Vin Diesel starring in Hitman movie, possibly game

By Tor Thorsen, GameSpotPosted Jun 15, 2005 8:21 am PT

[UPDATE] Chronicles of Riddick Star to play Agent 47 in Fox's adaptation of Eidos and Io Interactive's actioner; Tigon Studios in talks to work on next game.

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When the sci-fi epic Chronicles of Riddick hit movie theaters last summer, it arrived alongside the release of its game tie-in, The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape From Butcher Bay for the Xbox (and later for the PC). Though the film was tepidly received, the game was a success, enjoying brisk sales and earning critical kudos, including a nomination for GameSpot's 2004 Game of the Year.

Part of the reason for Escape from Butcher Bay's success was the fact that Riddick star Vin Diesel is a lifelong gamer. The actor--who has publicly professed his love for games going all the way back to the paper-and-pencil Dungeons & Dragons--formed his own game production company, Tigon Studios, to oversee Butcher Bay's development by Swedish studio Starbreeze. The seriousness with which he took the Riddick game project is evident in the final product: Butcher Bay's voice acting and storyline were hailed as top-notch, and its innovative stealth-action gameplay coined the term "first-person stabber."

Now Diesel is poised to blur the line between games and film once again. Today's issues of the Hollywood Reporter and Variety are both reporting that the burly, bald badass has signed on to play Agent 47, the titular assassin of Eidos' Hitman series, on the big screen. Both trades say Diesel has struck a deal to star in and executive-produce 20th Century Fox's upcoming Hitman film project. Charles Gordon (Die Hard) and Adrian Askarieh (the forthcoming Spy Hunter) will produce the project, along with Eidos vice president of marketing and communications Paul Baldwin. No director is currently attached, and the film would not hit theaters until 2006--at the earliest.

[UPDATE] While the Hitman film is already locked down, Reuters is reporting that Diesel may be gunning for the game license as well. The trade said that Tigon Studios is preparing to hold talks with Eidos and Hitman's developer, Danish studio Io Interactive (Freedom Fighters), to have Diesel play 47 in a future Hitman game which would ship alongside the film. However, Diesel would not appear in Hitman: Blood Money, which is slated to ship for PC, Xbox, and PlayStation 2 this fall.

One of Eidos' most popular series, the Hitman games follow the murderous exploits of Agent 47, a genetically enhanced assassin. Beginning with 2000's Hitman: Codename 47 for the PC, the Hitman series has followed 47 on dozens of international missions to eliminate various criminals, gun runners, drug dealers, crime lords, and other assorted unsavory elements. All installments of the game let players dispatch their targets with a variety of lethal methods, ranging from sniper rifles to poison vials.

65 Comments

  • reinholt65

    Posted Apr 2, 2008 2:47 pm PT

    I think Olyphant played the part as good as it could have been be played. Im glad it wasnt Diesel

    The movie itself could have been better but loved it anyway hope there will be a sequel!

  • ereekthegreat

    Posted Jan 11, 2008 11:12 pm PT

    vin diesal seems right for the part, but not because... well.... he's just kinda korny,. as for him being the new hitman in the actual game... well that will just ruin everything.

  • azasupernova

    Posted Oct 16, 2007 5:55 am PT

    They should get Clive Owen or something. Vin's just too B grade for me haha

  • kanedo

    Posted Sep 3, 2007 7:04 pm PT

    okay every1 you do all realise this post is actually incorrect as Jack-Du-Ripper has already pointed out Timothy Olyphant is playin 47 in the movie, check out the trailer at www.hitmanmovie.com

  • LycanBlacksoul

    Posted Aug 30, 2007 9:41 am PT

    Vin Diesel? As 47? Bwahahahahahaha!!!

  • Jack-Du-Ripper

    Posted Aug 9, 2007 3:06 pm PT

    just making sure. You guys know that the guy that the studio is using is Timothy Olyphant right? (crappy decision I know)

  • Bradley7777

    Posted Jul 29, 2007 3:28 am PT

    I think Vin Diesel would be well good at being Agent 47. He has done harder films than this so this should be a vacation for him.

  • Terri_Terri

    Posted Jul 19, 2007 6:47 pm PT

    yah tr00pa_26 I agree with you Jason Statham would be perfect!

