Thomas Tull on the World of Warcraft Movie
by Elizabeth Harper 
Jun 27th 2007 at 4:30PM
I have very strong feelings -- from the movie side -- that making movies based on games just because they sold well is a really bad idea. There've been some like that that weren't up to snuff just out of the gate. It doesn't matter to us if it's based on a graphic novel like 300, or a TV show – if there's a great universe and story, that's what's interesting to us.
A well-done movie based on the lore of World of Warcraft could be a cool thing -- and it certainly sounds like that's what the people at Legendary want to do.
[Fan art by Ya Lee, and thanks Simon for the tip!]
Filed under: Blizzard, News items
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Zuty Jun 27th 2007 5:29PM
As long as a side (Horde or Alliance) is chosen as a good or evil side I think it will be a great movie.
Lore would be a big part and probably circle around Horde vs. Alliance up to some force that they need to ban together for, like the battle of Mt. Hyjal.
Heres to a good movie. /Cheers
~Zuty
Antenora Jun 27th 2007 6:04PM
I would definitely see this movie!
WoW lore FTW!
Krishan Jun 27th 2007 6:40PM
I wouldn't want to watch a Cartoon film of wow though :( IF it was CG animated like the South Park episode that would be pretty imba- i always imagined the Thrall storyline shown in Warcraft 3 as a film and I would be really interested in seeing it :D
Of course, the WoW film would probably be about the uprising of the heroic Nihilum :P
Prester John Jun 28th 2007 6:28AM
If the WoW movie were even semi-realistic:
EXT. STRANGLETHORN VALE - DAY
Two battle-hardened soldiers of the Light stand victorious over the corpse of an eldritch Forsaken warlock, foul ichors still streaming from its wounds.
DEADLYGNOME: so then i was all pewpew amirite???
R0FFELWAFFLE: lol
DEADLYGNOME: lol skillcoil lol GTFO
ROFFELWAFFLE: nerf locks
LETHALGNOME: ya srsly so gay
EXT. STRANGLETHORN VEIL - DAY
The warlock's incorporeal form lingers in a netherworld of shifting gray light. Overhead towers a majestic angel. Through some fel incantation, we are able to hear the warlock's thoughts!
HAMSANDWICH: wats ur spec shit wwwwwwwwsssaaaa3 SHIT GANKERS11111!!!!
HOLYPALLY: lol u suck
HAMSANDWICH: fuck u learn to hael nub
HOLYPALLY: lol ignore
The warlock, down but not defeated, calls upon Arcane Energies! Using naught but the power of his indomitable will, he sends forth a plea to his vicious allies!
[1. General][HAMSANDWICH]: can sum1 help me kill sum gankers plz
[2. Trade][HAMSANDWICH]: can sum1 help me kill some gankers plz
[3. Local Defense][HAMSANDWICH]: can sum1 help me kill some gankers plz
[4. LookingForGroup - Stranglethorn Vale][HANSANDWICH]: can sum1 help me kill some gankers plz
From the far reaches of the Aether, a valorous Orcish warrior, sinuous and strong, hears of the warlock's plight and offers advice born of countless battles!
[1. General][SEPHIIROTH4]: l2pvp nub reroll carebear realm rofl FOR TEH HORDE!!!!!
[1. General][HOLYPALLY]: hahahahahaha
Exeunt omnes.
potatowedge Jun 27th 2007 7:32PM
Coming from a film background, I am very concerned about the decision to make a Warcraft movie. Unless the writer is (or team of writers are) very well versed with the lore, it could end up being quite a travesty. Also, name one video-game movie that made big box office AND got good reviews (no, Advent Children doesn't count, since it never got a US wide theatrical release). There are many things that can go wrong making a film out of anything that already has a large fan base - too much fanservice, too little fanservice, all exposition and no plot, etc.
That being said, if done right, it would likely end up being one of my favorite movies. I'm such a sucker for the lore.
And no matter how it turns out, I would absolutely love to simply be on the set! Trust me, it's really hard to get your WoW fix when all of your energy goes to working at least twelve hours a day.
