sams. “It’s his big, big more or less popping out party,” Sams said.
Jones “understands” the Warcraft franchise and has played every Blizzard game, and never simply to prepare for this job directing the movie, Sams said.
“He knows us, he gets us, he’s considered one of us, and he’s committed,” he said.
Jones will discuss the Warcraft movie tomorrow at 1 p.m. during a distinct BlizzCon panel. The Warcraft movie opens December 18, 2015.