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World of Warcraft Movie Still on the Horizon?

by Alex Billington
October 15, 2008
Source: Moviehole

Blizzard's annual BlizzCon just wrapped up down in Anaheim and like last year, we've got another new quote to hold us over until next year. Blizzard president Mike Morhaime told Moviehole that "there are still plans for a World of Warcraft movie." And what are they? "The script is being written but if they say anything more than that they will be shot." That's one of the shortest updates we've ever heard, but it sounds like a World of Warcraft movie is still in the works, even if we won't see it until the year 2015. With the Wrath of the Lich King expansion pack due out soon, World of Warcraft is still as popular as ever.

Last year, big-time producer Thomas Tull was the one who spoke out about the movie. "We are starting those conversations. We're going to be looking for someone of Zak Snyder (300) or Chris Nolan (The Dark Knight) calibre." Additionally, some sort of leaked concept art photo hit, but no further details since then have come up. I still believe that a World of Warcraft movie (along with a Halo movie) has the potential to be one of the biggest video game adaptations ever, but it'll take someone of that calibre (like Tull mentioned) to pull it off. Until we hear more, go watch this cinematica trailer for the Wrath of the Lich King expansion pack. It looks way better than most movies nowadays anyway. Anyone excited?

Filed under Discuss, Movie News

From around the web:

CSpuppydog

Agrees with #1
Matt

I agree with number 1, WoW is a waste of time, i tried it and hated it!!! Theres a couple of hours of my life i will never get back!!! And then a movie??? Give it up Blizzard, it will be terrible, i know they'll prolly let Uwe Boll direct it HAHAHAHAHAHA
Orange

I understand there are people who don't enjoy the game. That is no reason for this immature hostility. There are millions (yes, millions) of people who play this game. Who do you think you are calling it a waste of time. Its a game with a solid story behind it and there are people who are very interested in seeing it on the screen. Before you start running your mouth of calling fans of the game losers, evaluate your life first.
tyler wilson

that would be the dumbest thing that could ever happen. world of warcraft should stay where it is and that is on some losers computer.
Will S. (Co Springs)

I play. Really enjoy the game, and have for about 3 years now. Not really excited for a movie adaptation or anything though.
darrin

trust me. you guys are just saying that now but if zack snyder or chris nolan directs this you will be on the WOW train in no time.
http://robmakesmovies.com Robert

The World of Warcraft story is rich and vibrant and possibly rivals that of the Lord of the Rings stories. Love, sacrifice, war all play their key parts. That's one reason the game is so popular(last numbers were about 9 million subscribers worldwide?). A movie was almost inevitable due to the money the games have made, but the difference here was that they(Blizzard) still demand creative control. They aren't selling the story to a major studio to let them develop it; the guys that make the storyline for the games are developing the story for the movie. You don't have to like the warcraft games to like the idea for the movie. It will be excellent. Blizzard maintains that stance with all of it's properties. This film won't be any different.
Will O

If done right this could be a great film. If done wrong it will just turn out like a nother Final Fantasy film. Either way it will be interesting to see what happends.
Cody

#1 and #2, that's like saying whatever you do for fun is a waste of time and only basement-dwelling losers or whacked out speed freaks that don't sleep are the ones that enjoy it. People like you need to learn what you are talking about before you make ignorant comments like that. I played for 3 years, and I enjoyed it. I haven't been on in about 6 months, but the stories are so deep, I still read the books and check out the wiki to keep up to date. Last I heard about the movie, however, was that it was going to be all about the Alliance. Boring...
safichan

#1 and #2 are moron... 9 million people love it and 2 stupid guys hate it....hahahahahah funny...funny.....
Peloquin

What a waste of the number 1 and 2 spots on the comment board...if any execs of the WoW movie happen to see this please ignore them because a WoW film would be incredible...the stories could lend to such a masterpiece as Lord of the Rings was if done correctly.
http://www.drduvel.net Dr.Duvel

Now now children, off to bed with no cookies. Like it or loathe it, Financially, World of Warcraft is one of the most successfully video/computer games ever released. A movie version _being talked about_ and also going so far as _being explored_ was an inevitability since the first expansion pack successfully prolonged the life of the game by around 18 months (with 9+ million subscribers all paying a monthly fee - its a "cash cow"). Whether it'll be any good, is a completely different matter. The continuous additions to the lore of Wow give an enormous wealth of material (or phat loot) to work with, a good script and a competent director/producer could do wonders with this, but Uwe Boll would produce tripe. Its not the material, its the hands that work it. Dr. D As an aside, I think a Halo Movie would be more accessible to a wider audience and the Marines in Aliens and Starship Troopers de-risk this project considerably. I therefore think we're more likely to see a Halo Movie than a Wow Movie.
bozoconnors

