THQ Cancels InSane, Rights Transfer to Del Toro

The ambitious, hypothetical horror trilogy collaboration with director Guillermo del Toro, THQ and Volition, inSane, has been cancelled.

New THQ president Jason Rubin revealed the news this afternoon on a financial call for THQ’s quarterly results.

The rights to inSane have reverted back to del Toro, which means he could technically do something with it in the future.

del Toro is in the midst of production on his next film, the monster and robot-filled (aka awesome) Pacific Rim.

With THQ in the midst of attempting a financial turnaround, the change isn’t surprising. The project was the baby of former executive VP of core games (and once Hollywood scribe) Danny Bilson. He is no longer with THQ.

Volition is currently working on a sequel to Saints Row: The Third. Originally, Volition was to release an expansion dubbed Saints Row: Enter the Dominatrix, but that's been wrapped into a full sequel.

I dont know this game?

Edit: This is the second time I've gotten this but the first time that it's counted. Thank god. No more impulses.

I guess this decision makes a ton of sense with where THQ has been lately. I dont know if there was enough hype for this either (I've never heard of it but.. im not a horror guy really.)

IT'S INSANE

Weak.

Crazy stuff

this is shit

Insane news.

awww man

Supposedly the game was still in pre-production.

Oh well... at least we still have Machine for Pigs for our 2013 horror fix.

I know THQ isn't in a position to gamble on a project right now, but is playing it totally safe going to pay off? Eventually they have to try new things or they will be right back where they started. Saints Row can only carry them for so long.

Shame. Del Toro seemed genuinely enthusiastic about being involved with this.

I think most people were incredulous when this was announced. First, it was announced with what, a 2014 release date? 2015? And then they had the balls to announce it as a trilogy. This had the feeling of a pipe dream from the very beginning.

It feels as if I have seen that marquee for inSane the past 10 years, turns out its only been 2. I really am rooting for THQ to keep its shit together, hopefully they are making the right moves and Darksiders 2 does well...I worry that they are going to be so strapped that they wont gamble on any new unique stuff.

@Godlyawesomeguy: BOO THIS MAN.gif

Man, I was way more disappointed until I found out this game wasn't a remake of the off-road racing game 1NSANE.

Yeah, that seems like a sound decision, given THQ's current predicament.

I was hoping for another of those art books......

Totally saw this coming way back when it was announced.

Announcing a game three years ahead of its supposed release window. And saying that it will be a trilogy, all without showing a single frame of gameplay. All signs pointed to this being a dud.

Too bad though, we really could do with more horror games.

It is the smart move. They will concentrate on their small lineup for the rest of the fiscal year to get back on their feet.

So far, it looks like Rubin was the right hire.

We all called this one. Most of Del Toro's "work" never comes out.

God sakes. I saw "Rights Transfer to Del Taco" and absolutely lost my shit.

Bummed about this news. Love Del Toro and would have really liked to see what he did with a video game.

I was probably more interested in Insane than any other THQ product or franchise.

Man, even if it was just "we're not going to do this for a while, but sometime we'll get it done". Now it's just over, to never been seen or heard from. Someone should talk Volition into spilling the plan on it. Just so we can know what it was supposed to be. Or someone should track down del Toro and ask him the vision for it. @patrickklepek ?

It was probably the name. InSane? Step it up, guys.

They should've gone with "Wackadoo".

Considering we never saw anything from this game. I didn't really have any expectations for it anyway.

I was just thinking a few weeks back what would become of this project. Everything about it, as others have said, made it seem like a pipedream or a really expensive project. They were probably looking at it and dumped it because it would be way too costly for something like this.

Its also standard practice, good or bad, for new CEOs to distance themselves from the past projects unfinished by previous ones.

When you announce a game (3 games) with just a title screen and a big name movie director it's not a great look from the beginning. Going dark for 2 years doesn't really help build excitement either. Not surprised by the move, and probably smart considering what little financial rope THQ has to work with.

nnnooooooooooooooooooooooo

Terrible news. TERRIBLE.

The announcement was weird in the first place. Never expected anything great to come out of this.

I know THQ isn't in a position to gamble on a project right now, but is playing it totally safe going to pay off? Eventually they have to try new things or they will be right back where they started. Saints Row can only carry them for so long.

NEVER announce your game as a trilogy. It seems like major bad luck.

this game has been many years in the making....wtf

@Kontrapunkt said:

God sakes. I saw "Rights Transfer to Del Taco" and absolutely lost my shit.

When stuff like this happens it's time to stop eating Del Taco.

I knew this one was too good to be true, especially considering how long ago it was announced and how long they said it was even going to be for the game to come out in the first place. But now it's dead. del Toro will be too busy doing movies and what not to probably ever touch this thing again and try to get it made into a game.

It makes sense for THQ to drop it, but, it doesn't change the fact that I'm still bummed out this game isn't likely to ever become a thing.

I had no interest in this game from the start, so it's fine by me. I want Darksiders II, some Warhammer 40k sweetness, that new Saints Row, and Company of Heroes 2. Far more interested in that lineup of games. THQ building on their already strong IPs is going to be a good way to not only pull themselves out of the rubble, but also set an example for quality in sequels and franchises.

I just really hope that Rubin will give Red Faction a real chance after that Saints Row game.

Too bad , if you ever listen to the irrational interview's episode with him , he seems like a really humble dude that wanted to learn about video games.

Well, it's good to hear more Saint's Row is already underway.. It seemed that SR2 lasted longer than SR3 did..

God damn it.

@Kontrapunkt: I always relinquish my rights to Del Taco. Every time.

I don't think playing it safe is going to save THQ!

Hm I could have sworn that I read about the cancellation months ago, strange.

They're out of their minds.

Rubin's making the right moves, making THQ leaner while focusing on it's most established IPs, like Saints Row and Darksiders. I could see THQ surviving as long as it doesn't take any unnecessary risks.

Are we ever going to get any fucking horror games any more? All the old stand bys have evolved int to crappy shooters 

Not too surprising. I don't think this will ever be seen again, though, which is disappointing.

It doesn't seem worth getting excited about teaser trailers, especially when they don't have any gameplay in them. Was there even much more information than: horror, trilogy, Del Toro and not-this-year?

Shocked.

That's a shame. I get it from a financial standpoint, but it is too bad. Del Toro has made some incredible films and his ability to create compelling characters in enchanting worlds is among the best in the industry. Don't know how he would do on a game but I was interested in trying it out. Maybe he can get support from a publisher in a better position. Would like to see maybe see a Take Two studio try this out.