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Ratner lords over God of War film

War is apparently on the mind of movie execs. Earlier today, the cogs in Epic Games' Xbox 360-exclusive shooter Gears of War were given a greasing, when Variety revealed that Legendary Pictures--the studio behind 300 and The Dark Knight--had signed on to lend financing and production aid to the gaming property's silver-screen adaptation. Now, the film-conversion for Sony's flagship God of War action-adventure has also received an update.

Revealed in a media blast for MGM's forthcoming RoboCop, Brett Ratner has been attached to direct Universal's God of War. Perhaps best known for his work on X-Men: The Last Stand, Ratner is also responsible for the Jackie Chan/Chris Tucker-starring buddy cop Rush Hour series. Ratner's involvement in the project dates back to late May, when the director revealed that he was in discussions to helm the project.

As for why Ratner's participation in God of War was confirmed in a media update for RoboCop, the two films share scriptwriter David Self (Road to Perdition, The Haunting) in common.

Sony's teaser for Kratos' first journey on the PlayStation 3 was shown during this year's E3 2008. While Sony has kept the project largely under wraps, GameSpot's previous coverage has more on the mythology-inspired action adventure.

347 Comments

  • YourNameHere004

    Posted Mar 2, 2009 11:40 pm PT

    Hell, why don't we throw in The Rock to play Kratos? No actors that would be good enough come to mind at the moment. Kratos has pretty big boots to fill, and I don't think anyone in Hollywood is up to the task. Maybe use an unknown to play kratos. Doesn't matter if he's not popular, its if he looks, talks, and acts like kratos that matters. Although I would love to see a live action GoW, I think the only sure fire way to have a perfect kratos is with CG

  • FlakeyCrust

    Posted Mar 2, 2009 8:14 pm PT

    I don't understand video games made into movies. It's kinda silly. Playing the games are much more satisfying, have more shelf life than watching a two hour video because you can go back and play it again at the harder levels. 100's of hours of entertainment compared to two to six if you sit through a "good" one for more than once. I guess it's their money but I really don't think most gamers really care for movies from their games. I know I don't. If they do make a movie of God of War, they most definitely should have T.C. Carson's voice as Kratos in there, and Linda Hunt playing Gaia, or at least, her voice.

  • lyle293

    Posted Feb 18, 2009 7:00 am PT

    this should be good trying to find a good actor to play kratos

  • preyer8288

    Posted Jan 21, 2009 10:36 am PT

    I think we have more to worry about the Prince of Persia movie being made by Disney

  • preyer8288

    Posted Jan 21, 2009 10:34 am PT

    They should do this movie in CGI, like Resident Evil: degeneration because no actor could pull of a good. Neither Smith or Diessel coukld pull of a good kratos. The only way you can't butcher it is by CGI.

  • Lancing

    Posted Jan 19, 2009 8:27 am PT

    pete sampras is the only man suited for the role of kratos

  • cassonian

    Posted Dec 19, 2008 6:44 am PT

    Brett could very well eff this movie up! X-men three irritated the crap out of me!! *sigh* No Vin Diesel would not be a good Kratos by any means!! Did anyone read the comment below that said "If will smith was white, this could be a good role for him" lmao, are you kiddding me? Is it just me or did anyone else always picture kratos as something other than white? I was kinda getting Black with some Grecian flavor you know? People can be so stupid

  • sj_nehama

    Posted Dec 1, 2008 7:27 am PT

    they d better release this piece of crap well after the game itself. Rotten Tomatoes anyone?

  • danikap

    Posted Nov 26, 2008 1:34 pm PT

    I think they will screw the movie, but I hope I'm wrong...

  • Username219

    Posted Nov 22, 2008 9:21 pm PT

    how come everyone keeps saying vin deisel? have you seen any of his movies lately?

  • RawDog456

    Posted Nov 6, 2008 7:54 pm PT

    vin diesel ya sweet!!!

  • mwmars

    Posted Nov 5, 2008 2:33 pm PT

    Vin Diesel?.. why not Chuck Norris or Mr T. while you're at it?

