WhY..so..SeRiOuS?
07-19-2010, 04:13 PM
The Latest from IGN.com Movies (July 13th) I've shrunk it down alot, the real article has way more details if your interested. I'll keep it updated as best I can from here on out.
I'm siked for alot of these maybe-movies, especially Devil May Cry, Fallout, God of War, Grand Theft Auto, Bioshock... but most of all - Mortal f'in Kombat!
American McGee's Alice
Status: In Development
A script is in development by original Alice scribes Jon and Erich Hoeberand, and word 'round the campfire is that a new studio will be announced in the future, as Universal is no longer attached to release the project. As in the game, the film will be a gothic-horror version of Alice in Wonderland that takes place after Alice has been committed to a mental institution.
American McGee's Oz
Status: Unknown
Alice creator McGee has also plotted a twisted version of L. Frank Baum's fabled Land of Oz. The game itself was canceled after publishers balked at the pitch, worrying that it was not an established franchise. McGee then decided to build the franchise from the top down -- developing the characters and a movie pitch first. Jerry Bruckheimer and Walt Disney Pictures have obtained the rights -- a trilogy was once rumored -- but the project appears to be stalled in development. Screenwriters Kevin and Dan Hageman were once attached.
Area 51
Status: Unknown
Paramount Pictures optioned the movie rights to Midway Games' sci-fi themed first-person shooter, Area 51, several years ago. Producer Christine Peters was handling the project, collaborating with the game developer to craft the film, billed as an action-packed thriller. As you can see it's a ripe property for feature film development, but now that the game has aged, we'll presume this one has been put out to pasture unless otherwise notified.
Army of Two
Status: In Development
Scott Stuber is producing the film, with Scott Z. Burns (The Bourne Ultimatum) penning the script. We haven't heard much else since this news last October, though. It's possible the project has been put on the back burner, but with a new Army of Two game in the works we assume more news will trickle out eventually.
Asteroids
Status: In pre-production
Your eyes aren't deceiving you. The early Atari classic Asteroids has been optioned for film and seems to be moving steadily along.
Bioshock
Status: In Development
With its heady undertones of Objectivism, Bioshock may be the closest Hollywood ever gets to turning out a film version of Atlas Shrugged. But with genetically modified goons and lumbering monsters in diving suits livening things up, viewers won't have to worry about falling asleep during the characters' long sermons. Gore Verbinski (Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy) has been attached to the Bioshock movie since shortly after the first game's release in 2007. Verbinski even went so far as to drop out of the upcoming fourth Pirates film to concentrate on Bioshock. However, his commitment to Rango with Johnny Depp has forced Verbinski to fall back into a producer role. 28 Weeks Later director Juan Carlos Fresnadillo was set to replace Verbinski, until Fresnadillo left the production to direct a horror movie titled Intruders and starring Clive Owen. But while it sounds like the Bioshock movie is dead in the water, all hope isn't lost yet. We recently chatted with Verbinski about the project, and he revealed that Fresnadillo is still attached to direct. At the moment, it looks as if Verbinski, Fresnadillo, and Universal are trying to determine how to keep the underwater horror film under a reasonable budget that strikes a hard R-rating. Luckily, Verbinski also noted that the udnerwhelming box office performance of Prince of Persia won't impact Bioshock's future. So take hope. Rapture's cinematic future isn't without hope.
Call of Duty
Status: Trademarked
Call of Duty is one of the most recent names to be thrown into the Hollywood hat, but already the notion of a big-screen version of these games has fans salivating. Last month, Activision filed a trademark for a Call of Duty movie. Robert Bowling of Infinity Ward hinted on Twitter that talks have already begun with Hollywood studios. Kevin McKidd, the voice actor for Captain Soap MacTavish in Modern Warfare 2, recently spoke about the film. After remarking how Soap was modeled after Gerard Butler, McKidd discussed the possibility of reprising his role on screen, saying, "If the script is good, and Gerard isn't available [laughs], then absolutely!" Nothing else is known at this stage. It's believed that a Call of Duty film would more likely focus on the Modern Warfare games rather than those set during WWII, but we won't know for sure until further announcements are made.
Castlevania
Status: In Development
Paul W.S. Anderson (Resident Evil, Mortal Kombat) has been attached to the Castlevania movie for many years now. At SDCC this summer, James Wan (Saw) revealed that he is now attached to direct the film and co-produce with Anderson. The project's producer and Paul W.S. Anderson recently revealed that they are waiting for a script to come in before moving on to next steps.
Citizen Siege (Oddworld Movie)
Status: In Development
Oddworld creators Lorne Lanning and Sherry McKenna are bringing their best-selling videogame property to the big screen in Citizen Siege, a CG-animated film that will be set in the Oddworld universe. The pair have hinted that there may also be a new game that will parallel the film's action.
Clock Tower
Status: In Development
Clock Tower is being produced by Mayhem Project who confirm that the picture is very much in development, but could offer no further details.
Crazy Taxi
Status: Dormant
Crazy Taxi was an arcade hit in the late 1990s that later made its way to console systems. But a significant amount of time has passed without any movement on the project. The videogame franchise and movie idea seem to have turned cold.
Dark Void
Status: Optioned
Dark Void is still a few months from release, so we can't pass judgment on its quality just yet. But clearly Brad Pitt sees something in the action title, as Pitt's production company, Plan B, recently picked up film rights to the series. With the game hitting early next year, this project could either hit the fast track or quickly fade depending how gamers take to the potential franchise.
Darksiders
Status: Soon to be optioned
The wait for Darksiders was long, but most gamers agree it was well worth it. Movie studios seem to agree. Joe Madureira, creative director of developer Vigil, recently announced that the company has received interest from various studios about turning Darksiders into a feature film.