What the hell is wrong with you people? One.... Legendary Pictures. Yeah, they've put out some real crap lately. /sarcasm off Two... 10 million subscribers can't be wrong (in franchise/studio financial eyes) Three... They have already given Uwe Boll the veritable middle finger. Four... Blizzard. Blizzard fans are spoiled rotten. It takes them so long to put out material because they have built one of the largest, most loyal fan bases in the industry and categorically and methodically, refuse to disappoint those fans to the absolute best of their ability. We made them, and somehow, they acknowledge this, and give a shit. Oh dear dear Tyler Wilson, by inferring that WoW is "a shitty version of Oblivion and Final Fantasy put together," you have publicly outed yourself as completely ignorant and utterly ill informed. Mark my words, this movie will deliver. If you have seen ANY of the cinematics/trailers, which I would swear, and highly suspect, were somehow outsourced via Legendary Pictures, bringing these two together will be nothing short of... legendary. I, for one, will welcome our new Blizzard/Legendary Pictures overlords.
Bryanmakeup

Although I would never try to compare WOW to Lord of the Rings, I do agree it has a gripping story. And if it weren't for LOTR there would be no WOW. But for anyone who doesn't think it could be rich and enjoyable movie experience, I highly encourage you to check out the Cinematics (www.worldofwarcraft.com/burningcrusade/movies.html) that have been produced by Blizzard. The production value in them is amazing. I for one hope they stick to CGI/animation as opposed to live action. Seems to fit the genre a bit better.
tyler wilson

um ok I have lived with three people who play and enjoy the WOW world and I do know what I am talking about. and as far as the millions of people that enjoy it, millions of people enjoy teletubies and elmo and dungeons and dragons and harry patter that doesn't mean we should be making movies of any of these. and who ever you are that could ever say that WOW has an equally compelling or even close to as imaginative story as The Lord of The Rings is an absolute fool and should never speak again. Tolkien was a genius and his thoughts and ideas go far beyond that of some freeks and geeks at blizzard, now dont get me wrong I am one of the biggest geeks there are out there, I could sit in my basement and play vectorman for hours, or how about sonic, or even grand theft auto, but I choose my games wisely. I have played WOW and it is like a shitty version of oblivion and final fantasy put together, so please do not dis one of the greates writers in the history of the fantasy realm by saying the story of WOW and his are even close to the same caliber.
Scully

I play the game, and look forward to the Movie. With the number of World Wide players of the game, if the film ends up being Halfway decent it should make a nice amount of Box Office & DVD Money. As for "..world of warcraft should stay where it is and that is on some losers computer." this sounds to Me like the one's who Snort Cocaine while telling You how bad smoking Pot is. "Oh, Lighten Up Francis!!".
Bryanmakeup

Tyler, I would like it if you stop posting. Everything you write is always negative, and unfounded. You should research before you post. As I said in my last post just watch some of the movies on the WOW website. It will give you an idea of what to expect and what we already know.
tyler wilson

ok so regardless of what anyone knows or doesn't know about this ridicules game we all know it doesn't matter who directs it or who produces it, it will still turn out to be the most lame fantasy wanabe movie that ever graced us with its presence, besides maybe pathfinder, but if they want to further diminish the name of WOW by making it than go for it. that would only make me that much more pleased. oh and I know that WOW has been around much longer than oblivion and has a much larger cult following, all Im saying is has anyone seen the south park episode? and yes everyone that plays the game is not just some loser in there grandmas basement eating mcdonalds french fries and drinking enough mountain dew to kill there kids sperm, Im just saying its a waste of time and money, just like making a dragonball movie is a waste of time and money. but if it will make you dihard fans happy than so be it. we all could argue this fact for an eternity and neither side would give a shit what the other thinks so all we can do is wait for this atrocity to happen and let it speak for its self. sorry if i offended anyone, but please do be careful what you say about the greatest fantasy writer and story of our time. and I dare say of all time. I knew that when I said what I said about final fantasy and oblivion it was not the best way to describe it so you are correct my fault. but I have played the game and it is simply just not that exciting or interesting....to me but I suppose that is why there are many types of games and movies out there and that is why some rise to higher levels than others. but as I said we could debate this article for an eternity and would get nowhere, so lets just stop and leave what was said said and move on.
Jordan

