Sign on Options
Theme:
To Dark

Spider-Man 4 delay may impact Warcraft movie

[UPDATE] Reports claim director Sam Raimi's superhero film has been delayed several months; effect on Blizzard-inspired big-screen blockbuster unclear.

While the 2010 Consumer Electronics Show hogged game-industry headlines this week, a major development in the film world appears to have occurred. According to the Hollywood Reporter, preproduction of Spider-Man 4 has been halted due to "clashes" between executives at Sony Pictures and film director Sam Raimi over the script. According to show business blog Deadline Hollywood, visual effects technicians slated to work on the film have been told to seek work elsewhere, as the delay will be at least several months.

Sam Raimi might not start work on the Warcraft movie until he's done with <i>Spider-Man 4</i>.

Sam Raimi might not start work on the Warcraft movie until he's done with Spider-Man 4.

Besides the potential impact on any related Spider-Man games, the news may affect what could be the biggest game-based movie to date. That's because last July, Raimi signed on to direct a major motion picture set in Blizzard's Warcraft universe, which is also the setting for the uber-popular game World of Warcraft. The project was first announced by production company Legendary Pictures (300, The Dark Knight) in 2006, and at one point Steven Spielberg was rumored to be interested in directing it.

Since the Warcraft movie never had a hard release date, it can't technically be delayed by any change in Spider-Man 4's debut date, currently set for May 6, 2011. However, any postponement of the latest webslinger film, which the Reporter believes will now be released in late summer 2011, would almost certainly hold up work on the $100 million-plus fantasy epic.

[UPDATE] Unfortunately, Blizzard Entertainment is keeping mum on any impact a Spider-Man 4 delay might have on the Warcraft project. "We appreciate you checking in with us, but we don't have any news to share at this time regarding the Warcraft movie," a rep coolly informed GameSpot. The World of Warcraft developer and publisher is deeply involved with the big-screen project, which is being coproduced by Blizzard senior vice president of creative development Chris Metzen.

280 Comments

  • Suisser

    Posted Sep 15, 2010 3:03 am GMT

    i would have to say that if there was a Warcraft movie it would be in the epic blizzard cinematic graphics. i still remember when i would watch the WC3 ones in awe.

  • mohitmukheja

    Posted Jul 26, 2010 12:41 pm GMT

    @johan444
    I would also love to see movie on Dragon age. But Well at the end of day we wont be able to tell difference as both of the movies will be mythologies and TBH (since i have played both games very very well) both games have so many similarities (races, classes, combat, talents, spells etc.). I will call Dragon age a refined version of games liek WOW, oblivion etc. Ofcourse it is rpg and not MMORPG.

  • mohitmukheja

    Posted Jul 26, 2010 12:39 pm GMT

    Just fyi, they are talking about warcraft and not just wow, also WOW also has a good story behind it which very few people care to know or care about. If you have played warcraft 3, or know about it, you will understand what i am talking about. WOLk and warcraft 3 (frozen throne) are inter linked. It also has a very satisfying end. And yes it will most probably be something on lines of LOTR. I hope they make movie on Arthas and wolk. I bet if done well, it will be a hit.

  • Johan444

    Posted Jun 21, 2010 5:03 pm GMT

    I'd rather want a Dragon Age movie than a Warcraft movie.

  • KraHicks

    Posted May 2, 2010 4:00 am GMT

    Hope it doesn't suck >.

  • Mighty-Lu-Bu

    Posted Jan 17, 2010 7:35 pm GMT

    A Warcraft movie would be sick. If anyone has played the games before WoW they are really good games. It would probably be like a LOTRs type of movie.

  • oista

    Posted Jan 13, 2010 11:04 am GMT

    @Comment1
    So it will be like any old fantasy LOTR style movie with the Warcraft name?

  • ChaosIncarnate

    Posted Jan 12, 2010 2:27 pm GMT

    Max Payne
    House of the Dead
    list goes on... there's quite a few video game movies.

  • Comment1

    Posted Jan 12, 2010 12:46 pm GMT

    @oista
    Surely they can put whatever story they want? I doubt they want it to be just like playing the game, a bunch of guys doing quests for better swords over and over again.

    Wasn't Pirates of the Caribbean basically the film of Monkey Island?

  • oista

    Posted Jan 12, 2010 9:18 am GMT

    @drborchers
    You forgot Hitman (Timothy Olyphant)
    And Prince of Persia (Jake Gyllenhaal)

  • oista

    Posted Jan 12, 2010 9:12 am GMT

    What kind of story can we expect to come from an MMORPG?
    (I've never played WoW)

  • rick21_wlr

    Posted Jan 12, 2010 6:41 am GMT

    can't wait to see it..