Darkwatch: Curse of the West
Status: Unknown
Morgan and Wong, the writers/directors/producers behind Final Destination, have been linked to a movie version of Sammy Studios' sci-fi Western shooter, Darkwatch: Curse of the West. Morgan and Wong have developed a pitch based on the game's plot and action sequences, and are currently writing a screenplay. Will it fly now that the excitement surrounding the game's release has faded? Answer unclear, ask again later.
Dead Space
Status: In Development
Survival horror gem Dead Space is quickly expanding to become a true franchise. New games have already been released, as well as comic book and anime tie-ins. But now it appears a Dead Space movie may help expand the franchise even further. D.J. Caruso (Disturbia) is currently attached as director for the Dead Space movie. Caruso had previously been attached to the film version of the comic series Y: the Last Man, but recent word suggests he's no longer involved. Assuming Caruso does move forward with Dead Space, the burning question is whether his frequent star Shia LaBeouf will join him and play the reluctant construction worker-turned monster slayer Isaac Clarke.
Death Jr.
Status: Optioned
Videogame developer Backbone Entertainment has hooked up with production-management company Circle of Confusion to develop a film and comic book version of their PSP game, Death, Jr. Larry Guterman (Son of the Mask, Cats and Dogs) has been attached to the project and could produce through his Orange Grove Entertainment shingle. A videogame sequel to Death, Jr. was released several years ago. The film is not listed on Circle of Confusions current slate, but if more games are made, a movie could become more likely.
Deus Ex
Status: Dormant
At last report, Deus Ex was being produced by Laura Ziskin for Columbia Pictures. Greg Pruss had penned a script that painted the character of J.C. Denton in a somewhat darker light. He told IGN that he would be "a little bit filthier than he was in the game." Eidos' vice president of marketing, Paul Baldwin, was quoted as saying, "We are excited to continue our success of extending our original IP to film. Tomb Raider was highly successful, as will be Deus Ex..." Might it still happen? Sure, but at present, all signs point to no.
Devil May Cry
Status: Optioned
Tokyo-based film distributor Gaga Communications has signed a deal with Capcom to adapt Devil May Cry into a live-action feature film with a budget of around $40 million. When the movie deal was originally announced, Devil May Cry was slated for a 2005 production start... obviously, that's come and gone and there's been no further activity. Not a good sign, but you never know. The videogame franchise seems to be going strong, with Devil May Cry 4 having hit consoles last year. We'll be watching to see what happens.
Doom 2
Status: Unknown
The first Doom movie didn't particularly strike a chord with casual audiences or fans of the series. Despite that, there have been vague rumblings of a sequel for several years now. Universal still holds the rights to the franchise. id Software CEO Todd Hollenshead suggested that a Doom sequel might be based on the events of the upcoming Doom 4 game.
Driver
Status: In Development
Rogue Pictures has acquired the movie rights to Driver, Oscar-winning writer-director Roger Avary's big-screen adaptation of the Atari videogame. Rogue picked up Driver from Constantin Film and Impact Pictures, the forces behind the Resident Evil movies. Avary, who wrote Silent Hill, is penning the script and may direct.
Duke Nukem
Status: Dormant
Hail to the king, baby! It could've been cool back in the day, but this long-rumored project is well past its prime. However, Threshold Entertainment still has the movie rights to Duke Nukem. They had even setup an official website for the flick at one time -- it's now down. The studio had hooked up with Dimension Films and was planning, as of late 2001, to turn the property into a PG-13 film set in outer space... but that was ages ago, and we're guessing that the Duke movie is as dead as Duke Nukem Forever. R.I.P.
Eternal Darkness
Status: Unknown
The rights to a big-screen or small-screen adaptation of Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem were bought by production company Hypnotic back in 2003.
Fallout
Status: Possibly In Development
The Fallout franchise was always a cult favorite among PC gamers, but Fallout became a household name last year when Fallout 3 landed on both the PC and major consoles. The series features the ever-popular post-apocalyptic setting that could easily be translated to film. And now it appears that developer Bethesda hopes to do just that. Last April, Bethesda filed a patent that covers the brand for both television and film. That's a long way from actual development, but it is a hopeful sign for fans. We just hope studios will bite, and that the ongoing legal trouble between Bethesda and Interplay won't put a damper on a Fallout movie.
Fatal Frame
Status: Dormant
DreamWorks had hired a pair of scribes to adapt Tecmo's survival-horror game for the big screen, but we're fairly certain this one is on ice. John Rogers, screenwriter of The Core, was producing the flick. Steven Spielberg was said to be personally involved in shepherding the project, but DreamWorks is a different kind of animal now, and he's got bigger fish to fry these days.
Fear Effect
Status: Unknown
Clearly, that 2008 release never happened. Momentum on Fear Effect appears to have halted, and given the series' 10-year absence from the gaming industry, we're not ready to assume it'll be picking back up.
Gears of War
Status: In Development
The project was this close to shooting, with a $150 million budget and Len "Underworld" Wiseman as director. But, according to producer Wyck Godfrey, that Gears ain't happening. "We got really close to making it...," Godfrey said in a recent interview, the studio decided they wanted to do the more contained kind of Cloverfield version of the film." We like where you're going there, Wyck - please continue: "So we've kind of gone back to the drawing board and we're about to hire a writer and do something that's much more experiential and less of the big, bloated videogame movie, which we're actually creatively excited about." We're excited, too (*bowtie spins and shoots sparks*). So Wiseman is out, but we'll let ya know who is in when we, er, know. According to a recent article in The Los Angeles Times, after months of on-again, off-again rumors about the game-to-film, the film's prospects have never looked worse. The paper claims New Line Cinema "has now cut the budget, going from a film that would have cost more than $100 million to one that will cost a good chunk less than that. It's also reined in the story, turning it into a more simple, straight-ahead invasion story instead of a sprawling epic. Producers are looking for a new writer to handle all this, but haven't found one yet." Adding to the film's dimming prospects, director Len Wiseman is said to have parted ways with the project, focusing on a thriller entitled Nocturne instead. And with Wiseman's departure, there goes the possibility of his wife Kate Beckinsale starring in the movie. Wiseman revealed at last summer's Epic Games' Gears of War panel that he wanted to cast her as Maria, the doomed wife of second-in-command Dominic Santiago. It's a sad day for both movie and videogame fans, when a great action premise like Gears' has to get a complete teardown in the development process.
