Wolfenstein movie director arrested following fatal crash

  • By thorsen-ink, GameSpot
  • Posted Jan 14, 2008 4:58 pm PT

The Return to Castle Wolfenstein film's road to release took a tragic turn over the weekend, when its writer and director was involved in a fatal auto accident. The Los Angeles Times reports that Roger Avary, 42, was arrested following a crash early Sunday morning outside a lumberyard. As a...

The Return to Castle Wolfenstein film's road to release took a tragic turn over the weekend, when its writer and director was involved in a fatal auto accident. The Los Angeles Times reports that Roger Avary, 42, was arrested following a crash early Sunday morning outside a lumberyard. As a result of the accident, Avary's passenger, 34-year-old Andreas Zedini, was killed instantly while Avary's 40-year-old wife, Gretchen, was hurled from the back seat. She remains hospitalized with "serious" injuries.

According to a spokesperson for the Ventura County Sheriff's Department, Avary was booked at the Ventura County Jail before he was released on $50,000 bail. According to the Associated Press, he faces felony drunk driving and possibly manslaughter charges.

Sunday's crash marked dark chapter in Avary's bright career. He won an Academy Award in 1995 for cowriting the screenplay for Pulp Fiction, and most recently executive-produced and cowrote the script for Robert Zemeckis' computer-animated fantasy Beowulf. Games-wise, Avary also wrote the fairly well-received adaptation of Konami's Silent Hill series, directed by Christopher Gans. Return to Castle Wolfenstein had been set for a 2010 release following a delay stemming from the ongoing Writers Guild of America strike.

120 Comments

  • Acurev

    Posted Nov 27, 2009 10:20 am PT

    @skunklauncher

    You are pathetic. You feel sorry for him? He was driving drunk. His wife almost died and his friend did. I say put a bullet in his head. He's worthless scum as are all other drunk drivers.

  • skunklauncher

    Posted Mar 22, 2008 6:53 pm PT

    Everyone makes mistakes and he paid the ultimate price.

    Personally I feel sorry for the guy...and also would like to add that I can't stand the sort of people that say he deserves what he gets.

  • gixkaizer

    Posted Feb 23, 2008 2:07 am PT

    Drink driving ... Thats the dumbest thing you can do ...

  • klugenbeel

    Posted Jan 28, 2008 10:16 am PT

    So for all the children out there, what have you learned. If you make the choice to drink and drive, be prepared to face the results of your actions. The biggest victims are the passengers, but even Avary himself is a victim here. He will have to face the fact that his wreckless actions lead to the death of a friend, and he could have also possibly killed his own wife, at the least, hurt her severly. Remember, when you go out and party....get a DD or call a Taxi...

  • klugenbeel

    Posted Jan 28, 2008 10:15 am PT

    So for all the children out there, what have you learned. If you make the choice to drink and drive, be prepared to face the results of your actions. The biggest victims are the passengers, but even Avary himself is a victim here. He will have to face the fact that his wreckless actions lead to the death of a friend, and he could have also possibly killed his own wife, at the least, hurt her severly. Remember, when you go out and party....get a DD or call a Taxi...

  • X-RS

    Posted Jan 17, 2008 5:51 pm PT

    never mind drinking and driving, the consumption of alcohol alone is stupid.

  • DFalcon999

    Posted Jan 16, 2008 11:50 am PT

    There is no excuse for drunk driving.

    This is just a fine example of how badly it always screws everything and everyone involved, up,

  • ChicaQueenWarGa

    Posted Jan 16, 2008 5:14 am PT

    o.o Better not slow down the movie!

  • parrot_of_adun

    Posted Jan 15, 2008 5:19 pm PT

    OK, about 155,000 people die PER DAY (I think), and as such, I'm really not going to give a damn about someone I never knew. It IS bad that someone died, but I'm really not all that concerned with it.

    Most of you should probably be more concered about the status of the movie. Unless you're the kind of person to make time to dish out the condolences to all the 155,000 people who die each day.