  • ifriteg

    Posted Nov 4, 2008 8:19 am PT

    not so sure about this ratner dude

  • neokhyron

    Posted Oct 27, 2008 10:11 am PT

    I think the perfect Kratos would be played by Arnold Voslo, the bad guy Inmhoteph from The Mummy 1 and The Mummy 2

  • KoZ78

    Posted Oct 27, 2008 12:43 am PT

    Dear God, it gets worse:
    God of War creator David Jaffe says he's a fan of Brett Ratner's work and considers him a good choice to direct a "popcorn videogame" movie likeGod of War.

    In a video entry on his blog, Jaffe said, "There are levels of directors, let's put it that way. Whenever you create something and you know it's going to Hollywood, of course it's like, wouldn't it be great if Steven Spielberg, Ridley Scott, Chris Nolan was the director of the property you had a big hand in creating. That would be awesome."

    But he added that Ratner is also a good choice to direct a God of War film because it's essentially a videogame equivalent of the kind of films Ratner makes. "I'm not one of these Ratner haters who says, 'Oh, the guy can't direct.' I think he makes really entertaining movies, and so what I told the producer when he said we're seriously looking at Brett Ratner was, 'I think this is pretty cool.' God of War was designed to be a popcorn videogame."

    While not exactly gushing over the choice of director, Jaffe was more direct in his praise of the rest of the team on the movie. "I know the producer of the film really well, he's the guy who made Get Smart in the summer, he did a great Kevin Costner film, The Upside of Anger, his partner was the producer of the first Batman that Nolan did. They're a great group over there. The writer of the film is David Self who wrote Road to Perdition, 13 Days, The Wolf Man, he wrote a draft of The Bourne Identity. These are really talented, high-level people that have sort of marshaled and surrounded Brett to make this movie."

    "God of War wasn't a hardcore game... it was meant to be this total accessible, mainstream equivalent of a popcorn summer action movie, and I think when you look at the directors who really do that well, I'm happy with the choice of Brett Ratner," he continued. "Would it have been cool if it was Spielberg? Yeah. Ridley Scott? Yeah, that would've been awesome, you know. Guillermo would've been awesome. But I don't look at Brett Ratner and say, 'We're going to have a sh** movie.' Obviously the proof will be in the pudding."

    Jaffe added that he liked Red Dragon and the first Rush Hour, and also claimed the third X-Men movie was his favorite, even though, as he put it, "Clearly, the other two films are better movies from the standpoint of how they're crafted."

  • KoZ78

    Posted Oct 27, 2008 12:34 am PT

    Son of a b**** here an article from the The Escapists Mag:
    In a brief interview with entertainment site UGO this week, director Brett Ratner spilled the beans he's been selected to direct a film adaptation of the über-violent - and consequently, extremely successful - God of War game. The director is known for his work on the Rush Hour series, Red Dragon, and X-Men: The Last Stand. Depending on your movie preferences, this may or may not bode well for the quality of the forthcoming God of War movie.

    Ratner went so far as to confirm the much speculated news but offered no details on the film itself. When asked recently by UGO's "Evil Adam" about upcoming projects he's working on, Ratner replied, "Oh God, a few movies. Waiting for the scripts and green lights to come in. A few good things: Playboy, Beverly Hills Cop, God of War."

    Given the mature nature of the game, it's still to be seen whether the film will carry an appropriate "R" rating or be toned down slightly for "PG-13" audiences. Violence and sex sells, and God of War has the potential for a box office flop without ample amounts of both.

    WE'RE SCREWED. No way is this going to be a Good Film. Thanks Sony for letting us down again. Oh and I will gladly eat my words if somehow this is Ratner's Crowning Achievement.

  • KoZ78

    Posted Oct 27, 2008 12:20 am PT

    Why in God's name does everyone keep saying Vin freakin Diesel? Has no one seen his last couple of movies or do all of you just like big explosions and dont pay attention to his acting? And the reason hollywood makes crappy adaptations from video game to films is because they think that kids play video games still. Yes kids do but the main demographic is from 18 to 30 years old. I just hope they put the effort in to making the film as awesome as the games and story was and if they want a great story hire the writers from the game then you know it'll be a good story then hire Djimon Honsou as the actor then Christopher Nolan or Ridley Scott as the director and then the cgi guys who did LOTR Trilogy and we should have an awesome Mature Bloody Violent as Hell film.

