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THQ confirms Saints Row film

E3 2010: Publisher says "major filmmaker" tied to game tie-in, slated for day-and-date release; Red Faction telefilm to air on SyFy week of Armageddon debut; major development talent announcement coming.

LOS ANGELES--THQ may not have had an in-person media blowout in the vein of Ubisoft or Electronic Arts, but the publisher still offered up a host of game-related announcements as part of a 2010 Electronic Entertainment Expo conference call.

The Saints Row 3 film apparently has big-name talent behind it.

The Saints Row 3 film apparently has big-name talent behind it.

The Saints Row franchise is often cited by THQ executives as a key business pillar, and the publisher said today that it plans to spare no expense for the launch of Saints Row 3. According to THQ executive vice president of core games Danny Bilson, the publisher plans to begin ramping up marketing for the title in December, having spent an extra year rebuilding the technology behind the game.

What's more, the publisher is aiming to accompany the game's launch with the "biggest transmedia blowout ever seen." Whereas many publishers stop at action figures, novels, and comic books, THQ is aiming to launch a Saints Row film day and date with the game, and Bilson noted that a "major filmmaker" is tied to its release. In February 2009, rapper 50 Cent told reporters that he was in the process of optioning the rights to Saints Row, for a filmic adaptation.

Bilson went on to note that the Saints Row game will be accompanied by a collectible card game.

In other transmedia news, Bilson offered new details on the Red Faction telefilm, which TV network SyFy announced that it would be producing in April. The two-hour "pilot" will air on SyFy the same week as the as-yet-undated Red Faction Armageddon, filling in the 50-year time lapse with information on the main character's parents. The story was penned by Bilson, with a writer currently adapting it for the screen, and the executive also noted that it will feature a budget on par with SyFy's acclaimed Battlestar Galactica.

As one other tidbit, Bilson also briefly addressed Devil's Third, the first game from Tomonobu Itagaki's Viking Studios, which will be published by THQ. According to the executive, THQ plans to announce "another major talent" that has signed with the publisher "very soon." The talent acquisition, Bilson noted, is part of THQ's strategy to lure top game developers, as opposed to purchasing independent studios outright.

90 Comments

  • videogamer008

    Posted Jul 7, 2011 7:20 pm GMT

    truthfully, in my own opinion, i think that a Saints Row moovie would be the best idea ever. i cant wait to get my hands on saints row 3 for the Xbox 360..

  • fahim_sinister

    Posted Feb 3, 2011 12:51 am GMT

    yess...thats the way to go...Saint Row is a rocking franchise......

  • fahim_sinister

    Posted Feb 3, 2011 12:51 am GMT

    yess...thats the way to go...Saint Row is a rocking franchise......

  • shaggybear19

    Posted Jul 11, 2010 7:16 am GMT

    resident evil was awsome so your qiute wronge my friend and its a video game movie

  • E-i-N-e

    Posted Jul 8, 2010 4:18 am GMT

    Well this was unexpected. Saints Row 1 & 2 were a blast and totally hilarious. Hopefully they make the driving a little more relastic, that was the only downfall to this wonderful series in my opinion.

  • DjDevin10

    Posted Jun 30, 2010 8:56 pm GMT

    thq should just focus on saints row drive by and saints row 3, after that the can do whatever the hell they want cause the movie and tie ins are just gonna make things worse for the saints row series

  • John_Aguilera

    Posted Jun 25, 2010 8:55 am GMT

    this is lame

  • dynomitemasta

    Posted Jun 23, 2010 5:44 am GMT

    Listen, video game movies are gonna suck no matter which way you cut it.... it's what they do. So why not have a laugh and watch Uwe Boll miscast and badly make another film? His last one had Burt Reynolds chewing gum with the same delivery and hairpiece he had in Smoky and the Bandit 30 years earlier, except he was a a knight or king or something and it was kind of funny...Mr Boll is famous for getting BAD performances out of great actors (which is even funnier)... Video Games are usually way too over the top and silly to be made into movies, so let him hang himself I say.... if people want to give him money, well that's even funnier yet.

  • FidelSarcastro

    Posted Jun 20, 2010 9:59 pm GMT

    Oh please for the love of all that is holy not have this "major filmmaker" turn out to be Uwe Boll.

    I could see it now... Most of the male rolls would be filled with bums Boll found off the street, the female characters would be played by prostitutes and strippers, the hero would be some fresh faced rapper and the villain would be played by some overpayed shakspearian actor... Hmmm perhaps Bolls touch would actually work to this films favor.