[B]The Getaway
Status: Unknown
Back in 2003, Sony Screen Gems picked up the film rights to the popular PS2 game, The Getaway. This project has been silent for a while, though, and a Screen Gems rep told IGN that they were unaware of the project.
God of War
Status: In Development
Given that the God of War franchise is already like a big-budget action series, it's no surprise that a film adaptation is gathering momentum. Last year, Brett Ratner (X-Men: The Last Stand, Rush Hour) confirmed he's involved with the project and is waiting for a script to be green-lit by Universal before moving forward. And recent word suggests that a potential script may already exist. David Self (Road to Perdition) has written a draft that follows the events of the first God of War very closely. However, as we reported back in July, there may be a few key changes to the plot that could upset fans of lead hero Kratos. We'll see if these changes survive into the final script and if Ratner himself remains attached as Universal moves forward with the movie.
Grand Theft Auto
Status: Unknown
Grand Theft Auto is a franchise we would have assumed studios would be leaping at the chance to adapt to film. The games have become increasingly cinematic over the years and already feature a number of popular Hollywood actors in voice roles. However, despite vague rumblings over the years, there are currently no plans to produce a GTA film. Perhaps the graphic content of the games and the movie's guaranteed R-rating are a turnoff to many studios.
Half-Life
Status: Dormant
Developers Valve Software have shopped the movie rights to Half-Life around Hollywood, but we're not aware of any serious bites.
Halo
Status: In Development
For years, a Halo movie has come tantalizingly close to production before dropping out of the limelight. Despite the franchise's immense popularity and rumored involvement of both Peter Jackson and Stephen Spielberg, the film can't seem to find solid footing. The film has seen several script treatments so far, but it remains to be seen if any of the previous producers and screenwriters attached to the project will remain on the inevitable day a Halo movie does go forward.
Heavy Rain
Status: Optioned
Former New Line big guns Bob Shaye and Michael Lynne are zeroing in on the option for the PS3 title Heavy Rain. The project, should it get the greenlight, will be produced under Shaye and Lynne's Unique Features company.
Hitman 2
Status: In Development
Though not terribly well-received either critically or commercially, 20th Century Fox is steering ahead with a sequel to Hitman. Last year Variety reported that Hitman 2 would be based on the events of the upcoming videogame Hitman 5, but it's not clear if this is still the case.
inFamous
Status: In Development
Not long after inFamous hit the PS3 last summer, Sony Pictures announced their intention to bring the series to Hollywood. The game is like a big, loud comic book in many ways, with a humble hero given great powers and offered the choice to use them responsibly or for his own personal gain.
Kane & Lynch
Status: Pre-production
The Kane & Lynch movie seems to be moving right along. Oscar-winner Jamie Foxx is cast as the unhinged James Lynch, opposite Bruce Willis' Kane. The news originated from screenwriter Kyle Ward's Twitter, which was soon picked up by Deadline New York, although it looks like Ward has since deleted the posting. Whether or not the Foxx is out, director Simon Crane is still in, with filming scheduled to begin August 2010.
Lost Planet
Status: In Development
Capcom's Lost Planet franchise looks to have a bright future ahead of it. The second game, despite being delayed past its April ship date, should be hitting at some point in 2010. Meanwhile, a film adaptation is also moving forward. Lost Planet will likely follow the original game's premise of a human colony battling a hostile alien species on a frozen wasteland of a planet.
Mass Effect
Status: Early Development
Legendary Pictures has acquired the rights to BioWare's Mass Effect, and will produce the film along with former Marvel Studios honcho Avi Arad and his son Ari Arad. BioWare co-founders Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk will serve as executive producers, as will Mass Effect executive producer Casey Hudson. Warner Bros. will distribute the film. Furthermore, the producers are in negotiations with screenwriter Mark Protosevich (The unproduced and way-better version of I Am Legend, Thor) about penning the script. The Mass Effect movie is in the nascent stages of development, but it will happen. And hopefully, when it does, it will not suck.
Mechwarrior
Status: In Development
Following the commercial success of G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, screenwriter Michael Gordon has been brought on board to pen a script. The developing film may go hand-in-hand with a relaunch of the game series, which itself has been out of the limelight for a while.
Metal Gear Solid
Status: On Hold.
Sigh. Producer Michael De Luca recently told Collider.com that Solid Snake's first big-screen adventure is indefinitely delayed. Last year, it was reported that Kurt Wimmer (Equilibrium, Ultraviolet) was slated to helm the now defunct movie. Ironically, Snake's voice actor, David Hayter, is also an accomplished screenwriter, having penned the first two X-Men movies and The Scorpion King. Hayter actually drafted a treatment for a potential film last year, though last we word series creator Hideo Kojima shot it down. Resident Evil's Paul W.S. Anderson recently told IGN that he's lobbying Sony to direct it. Given the continued strength of the franchise and Kojima's personal involvement in development of the film, we imagine the project will eventually move into production. For right now, however, fans will have to wait.
Metroid
Status: Dormant
Few studios have even attempted to bring Nintendo's iconic lineup of characters to Hollywood. We imagine the Super Mario Bros. movie taught everyone a very important lesson. Metroid and its bounty-hunting heroine Samus Aran are arguably the most well-suited for film, and Metroid is the lone Nintendo project that seems to have made any headway in Hollywood. However, even Samus may have given up hopes of big screen stardom. The last major Metroid announcement we heard was that John Woo (Mission: Impossible II) was attached to direct... in 2004. It's probably safe to assume that isn't happening anymore. For now, fans will have to stick to their consoles for future Metroid adventures.