  • KoZ78

    Posted Oct 27, 2008 12:05 am PT

    I'm just a little terrified of someone like Ratner making this movie. Not that he can't but you have producers and studio's who want to change stuff or you have premadonnas actors and actresses who screw up the film. Plus the writers need to be David Jaffe and Cory Barlog. The GOW series are my favorite games of all time and they deserve the treatment of a blockbuster as good as Dark Knight. It doesnt need to be a f***ing PG13 film because the games are mature so therefore the movie should be a very serious KICK ASS MATURE GORY FILM. Everyone pray to god that they dont do like they did Mortal Kombat or any of the other crappy video game movies they've done before. Oh and np Vin Diesel. I agree with most everyone with Djimon Honsou he is a far better choice for Kratos he's in great shape and a Phenomenal actor and he kinda looks like Kratos. I just don't know how they're gonna get him to look white.

  • TheTaoistSage

    Posted Oct 26, 2008 7:35 am PT

    sweet Christmas, if I see that Vin Diesel is cast as Kratos, nothing in the world could ever make me want to see this movie, no matter how much I absolutely LOVE the games. My vote is for Djimon Honsou.

  • firezagaone01

    Posted Sep 4, 2008 8:27 pm PT

    Awesome

  • anagh88

    Posted Sep 3, 2008 10:23 am PT

    VIN DIESEL AS KRATOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • never-named

    Posted Sep 3, 2008 7:17 am PT

    I think Ridley Scott would make a fine Auteur for a GoW film, he has an extraordinary visual flair and sense of scope (it also doesn't hurt that he did Gladiator). As a side note, cast Djimon Honsou as Kratos or burn in HADES!

  • TehUndeadHorror

    Posted Sep 2, 2008 4:12 am PT

    300... make that guy direct it...

  • Gruff-182

    Posted Sep 1, 2008 7:47 am PT

    Jeez.. don't let Ratner direct it. He'l just end up killing off Kratos at the end. The first Rush Hour was good, everything else he's touched is junk. Next they'l be letting Paul W.S Anderson write the screenplay. please. god. no!

  • Cowing30

    Posted Sep 1, 2008 6:52 am PT

    look on the bright side its not Uwe Boll

  • tuffguy121

    Posted Aug 30, 2008 11:06 am PT

    gow does deserve its own movie but keep in mind its gonna be tough 2 do. its gonna be expensive and difficult to pull off the titans and monsters kratos will be fighting. environments will be extremely difficult as well. i seriously doubt brett ratner can do it. if he teams up with christopher nolan or somebody who has their s*** 2gether maybe. and universal? they better team up with legendary pictures and if ilm does the cgi MAYBE. i personally dont think hollywood is ready 2 make this movie. however ive been wrong before and i would love to see them make a great movie outta gow. we'll see....

  • mrsnowy

    Posted Aug 30, 2008 9:43 am PT

    im hoping 2 god that they dont screw up another game movie...god of war deserves its own movie

  • Fiotwo

    Posted Aug 30, 2008 7:20 am PT

    Definitely Vin Diesel. He is a man of one liners and thats exactly the same as Kratos Persona. I want him

  • jcspanky

    Posted Aug 29, 2008 10:46 pm PT

    X-men 3 blew goats.. this is a horrible idea.

