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Duncan Jones Taking Reins of World of Warcraft Movie

The Moon and Source Code director will be picking up where Sam Raimi left off.

Jones on set.
Jones on set.

Of all the current video game movies kind of/sort of in development in Hollywood, few have seemed less likely to actually get off the ground than the often spoken of World of Warcraft movie. After Spider-Man and Evil Dead director Sam Raimi had initially been tagged as the film's director, the project more or less went into hibernation, until production company Legendary Pictures grabbed Charles Leavitt's screenplay back and began searching for a new director. Now, apparently, it has found one.

Duncan Jones, the 41-year-old director of recent sci-fi highlights Moon and Source Code, has signed on to oversee the project, according to the Hollywood Reporter. This will be a considerable step up in terms of budget for Jones, who is expected to have in the range of $100 million to make the movie.

Legendary has kept Leavitt's script extremely close to the vest, so it's tough to assume much of anything about the project at this point. Still, Jones' involvement is at least an encouraging thing, given his active and outspoken interest in video games.

Legendary is currently planning on beginning shooting this year, with a 2015 release date. We'll see if that sticks. Or if this even happens at all. Because video game movies, you know?

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alex

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Edited By alex
Jones on set.
Jones on set.

Of all the current video game movies kind of/sort of in development in Hollywood, few have seemed less likely to actually get off the ground than the often spoken of World of Warcraft movie. After Spider-Man and Evil Dead director Sam Raimi had initially been tagged as the film's director, the project more or less went into hibernation, until production company Legendary Pictures grabbed Charles Leavitt's screenplay back and began searching for a new director. Now, apparently, it has found one.

Duncan Jones, the 41-year-old director of recent sci-fi highlights Moon and Source Code, has signed on to oversee the project, according to the Hollywood Reporter. This will be a considerable step up in terms of budget for Jones, who is expected to have in the range of $100 million to make the movie.

Legendary has kept Leavitt's script extremely close to the vest, so it's tough to assume much of anything about the project at this point. Still, Jones' involvement is at least an encouraging thing, given his active and outspoken interest in video games.

Legendary is currently planning on beginning shooting this year, with a 2015 release date. We'll see if that sticks. Or if this even happens at all. Because video game movies, you know?

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ClairvoyantVibrations

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Sounds interesting

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wrecks

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Edited By wrecks

Too late. Don't care anymore.

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RaiaNtsu

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Edited By RaiaNtsu

Can't believe they are still trying to make this movie happen.

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Iodine

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Edited By Iodine

As someone I follow on twitter said: "The thing I liked about watching people play Warcraft is it's probably as close as any of us will get to a true Hobbesian state of nature."

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Pie

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Edited By Pie

Err Duncan Jones is pretty awesome but WoW, unexpected .

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gamer_152

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Edited By gamer_152

I'm kind of surprised the movie is even still meant to be happening.

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SeanFoster

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Edited By SeanFoster

A movie about the initial Orc invasion of Azeroth could be pretty cool.

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Zuldim

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Edited By Zuldim

Ok, sure, I loved Moon, and The Source Code was pretty good, even if the ending didn't make much sense.

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TehJedicake

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Edited By TehJedicake

I would've cared 5-7 years ago when the lore wasn't retarded.

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MildMolasses

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Edited By MildMolasses

Well, it only has to be better than that Dungeon Seige movie to be the best video game based fantasy film

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Efesell

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Edited By Efesell

I (still) love WoW, but I'll never be interested in a movie unless its Blizzard CG.

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Winternet

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Edited By Winternet

What?!

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Hailinel

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Edited By Hailinel

Wasn't this movie originally planned out something like five years ago? You know, when the world at large gave a shit about WoW? :P

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Branthog

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Edited By Branthog

The guy who made mother fucking MOON should have far more ambition and far greater opportunities to realize that ambition than to be stuck making a shitty fucking MMO movie about World of Warcraft. I feel bad for this guy. I can't comment on Source Code, however, because I have no idea what the hell that is.

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MooseyMcMan

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Edited By MooseyMcMan

Hm. While I normally have ZERO interest in anything Warcraft related, Source Code was such a great movie that this has caught my interest. But I'm sure I'll lose it again at some point.

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big_jon

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Edited By big_jon

@Branthog said:

The guy who made mother fucking MOON should have far more ambition and far greater opportunities to realize that ambition than to be stuck making a shitty fucking MMO movie about World of Warcraft. I feel bad for this guy. I can't comment on Source Code, however, because I have no idea what the hell that is.

True.

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Doctorchimp

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Edited By Doctorchimp

This better just end up being Labyrinth 2.

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LiquidPenguins

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Edited By LiquidPenguins

Never coming out.

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Deusx

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Edited By Deusx

@Branthog said:

The guy who made mother fucking MOON should have far more ambition and far greater opportunities to realize that ambition than to be stuck making a shitty fucking MMO movie about World of Warcraft. I feel bad for this guy. I can't comment on Source Code, however, because I have no idea what the hell that is.

Money man, it's a hell of a drug.

