Warcraft film director discusses "once-in-a-lifetime" opportunity

Warcraft film director Duncan Jones (Moon, Source Code) sees his chance to direct the upcoming movie based on Blizzard Entertainment's game as a "once-in-a-lifetime" opportunity.

Speaking during a Warner Bros./Legendary Pictures panel at San Diego Comic-Con this weekend, attended by the Unofficial Comic-Con Blog, Jones said not many filmmakers have the chance to do what he is doing.

"The opportunity to do something like Warcraft is a once-in-a-lifetime thing. You hope that you're going to get the chance to make films where you really get to delve into fantasy," Jones said. "And with Warcraft, I actually get to create a world and there's not that many filmmakers who get the chance to start from scratch and build something that big. I know how lucky I am and I am so excited to do it."

Jones also briefly discussed the challenge of creating a film based on a franchise that millions of people the world over are already connected to.

"I'm well aware of it. And a lot of people who are my friends play and I used to play. I'm very aware of what the goal is there to achieve," he said.

The first teaser for the Warcraft film was also shown during the panel, but this footage has not been released in any official capacity.

The big-screen adaptation of Blizzard Entertainment's fantasy series was announced during E3 2006. Spider-Man director Sam Raimi was at one point attached to the film, though he would later drop out, claiming Blizzard "mismanaged" the film.

The Warcraft film is believed to have a budget that exceeds $100 million. It starts filming early next year and is intended for release in cinemas in 2015.