# Sam Raimi to direct World of Warcraft movie **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 23, 2009, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-raimi-to-direct-world-of-warcraft-movie/503945 "2009-07-23T00:52:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-raimi-to-direct-world-of-warcraft-movie/503945/1 "2009-07-23T00:52:36Z")
So says Harry Knowles at [AICN](http://www.aintitcool.com/node/41761). > [@](#): > > The last major update that we had on AICN on the WORLD OF WARCRAFT came from Moriarty here, back in 2007 The last major bit I heard was a rumor that Uwe Boll was offering Blizzard untold tonnages of gold left crowns of undetermined origin to direct - and that allegedly BLIZZARD laughed his ass out of the place. In Mori’s piece we were supposed to get this movie in 2009 with a $100 million budget. With LEGENDARY’s main man telling BLIZZCON that it’d be over that figure. And there was some concept art. > > Well, I don’t have concept art. I don’t have the firm release date, but I do know who is directing the WORLD OF WARCRAFT film and that is Sam Raimi. It will come out in trades later this week or next. But you can take this one to the bank. Sam is going to make a huge budget fantasy bit of unfuckingimaginable coolness - and it will be yanked from the WORLD OF WARCRAFT. I’ve never played the game, but I thought this might be something others would be interested in. The fact that Uwe Boll even got into the same room with anyone from Blizzard has to send cold shivers down the backs of any fans, but Raimi never turns out bad work, so he’s probably a good choice. I just wonder if hadcore fans will harp on the accuracy of every tiny detail. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-raimi-to-direct-world-of-warcraft-movie/503945/2 "2009-07-23T01:08:44Z")
The official press release [here](http://www.blizzard.com/us/press/090721.html) says nothing about _World of_ Warcraft, except for the boilerplate at the bottom. If anything, it would probably be based upon earlier plotlines. So, all-CG or live action? ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-raimi-to-direct-world-of-warcraft-movie/503945/3 "2009-07-23T01:11:40Z")
I gather they’re shooting for an LOTR type thing with a mixture of CGI and LA. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-raimi-to-direct-world-of-warcraft-movie/503945/4 "2009-07-23T01:12:25Z")
Theoretically it’s all the same canon anyway. Warcraft, World of Warcraft, doesn’t really matter. ---
**Author:** ![Jules\_Andre](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jules_andre/32/9334_2.png) [@Jules\_Andre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jules_Andre)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 10:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-raimi-to-direct-world-of-warcraft-movie/503945/5 "2009-07-23T10:06:31Z")
I wonder if Blizzard will release a 30 minute sequel three months after the release of the World of Warcraft movie that changes, nay, rapes, the movie’s storyline and “rebalances” the combat in the first movie so that the paladins always win. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 10:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-raimi-to-direct-world-of-warcraft-movie/503945/6 "2009-07-23T10:46:13Z")
As long as Bruce Campbell plays Varian Wynn, I’m happy. It’s the chin, you see. ---
**Author:** ![Death\_of\_Rats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a6a055/32.png) [@Death\_of\_Rats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Death_of_Rats)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-raimi-to-direct-world-of-warcraft-movie/503945/7 "2009-07-23T15:54:58Z")
> [@Jules\_Andre](#): > > I wonder if Blizzard will release a 30 minute sequel three months after the release of the World of Warcraft movie that changes, nay, rapes, the movie’s storyline and “rebalances” the combat in the first movie so that the paladins always win. They will. It will also render all of the cool things in the original obsolete so that in future viewings you just fast forward past all of it to get to the new content. ---
**Author:** ![ProfessorX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@ProfessorX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ProfessorX)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-raimi-to-direct-world-of-warcraft-movie/503945/8 "2009-07-23T16:11:45Z")
Raimi’s got a great track record with adaptations as we all know from Spiderman, so I have faith he’ll do well here. I just don’t know what they are going to make the movie about, I don’t know the story or background in the game world at all. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-raimi-to-direct-world-of-warcraft-movie/503945/9 "2009-07-23T16:16:13Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > I just wonder if hadcore fans will harp on the accuracy of every tiny detail. _Of course they will_, that’s one of the definitions of “hardcore”. C’mon Diogenes, you’re still a cynic, aren’t you? Whereas us casual players will be content with a watchable movie with a bit of plot, good enough that one does not automatically vomit when watching it, even if it’s not 100% faithful to cannon. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-raimi-to-direct-world-of-warcraft-movie/503945/10 "2009-07-23T16:26:22Z")