  • Phoenix2Raven

    Posted Jan 12, 2010 4:34 am GMT

    I have to agree most videogame base movies dont come put too good but I think if it's done right WoW could actually be great for a movie. I mean it has the characters and expansive world that could make a really beautiful movie and Legendary is behind it, they definitely know how to make a good movie.

  • geomyr

    Posted Jan 12, 2010 12:16 am GMT

    great and prince of persia sands of time the movie is coming this summer.

  • drborchers

    Posted Jan 11, 2010 10:01 pm GMT

    Movies from video games, lets see-

    Resident Evil (Milla Jovovich)
    Lara Croft- Tomb Raider (Angelina Joile)
    Doom (Dwayne Johnson)
    Super Mario Brothers
    In The Name Of The King- A Dungeon Seige Tale (Jason Stathom)
    Dungeons & Dragons (in 2000, or any number of movies)
    Mazes and Monsters (1982, TV, Tom Hanks, about playing a game) Any more?

  • shadowfan4life

    Posted Jan 11, 2010 2:13 pm GMT

    They are basing a movie off of a game... tell me, how many movies have you seen that were based on video games? It's from not that many to none. In fact, I myself don't recall any movies that are from video games, I know movies that are sequels from a game, but none that are from the actual game itself. This WoW movie will fail, and there will be disappointed fans. The Spider-man movies were great, the 3rd one is kind of meh, it was okay, but not as good as the other two. I'm not much of a WoW fan, because I only did the trial version, it didn't catch my attention, but this movie is based off of a MMO, it's not going to work in my opinion.

  • Licomatic

    Posted Jan 11, 2010 1:46 pm GMT

    Quote:
    @sensfan02

    "you don't know what you are talking about. Spiderman 3 sucked because the studio made Raimi do a film that Raimi didn't want to do. When Raimi makes movies...they're awesome."

    Then please explain 'Drag Me to Hell'. I agree he's a good director, but he misses as often as he hits. I don't think whether he wants to do the movie comes into it. He just has a style that sometimes works and sometimes doesn't. As far as the warcraft movie goes I'm not sure he will do so well. The past shows us that the adaptations that do the best are the ones that are only based loosely on the source material, or are in some way optimized for the big screen. Raimi's main failing with Spiderman was that he was too close to the source material, he was a huge fan of the Spiderman comic books. I would say "Wait and see", you never know, it could be amazing or not. Given the money that is going to be spent on it however, it's almost certainly going to look really good. Many movies do well based solely on looks alone.

  • tedhlfc4life

    Posted Jan 11, 2010 1:05 pm GMT

    the wow movie will be terrible but their willing to postpone a great movie like spider-man 4 for it.

  • V_0_1_D

    Posted Jan 11, 2010 11:21 am GMT

    @whiphids1

    I must admit i didnt knew Uwe Boll had tried to get the movie rights for a WC movie(which Blizzard obviously rejected, http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/52322)
    but anyway, i said MONKEY, not Uwe Boll, its completely different, lol.

    and i also foresee a Starcraft and Diablo movies(Diablo and Starcraft have very little or absolutely no similarities to LOTR, so they might be succesful, who knows?)

  • Hydrolix

    Posted Jan 11, 2010 10:50 am GMT

    @sensfan02

    you don't know what you are talking about. Spiderman 3 sucked because the studio made Raimi do a film that Raimi didn't want to do. When Raimi makes movies...they're awesome.

  • glou

    Posted Jan 11, 2010 10:43 am GMT

    Who cares about the stupid wow movie! just get SC2 and Diablo3 out already and fire Jonny Ebbert. GEEZ!

  • Alexandru04

    Posted Jan 11, 2010 10:31 am GMT

    I would love a good warcraft movie.... but i think it will be crap and not what we aspect..... producers and directors of the movie did not play the game or know the lore too good.

  • snoopy248

    Posted Jan 11, 2010 10:24 am GMT

    I agree @mdk1985 ! ;D

  • whiphids1

    Posted Jan 11, 2010 10:21 am GMT

    V_0_1_D

    Posted Jan 11, 2010 9:55 am PT

    I agree with Quietpower09, and also, i believe that even a monkey would be able to make a decent movie using Warcraft's universe.


    Uwe Boll Are you sure about the Uwe Boll Monkey Uwe Boll

  • mdk1985

    Posted Jan 11, 2010 10:10 am GMT

    I think Spider-Man 4 needs more emo Peter Parker dancing like the 3rd one!!

    /highfive..........anyone?.....anyone?

    (crickets)

  • V_0_1_D

    Posted Jan 11, 2010 9:55 am GMT

    I agree with Quietpower09, and also, i believe that even a monkey would be able to make a decent movie using Warcraft's universe.

  • Quietpower09

    Posted Jan 11, 2010 8:41 am GMT

    I think everyone has watched enough Spiderman films already.

    Isn't it better to watch something new for once?

