Mass Effect: Maybe Wrex-sized Popcorn
From the BioWare forums, it has now been officially announced that a film will be made of Mass Effect. Legendary Pictures, the studio behind The Dark Knight, Watchmen, and 300, picked up the rights.
Producers will include Thomas Tull, Jon Jashni, and Avi Arad, alongside BioWare folk Ray Muzyka, Greg Zeschuck and Casey Hudson. It appears the producers are trying to sign Mark Protosevich to write the script (The Cell, I Am Legend, and the upcoming Thor). Hudson had the following to say:
At BioWare, we've always thought of Mass Effect as having the depth, emotion and plot twists perfectly suited for an adaptation to a motion picture. With Avi Arad and Legendary attached, we believe that the Mass Effect movie will be an extraordinary entertainment event that realizes our vision for the franchise and thrills fans.
While this should hardly be a surprise, considering how deeply attached the Mass Effect team has been to describing the series through film language, I remain somewhat skeptical. This has very little to do with the studio; while I was only really a fan of The Dark Knight, their films do tend toward higher production values and stay fairly close (in my opinion, perhaps a bit too close in terms of Watchmen, which benefited from the comic medium) to the source material.
No, my concerns? If they decide to follow the game's plot, I wonder about the role of Shepard. While many I know swoon over the traditional dudeShep that graces the cover and most of the videos, I remain a particular fan of Jennifer Hale's voicework--and I can only imagine they will go with the renegade male lead (would love to be proved wrong). I doubt either Hale or Mark Meer will reprise their roles on-screen. Then again, what if the film were to concentrate on discovery of the Mass Relays and First Contact War?
I'm a particular fan of not focusing on the game's plot, because a part of me feels that the reason I like Mass Effect as much as I do is because I am making those choices and seeing their consequences. I interact with the story, not passively watch it--despite the many qualities and conventions it wants to share with movies. Setting a firm film canon seems to fly in the face of the fact that I am having an effect on the universe. I suppose the upside would be opening up the series to more people who might explore the games--though I wonder how many people watch videogame adaptations and then go play the game.
Until trailers and more information are released, I will merely remain cautionary, and while I am sure I'll go see the film even if it does focus on the game's plot, I am not entirely sure I'm sold on the idea. Still, it's far too early to tell, but I worry whenever bigger productions are made of franchises of which I find myself a fan. Anyone else a bit less wary than I and instead excited?
VorpalBunny
Posted to Miscellany on 25 May 2010
· Comments (9)
Other stuff like this: avi arad, bioware, legendary pictures, mass effect, movie adaptation
Obviously I agree with you, Vorpal. I pretty much stated the very same 'concerns' I have with the film adaptation in the forums.
I'd be much more interested in First Contact War and let the movie have nothing to do with default DudeShep and canonizing him.
I really like the idea of the movie not involving characters of the game, that way the game experience and decisions the players made are not just erased.
But if Shepard is in it, you can bet they'll reinforce until the cows come home that he's str8.
I am both surprised and a little hesitant. Though the thought of a Mass Effect movie does sound cool, you have to admit the whole 'video game to live action movie' idea... kinda sucks. If they did it with CGI, now that'd be something else possibly. It really depends on how the story is handled and who they are going to cast, again kinda hoping for CGI because this would look kinda odd and will remind me more of a 90's action sci-fi flick then anything else..
Also I know a lot of comparisons have been made of this game to Star Wars, isn't it kind of odd though? Especially if this becomes a trilogy, it'd be like what Lucas did (other then destroying his own franchise) but backwards, games and THEN movies. Still though I hope Bioware isn't going to go sour and start trying to throw every game they have into movies, though wouldn't mind a KOTOR movie, done their way.
I thought I was gonna sound like that one whiny person when I saw this and thought about complaining about how they will probably feature a male Shepard, so glad to see I'm not alone in hoping for a female Shepard instead, as the boxarts and the majority of ME2 players being male seem to have made people forget (when talking about the character) that Shepard isn't strictly a man.
I too hope that the movie will not feature Shepard at all (or perhaps only briefly mentioned) to not lock-down a certain look/gender for him/her.
Unless its a fringe story that deals with the same issues as the game Reapers ect but not with the game characters I will be ok with this. Otherwise its going to have to over look the entire fact that Sheppard doesn't actually exist and is what the players have made Him OR Her.
Renegade? They'll go for paragon.
Also Think ahead femsheps romantic interest is Kaiden Alenko the most boring Romantic Interest in the series second only to Jacob.
J:
It's a heavy risk. BUT THE PRIIIIIIIIIZE
Mass Effect can be faithfully translated to film. Mass Effect 2 not so much. Majority of the story is to recruit 12 characters. I'm sorry but this sounds like a very bad ide-ASSUMING DIRECT CONTROL
This will hurt you Peachy! ;)
I still say that i rather see a TV show instead. But that's just me. I'll be waiting for the trailers... patiently.