Since I went and typed up a big ol’ post for the WoW omnibus thread in Cafe Society, I’ll just link to it [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=11369760&postcount=3282). ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-raimi-to-direct-world-of-warcraft-movie/503945/11 "2009-07-23T16:39:48Z")
There damn well better be a “Zug zug!” in there. ---
**Author:** ![Binarydrone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3da27b/32.png) [@Binarydrone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Binarydrone)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-raimi-to-direct-world-of-warcraft-movie/503945/12 "2009-07-23T17:04:42Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > There damn well better be a “Zug zug!” in there. I wanna know how they are possibly going to handle the Blood Elves without causing major protests. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_the\_Immortal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Max\_the\_Immortal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_the_Immortal)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-raimi-to-direct-world-of-warcraft-movie/503945/13 "2009-07-23T17:50:39Z")
From what I’ve read, they’re planning on a story that takes place in the timeline between Warcraft III and World of Warcraft. The (lead) screenwriter is Chris Metzen, the guy who’s been in charge of Warcraft lore for years; hopefully the story will be true to the established lore. I also read something about it being alliance-centric (or at least human-centric). Note that this is old info, and probably subject to change. I’m glad that they got Sam Raimi on board to direct it. I was worried that they’d settle for someone terrible like Uwe Boll. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-raimi-to-direct-world-of-warcraft-movie/503945/14 "2009-07-23T17:57:11Z")
> [@Max\_the\_Immortal](#): > > I was worried that they’d settle for someone terrible like Uwe Boll. To be honest, I’m not sure that the licenses Boll gets his hands on are a result of the rights holders going, “We want to make a movie, and we want you to do it.” It’s more a matter of Boll approaching them and going, “Hey, I want to make a movie with your license,” and they respond with, “Huh? That old thing? Well, hey, it’s extra money, so whatever.” And Boll begins chuckling villainously. When someone actually has an interest in the quality of the movie, like Blizzard, they would be insane to let him near it. (The sad thing is I actually found _In The Name Of The King_ to be a lot of fun. But Jason Statham’s awesome, so.) ---
**Author:** ![athelas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@athelas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/athelas)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-raimi-to-direct-world-of-warcraft-movie/503945/15 "2009-07-23T18:28:26Z")
> [@Binarydrone](#): > > I wanna know how they are possibly going to handle the Blood Elves without causing major protests. Can you summarize for a non-fan? ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-raimi-to-direct-world-of-warcraft-movie/503945/16 "2009-07-23T18:39:59Z")
> [@athelas](#): > > Can you summarize for a non-fan? [A picture…](http://worldofwarcraftimages.co.cc/wowbackgrounds/Blood%20elf/wow_bz0110mlFm61p5.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-raimi-to-direct-world-of-warcraft-movie/503945/17 "2009-07-23T18:45:54Z")
Nice, but what would be controversial about it? Just the skimpiness of the costume? Because you can sign me right up for keeping that. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-raimi-to-direct-world-of-warcraft-movie/503945/18 "2009-07-23T18:58:17Z")
They’re essentially witches in skimpy costumes, sure to outrage Focus on the Family types. Tone it down and then the fanboys are outraged. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-raimi-to-direct-world-of-warcraft-movie/503945/19 "2009-07-23T19:26:38Z")
> [@Lute Skywatcher](#): > > [A picture…](http://worldofwarcraftimages.co.cc/wowbackgrounds/Blood%20elf/wow_bz0110mlFm61p5.jpg) That’s not a blood elf! That’s a human woman _dressed like_ a blood elf! For blood elves, they just need to cast some anorexic teenage goth girls. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-raimi-to-direct-world-of-warcraft-movie/503945/20 "2009-07-23T19:41:00Z")
Could Sam Raimi make the first movie adapted from a video game that doesn’t suck hard enough to make fountain drinks boil at room temperature? I hoped this back when there was speculation he would be making a _Doom_ movie, way back in 1992. In the interim, there have been way too many crappy movies based on great video games for me to hold out much hope for this one working. Besides, Azeroth is just Middle-Earth-but-not-enough-to-pay-royalties-to-the-Tolkien-estate. I would much rather have a _StarCraft_ movie bitterly disappoint me. (Even though it can’t be said that the concept is much more original.) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-raimi-to-direct-world-of-warcraft-movie/503945.md?page=2)