Woo, Spector forging Ninja Gold, Stranglehold movie possible

Hard Boiled director, Deus Ex creator teaming up for film-game project; film spin-off of forthcoming Midway game being considered.

In 2005, Wired reported that Hong Kong film director John Woo's Tiger Hill development house was working on ShadowClan, a game about ninjas plying their shadowy craft in contemporary times. Since then, though, little has been heard about the project, leading many to assume it had met the same fate as Demonik, the now-canceled collaboration between Woo and horror author and Hellraiser director Clive Barker.

Woo-hah!

Today, the Hollywood Reporter revealed that Woo has renamed his ninja project--and plans to make it into both a game and a film. The trade is reporting that the auteur has teamed up with famed game designer Warren Spector for a project called Ninja Gold. Like ShadowClan, the game will juxtapose the ancient deadly art of Ninjutsu and the modern-day underworld. Specifically, the game will concern Japanese Yakuza gangsters clashing with Russian Mafiosi over a gold-smuggling operation.

"The idea actually started with John Woo," Spector told the Reporter. "He wanted to do something involving traditional ninjas in a modern-day setting, and the idea just resonated with me. I was intrigued with the idea of what happens when the traditional and the contemporary come into conflict."

Spector will oversee development of Ninja Gold, which will presumably be done at his two-year-old shop, Junction Point Studios. Woo will direct a film project that will be made in tandem with the game. The director will also contribute the game's storyline, which features a hero that Woo created himself. No publisher, platforms, or release date for Ninja Gold have been announced.

In addition to Ninja Gold, Woo is considering making a film based on Stranglehold, the forthcoming game "sequel" to the director's seminal 1992 action film Hard Boiled. If the game is a hit when it ships later this year on the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC, Woo and his producing partner Terrence Chang may begin preproduction on a big-screen version.

"We would definitely bring Stranglehold to the big screen," Chang said. "We want to be very selective about producing games. We would like game titles to have all kinds of possibility. Having a movie made from them is certainly a major consideration for deciding on a title."

77 Comments

  • thenephariouson

    Posted Jun 28, 2009 3:01 am PT

    John Woo, and Warren Spector, wow, there is phenomenal scope there already. I've wanted a descent Ninja game fo years, i would love something along the lines of Assasins Creed / Splinter Cell, and definately not NG or Shenmue, etc.

  • ahm85

    Posted Jun 25, 2009 1:06 pm PT

    I want this on PC .. my favorite platform

  • terror_ninja

    Posted Apr 28, 2008 7:47 pm PT

    we need online mmo rpg concolse based ninja games....we need online mmo console based games to begin with but !..that will be mintttt wen it happens

  • roxomega

    Posted May 31, 2007 4:32 pm PT

    ninja in modern time.... .... ... ... why does that sound so fing familiar hmmm ninja gaiden

  • rolento88

    Posted May 31, 2007 4:14 pm PT

    ninjas and mafias... wut more could u want???

  • Fallout_red

    Posted May 31, 2007 2:49 am PT

    Warren Spector is a genius and he proved it with Deus Ex. John Woo has made classics like Killer and Face/Off. Lets hope this project turns to be what its supposed be, a perfect collaboration between a Cinema mastermind and a Game mastermind. + Ninjas!! ( I hope there are a lot of Woo's gunfights though)

  • anamnawshad

    Posted May 31, 2007 1:36 am PT

    Sounds like a cool idea. Let's see how good Stranglehold turns out.....

  • Dreski83

    Posted May 30, 2007 10:48 pm PT

    Well... I really don't have anything witty or shameful to spit at this... at least its not that Uwe Bowel dude taking on such endeavors ^_^

  • Jedilink109

    Posted May 30, 2007 4:50 pm PT

    Spifftastic.

  • MusashiSensi

    Posted May 30, 2007 4:18 pm PT

    GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

  • kyo_tetsuei

    Posted May 30, 2007 2:27 pm PT

    This is one game-to-movie that would make much more sense because of its history as a movie firsthand, as well as talent-wise in terms of director and actor that are movie hard-hitters before game producers. I hope it happens, and in the classic Hong-Kong movie style, as opposed to a Hollywood-filtered version.