  • tr00pa_26

    Posted Jun 30, 2007 7:20 pm PT

    they should have someone else as Agent 47.. I mean Vin could do really good for God of War's Kratos.. and thats a fact
    get Jason Statham for Agent 47

  • KoolioJulio

    Posted Apr 17, 2007 7:48 pm PT

    I like vin deisel being in the movie but i dont think they should put him in the next Hitman game. He's cool and all but they should keep it at the regular agent 47

  • coldmo

    Posted Feb 6, 2007 11:29 am PT

    will i think hes is a good looking killer vin d is cool

  • adr_vergara

    Posted Jan 19, 2007 7:30 pm PT

    althouqht vin diesel would be the best choice to perform agent 47 on the movie, i`m desagree on putting his face and voice on the next hitman game because 47 allready has taken roots on the games with his singular, calmed and polite voice. Besides, all of us (the Hitman series fans) are used to 47`s face so, please, don`t change his face for the next game.

    faithfully: a hitman series fan

  • djlotto

    Posted Jan 18, 2007 4:17 am PT

    i dont think Topher_Boy is right about Jason Statham playing 47 would be stereotyped into the role of a very simular "Transporter" i dont think people would watch a trailer and think transporter 3 cause transporter and hitman are totaly different all the movies are knd of the same but at the same time totaly different cause he made crank and that was similer to transporter but at same time completly different both movies are driving shooting killing hardcore fighting but the story makes them so much different so him playing 47 i think would be the same in some ways but at the same time the story makes it totaly different and you would no is not another transporter.

  • poopipoopoo

    Posted Jan 4, 2007 1:00 pm PT

    http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0465494/ actually Timothy Olyphant apparentally is going to be 47

  • Sybermutt

    Posted Nov 26, 2006 6:53 pm PT

    I think that Jason Statham would have made a better Hitman! Hes cool calm and convincing

  • red_linx

    Posted Nov 18, 2006 5:51 am PT

    vin diesel is so different from 47...47 is white,he has blue eyes and a normal nose...i think David bateson would be the perfect 47 cuz he is 47!!!!!!!!!the character face was made from his face and he has the same voice... vin diesel is the worst actor they could choose

  • Topher_Boy

    Posted Nov 13, 2006 11:30 am PT

    I agree with everyone once again, however, as much as Jason Statham would be a much better pick then Vin Diesel, Jason would just be stereotyped into the role of a very simular "Transporter." Don't you think as soon as a trailer came out everyone would say... TRANSPORTER 3.... Wait? Nevermind... Then again, if Vin appeared I'm sure a triple-triple X would aslo be thought of, he just got his xXx tattoo swapped for a barcode. This really aggrevates me to see the filmmakers do this. Being a film student, I would have said stay away from these A-List actors, and go for someone unknown. Isn't that what 47 is all about? He is a PERFECT assassin, he is only a shadow to all of his victims - a shadow of death that is. Not some meaty sillouhette with a deep voice and a pre-shaved head. - Oh, and if there is a love interest in the whole thing, that would be so cliche, and a complete downer for me. I know, it's every man's dream to save/ nail the girl in the end. But 47 has no emmotion, and the only person acceptable is Diane from the agency. Vin, you rock in "your" own films (Riddick), not as the silent assasin.

  • 006alectrvelyan

    Posted Oct 14, 2006 12:21 am PT

    47 is sooooooo cool. and evil. and NOT LIKE VIN DIESEL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!anyone who casts him is a %@#*wit and should be shot. Jason Statham is cool. and evil. and kinda like 47. The people who think that: 1 - Vin Diesel looks like 47 are WRONG! 2 - Think he can act like 47 are WRONG! and 3 - Think that he should be 47 and WRONG!
    that is all

  • LuciferLord

    Posted Oct 4, 2006 4:56 pm PT

    The idea to put Vin Diesel in the role of 47 in a movie is bad.
    To put him in the role of 47 in a future game is even worse. It's a 3rd person shooter... i'd like to see what's in front of me every once in a while... but of course i wouldn't on account of the huge muscles and broad shoulders. Tools of the trade for every stealthy assasin (provided he doesn't forget to arm that bomb before he plants it on that car, or better yet blow himself up). Maybe he won't need fibrewire: he'll just headbutt a target to death. And everyone else in the room. Don't forget those innocent bistanders. Can't do without collateral damage for ol' Vinnie.
    Seriously, Vin Diesel is NOT the image of a professional hitman. He's the image of a professional soldier, one man army... but not a hitman and especially hot one with 47's standards.
    It would shatter the image of 47 in the mind of Hitman fans everywhere.
    Who are they going to get to play Diana?... Tina Turner?... come on...
    Sure hope ol' Vinnie is reading these comments. The public opinion is not to good on this cast.

  • druvindragmail

    Posted Sep 21, 2006 8:32 am PT

    David bateson should play the role of 47 , after all 47 was modelled after him including his appearence and voice.47 is a hitman who plans his attacks carefully and executes them to perfection using his silent assasin stealth and cunningness.When has vindy ever been silent ever??

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