After previous reports that Moon and Source Code director Duncan Jones will helm big-screen version of the video game World of Warcraft, it now seems we have the first actor cast in one of the project’s lead roles. Variety singles out Travis Fimmel, former Calvin Klein model-turned actor best known for his lead role in the History Channel Series Vikings.
Trimmel’s role is still a mystery at this point, but considering the Warcraft series spans three real-time strategy games and an online role-playing game with numerous expansion, along with a sizable number of expanded material – including novels and comic books – the charters he could possibly play are too great to list. Although fans of the games are no doubt already voicing their opinions on the matter.
However, those fans will have to wait and see if the film is indeed released, or if it suffers the same fate as other previously planned video-game-to-film projects. A Gore Verbinski (The Pirates of the Caribbean series) helmed adaptation of the game Bioshock that never go off the ground; nor did a Peter Jackson-produced, Neal Blomkamp (District 9, Elysium)-directed Halo film; or an Uncharted film starring Mark Wahlberg that had at different times David O. Russel (The Fighter) and Neil Burger (Limitless) attached to direct it.
There are a number of video game franchises which are currently making successful big screen transitions, however. The horror/action series Resident Evil received a fifth entry in 2012 with Resident Evil: Retribution, and a trailer for Need for Speed (based on the racing game series of the same name) starring Breaking Bad’s Aaron Paul was released this September. Video game producer/distributor Ubisoft in particular seems to be making a push for movie adaptations, with Assassin’s Creed and Splinter Cell among the most high-profile projects expected to go to production soon.
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