  • Yoshi-chan

    Posted May 30, 2007 12:54 pm PT

    I just think it's about time the world realize we want NINJA'S and NINJA GAMES RPG STYLE -.- WITH FREE ROAMING AND CHARACTER CREATION....AND MANY NINJUTSU ARTS TO MAKE CHARACTER CREATION REALLY UNIQUE (so you can really call it your own) PS....IF YOU DIDN't CATCH ON....THIS IS A BIG HINT TO WHAT WE WANT
    -.-

  • SavoyPrime

    Posted May 30, 2007 11:29 am PT

    This could be good. I certainly won't hold my breath waiting for that to happen though.

  • willripyouanew1

    Posted May 30, 2007 9:27 am PT

    WOO GIVES A RATS BUTT

  • Andron666

    Posted May 30, 2007 6:59 am PT

    Exciting

    Lets hope Woo gets his career on track again and gives Hollywood the boot.

    And I hope Stranglehold is great. I am getting the Special Ed. with Blu-Ray Hard Boiled if it comes true, even though I already have it in 2 different DVD versions already..

  • shaunsdu

    Posted May 29, 2007 10:11 pm PT

    Hey Fallen Angel, Woo did not direct Bulletproof Monk. Laters.

  • JamesL007

    Posted May 29, 2007 10:01 pm PT

    I would love to see a Hard Boiled sequel movie, The game is going to rule. Peace

  • smoothn00dle

    Posted May 29, 2007 9:42 pm PT

    Xbot like to talk crap, particularly on PS exclusives. John Woo he is the best action movie director. Just give him good script and the right casts! He can do some amazing stuff *v*

  • GreenGoblin2099

    Posted May 29, 2007 9:33 pm PT

    "What do you mean don't ruin Stranglehold's good name?!

    If Hard Boiled wasn't made, and I would say that would be a horrific thing, Stranglehold wouldn't have been made.

    HB is an excellent movie. I advise you to go watch it. "

    Stranglehold is a classic kick ass song by Ted Nugent: "Got you on a stranglehold, baby. That night I crossed your face" yeah baby that's a good song

  • FallenAngel

    Posted May 29, 2007 9:19 pm PT

    Frankly, I think John Woo is past his prime. His recent movies have all been horrible (think Bulletproof Monk, Paycheck, even MI 2 was a flashy pile of nothing), and even though Stranglehold has looked decent so far, I'm still skeptical of it. Now he's planning Ninja Gold (I shake my head at the name) and perhaps a movie based on Stranglehold. I get nothing but bad vibes from all of this, but I guess we'll know soon how it will all turn out when Stranglehold hits the shlves.

  • Proman84

    Posted May 29, 2007 9:02 pm PT

    I think that Woo needs to reteam with Chew Yun Fat to make another Hong Kong action film with lots of guns and shooting.

  • Santas_Hitman

    Posted May 29, 2007 8:58 pm PT

    Wow they spelled ninjutsu correctly! I'm stunned and amazed....

    Can't wait for stranglehold and this other game could be pretty cool as well.

  • Guitargamer1

    Posted May 29, 2007 8:47 pm PT

    Road I cruise is a b*tch noooow Ya know ya cant turn me round.

    Oh and on topic Stranglehold (game) might come out all right and if the sales hold up maybe it is cool enough for a movie. But if it will be a good game still remains to be seen so I dont think anybody should worry about the movie yet.

  • n8berman

    Posted May 29, 2007 8:03 pm PT

    A movie based on a Ted Nugent song?

  • khmerboy12

    Posted May 29, 2007 7:54 pm PT

    Wait , so he is planning to make a movie based on a game that is a sequel to a movie??! Whaaaa!?

  • panteral3

    Posted May 29, 2007 7:18 pm PT

    Hate to be a skeptic (and god knows I LOVED Woo's movies) but.. ..
    Anyone here remember PAYCHECK? Someone stop this man!

  • Unstoppable_1

    Posted May 29, 2007 7:08 pm PT

    WOOHOO HERE WE GO!

  • FlaminDeath

    Posted May 29, 2007 6:54 pm PT

    hes made the movie before so logically hes had more experience and thus can only make better movies
    this is only logical thinking which neither movies or video games follow

  • AncientDozer

    Posted May 29, 2007 6:40 pm PT

    I'd be interested to see what would happen in a Strangehold movie. I was sort of foggy on the details and assumed Stranglehold was a sort of retelling of Hard Boiled and was puzzled by the idea of a potential remake. . but I guess it's a sequel. My only hope is that John Woo tops the kill count set down by Hard Boiled (if I remember correctly it was in the hundreds).