  • LexLas

    Posted Jan 15, 2008 2:44 pm PT

    What ! What a dummy right when he is about to direct one of the only what could have been a great video game movie ! Dang !

  • FPSeXtreme

    Posted Jan 15, 2008 1:04 pm PT

    Wow i dont even knew it gonna be a RTCW movie and the director died!
    Man my condolenses for that guy

  • Demmi_Argo

    Posted Jan 15, 2008 12:25 pm PT

    Doesn't this seem semi-ironic? Seeing as how games are blamed for every ill in the world.

  • Cabal23

    Posted Jan 15, 2008 12:03 pm PT

    Darn, another Hollywood elite going down in flames. I feel only for the families of those involved due to this idiot's bad choices. I hope he sees jail time, but most likely not because he has money. A real shame.

  • Linken_brust

    Posted Jan 15, 2008 10:37 am PT

    Damn, that's bad. Pulp Fiction is one of my favourite movies, and RTCW one of my favourite PC games, so it would be an excellent movie. Let's just wait for whatever happens now.

  • Viryn_Sane

    Posted Jan 15, 2008 10:32 am PT

    Damn, I was really looking forward to this. God damn drunk!

  • Get_Shorty

    Posted Jan 15, 2008 10:20 am PT

    He didn't mean it! It was an accident! I'm sure he's very sorry. Just let him go and he probabaly never do it again.

  • LinconSixEcho

    Posted Jan 15, 2008 9:52 am PT

    My heart goes out to the family of the woman who died in this tragic and stupid accident.
    I say lock him up. I can't understand why drunk driving is on the rise in the past year.
    What shocks me more is that the posts on here are more concerned for the freaking Wolfenstein movie and if it still going to be made.
    Who cares in the wake of this sad news??

  • bardkieran

    Posted Jan 15, 2008 9:38 am PT

    In related news, people who saw him at an earlier party said he was playing Grand Theft Auto 3 and listening to the Crash Test Dummies. ;p Damn you, video games and rock music!!

  • Yuck_Too

    Posted Jan 15, 2008 9:05 am PT

    There is no excuse for DUI.

    Personally I think 1 beer is too much...seriously forget the legal limit if you are driving you just do not need to have that drink. or if you do you have other problems.

  • thug_angel123

    Posted Jan 15, 2008 8:55 am PT

    manslaughter that is Bayeed...

  • Simsyas

    Posted Jan 15, 2008 8:47 am PT

    I had this avatar before the article, seriously.

  • Phazevariance

    Posted Jan 15, 2008 8:24 am PT

    Man, so he kille dhis passenger and critically injured his wife... If I were him and my wife died, i'd voluntarily walk into the jail cell because i'd already be dead inside.

  • redskinStu

    Posted Jan 15, 2008 8:16 am PT

    My thoughts go out to him, his family and most importantly the victims and their families.

  • ro-co-to

    Posted Jan 15, 2008 8:13 am PT

    This dude will suffer more than any of our words can express, poor bastard, but he asked for it, I feel no anguish over his loss.

  • Solid_Devil

    Posted Jan 15, 2008 7:43 am PT

    If it's true that he was drunk when he was driving, it means he is responsible for his friends death and his wife ending up in the hospital with serious injuries. So i can't say i feel sorry for him.

  • rpgisforme

    Posted Jan 15, 2008 7:03 am PT

    an innocent person is dead, another seriously injured and a bright career gone in an instant because he didn't want to pay for a cab, such a shame, why can't people just get the fact that you are not able to drive while intoxicated. What a waste.

  • BloodAndGore666

    Posted Jan 15, 2008 6:55 am PT

    Drinking enough to be drunk in the morning? Somethings wrong with this picture...

  • gr8jedimaster

    Posted Jan 15, 2008 6:40 am PT

    LOL, I can't believe some of you people are concerned about what happens to the Wolfie movie even after one person died and one is seriously injured and could die, too.