  • duane27

    Posted Jun 18, 2010 2:08 pm GMT

    50 cent does ruin a movie along with any other talentless rapper(and dont mention will smith. His crap in the 80s was barely rap). Though it would be interesting if they did a t.v. series. But I heard the same thing years ago when GTA: Vice City blowup. Hollywood was talking about a movie, animated series, t.v. series. And nothing ever happened.

  • X-RS

    Posted Jun 17, 2010 10:34 am GMT

    well, how do you make a movie where the main character is anyone/custom? if its first person or something that would be neat, cept you/they would never talk . . . too many problems for a film imo.

  • MarineXXII

    Posted Jun 17, 2010 7:24 am GMT

    Epic fail

  • Konviktion

    Posted Jun 17, 2010 7:10 am GMT

    Aww HELL NO! Not 50Cent, anyone but him!

  • M_TM_L

    Posted Jun 17, 2010 2:58 am GMT

    Actually none of the games to movie Movies fallow the game storyline
    I just want to see if the saints Row movie graphics does justice to the game's
    Just like Prince of Persia movie

  • kmne11528

    Posted Jun 17, 2010 2:13 am GMT

    I'm glad there is going to be another game but why a movie? We all know it's going to be rubbish,the idea of game to movie NEVER works.

  • ANTHONYMVP2U

    Posted Jun 16, 2010 11:58 pm GMT

    yes" a movie will be sweet..thanks THQ

  • BallisstiXXX

    Posted Jun 16, 2010 9:08 pm GMT

    Sucks. Leave it as a game and nothing more.

  • Amnesiac23 Site moderator

    Posted Jun 16, 2010 7:54 pm GMT

    A movie...for Saints Row? Fun game, but not much of a story there.

  • ceromaster

    Posted Jun 16, 2010 6:31 pm GMT

    Oh damn...They're making a movie?...
    What are they playing at?! I know they want to expand the franchise a little, but why a damn movie!
    I can't believe I got my hopes up..I so wanted to see some new info on Saints Row 3...
    They should be using their money for the improvements of Saints Row 3, not wasting it on a movie, don't they relize that they are making a big mistake?

  • gamerpipe

    Posted Jun 16, 2010 6:26 pm GMT

    lol @ saints row film. good luck with that THQ. oh and this will not make me buy it. only if it looks really good as a game. and gets good reviews. films, novels, action figures won't have effects on my decision.

  • wargraymon

    Posted Jun 16, 2010 4:10 pm GMT

    uwe bolle

  • FreeBird55

    Posted Jun 16, 2010 3:41 pm GMT

    um no... the only video game movie should be halo.

  • killeroo

    Posted Jun 16, 2010 3:30 pm GMT

    oh dear

  • BulletsnOctane

    Posted Jun 16, 2010 2:08 pm GMT

    Since Fiddy Cent is associated with the film, Ima stay far away from it. The game however, that is something I'm looking forward to. Both games are underdemeciated--fo sho.

  • cRaZyGaMeR22

    Posted Jun 16, 2010 1:11 pm GMT

    It could be interesting if "they" made it live action, but if its a CGI game movie, definitley two thumbs way down.

  • SuperMegaMaster

    Posted Jun 16, 2010 12:33 pm GMT

    Hell no!!

  • 01-cannon-mpc

    Posted Jun 16, 2010 11:45 am GMT

    So the Saints Row 3 game and/or movie is a tie-in to the tie-in? Thay are trying to expand the Saints Row franchise. I cant blame them for trying. I like 50 Cent but havent seen his movie. And im goin to wate untill i have seen his first movie and the Saints Row movie. I like the Saints Row games and the comedy/action theme thay have goin. Im not sure if 50 will be a part of the game as well or just the movie. And i hope it dosent end up being a movie based game. Ether way im goin to wate to say what i think untill i have had some personal hads on with the SR 3 game and the SR movie untill i say what i think about them.

  • alien100000

    Posted Jun 16, 2010 10:39 am GMT

    This has fail written all over it.

  • StiffZombie

    Posted Jun 16, 2010 9:34 am GMT

    Oh no..... I love SR2 and I thought the in-game movies were much better then GTA's (despite the graphics), but having 50 cent come anywhere near this is a mistake and a movie is an even worse idea. WTF are you guys doing?

    At least it will still be funner then GTA 4 or RDR (which is actually a great game, but lacking the creativity of the old GTA games.