Mortal Kombat
Status: Under legal dispute
Did you see that viral video for a director's pitch on a new MK movie called Rebirth? It's. Awesome. The original Mortal Kombat was one of those rare games-to-film projects that actually succeeded. Sadly, the sequel undid that progress as it single-handedly destroyed the franchise's Hollywood glory. Rumors of a third MK film have circulated for years, but only recently have they started to bear fruit. Recent word on the picture is that the third Mortal Kombat will actually reboot the franchise. WB, having recently purchased the rights to the games from former developer Midway, will handle the next movie as well. Unfortunately, the chaotic fortunes of the games seem to be plaguing the new movie as well. As we recently learned, Threshold Entertainment have filed suit against WB, claiming the latter has frozen them out of the movie's development. Despite Midway's bankruptcy proceedings, Threshold argue they still have a legal right to the MK film franchise. It remains to be seen whether this court battle will impede what looks to be the first real momentum on a new MK movie in a long time.
Nightmare Creatures
Status: Unknown
This project was announced all the way back in Y2K, but it never really got off the ground. The guy who directed Disney's Dinosaur was attached, but it doesn't look like things are going to move forward.
Onimusha
Status: Optioned
The movie rights to Capcom's Onimusha are currently optioned by Davis Entertainment where Chairman John Davis is producing. Right now the film isn't in development, but if it were to happen we wouldn't likely see it in theaters until sometime in the next decade.
Pac-Man
Status: Optioned
Crystal Sky Entertainment and Japanese distributor Gaga have gobbled up the movie rights to the videogame that started it all, Pac-Man. The studio plans to turn the classic arcade franchise into a "live-action fantasy adventure."
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
Status: Post-production
If Sands of Time is as successful as Disney hopes, we can probably expect a string of sequels in the coming years. It should be interesting to see if those sequels follow the course of the games or set out on their own.
Psi-Ops
Status: Dormant
Producers Adrian Askarieh and Chuck Gordon picked up the movie rights to Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy back in August 2004, but Askarieh tells us that the project is no longer active. The producers had hoped to tie the film's release into the game's sequel, but it seems that plans for the game and the film were shelved after the title's limited success in the market.
Rainbow Six
Status: Dormant
Tom Clancy's gaming franchises don't seem to have much luck in Hollywood. No word has surfaced since 2006, when Paramount put the film in turnaround, so we have no reason to believe a Rainbow Six movie will become a reality anytime soon.
Resident Evil: Afterlife
Status: Post-production
The movie was bumped from its original 2010 release date, and now it looks like Afterlife will linfect theatres January 2011.
Return to Castle Wolfenstein
Status: Unknown
At last report, Rich Wilkes (xXx), was drafting the screenplay for the game-to-film adaptation. That was years ago, however, and we're no longer sure if Return to Castle Wolfenstein is still in development. The most recent sequel failed to make a splash with gamers, so we're not getting our hopes up.
Shadow of the Colossus
Status: In Development
Shadow of the Colossus is one of the more recent games to be plucked by Hollywood. With no word since April, we'll be watching to see what becomes of Shadow of the Colossus in the future.
Shattered Union
Status: In Development
A few weeks ago, we learned that J. Michael Straczynski (Babylon 5, Changeling) has been brought in to craft a script. We're keen to see if Disney puts as much muscle behind this film as it did Prince of Persia. It has a far darker premise, but if done properly older viewers might turn out in droves despite the game's lack of mainstream recognition.
Silent Hill 2
Status: In Development
The first Silent Hill was one of the more faithful videogame adaptations we've seen, so we were interested about the promised sequel. As of yet, there is no word on whether the plot will connect to the events of the first movie or feature an entirely new cast of characters.
Soul Calibur
Status: Dormant
Namco's popular fighting game, Soul Calibur, was optioned by producer Warren Zide (American Pie, Final Destination) back in 2004. Since then, we've heard little surrounding this now-dormant production.
Splinter Cell
Status: Dormant
The Splinter Cell movie is perhaps doing too good a job of imitating its lead hero, Sam Fisher. Like the stealthy secret agent, no one has heard buzz on a Splinter Cell movie for several years now. No news is probably bad news in this case. The game franchise has lost some of its luster since thanks to the lackluster Splinter Cell: Double Agent. Luckily, Splinter Cell: Conviction has managed to redeem the frnachise in the eyes of gamers and critics alike. Hopefully that's a good sign as far as the movie adaptation goes.
Spy Hunter
Status: Unknown
Spy Hunter has been attached to a number of writers and directors over the years. The film was formerly slated to star The Rock with John Woo directing. Midway Games even released a game called Spy Hunter: Nowhere to Run featuring The Rock's likeness that was meant to tie into the film. Now, the movie seems to be getting a Level-up, from Development Hell to active project.
The Suffering
Status: In Development
MTV Films has joined forces to bring Midway Games' popular action-horror property The Suffering to the big screen.
Tekken
Status: Seeking distributor
Last week we brought you our impressions of the movie's first teaser trailer. Tekken is currently in post-production and McElroy is shopping around for a distributor. Assuming all goes well, expect Tekken to hit theaters at some point in 2010.
Tomb Raider III
Status: Rumored
A third installment in the Tomb Raider franchise is rumored, and Angelina Jolie may even return as the film's busty heroine.
Uncharted
Status: In Development
Sony is so high on the Uncharted script by Thomas Dean Donnelly and Joshua Oppenheimer (Sahara, the new Conan the Barbarian) that they are considering trying to get the film out by Summer 2011. Assuming Sony is happy with the new script, and big-budget Prince of Persia is a hit, expect Uncharted to quickly move into production.