Blizzard has said in a press release (after Dr. Uwe Boll inquired about the WarCraft movie...) "We're not interested in selling the rights to the movie to anyone, ESPECIALLY not to you, Dr. Boll." Already knocking something you haven't even seen any screens or video from? That, my friend, is defned as ignorance. Research is your friend.
Mike

You need to wrap your minds around the fact that this is going to be a Warcraft movie and not a WoW movie. With Blizzard the story is never about the game; the game is about the story. And that's why a feature film is not a total shot in the dark. They have a wealth of story to work with and with Blizzard's dedication to excellence, you know the movie won't be released until it's good and ready. While I would never compare a video game series to the works of Tolkien, it is still a very well written story from Orcs vs. Humans all the way through Wrath of the Lich King. Now, wether or not you enjoy the gameplay in WoW, you cannot dismiss the vast amounts of players worldwide. Players are the whole point of a game. Don't forget that we live in a capitalist society. The games we play and the movies we watch are made by companies in order to make money. It a lot of people enjoy the product, a lot of people will pay money for it. The success is based on the amount of fans and the amount of money they shell out. So yes, they should be made into movies, because people will see them and the company will make money, driving the economy on. tyler said "and as far as the millions of people that enjoy it, millions of people enjoy teletubies and elmo and dungeons and dragons and harry patter that doesn't mean we should be making movies of any of these." YOU CAN"T DISMISS NUMBERS BECAUSE NUMBERS ARE WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT! That's like saying the New England Patriots suck even though they keep winning. The game is obviously successful, and you will not convince anybody otherwise by flaming on internet articles. The game is successful and that's that.
Tyla Wheelson

I maid a ork hunter and gotz hiem to llvl 3. I dun no how to mak a qwest turn n ALSO the wow moovy is gone to be so bad. ITS GONA B SOOO REAL BAD IF I WEN TOO THE MOVVIE AN SAWD IT I WOOD B ALL LIEK OMG!!!!! DIS IS SOOO DMB! LOLZ!! YOU ALL GAT PWND!!!!!!!!!!! Tyla wheelson
fufo

wow sucks, but i like the history of wc in general, i would like to see illidan, arthas and etc. if not then i wont see it
patriot7

im a lvl 8o hunter and love this game so do me a favor and give your mouth a rest
Snuffeldjuret

I have enjoyed Warcraft 1,2,3 far more than WoW. With this being said, it feels good that this is a movie about the lore pre-WoW, and not a movie about WoW.
Amanda Fee

If Blizz are gonna make this film then they better start about it soon, before the game starts losing its excitement. I'm keeping my mind open about this. Like other people have said, it can go either way. I'd see it regardless, as i'm sure everyone else is going to. You guys are saying it's gonna be shit, but i can still see most of you going to see it anyway. You'd see it just to bitch about it later, though you'd still be feeding your money to the box office and make Blizz more money! Besides, if it's shit then you'd be happy because it proves you right, and if it's good then you'd be happier because it out-do's your expectations. So it's win-win for you guys. However, im sure Blizzard wouldn't dissapoint after all of this hype. They need to put that insane amount of money they're making to good use! And if the movie IS utter crap, then we still have the game that we love.. so it's win win for everyone. Just stop your QQ'ing people just let it play out and see how it is.
kamil

WoW has very good potential to be a damn good movie.... if done right. Blizzard takes time to get anything done, but that just means that whatever they do, it is going to be done right not just done to get done. This movie i am positive is going to be fantastic and i personaly cannot wait to see it.
Charles Mac

I love World of Warcraft but as a screenwriter and as a beloved follower of the lore. There is no possible way you could make a Warcraft movie. As much as i'd like to see it. WoW has kind of made it possible for people to make their own lore. To officially make a warcraft movie they would either have to do War of the Ancients with Malfurion and Illidan or they could the Arthas story line which would be sick. But video games into movies has a pretty weak tale. Mortal Kombat, Street Fighter, Mario Bros., D&D. As much as I'd hate to admit it, the Warcraft movie will be a unicorn of sorts to achieve. And for furthur note the movie wont be about WoW. Originally it was supposed to take place after 3 and before WoW.
Will

To #12: "...and who ever you are that could ever say that WOW has an equally compelling or even close to as imaginative story as The Lord of The Rings is an absolute fool and should never speak again. Tolkien was a genius and his thoughts and ideas go far beyond that of some freeks and geeks at blizzard..." Ever read The Silmarillion? Tolkien was a trailblazer and a visionary, but have you ever really READ it? As far as quality of the fantasy, Tolkein would find himself very hard pressed to be published today. And THAT said, if you add mysterious magical equipment and change a few names around, it's remarkable how similar the WoW creation mythos is to the Silmarillion... Remarkable.
bassaris