  • Petch1984

    Posted Jan 11, 2010 8:28 am GMT

    The truth is no one knows what the Warcraft film will be like BUT if you have any understanding of the film business and Raimi's directing history (look into why Spiderman 3 failed before writing him off) then you will come to the conclusion that this has a good chance. The Prince of Persia film is something I'm sure I won't like (because of the genre/Disney elements) but it will pave the way for big budget well-produced game films. Plus I don't know why people get upset about bad films of games....I love the Resi games and just flat out ignore the films - it's not like these films kicked me in the face . Bad sequels now they really piss me off....DMC2? worst than a billion Uwe Boll films.

  • sensfan02 posted Jan 11, 2010 7:46 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    sensfan02

    Posted Jan 11, 2010 7:46 am GMT (hide)

    WHAT! Sam Rami is going to be the director for Warcraft. WOW! I fell sorry for the people that are looking forward to this movie because if Spider-man 3 was any indication on how this movie will play out, I would be really nervous.

  • flowjo69

    Posted Jan 11, 2010 7:34 am GMT

    if you think avatar is amazing that movie took under 4 years to make and is full of top quality CG thats why it took so long the acting is not that great the story is basic the heart of that movie is the special effects.

    so warcraft movie was announced in 2006 i believe and its now 2010 and no news to a release date you still think the movie is going to suck like other videogame movies have sucked? do you realize how rich blizzard is a 200-300 million budget is nothing to them blizzard has an absolutely massive fanbase that will support it do you realize the original warcraft game was released in 1994 so many people played that game and remember it.

    do you not remember the CG in games like warcraft 2 and 3 or in starcraft or world of warcraft trailers they know exactly how to grab peoples attention and amaze it to awe , so accompanied with a great director awesome producers lots of money and having a strong backround in story telling and computer animation ya right this movie is really gonna suck LOL

  • flowjo69

    Posted Jan 11, 2010 7:11 am GMT

    no it wont just think of blizzards track record and think of legendary pictures track record the movie will have win all over it.

    street fighter movies and all those videogame movies are very very low budget very crappy directors very poor support and most of them were made in about a year warcraft movie has been in development for about 2 years already maybe more its wont fail mark my words it will appeal very much to the LOTR/300/avatar crowd

  • Ryking

    Posted Jan 11, 2010 7:02 am GMT

    flowjo that post was all sarcasm right? the WoW movie is gonna suck like the Street Fighter movies.

  • flowjo69

    Posted Jan 11, 2010 6:52 am GMT

    what i dont understand is how anyone can think that the warcraft movie is going to fail just look at legendary pictures track record so far they have been pumping out wicked movies one after another.

    warcraft has the world the characters the lore everything is right there for the taking. its going to have lots of CG just like avatar .

    think 300 meets LOTR meets avatar it will be great i can bet on that

  • Alter_Echo

    Posted Jan 11, 2010 6:38 am GMT

    One movie that is destined to be terrible is being delayed by another movie that is destined to be terrible. Funny how that works.

  • Darko-Ashitaka

    Posted Jan 11, 2010 5:49 am GMT

    I just hope Spider-Man 4 won't suck as bad as the third.... : /
    As for a World of Warcraft film, I dunno... I can't stop thinking about it being the Lord of the Rings all over again; but this time probably with a really bad script...!

  • SadPSPAddict

    Posted Jan 11, 2010 5:44 am GMT

    ho hum

  • GSgirl

    Posted Jan 11, 2010 5:43 am GMT

    Everything with BLizzard gets delay

  • TheDarkSpot

    Posted Jan 11, 2010 4:36 am GMT

    I just can't wait to see TEKKEN, Prince of Persia, SPLINTER CELL, Metal Gear Solid and even Rainbow Six, which is supposed to be directed by John Woo. There's also the sequel of Hardboiled coming. Stranglehold, also by John Woo. Won't be seeing the two latter ones anytime soon, though.

  • Petch1984

    Posted Jan 11, 2010 3:53 am GMT

    Doom a good film??? A film about pumped up morons running about blowing up demons from a nether world. Playing this scenario is amazing but in film form it becomes absolute nonsense, I'm not a fan of comic book films either because as well as games these already exist in there best form, they are meant to be an slightly absurd take on reality - but films aren't so much.

  • Majero88

    Posted Jan 11, 2010 1:51 am GMT

    Can't say i really care, mean after the disaster that was spider-man 3 i'm slightly worried bout how this next one will turn out and as for a warcraft movie.....well i can imagine it being a huge failure

  • leonheart_z

    Posted Jan 11, 2010 12:54 am GMT

    i think the warcraft movie will fail...

  • 73X

    Posted Jan 11, 2010 12:51 am GMT

    Can't say this bothers me too much.