  • Holy-Rapture

    Posted Aug 29, 2008 8:34 pm PT

    a god of war movie by Ratner will be horrible. you cant go from rush hour and xmen3 (although good movies) to this.. this movie needs to be dark and gory, definatly R rated. im thinkin something like 300 except with a deeper/better story would make this movie perfect. the guy is also thinkin of a guitar hero movie, get a life, thats the dumbest thing ive ever heard...by the way, whats this talk on RoboCop, are they going to re-make, or make another one? that would be awsome, but not for this guy either or script writer David Self

  • tuffguy121

    Posted Aug 25, 2008 6:11 pm PT

    brett ratner + universal + vin diesel = BAD MOVIE. christopher nolan + legendary pictures + gerard butler = GOOD MOVIE. make it happen hollywood

  • blancobo

    Posted Aug 21, 2008 1:48 pm PT

    Ratner's take on XMen was less than perfect. His take on Rush Hour is good, but completely out of tone when looked against an intense story as is that of Kratos. The Gears of War project promises to be in a better position based on the reputation of Legendary Pics. If Bruckheimer gets involved as a producer I would feel much more convinced that the GoW movie was going to be a success.

  • alexander1821

    Posted Aug 20, 2008 8:46 pm PT

    Vin Deisel for Kratos now tat would make it bad ass movie better be rated R

  • abakastokya

    Posted Aug 19, 2008 9:02 am PT

    hey i think an animated series would have been better, but am looking forward to the movies as well.hope it makes me throw up with slaughtering scenes....jk

  • fkerr

    Posted Aug 5, 2008 11:00 am PT

    Vin Diesel for Kratos !

  • grigjd3

    Posted Aug 4, 2008 8:48 am PT

    hmm..., Rush Hour...

  • Ghost_702

    Posted Jul 31, 2008 9:21 pm PT

    Quit bashing the director and the movie before it's even released. Who knows, it could be a terrific movie.

  • chrisbrookscool

    Posted Jul 31, 2008 6:16 pm PT

    I can't wait to see this movie, it'll be the #1 movie that was a game

  • Franklinstein

    Posted Jul 30, 2008 3:33 pm PT

    darkangel, it all depends on who is directing it... Christopher Nolan is one of the best directors to walk to Earth... he did The Dark Knight, and Batman Begins, and The Prestige, and Momento, and Insomnia. It doesn't really matter who is producing the movie, they just provide the financial support basically... it's really up to the writers, and the director... and of course the actors.

  • GC4ever

    Posted Jul 29, 2008 11:19 pm PT

    well i trust ratner will do a good job with the film
    i love rush hour
    but a new robocop movie.....................i dunno about that one

  • AlienKing123

    Posted Jul 29, 2008 8:25 pm PT

    I sure hope this movie comes out fast

  • arikkot

    Posted Jul 29, 2008 7:47 pm PT

    if will smith was white, he would have been perfect for the role.

  • ADJ209

    Posted Jul 29, 2008 2:30 pm PT

    I'll phrase this way in the least offensive way possible;
    Hes not a bad director
    but he should not be directing a Video-game Film
    of this genre.

  • godzillavskong

    Posted Jul 29, 2008 10:28 am PT

    It seems like the movie industry is noticing how much $$ the gaming industry is doing. I see a lot of Huge 1st party titles trying to be made into movies. Halo, Gears of war, God of War, etc.. I think GOW will make for a good movie, sorta like Clash of the Titans.

  • necronaux

    Posted Jul 29, 2008 9:02 am PT

    Bruce Willis or Howie Mandel for the lead??? No? How about Kurt Angle?

  • EnaVRi

    Posted Jul 29, 2008 9:02 am PT

    I hope they don't ruin it...

  • ps3thabest

    Posted Jul 29, 2008 8:44 am PT

    rush hour to god of war if it sucks i wonder if sony will have him killed

  • bam226

    Posted Jul 29, 2008 1:44 am PT

    why brett rattner out of all people? this movie is gonna suck harder than x-men 3 and rush hour 3. why not zack syner, ridley scott, wolfgang peterson or even mel gibson?(300,gladiator,troy and braveheart). expect a cheesified story, lousy casting and pg 13 rating, meaning no blood or boobs.

  • edargnwod

    Posted Jul 28, 2008 5:24 pm PT

    Please, let Chris Tucker play Kratos!

  • NisiThanasi

    Posted Jul 28, 2008 4:37 pm PT

    Vin Diesel as Kratos would be awesome, OR get real Greek actors and make the whole movie in Greek with subtitles.

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