Warcraft
Status: In Development
Given the crushing dominance the Warcraft franchise exerts over the PC gaming market, it's no wonder Legendary Pictures is keen on bringing Warcraft to the big screen.
I'm siked for alot of these maybe-movies, especially Devil May Cry, Fallout, God of War, Grand Theft Auto, Bioshock... but most of all - Mortal f'in Kombat!
American McGee's Alice
Status: In Development
A script is in development by original Alice scribes Jon and Erich Hoeberand, and word 'round the campfire is that a new studio will be announced in the future, as Universal is no longer attached to release the project. As in the game, the film will be a gothic-horror version of Alice in Wonderland that takes place after Alice has been committed to a mental institution.
American McGee's Oz
Status: Unknown
Alice creator McGee has also plotted a twisted version of L. Frank Baum's fabled Land of Oz. The game itself was canceled after publishers balked at the pitch, worrying that it was not an established franchise. McGee then decided to build the franchise from the top down -- developing the characters and a movie pitch first. Jerry Bruckheimer and Walt Disney Pictures have obtained the rights -- a trilogy was once rumored -- but the project appears to be stalled in development. Screenwriters Kevin and Dan Hageman were once attached.
Area 51
Status: Unknown
Paramount Pictures optioned the movie rights to Midway Games' sci-fi themed first-person shooter, Area 51, several years ago. Producer Christine Peters was handling the project, collaborating with the game developer to craft the film, billed as an action-packed thriller. As you can see it's a ripe property for feature film development, but now that the game has aged, we'll presume this one has been put out to pasture unless otherwise notified.
Army of Two
Status: In Development
Scott Stuber is producing the film, with Scott Z. Burns (The Bourne Ultimatum) penning the script. We haven't heard much else since this news last October, though. It's possible the project has been put on the back burner, but with a new Army of Two game in the works we assume more news will trickle out eventually.
Asteroids
Status: In pre-production
Your eyes aren't deceiving you. The early Atari classic Asteroids has been optioned for film and seems to be moving steadily along.
Bioshock
Status: In Development
With its heady undertones of Objectivism, Bioshock may be the closest Hollywood ever gets to turning out a film version of Atlas Shrugged. But with genetically modified goons and lumbering monsters in diving suits livening things up, viewers won't have to worry about falling asleep during the characters' long sermons. Gore Verbinski (Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy) has been attached to the Bioshock movie since shortly after the first game's release in 2007. Verbinski even went so far as to drop out of the upcoming fourth Pirates film to concentrate on Bioshock. However, his commitment to Rango with Johnny Depp has forced Verbinski to fall back into a producer role. 28 Weeks Later director Juan Carlos Fresnadillo was set to replace Verbinski, until Fresnadillo left the production to direct a horror movie titled Intruders and starring Clive Owen. But while it sounds like the Bioshock movie is dead in the water, all hope isn't lost yet. We recently chatted with Verbinski about the project, and he revealed that Fresnadillo is still attached to direct. At the moment, it looks as if Verbinski, Fresnadillo, and Universal are trying to determine how to keep the underwater horror film under a reasonable budget that strikes a hard R-rating. Luckily, Verbinski also noted that the udnerwhelming box office performance of Prince of Persia won't impact Bioshock's future. So take hope. Rapture's cinematic future isn't without hope.
Call of Duty
Status: Trademarked
Call of Duty is one of the most recent names to be thrown into the Hollywood hat, but already the notion of a big-screen version of these games has fans salivating. Last month, Activision filed a trademark for a Call of Duty movie. Robert Bowling of Infinity Ward hinted on Twitter that talks have already begun with Hollywood studios. Kevin McKidd, the voice actor for Captain Soap MacTavish in Modern Warfare 2, recently spoke about the film. After remarking how Soap was modeled after Gerard Butler, McKidd discussed the possibility of reprising his role on screen, saying, "If the script is good, and Gerard isn't available [laughs], then absolutely!" Nothing else is known at this stage. It's believed that a Call of Duty film would more likely focus on the Modern Warfare games rather than those set during WWII, but we won't know for sure until further announcements are made.
Castlevania
Status: In Development
Paul W.S. Anderson (Resident Evil, Mortal Kombat) has been attached to the Castlevania movie for many years now. At SDCC this summer, James Wan (Saw) revealed that he is now attached to direct the film and co-produce with Anderson. The project's producer and Paul W.S. Anderson recently revealed that they are waiting for a script to come in before moving on to next steps.
Citizen Siege (Oddworld Movie)
Status: In Development
Oddworld creators Lorne Lanning and Sherry McKenna are bringing their best-selling videogame property to the big screen in Citizen Siege, a CG-animated film that will be set in the Oddworld universe. The pair have hinted that there may also be a new game that will parallel the film's action.
Clock Tower
Status: In Development
Clock Tower is being produced by Mayhem Project who confirm that the picture is very much in development, but could offer no further details.
Crazy Taxi
Status: Dormant
Crazy Taxi was an arcade hit in the late 1990s that later made its way to console systems. But a significant amount of time has passed without any movement on the project. The videogame franchise and movie idea seem to have turned cold.
Dark Void
Status: Optioned
Dark Void is still a few months from release, so we can't pass judgment on its quality just yet. But clearly Brad Pitt sees something in the action title, as Pitt's production company, Plan B, recently picked up film rights to the series. With the game hitting early next year, this project could either hit the fast track or quickly fade depending how gamers take to the potential franchise.
Darksiders
Status: Soon to be optioned
The wait for Darksiders was long, but most gamers agree it was well worth it. Movie studios seem to agree. Joe Madureira, creative director of developer Vigil, recently announced that the company has received interest from various studios about turning Darksiders into a feature film.
Darkwatch: Curse of the West
Status: Unknown
Morgan and Wong, the writers/directors/producers behind Final Destination, have been linked to a movie version of Sammy Studios' sci-fi Western shooter, Darkwatch: Curse of the West. Morgan and Wong have developed a pitch based on the game's plot and action sequences, and are currently writing a screenplay. Will it fly now that the excitement surrounding the game's release has faded? Answer unclear, ask again later.