  • stocko2k

    Posted Jan 11, 2010 12:28 am GMT

    petch1984 mentioned that the factors that make game-movies crap are.... Small Budget + Bad Director + Terrible Actors + Woeful Script, but to be honest thats not strictly true the main reason game-movies are crap is the lack of knolege to the source material....

    Doom was the best game-movie i've seen so far and that only had a few of the key points from the game, it was on mars and a few character names were bots from doom2/quake2 multiplayer ohh and te monsters looked right, The rest had nothing to do with the source material, which in turn stopped the movie being about the game until the 5 min fps section which was pretty cool.
    Then we have the dire street fighter and mario bros movies where the only connection to the games were names and a few costumes (gomez addams as M. Bison makes me shudder thinking about it). BUT to even it out even movies with everything in line with the original game such as the far cry movie still end up crap but the key factor in these instances are 1 man Ewe Boll who couldn't make a good movie if he had Speilberg, Jackson and M. Night Shalaman doing all the work for him and all Boll had to do was sit on his ass eating doughnuts.

    so really the equasion to making a game-movie should read as follows.

    Source material + good director + loads of cash + DECENT actors (not even famous ones) = watchable movie

    making a GOOD movie out of a game would take a miracle as 90% of games have such dire plots to start with

  • mike_baks posted Jan 11, 2010 12:15 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    mike_baks

    Posted Jan 11, 2010 12:15 am GMT (hide)

    I hope that Sam Raimi will never make World of Warcraft...

    After seeing Avatar, I'm pretty much convinced that James Cameron and all the people behind Avatar are the only ones that will be able to make a living and breathing World of Warcraft on the big screen.

  • Glade_Gnarr

    Posted Jan 10, 2010 10:42 pm GMT

    I bet the delay is too add a scene where spidey and mickey mouse beat the kingpin.

  • another_drew

    Posted Jan 10, 2010 10:41 pm GMT

    I love how everyone keeps mentioning the WoW storyline when it comes to the Warcraft movie. It has already been said that the movie will not include the WoW story. Further more, I hope some of you do realize that WoW is not the only Warcraft game. WCIII is more epic (not in terms of the purps) than WoW. Better story IMO.

  • JohnisGodd

    Posted Jan 10, 2010 10:26 pm GMT

    Well look at the birghtside people.....uhm...how bout them playoffs?

  • mattimusprime74

    Posted Jan 10, 2010 9:37 pm GMT

    Out of all of the series that have had reboots, Spider-man is most in need of one. Sam Raimi is a hack and has pretty much ruined the Spider-man franchise, especially after 3. The Spider-man series needs a new director, cast, and the whole works. As far as a Warcraft movie, that world is so broad, you could almost make the movie with any plot as long as it contained races, creatures, and conflicts that are true to the in game world. I've got some hope that Prince of Persia might turn the tides for Game to movie film adaptations.

  • thedarklinglord

    Posted Jan 10, 2010 9:24 pm GMT

    Also, unless they're planning an X-Men/Spider-man crossover sometime in the near future, I'd rather see them cast Patrick Stewart as Vulture than John Malkovich. I can't see Malkovich playing a sympathetic character, someone with humanity to him. Whenever he attempts that, he just comes across as dull and sleepy. Of course, if they aren't going for the tragic villain angle, if they're just making Vulture crazy and malevolent, then, yeah, Malkovich would be their man.

  • thedarklinglord

    Posted Jan 10, 2010 9:22 pm GMT

    What's funny is, on the Spider-man (or Spider-man 2, I forget which) DVD commentary, Raimi actually praises the studio for mostly leaving them alone, creatively, and letting them make the sort of movie Raimi (and the writers/actors/etc.) want to make, trusting to his sensibilities. Then they force Raimi to use Venom - which is understandable, because Venom does have a pretty big following and a lot of people were clamoring for a Spider-man movie with him as the villain - and it turns the movie into a complete mess. Seriously, take Venom out of the script and 90% of the flaws in Spider-man 3 vanish, especially the whole lame emo Peter Parker with his song and dance scene. Ugh. (Though, I've also grown extremely tired of Bruce Campbell popping up in every movie. It's becoming more annoying that Shyamalan putting himself in his movies.) And now the studio is doing it again...

    Yeah, I think everyone wants to see Connors become The Lizard. It's inevitable. But if Raimi doesn't want to do it, the studio shouldn't force it on him. Let Raimi use The Vulture - provided he's not including some moronic "Vulturess" character - and let the new director they bring in for Spider-man 5 (because we all know the franchise isn't going to die simply because Raimi doesn't want to direct anymore) tackle the Connors/Lizard story. Which is exactly what they should have done for Venom.

Subscribe to GameSpot's YouTube Channel

Hot Stories

Newsmakers

Featured Stories

Submit News

Got tips? Send them in!