  • gr8jedimaster

    Posted Jan 15, 2008 6:36 am PT

    Good job, loser! When your wife is able to get up and walk, she should leave you.

    I just can't understand why people don't take a cab! X(

  • fanboy999

    Posted Jan 15, 2008 6:15 am PT

    Drink but don't drive people. That is a great lesson to learn. Better than ending up dead or in jail. Tragic story all around.

  • Thrall-3-20

    Posted Jan 15, 2008 5:53 am PT

    I never knew this movie was even in the making. All of this guys games and movies I have never played. Though... this does suck. As a movie, it would be interesting. But man this is some messed up...

  • tiago97

    Posted Jan 15, 2008 5:21 am PT

    what a bad news....

  • dynomitemasta

    Posted Jan 15, 2008 5:09 am PT

    Yeah, and people think that because alcohol is legal it's the safe drug. He will NEVER be the same. Who cares about the movie for Gods sake, someone DIED.

  • DFTricks

    Posted Jan 15, 2008 3:38 am PT

    I sympati for the people in the car but defenitly not for the driver, stupid drunk drivers. You simply cant say im wrong on that case.

  • carrierj1

    Posted Jan 15, 2008 3:29 am PT

    People should be more carefull when drinking and driving.

  • raze-boi

    Posted Jan 15, 2008 3:09 am PT

    A drunken director and a bad movie. What else can I say?

  • brain20035

    Posted Jan 15, 2008 2:49 am PT

    never liked the game, don't know about the movie...

  • lamprey263

    Posted Jan 15, 2008 2:42 am PT

    jeez, you'd think people that rich would pay sober people to drive them around while the were wasted or coke up or whatever

  • Ice_man_1985

    Posted Jan 15, 2008 2:21 am PT

    'there is many jerk people in the comment, but i will not comment on that. my condolences, and i hope the wife would be okay.

  • Moosefrog

    Posted Jan 15, 2008 1:50 am PT

    If these celebs (Britney, Paris, Jack Bauer are the tip of an iceberg on the real amount of drunk drivers out there... Something's really wrong! I hope he gets what he deserves, too bad for the movie... Maybe he could hand it over to Uwe Boll! After a few beers I can't even play PGR properly let alone drive actual car... What's wrong with a taxi?

  • pete_merlin

    Posted Jan 15, 2008 1:36 am PT

    terriable accident
    but why drink and drive ?

  • vicsrealms

    Posted Jan 15, 2008 1:25 am PT

    Maybe it saved us from another horrible movie based on a game!

  • 123625

    Posted Jan 15, 2008 1:24 am PT

    Serves himself right.

  • PillsberyDoeMan

    Posted Jan 15, 2008 1:22 am PT

    i still dont get it.... why do people drive if they drink to the point where they cant focus?????

  • diablobasher

    Posted Jan 15, 2008 1:06 am PT

    Driver better idiot.

  • deathscythe999

    Posted Jan 15, 2008 1:04 am PT

    This all seemed to be bad news until I read about the "40-year-old wife, Gretchen", in which images of a huge cow flying from a back seat and taking off some guys head as she flys through the windshield......and then it hit me....if this guy isn't going to write it......will the ygive it to Boll!?

    :shudders and vomits:

  • _Piranha_

    Posted Jan 15, 2008 12:47 am PT

    Very very nice! Absolut "Return To Castle Wolfenstein" Cinema films!

  • Tranceplant

    Posted Jan 15, 2008 12:45 am PT

    Oh my god... that is really sad.
    Well, kiss the movie bye bye...

  • migi1688

    Posted Jan 14, 2008 11:53 pm PT

    ... prayers

  • glitchgeeman

    Posted Jan 14, 2008 11:13 pm PT

    Well s*** that sucks. Still, a lot of you people seem to be rather callous towards this tragedy. I mean, sure it's his fault, no doubt about it, but I'm sure if one of you were involved in a DUI, that injured or killed someone, you would already feel bad enough WITHOUT a bunch of people calling you an idiot.

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