Dead Space
Status: In Development
Survival horror gem Dead Space is quickly expanding to become a true franchise. New games have already been released, as well as comic book and anime tie-ins. But now it appears a Dead Space movie may help expand the franchise even further. D.J. Caruso (Disturbia) is currently attached as director for the Dead Space movie. Caruso had previously been attached to the film version of the comic series Y: the Last Man, but recent word suggests he's no longer involved. Assuming Caruso does move forward with Dead Space, the burning question is whether his frequent star Shia LaBeouf will join him and play the reluctant construction worker-turned monster slayer Isaac Clarke.
Death Jr.
Status: Optioned
Videogame developer Backbone Entertainment has hooked up with production-management company Circle of Confusion to develop a film and comic book version of their PSP game, Death, Jr. Larry Guterman (Son of the Mask, Cats and Dogs) has been attached to the project and could produce through his Orange Grove Entertainment shingle. A videogame sequel to Death, Jr. was released several years ago. The film is not listed on Circle of Confusions current slate, but if more games are made, a movie could become more likely.
Deus Ex
Status: Dormant
At last report, Deus Ex was being produced by Laura Ziskin for Columbia Pictures. Greg Pruss had penned a script that painted the character of J.C. Denton in a somewhat darker light. He told IGN that he would be "a little bit filthier than he was in the game." Eidos' vice president of marketing, Paul Baldwin, was quoted as saying, "We are excited to continue our success of extending our original IP to film. Tomb Raider was highly successful, as will be Deus Ex..." Might it still happen? Sure, but at present, all signs point to no.
Devil May Cry
Status: Optioned
Tokyo-based film distributor Gaga Communications has signed a deal with Capcom to adapt Devil May Cry into a live-action feature film with a budget of around $40 million. When the movie deal was originally announced, Devil May Cry was slated for a 2005 production start... obviously, that's come and gone and there's been no further activity. Not a good sign, but you never know. The videogame franchise seems to be going strong, with Devil May Cry 4 having hit consoles last year. We'll be watching to see what happens.
Doom 2
Status: Unknown
The first Doom movie didn't particularly strike a chord with casual audiences or fans of the series. Despite that, there have been vague rumblings of a sequel for several years now. Universal still holds the rights to the franchise. id Software CEO Todd Hollenshead suggested that a Doom sequel might be based on the events of the upcoming Doom 4 game.
Driver
Status: In Development
Rogue Pictures has acquired the movie rights to Driver, Oscar-winning writer-director Roger Avary's big-screen adaptation of the Atari videogame. Rogue picked up Driver from Constantin Film and Impact Pictures, the forces behind the Resident Evil movies. Avary, who wrote Silent Hill, is penning the script and may direct.
Duke Nukem
Status: Dormant
Hail to the king, baby! It could've been cool back in the day, but this long-rumored project is well past its prime. However, Threshold Entertainment still has the movie rights to Duke Nukem. They had even setup an official website for the flick at one time -- it's now down. The studio had hooked up with Dimension Films and was planning, as of late 2001, to turn the property into a PG-13 film set in outer space... but that was ages ago, and we're guessing that the Duke movie is as dead as Duke Nukem Forever. R.I.P.
Eternal Darkness
Status: Unknown
The rights to a big-screen or small-screen adaptation of Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem were bought by production company Hypnotic back in 2003.
Fallout
Status: Possibly In Development
The Fallout franchise was always a cult favorite among PC gamers, but Fallout became a household name last year when Fallout 3 landed on both the PC and major consoles. The series features the ever-popular post-apocalyptic setting that could easily be translated to film. And now it appears that developer Bethesda hopes to do just that. Last April, Bethesda filed a patent that covers the brand for both television and film. That's a long way from actual development, but it is a hopeful sign for fans. We just hope studios will bite, and that the ongoing legal trouble between Bethesda and Interplay won't put a damper on a Fallout movie.
Fatal Frame
Status: Dormant
DreamWorks had hired a pair of scribes to adapt Tecmo's survival-horror game for the big screen, but we're fairly certain this one is on ice. John Rogers, screenwriter of The Core, was producing the flick. Steven Spielberg was said to be personally involved in shepherding the project, but DreamWorks is a different kind of animal now, and he's got bigger fish to fry these days.
Fear Effect
Status: Unknown
Clearly, that 2008 release never happened. Momentum on Fear Effect appears to have halted, and given the series' 10-year absence from the gaming industry, we're not ready to assume it'll be picking back up.
Gears of War
Status: In Development
The project was this close to shooting, with a $150 million budget and Len "Underworld" Wiseman as director. But, according to producer Wyck Godfrey, that Gears ain't happening. "We got really close to making it...," Godfrey said in a recent interview, the studio decided they wanted to do the more contained kind of Cloverfield version of the film." We like where you're going there, Wyck - please continue: "So we've kind of gone back to the drawing board and we're about to hire a writer and do something that's much more experiential and less of the big, bloated videogame movie, which we're actually creatively excited about." We're excited, too (*bowtie spins and shoots sparks*). So Wiseman is out, but we'll let ya know who is in when we, er, know. According to a recent article in The Los Angeles Times, after months of on-again, off-again rumors about the game-to-film, the film's prospects have never looked worse. The paper claims New Line Cinema "has now cut the budget, going from a film that would have cost more than $100 million to one that will cost a good chunk less than that. It's also reined in the story, turning it into a more simple, straight-ahead invasion story instead of a sprawling epic. Producers are looking for a new writer to handle all this, but haven't found one yet." Adding to the film's dimming prospects, director Len Wiseman is said to have parted ways with the project, focusing on a thriller entitled Nocturne instead. And with Wiseman's departure, there goes the possibility of his wife Kate Beckinsale starring in the movie. Wiseman revealed at last summer's Epic Games' Gears of War panel that he wanted to cast her as Maria, the doomed wife of second-in-command Dominic Santiago. It's a sad day for both movie and videogame fans, when a great action premise like Gears' has to get a complete teardown in the development process.