  • DEATH775

    Posted Jun 16, 2010 9:30 am GMT

    I don't think the movie is going to be as good as the game.

  • ThAdEa82 posted Jun 16, 2010 9:21 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    ThAdEa82

    Posted Jun 16, 2010 9:21 am GMT (hide)

    Everyone laughed at thq at e3

  • VirtualTofu

    Posted Jun 16, 2010 9:18 am GMT

    Seriously? We do NOT need a movie as bad as the game's in-game movies. At least replace Fity Cent with Ice T and make him a cop trying to put a stop to the Saints. Then make it about the Saints taking out more lethal gangs and getting in good with the cops and running the town.

  • pimpofdoom

    Posted Jun 16, 2010 9:10 am GMT

    @caketoo
    Who do you think is part of the lowest common denominator? Saints Row fans? People who want to see a Saints Row movie?

  • GabrielOnuris

    Posted Jun 16, 2010 9:08 am GMT

    It's totally understandable that some game movies really suck, even knowing the movie developers give it a (little) try; now, a movie inspired in this kind of game is almost literally ASKING FOR to be a fail. Why the hell do I need a movie from this game? Whats next? Pac-Man The Movie?

  • 2bitSmOkEy posted Jun 16, 2010 9:03 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    2bitSmOkEy

    Posted Jun 16, 2010 9:03 am GMT (hide)

    Its gonna be horrible, just like the games.

  • caketoo

    Posted Jun 16, 2010 9:03 am GMT

    You can never go wrong appealing to the lowest common denominator.

  • ryanc22

    Posted Jun 16, 2010 8:53 am GMT

    Another reason why GTA is better than Saints Row, Rockstar will never sell out to make as crappy movie. And 50 Cent is going to be in it....please.....it cannot get any more cheesier.

  • Suly_K

    Posted Jun 16, 2010 8:36 am GMT

    saints row 3 will be sik, 1 and 2 may have been badly made but they were so much fun

  • Torque203

    Posted Jun 16, 2010 8:31 am GMT

    If 50 cent is in the movie im not watching it. we dont need over the top gangster acting in any movie let alone one about a game. And hope fully red faction will be a hit. and then made a series. i think more games should abandon trying to be made into movies and get turned into series on networks like HBO or stars. that way its not rushed and we get more of it and these series are not for teenagers either, they are graphic and violent.

  • ZachBobBob

    Posted Jun 16, 2010 7:47 am GMT

    ......why?

  • RedSoxfan67

    Posted Jun 16, 2010 7:41 am GMT

    Saints Row 3 will be great, but a movie, maybe not so great.

  • Gamesmasterx

    Posted Jun 16, 2010 7:10 am GMT

    I spent waaay too much time on SR1 and SR2, not sure a third will be good for my health...
    Still, day one purchase, even though I know nothing about it, haha.

  • blueguykisame

    Posted Jun 16, 2010 6:45 am GMT

    @supdotcom
    many people would disagree with you there.
    I'm not exactly sure which one i like more (own both)
    Sortof do like gta4 a bit more too I think, but like I said - many would disagree.

  • supdotcom

    Posted Jun 16, 2010 6:32 am GMT

    Saints Rows wasnt that bad, it was only bad compared to gta.

  • enoslives7 posted Jun 16, 2010 6:27 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    enoslives7

    Posted Jun 16, 2010 6:27 am GMT (hide)

    Usually good games turn into horrible movies. But since Saints Row was horrible, maybe it will be a good movie?

  • bsnimunf

    Posted Jun 16, 2010 6:24 am GMT

    OMFG AMAZING A SAINTS ROW FILM this is just what the gaming community has been waiting for, you know us so well THQ. Man i love films about games, this going to be so deep i bet its better than the God father. I cant wait.

  • DoomZaW

    Posted Jun 16, 2010 6:11 am GMT

    The protagonist had better speak with a british accent!

  • toonsim2

    Posted Jun 16, 2010 5:56 am GMT

    Its not Uwe Boll is it?

  • inkyspot

    Posted Jun 16, 2010 4:41 am GMT

    50 Cent, No man, no movie. Just make a good game.
    The movie will fail, there are so many movies out there like this, what will it be, a comedy, some people just love losing money.

  • Tree06

    Posted Jun 16, 2010 4:39 am GMT

    I can't wait for Saints Row 3. I'm not too sure about the movie but we'll see.

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