Sam Raimi is Directing World of Warcraft Movie!
Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. and Legendary Pictures announced that Sam Raimi, director of Evil Dead, Spider-Man films and Drag Me to Hell, has signed on to direct a big screen adaptation of World of Warcraft (WOW).
Variety says he’ll start supervising the pre-production and development of Warcraft: The Movie while at the same time finishing up Spider-Man 4. The fourth Spidey film starts shooting next year, with Warcraft to follow.
“At its core, ‘Warcraft’ is a fantastic, action-packed story,” said Raimi. “I am thrilled to work with such a dynamite production team to bring this project to the big screen.”
Charles Roven (The Dark Knight, The Bank Job) will also be on board as a producer.
The Warcraft universe features an epic conflict between the Alliance and the Horde. The game has developed a global following since its launch in 1994 and shows no signs of slowing. The franchise now exists in the massively multiplayer online role-playing game World of Warcraft. Its most recent expansion, “Wrath of the Lich King,” sold more than 2.8 million copies in the first day of release and more than 4 million its first month.
Voltron Movie Gets New Producers
Atlas Entertainment has acquired the rights to bring “Voltron,” animated 80s classic, to the big screen.
Charles Roven (The Dark Knight, The Bank Job), Richard Suckle (The International) and Steve Alexander pushing the project forward after several years in development with the Mark Gordon Company. “Wanted” producer Jason Netter (Kickstart Entertainment) and Ted Koplar (World Events) are joining the Atlas trio in producing.
Roven said:
“It’s undeniably impressive that Voltron has sustained itself globally for a quarter of a century”
The 1980’s hit series features five robot lions that formed a massive robot called Voltron. The pilots were constantly tasked with defending planets against the forces of Zarkon, including cyborgs known as “Robeasts.” The popularity of Transformers brought the anime to the United States and will likely help the project become a feature film.
Atlas Entertainment has an overall deal with Warner Brothers, which has been seeking an action tentpole to rival Paramount’s “Transformers” mega-franchise.
“Voltron” has not yet been set up at a studio.