I only have a couple comments. 1) Tyler, if you hate the idea of this movie and the game so much then why my friend do you feel the need to keep posting on here? Would it not be easier to just ignore the page and let actual fans of the game discuss it? 2) Tyla Wheelson, well what can I say other than...Learn to type. I for one am excited for this movie to come out and hope that it lives up to expectations which I am sure it will.
mmm

The opening cinematics for WoW and it's 2 expansions are technically awesome. I think a fully animated movie using the same kickass engine used for those kind of graphics would / could be a good starter for a kickass movie. What most people DO NOT understand is that WoW actually has a thing called LORE. And that is always a good backdrop for a good movie. A good writer, and good director with a team of great animators and actors it doesn't matter if you like "playing" the game or not. It could still be a good movie for those of us who like fictional stories. And with 11.5 million subscribers they only need half of them on the opening weekend to make it a box office hit.
Masterblaster

I love the Warcraft universe. Not just WoW but Warcraft I up to WoW has a great backstory. If they do it right it could be a good movie, but knowing other video game movies, im not holding my breathe.
Vestige

Email and the internet use to be something that only geeks did or enjoyed. People say the same thing now about MMOs. That will all change in time. I enjoy playing WOW and it is one of the best games of all time. Not for the storyline or the graphics or any one thing in particular. It's the synergy of all the things that work together and the gameplay that make it truley great. However, the stroyline of World of Warcraft is not altogether original. Mainly because it is derivative of many classic fantasy elements. The game pays homage to the familiar and often does so in a tounge and cheek sort of way. This works great for a game because it is somewhat light hearted. I don't know if it would translate to a 2 hour epic motion picture. I suppose it could if it didn't take itself too seriously. It could work on some sort of Shrek like level. As Shrek pays homage to all the classic fairy tales, Warcraft could do the same for fanatasy. The problem is most people would expect it to be more serious. So I don't know. I am still on the fence about this one.
pj

hey you all idiots out there i hated the game i liked the story just like that i hated the lord of the rings book but i liked the movie and thus it isnt even WOW its warcraft and your not going to play it in the cinema i just hate people who use to confuse things with each other
Danny

Well i play world of warcraft and played warcraft 3 i love the story behind it that keeps me playing the most but to see it in a movie.... then they should put a lot of work at it cuzz i don't wanna see a B movie of the story >..<
Muggins

#21 is a clear skit at 'Tyler Wilson' so don't flame the funny bastard I play the game, 80 shaman, and I am really looking forward to seeing the movie. If its somewhere in between WoW and Warcraft then some really interesting plotlines could occur. Especially seeing as in WoW Illidan, Ragnaros, Kil'jaeden etc. etc. are all dead. And for the record, people who want to diss the WoW story should really look up the lore some time. A lot of well thought out plots in there.
Chadsgirl

I fo rone think it is a great game, and I am definitely looking forward to the movie, I know it will be awesome, and for me it will be a dream come true. I met a really cool guy ( yes I am one of those mythical girls (women) that play the game) and our first date is suppose to be the WoW movie. Patience is a virtue, and everything happens all in good time, hence the sayings good things come to those who wait. I have known this person for almost three years now, we are great friends and our feelings run much deeper. All I can say is if its meant to be it will find a way. And also for all those who say oh I wouldn't go watch the movie, I think its a mistake, you are also the ones who say I will not buy the expansion pack because I think Blizz is killing the game, next thing we know there you are top level once again. Comon really, who are you trying to kid here?
Dafder

I love the game, Lots of adventure and a place where you can enjoy the game content and talk with friends too. Looking a the trailers for all three expansions i think the movie will be great. I'm looking forward too it too =D. BTW those of you retards posting negative comment on a discussion about WORLD OF WAR CRAFT.... get a life..if you don't like the game why are you visiting discussions about them anyway? Chadsgirl congrats! i met someone too that plays the game unfortunately.. they have a different life style so things didn't work out....Cheers to blizzard!
sumedacin of echo isles

Ok hmm a waste of tyme? i dont think so! it is a great pass tyme! keeps me out of bars after work and also keeps me from gambleing and such! And for the record you can not call anyone's spare tyme a waste of tyme!! For the one one who posses the tyme can name it that!! I support 3 babies and a wife. food on the table.. Lights and all the other ness.. and luxarys. And besides the count now of ppl playing the game is bout 12 million........ ! Hmm that is a large nation!!!
mitch12294

ok if they make a movie it should start at the begining of the warcraft story line or it should be based of the books "witch the books are really good by the way" i can see the movie ether sucking or being really good there no middle ground for it. A movie will ether kill wow or make it even better than it already is.
Dimitri