[B]The Getaway
Status: Unknown
Back in 2003, Sony Screen Gems picked up the film rights to the popular PS2 game, The Getaway. This project has been silent for a while, though, and a Screen Gems rep told IGN that they were unaware of the project.
God of War
Status: In Development
Given that the God of War franchise is already like a big-budget action series, it's no surprise that a film adaptation is gathering momentum. Last year, Brett Ratner (X-Men: The Last Stand, Rush Hour) confirmed he's involved with the project and is waiting for a script to be green-lit by Universal before moving forward. And recent word suggests that a potential script may already exist. David Self (Road to Perdition) has written a draft that follows the events of the first God of War very closely. However, as we reported back in July, there may be a few key changes to the plot that could upset fans of lead hero Kratos. We'll see if these changes survive into the final script and if Ratner himself remains attached as Universal moves forward with the movie.
Grand Theft Auto
Status: Unknown
Grand Theft Auto is a franchise we would have assumed studios would be leaping at the chance to adapt to film. The games have become increasingly cinematic over the years and already feature a number of popular Hollywood actors in voice roles. However, despite vague rumblings over the years, there are currently no plans to produce a GTA film. Perhaps the graphic content of the games and the movie's guaranteed R-rating are a turnoff to many studios.
Half-Life
Status: Dormant
Developers Valve Software have shopped the movie rights to Half-Life around Hollywood, but we're not aware of any serious bites.
Halo
Status: In Development
For years, a Halo movie has come tantalizingly close to production before dropping out of the limelight. Despite the franchise's immense popularity and rumored involvement of both Peter Jackson and Stephen Spielberg, the film can't seem to find solid footing. The film has seen several script treatments so far, but it remains to be seen if any of the previous producers and screenwriters attached to the project will remain on the inevitable day a Halo movie does go forward.
Heavy Rain
Status: Optioned
Former New Line big guns Bob Shaye and Michael Lynne are zeroing in on the option for the PS3 title Heavy Rain. The project, should it get the greenlight, will be produced under Shaye and Lynne's Unique Features company.
Hitman 2
Status: In Development
Though not terribly well-received either critically or commercially, 20th Century Fox is steering ahead with a sequel to Hitman. Last year Variety reported that Hitman 2 would be based on the events of the upcoming videogame Hitman 5, but it's not clear if this is still the case.
inFamous
Status: In Development
Not long after inFamous hit the PS3 last summer, Sony Pictures announced their intention to bring the series to Hollywood. The game is like a big, loud comic book in many ways, with a humble hero given great powers and offered the choice to use them responsibly or for his own personal gain.
Kane & Lynch
Status: Pre-production
The Kane & Lynch movie seems to be moving right along. Oscar-winner Jamie Foxx is cast as the unhinged James Lynch, opposite Bruce Willis' Kane. The news originated from screenwriter Kyle Ward's Twitter, which was soon picked up by Deadline New York, although it looks like Ward has since deleted the posting. Whether or not the Foxx is out, director Simon Crane is still in, with filming scheduled to begin August 2010.
Lost Planet
Status: In Development
Capcom's Lost Planet franchise looks to have a bright future ahead of it. The second game, despite being delayed past its April ship date, should be hitting at some point in 2010. Meanwhile, a film adaptation is also moving forward. Lost Planet will likely follow the original game's premise of a human colony battling a hostile alien species on a frozen wasteland of a planet.
Mass Effect
Status: Early Development
Legendary Pictures has acquired the rights to BioWare's Mass Effect, and will produce the film along with former Marvel Studios honcho Avi Arad and his son Ari Arad. BioWare co-founders Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk will serve as executive producers, as will Mass Effect executive producer Casey Hudson. Warner Bros. will distribute the film. Furthermore, the producers are in negotiations with screenwriter Mark Protosevich (The unproduced and way-better version of I Am Legend, Thor) about penning the script. The Mass Effect movie is in the nascent stages of development, but it will happen. And hopefully, when it does, it will not suck.
Mechwarrior
Status: In Development
Following the commercial success of G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, screenwriter Michael Gordon has been brought on board to pen a script. The developing film may go hand-in-hand with a relaunch of the game series, which itself has been out of the limelight for a while.
Metal Gear Solid
Status: On Hold.
Sigh. Producer Michael De Luca recently told Collider.com that Solid Snake's first big-screen adventure is indefinitely delayed. Last year, it was reported that Kurt Wimmer (Equilibrium, Ultraviolet) was slated to helm the now defunct movie. Ironically, Snake's voice actor, David Hayter, is also an accomplished screenwriter, having penned the first two X-Men movies and The Scorpion King. Hayter actually drafted a treatment for a potential film last year, though last we word series creator Hideo Kojima shot it down. Resident Evil's Paul W.S. Anderson recently told IGN that he's lobbying Sony to direct it. Given the continued strength of the franchise and Kojima's personal involvement in development of the film, we imagine the project will eventually move into production. For right now, however, fans will have to wait.
Metroid
Status: Dormant
Few studios have even attempted to bring Nintendo's iconic lineup of characters to Hollywood. We imagine the Super Mario Bros. movie taught everyone a very important lesson. Metroid and its bounty-hunting heroine Samus Aran are arguably the most well-suited for film, and Metroid is the lone Nintendo project that seems to have made any headway in Hollywood. However, even Samus may have given up hopes of big screen stardom. The last major Metroid announcement we heard was that John Woo (Mission: Impossible II) was attached to direct... in 2004. It's probably safe to assume that isn't happening anymore. For now, fans will have to stick to their consoles for future Metroid adventures.
