Sam Raimi directing World of Warcraft

July 22, 2009 by | 10 Comments

world of warcraft ImageSpider-Man and Drag Me to Hell director Sam Raimi has signed on to direct the World of Warcraft movie. AICN got the scoop, which was later confirmed by Variety. Blizzard Entertainment have been slowly developing the film over the past few years and were adamant on getting a top director on-board. In the past they said they wanted someone of Zack Snyder/Christopher Nolan calibre, and Sam Raimi certainly slots into that category.

From Variety:

The plan is for Raimi to supervise development of “Warcraft” and shoot the picture after he completes work on “Spider-Man 4,” which gets under way early next year for Columbia Pictures.

The “Warcraft” universe features an epic conflict between the Horde and the Alliance. The game has developed a global following since its launch in 1994 and shows no signs of slowing. Its most recent expansion, “Wrath of the Lich King,” sold more than 2.8 million copies in the first day of release and more than 4 million its first month.

“Warcraft” is “emblematic of the kind of branded, event films for which our studio is best known,” said Warner Bros. Pictures Group president Jeff Robinov. The deal revives a long-dormant pact made by Legendary and Blizzard for a film adaptation of the game.

“At its core, ‘Warcraft’ is a fantastic, action-packed story,” Raimi said in a statement.

I like that Blizzard have taken their time and are assembling a great creative team to work on it. They could have easily just given it to someone like Uwe Boll to ruin. It’s interesting to note that Sam Raimi was once in talks to direct The Hobbit. It seems his urge to direct a big fantasy movie eventually lead him to World of Warcraft.

Does anyone play World of Warcraft? How do feel about Sam Raimi directing? Will it just be a Lord of the Rings knock-off?

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  • Steevoger

    I played the original Warcraft Strategy Games…I assume the movie(s) will more lend his(their) Story from those Games then WoW.
    I actually hope that happens cause its a great storyline and would fit perfect for a Trilogy…if they not just making one.
    But i guess they go like: make one…see how it plays on box office…ok played well make 2 in a row…Pirates of the Caribbean like.

  • http://filmonic.com Liam

    By 2011 Warner Bros. won't have anymore Harry Potter movies to release so if they get this right they could have a brand new money making franchise.

  • Steevoger

    Yeah the popularity is pretty much the same. Well I trust in Blizzard…I'm not playing WoW but I still love their franchises…wouldnt mind a Diablo or Starcraft movie either. But anyway I'm sure they already have a good Idea which can provide a nice Movie as well as a nice flow of money for them and WB :D
    At this point im not expecting it to create a magic on the screen like Lotr had. I really was like lost in those movies…forgot the world around me and that I'm just watching a movie…and I felt so sad at the end of the third because i realized there wont be another one next year…even if it just would be Frodo taking a crap i would have watched and bought the extended version!
    But Im very interested in Warcraft and gonna watch it on the biggest screen Berlin can offer :)

  • http://www.cinemasoldier.com JeffreyVC

    I've played WoW, and all the Warcraft games (save Warcraft 3). Great series and perfect for a movie adaptation. I just hope Sam Raimi stays out of the writer's room. He really screwed up Spider-Man last go round when him and I think his brother wrote the movie.

    Setting up a good storyline is key for sequels. Few series get the trilogy plot arc right, and only one has really moved beyond three movies successfully (Harry Potter). The Matrix, Batman, Superman, Pirates of the Caribbean, these have all had mixed success in sequel-ville.

  • Gavin

    There's one problem with this article. Blizzard has never referred to it was a “World of Warcraft” movie. They've only ever said “Warcraft.” To me, there's a huge difference. It's a Warcraft movie, not a WoW movie.

  • abawcom6254

    There both the same thing hence WORLD of Warcraft. The term WORLD refers to the type of gamrplay not the story line.

  • Gavin

    No, the term “World of Warcraft” is the name of a game and it's two expansions. “Warcraft” is a series of games that tell a story that, for the most part, abruptly ends with WoW due to the lack of ability to tell a cohesive story in an MMO.

  • Gavin

    No, the term “World of Warcraft” is the name of a game and it's two expansions. “Warcraft” is a series of games that tell a story that, for the most part, abruptly ends with WoW due to the lack of ability to tell a cohesive story in an MMO.

  • http://www.r4-para-ds.es/ r4 revolution

    Cool! Now as long as they don't let him anywhere near the writer's room, this movie might have a shot at being good. Been a few years since we've had a really good sword and shield fantasy movie on the big screen.

  • http://bootoutlet.co.uk ugg boots

    I like assassins, in the original World of Warcraft called thieves, stalkers were called after harmony.
    Output is a good job ah, close attack, can stealth, can faint.
    In a copy of the output could get the first good DZ. But also very easy to hang the job. . . Haha.