Think an astroid should blow up Azeroth, then Sageras and all the clans and tribes would be gutted! BRING ON THE MOVIE!!!
Xan

Ive played WoW for 3 years now aswell. i find it is a great game. really well based story. IF they make a movie it will probably boost blizzards gains from WoW even more becouse most ppl dont want to pay to play but will watch the movie becouse of a 1 off cost. WoW is the best game ever armory me ------ Eviloatmeal --- Daggerspine --- US---- : )
Saykho

You talk just about the WoW game and the story in it. But ive played WoW and im sure that nobody would make a film about taking some quest items or going to dungeons or raids for better armor... Whole WoW is just the story of Warcraft mixed together, but Blizzard has story of 3 or more wars all with their own original story but linked together by characters, they also have loads of great characters which form in time (Thrall, Arthas, Grom, ...) many books were written about Warcraft, ... They have just great base for the movie and they Can make a kickass movie of it. They have created so many awesome tales, just find a good idea and make a masterpiece of it. Keep up good work Blizzard
Lost Hope

I've been a warcraft fan well since the 1st game and I'm not that thrilled with them turning it into a movie. Like a lot of you have said the Warcraft Universe has a large and "colorful" history which is great for gaming and story writing. The only problem is 90% of movies based on games completely forget about the history. Now I haven't seen any trailer for the movie only because I can't find any, but I worried that the story is just going to be another orc human hack and slash which is going to be quite boring and not fallowing the history of the game. But if the do keep with history this is the best time to set a movie. Think about three years before WoW was during the battle against the Surge and the only time the Alliance and Horde were at peace. Think who would like a human, orc, undead epic battle?! =D
Gridia

The most important thing to keep in mind here is that the genius behind the Warcraft lore is the main creative developer for the screenplay; and judging how they gave Boll the middlefinger, Blizzard is really pushing to have this satisfy everyone who has dabbled in the Warcraft story. I have read all the books, played the games, and still do. The lore behind Warcraft is stunning. No, you cannot compare Warcraft and LOTR together; but with how successful the LOTR trilogy was (even though the 3rd movie was kinda EHHHHH), it could only be a preview of the popularity of the Warcraft movie. Think about it. nearing 13 million subscribers. More than likely, any WoW or Warcraft player would want to see how the lore will be portrayed on the big screen, so many will come to see it. If 10 million people come to see the movie in a weekend, and they spend $10 per ticket. That's an insane amount of revenue generated. With the addition of the millions of movie buffs who will join in to see it just because the trailers look good, you have one of the highest grossing films in history. Don't hate on it until after it hits and you see how Blizzard handles it.
Richard Powell

I'm very excited to see the possibility of a World of Warcraft movie. When you go to the theater to watch the special affects of today's movies, I can only imagine how a wow movie would look. Not to sure how the story would go however.
Erzsi

I love the game and been palying for years. Very excited to see this movie. To the people that hate it, many of us play to enjoy with friends. We might say the same things about what you do in your life as being boring. Hope they stick to what WOW is.
Yes, Me.

To #35, I am not the flaming type but want to point out your mistakes and correct them. Ragnaros is not dead as he's an elemental, so, I think he is banished back to his Elemental Plane as he is to return in the next X-Pac Cataclysm (I know you were not aware of this but just pointing it out.) Also, Kil'Jaeden is not dead. His avatar was destroyed and was "banished back into the Nether." I think that means he is back to whichever world is considered the base of the Burning Legion... Maybe Argus.
DAD

I played WoW since closed beta for a couple years then quit that bullshit, and all the RTS WC games, but I hate Blizzard. The lore on the other hand is epic unoriginal or not. All lore in the fantasy genre is stolen from someplace. If they have 9 mill subs and say 30-40 mil worldwide that know the lore then the movie would destroy any movie every made, gross.
Nyx Naxin

lulz < - I play wow and all you people hating prolly got lvl 7 and sat in goldshire allday. Every1 hates blizzard.. blahblahbahhhh. Maybe you are just sad that you arent the ones sitting in their chairs. It is called Blizzard in ( ) entertainment. So, why not with a movie? I would pay 10bucks and spend 20bucks on refreshments. Yea yea cry moar about Blizzard,as Wowtards would say "Blizzard raping other games in progression". I can't wait for the movie. WHY YOU FOAMIN?LOLUMAD? p.s Blizzard keep making amazing games and the movie! you have my money in your pocket. Just not my hot pocket.