Blizzard has specialized in video games for more than a decade, but now it’s looking to break into the film industry with a blockbuster of its own. It’s been known that a Warcraft movie is in development since as far back as 2006, but Blizzard hasn’t been able to say anything more than the fact that it exists. This year’s BlizzCon would be the first time the film would be properly detailed.
Warcraft is being directed by Duncan Jones, an award-winning director who has experience playing games in the IP. The script is centered around the war between Orcs and Humans, led by Durotan (Thrall’s father) and Lothar (a famous Paladin). Looking at the lore’s timeline, it appears to be set during The First War when Orcs first arrived in Azeroth. Blizzard has emphasized that a lot of care is being taken to ensure that the setting and story feel authentic, and in order to accomplish that the team is comprised of many Warcraft fans. Familiar places, such as Goldshire’s Lion’s Pride Inn, will be featured, as will popular characters beyond that of Durotan and Lothar.
Blizzard says it’ll be “Avatar meets Game of Thrones as far as complexity of visual effects with live action.” Its violence is even being compared to that of Gladiator. Surprisingly, the Orcs will in-fact be played by actors. To make them appear as realistic as possible one of Avatar‘s Wardrobe and Costume Designers is being employed.
Warcraft is an extremely large IP with tons of characters, and in the long-run Blizzard hopes that the film will be successful enough to release subsequent films that touch on other eras of Warcraft‘s past, present, and future. Although no footage has been released, a preview is expected to debut next year following its filming, which is scheduled to begin in January. It’s scheduled to release in December 2015.