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Wampa1

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Edited By Wampa1

@Branthog: I wouldn't this'll be his payday movie so he can go and make whatever he wants afterwards. And if it makes cash I bet he can pull an Nolan and mold his vision into big films.

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hatking

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Edited By hatking

I'm only okay with this if David Bowie does the soundtrack.

I wonder if anybody will get this.

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Icecreamjones

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Edited By Icecreamjones

@Doctorchimp said:

This better just end up being Labyrinth 2.

Well he is David Bowie's son.

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joetom

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Edited By joetom

I'm more excited about Duncan Jones making another film than I care about a WoW movie.

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Besetment

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Edited By Besetment

It's a shame the initial director isn't directing the movie like he was supposed to initially.

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bkbroiler

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Edited By bkbroiler

@HatKing said:

I'm only okay with this if David Bowie does the soundtrack.

I wonder if anybody will get this.

YES WE ALL KNOW DUNCAN JONES IS DAVID BOWIE'S SON, YOU ARE AWESOME

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joetom

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Edited By joetom

I'd much rather he make the Moon trilogy he was talking about, but I guess him getting a reputation as a big budget filmmaker would be pretty cool. I'd love to see him have the freedom of someone like Chris Nolan.

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Cybexx

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Edited By Cybexx

I like that the movie has the same development time-frame as a Blizzard game.

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iamjohn

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Edited By iamjohn

@Branthog said:

The guy who made mother fucking MOON should have far more ambition and far greater opportunities to realize that ambition than to be stuck making a shitty fucking MMO movie about World of Warcraft. I feel bad for this guy. I can't comment on Source Code, however, because I have no idea what the hell that is.

Source Code is his second movie. The last five minutes is not great, but everything leading up to it is ridiculously excellent.

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Red12b

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Edited By Red12b

@Pie said:

Err Duncan Jones is pretty awesome but WoW, unexpected .

nicely done

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siln

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Edited By siln

I hear the new release date is locked in for the first of never.

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Hailinel

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Edited By Hailinel
@zeekthegeek

@Doctorchimp said:

This better just end up being Labyrinth 2.

Well he is David Bowie's son.

That's the joke.
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ShadowConqueror

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Edited By ShadowConqueror

The dude seems cool, but I'm really not interested in a WoW movie. A Warcraft movie, maybe, but not WoW.

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Rhete

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Edited By Rhete

2015? Just in time for the movie to be 10 years too late.

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ImmortalSaiyan

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Edited By ImmortalSaiyan

I am looking forward to this now. Moon is great.

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abara

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Edited By abara

So...the son of David Bowie is directing a movie adaptation of an online game that it itself an adaptation of a strategy game that's essentially just an adaptation of the fantasy ethos established by Tolkien. Got it.

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raynate2022

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Edited By raynate2022

As long as it's CG..we do not need a live action WoW movie

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MediumDave

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Edited By MediumDave

Moon and Source Code are badass and, much like Neil Blomkamp (director of District 9 and almost director of the Halo movie), I'd rather see them pump out original, cool sci-fi than stuff based on video games.

However, if it's gotta be someone, he's a good choice. I follow him on Twitter and the dude is mad into games and, well, here you go. http://badassdigest.com/2013/01/30/Warcraft-Movie-Duncan-Jones/

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crusader8463

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Edited By crusader8463

I would rather see a 3D movie then a live action one myself. While I don't care for Blizzard games, their cutscenes are always amazing.

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HaltIamReptar

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Edited By HaltIamReptar

Moon is one of my favorite movies of all time. Call me interested.

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LackingSaint

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Edited By LackingSaint

I thought Jones was making that sci-fi movie about the mute bartender? Either way, love the dude, good luck on his whatever

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turboman

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Edited By turboman

This movie can literally be anything at this point. MOON and Source Code are probably two of the best movies in the past decade, can't wait to see what he does next.

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renmckormack

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Edited By renmckormack

The WoW movie is like a tax shelter right? like companies invest in it to claim fake losses and reduce their tax liability No one wants this.

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the_cameo

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Edited By the_cameo

@Branthog: He also happens to be a gamer, a big Blizzard fan, and even can be quoted on saying Warcraft would be the best material for a movie - two years ago, on the press rounds for Source Code.

I really don't understand the idea that he's wasting his talents or just taking a paycheck. The entire reason he even made Source Code was to show that he could make a studio picture, could sign onto a project in development and get it done and finished by a certain deadline. This really does seem like something he wants to do.

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SlashDance

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Edited By SlashDance

The Moon and Source Code director will be picking up where Sam Raimi left off...

...in 1976.

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Tarsier

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Edited By Tarsier

what the FUCK duncan jones?

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badmoney

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Edited By badmoney

I bet it will be pretty freaky Bowie.

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leinad44

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Edited By leinad44

I really like Source Code and Moon, but a WoW movie just doesn't sound like it'd fit those movies styles. Interested to see whether he can pull it off though.

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Edited By squidraid

@raynate2022 said:

As long as it's CG..we do not need a live action WoW movie

Didn't they already announce it was going to be live-action? I would swear GamesIndustry did.

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Edited By Milkman

David Bowie's son is directing a movie about World of Warcraft. This is the world we live in, folks.