Mortal Kombat
Status: Under legal dispute
Did you see that viral video for a director's pitch on a new MK movie called Rebirth? It's. Awesome. The original Mortal Kombat was one of those rare games-to-film projects that actually succeeded. Sadly, the sequel undid that progress as it single-handedly destroyed the franchise's Hollywood glory. Rumors of a third MK film have circulated for years, but only recently have they started to bear fruit. Recent word on the picture is that the third Mortal Kombat will actually reboot the franchise. WB, having recently purchased the rights to the games from former developer Midway, will handle the next movie as well. Unfortunately, the chaotic fortunes of the games seem to be plaguing the new movie as well. As we recently learned, Threshold Entertainment have filed suit against WB, claiming the latter has frozen them out of the movie's development. Despite Midway's bankruptcy proceedings, Threshold argue they still have a legal right to the MK film franchise. It remains to be seen whether this court battle will impede what looks to be the first real momentum on a new MK movie in a long time.
Nightmare Creatures
Status: Unknown
This project was announced all the way back in Y2K, but it never really got off the ground. The guy who directed Disney's Dinosaur was attached, but it doesn't look like things are going to move forward.
Onimusha
Status: Optioned
The movie rights to Capcom's Onimusha are currently optioned by Davis Entertainment where Chairman John Davis is producing. Right now the film isn't in development, but if it were to happen we wouldn't likely see it in theaters until sometime in the next decade.
Pac-Man
Status: Optioned
Crystal Sky Entertainment and Japanese distributor Gaga have gobbled up the movie rights to the videogame that started it all, Pac-Man. The studio plans to turn the classic arcade franchise into a "live-action fantasy adventure."
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
Status: Post-production
If Sands of Time is as successful as Disney hopes, we can probably expect a string of sequels in the coming years. It should be interesting to see if those sequels follow the course of the games or set out on their own.
Psi-Ops
Status: Dormant
Producers Adrian Askarieh and Chuck Gordon picked up the movie rights to Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy back in August 2004, but Askarieh tells us that the project is no longer active. The producers had hoped to tie the film's release into the game's sequel, but it seems that plans for the game and the film were shelved after the title's limited success in the market.
Rainbow Six
Status: Dormant
Tom Clancy's gaming franchises don't seem to have much luck in Hollywood. No word has surfaced since 2006, when Paramount put the film in turnaround, so we have no reason to believe a Rainbow Six movie will become a reality anytime soon.
Resident Evil: Afterlife
Status: Post-production
The movie was bumped from its original 2010 release date, and now it looks like Afterlife will linfect theatres January 2011.
Return to Castle Wolfenstein
Status: Unknown
At last report, Rich Wilkes (xXx), was drafting the screenplay for the game-to-film adaptation. That was years ago, however, and we're no longer sure if Return to Castle Wolfenstein is still in development. The most recent sequel failed to make a splash with gamers, so we're not getting our hopes up.
Shadow of the Colossus
Status: In Development
Shadow of the Colossus is one of the more recent games to be plucked by Hollywood. With no word since April, we'll be watching to see what becomes of Shadow of the Colossus in the future.
Shattered Union
Status: In Development
A few weeks ago, we learned that J. Michael Straczynski (Babylon 5, Changeling) has been brought in to craft a script. We're keen to see if Disney puts as much muscle behind this film as it did Prince of Persia. It has a far darker premise, but if done properly older viewers might turn out in droves despite the game's lack of mainstream recognition.
Silent Hill 2
Status: In Development
The first Silent Hill was one of the more faithful videogame adaptations we've seen, so we were interested about the promised sequel. As of yet, there is no word on whether the plot will connect to the events of the first movie or feature an entirely new cast of characters.
Soul Calibur
Status: Dormant
Namco's popular fighting game, Soul Calibur, was optioned by producer Warren Zide (American Pie, Final Destination) back in 2004. Since then, we've heard little surrounding this now-dormant production.
Splinter Cell
Status: Dormant
The Splinter Cell movie is perhaps doing too good a job of imitating its lead hero, Sam Fisher. Like the stealthy secret agent, no one has heard buzz on a Splinter Cell movie for several years now. No news is probably bad news in this case. The game franchise has lost some of its luster since thanks to the lackluster Splinter Cell: Double Agent. Luckily, Splinter Cell: Conviction has managed to redeem the frnachise in the eyes of gamers and critics alike. Hopefully that's a good sign as far as the movie adaptation goes.
Spy Hunter
Status: Unknown
Spy Hunter has been attached to a number of writers and directors over the years. The film was formerly slated to star The Rock with John Woo directing. Midway Games even released a game called Spy Hunter: Nowhere to Run featuring The Rock's likeness that was meant to tie into the film. Now, the movie seems to be getting a Level-up, from Development Hell to active project.
The Suffering
Status: In Development
MTV Films has joined forces to bring Midway Games' popular action-horror property The Suffering to the big screen.
Tekken
Status: Seeking distributor
Last week we brought you our impressions of the movie's first teaser trailer. Tekken is currently in post-production and McElroy is shopping around for a distributor. Assuming all goes well, expect Tekken to hit theaters at some point in 2010.
Tomb Raider III
Status: Rumored
A third installment in the Tomb Raider franchise is rumored, and Angelina Jolie may even return as the film's busty heroine.
Uncharted
Status: In Development
Sony is so high on the Uncharted script by Thomas Dean Donnelly and Joshua Oppenheimer (Sahara, the new Conan the Barbarian) that they are considering trying to get the film out by Summer 2011. Assuming Sony is happy with the new script, and big-budget Prince of Persia is a hit, expect Uncharted to quickly move into production.
Warcraft
Status: In Development
Given the crushing dominance the Warcraft franchise exerts over the PC gaming market, it's no wonder Legendary Pictures is keen on bringing Warcraft to the big screen.