  • godzillavskong

    Posted May 29, 2007 5:47 pm PT

    I like John Woo but what's up with all the directors grabbing gaming franchises and try to transform them into movies?Hollywood must be running out of ideas.l

  • Pfilosophy

    Posted May 29, 2007 5:39 pm PT

    John Woo. I don't care if he did Face/Off or MI2. He's John Woo and I will watch and play whatever he's got to offer me.

  • Pete5506

    Posted May 29, 2007 5:24 pm PT

    I just want the game

  • lamprey263

    Posted May 29, 2007 5:08 pm PT

    I used to love HARD BOILED and THE KILLER, and I've been really let down by Woo's American stuff. I hope he gets it right with this film... with this game for that matter.

  • Brother_Boney

    Posted May 29, 2007 4:44 pm PT

    How could these guys ever make anything that has "traditional Ninjas" or Ninjutsu, when they obviously don't even know what that is!!!! I love Tenchu, because they have at least something that resembles - even if just distantly - real Ninjutsu. But this sounds just bad. Ninjas working for mafiosi and for MONEY over loyalty obviously...blaeh.. shoot me!

    For those interested in real Ninjutsu and what's left of them in the modern day, I recommend a documentary called "Shinobi: Winds of the 34 Generations".

  • Boy_Man07

    Posted May 29, 2007 4:39 pm PT

    whatever...i just want to play Stranglehold: Collector's Edition for PS3! =D

  • russians_r_sexy

    Posted May 29, 2007 4:30 pm PT

    ...there already is a stranglehold movie.....

  • majorwes

    Posted May 29, 2007 4:15 pm PT

    he should make a face off sequel LOL

  • comthitnuong

    Posted May 29, 2007 4:04 pm PT

    I can imagine a Stranglehold movie

  • LucaBlight24

    Posted May 29, 2007 4:03 pm PT

    weird.very weird.

  • mkurts

    Posted May 29, 2007 3:56 pm PT

    The idea sounds .........dumb.

  • BILLNYE6983

    Posted May 29, 2007 3:54 pm PT

    Taegre "John Woo and Warren Spector to make a game about ninjas? I now pronounce all other video game franchises dead."

    Who cares... MGS and GOW beg to differ. But by MGS rules anyone who gets a sword will turn into a Ninja (anyone see that MGS4 trailer... Raiden is now totally ninja-ing it up now). I might get the PS3 version of stranglehold if it's any good though.

  • hector1313

    Posted May 29, 2007 3:53 pm PT

    "1yodsyo1

    NOOO!!! DON"T RUIN STRANGLEHOLD"S GOOD NAME!!!"

    What do you mean don't ruin Stranglehold's good name?!

    If Hard Boiled wasn't made, and I would say that would be a horrific thing, Stranglehold wouldn't have been made.

    HB is an excellent movie. I advise you to go watch it.

  • SecretWasianMan

    Posted May 29, 2007 3:35 pm PT

    I agree with you Somini, you really have to watch his HK movies. Gmayronne doesn't know what he's talking about. If you haven't seen a native John Woo movie, you're really missing out.

  • 1yodsyo1

    Posted May 29, 2007 3:24 pm PT

    NOOO!!! DON"T RUIN STRANGLEHOLD"S GOOD NAME!!!

  • icytower38 Site moderator

    Posted May 29, 2007 3:22 pm PT

    Another game made in to a movie .

  • SoySauceWDF

    Posted May 29, 2007 3:02 pm PT

    Everyone buy stranglehold so that Woo will make a sweet movie of it

  • RaiKageRyu

    Posted May 29, 2007 2:50 pm PT

    I liked it better when it was called ShadowClan.

  • Somini

    Posted May 29, 2007 2:49 pm PT

    John Woo+ Warren spector... This coud be a match made in heaven...

    And @gmayronne:, you obviously haven't watched any of his HK movies, they're all great.

  • Jaspet

    Posted May 29, 2007 2:25 pm PT

    Nope stranglehold is a sequal to the movie Hard Boiled which if you havent seen i highly recommend it, if only to get a back story on the main character. God i hope this comes true i would love to see an actual sequal

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