Baluki Jun 27th 2007 9:47PM
I'm optimistic that Legendary will do a good job. Blizzard keeps an EXTREMELY tight grip on their intellectual properties, so their agreement with the studio probably includes them having as much control over the film as they desire. Remember, Blizzard doesn't put their name on anything unless it's excellent. They've cancelled TWO high-profile games because they weren't up to their standards.
The things Tull says in that article are EXACTLY the things I wanted to hear someone say. They're not just in it for the money. There are Blizzard people at all the meetings. Story is the most important thing to them. Excellent.
Bill G Jun 28th 2007 12:54AM
I love the game.
The movie will suck. All movies about games do.
I will still see the movie. ;)
GT0783 Jun 28th 2007 2:18AM
Just make it about Jane Proudmore, the story is amazing, has all the main character's in the warcraft universe, Thrall, Caern, Uther, Menethil's fall. Make that the movie.
RogueJedi86 Jun 28th 2007 5:47AM
Jane Proudmore? Who's she? Jaina Proudmoore's oft-ignored cousin? And Caern? Is he Cairne Bloodhoof's forgotten little brother?
I'm neutral for this. I don't see how they can do it without just making WC3 into a movie. The Burning Legion makes for a great enemy, but how do you show the immense differences between Alliance and Horde, Orcs and Humans, Trolls and Dwarves, Gnomes and Tauren, without making an alliance between them seem too forced? Especially in a 2-3 hour movie.
rhys Jun 28th 2007 6:23AM
bet its going to be all about the alliance and leave the horde out, or show them as the bad guys. Probaly wont be very good.
Flake Jun 28th 2007 7:14AM
@10 ahahahhhaha that was so funny :p
@5 blizzard aren't stupid we all know that. Of course theyre not going to say "this is for teh G gimme G plzplz?" now are they! I'm not trying to say that they are duping everyone but you should still be wary about any movie that comes out now a days.
Even if it does get shit critics I'd still go see it, and blizz knows it...
Gurmec Jun 28th 2007 7:25AM
personally CG would make an awesome wow film. i agree with the guy above, cartoon wow film wouldnt be my favourite choice and would prob be a downer. wc3 storyline for thrall was good. the CG cinematics in that game i could watch over and over. with a game as worldwide as wow, anybody thats interested in the game atall will go see the film.
but for anyone to come out of the cinema etc, and say, hell i cant wait to buy that, or i cant wait to go see that again, it must have a good storyline. basically good storyline relating to wow = a good movie.
make it - ill go watch it - then ill make my comments :)
Grunt Jun 28th 2007 7:42AM
I am not very confident with a movie about fantasy characters when they are ported into the real world. Think about having Keanu Reeves (or someone else) playing the druid in the movie. I'll have the face of the actor on my mind every single day I play the game later on. No sir. If it was a rendermovie I'd say - wh00t, go go go guys! - but this way... I don't know. There is alot to mess up.
(The D&D films were a catastrophe and I don't want that to happen to the Warcraft Universe).
Heymish Jun 28th 2007 9:16AM
The difference between this and other game movies is that Blizz will be involved. Like their games, a movie won't be released until it's a masterpiece. As long as there are no Wayans brothers in the film, we should be ok. ;-)
James Jun 28th 2007 12:08PM
@10
You need to contact Legendary now, because there is not a screenwriter out there who will be able to capture the pure essence of World of Warcraft like you have. I swear, I see a conversation similar to that every other day on LightningHoof. I'd say you're really funny, if it all wasn't so terribly, terribly true.
rcdan Jun 28th 2007 12:44PM
@10
OMFG that was some funny shite!
angusyoung Jul 2nd 2007 7:03PM
if there planning on making this into a bunch of diffrent movies then i think they should take each movie that focuses on each major race.kind of like they did in warcraft 1-3.but i think a movie of warcraft would sell greatly good or bad cause of its success as a video game
Joss Ryan Aug 4th 2007 4:49PM
Well if they are going to make this movie they would definately need to get the lore of Warcraft correct. Seen as though Blizzard will be helping with the movie I think we should be ok =D.
Warcraft is a very complex story too, so i think it will be a trilogy or summot
DKphilosophy Aug 11th 2007 1:27PM
@18
Your right it is impossible to get all of the WoW lore into one movie unless you make it 8 hours long or just being fine with people who don't play WoW to be completely confused. a trilogy or series.