Ultimate Games-to-Film Guide

[Revan654]

Movie studios have been mining the videogame industry for creative ideas since the early 1990s. Given 15 years to crack the formula, you'd think that Hollywood would have a better track record. Sadly, many game-to-film adaptations haven't lived up to expectations -- Super Mario Bros, Street Fighter, and Wing Commander are some of the worst offenders. But there is a bright side... We've seen more than a few successes -- Mortal Kombat, and the Resident Evil and Tomb Raider movies all worked fairly well.

The film biz still has plenty of chances to get it right, as there are nearly 50 videogame adaptations in various stages of development. Because we're all about bringin' you the info -- and to mark the launch of our new games-to-film portal -- we've compiled this helpful guide to all of the flicks based on games that Hollywood is toying with. Here you'll find alphabetized entries for each movie, the project's status, and an update on each film -- some with new and exclusive tidbits!



Alice
Status: In Development
American McGee's Alice was an instant hit when it debuted on the PC back in 2000. The gaming title has long since lost its luster, but the concept is still ripe for film adaptation. Sarah Michelle Gellar is attached to star and Texas Chainsaw helmer Marcus Nispel is directing. As in the game, the film will be a gothic-horror version of Alice in Wonderland that takes place after Alice has been committed to a mental institution. Scribes Jon and Erich Hoeber penned the script; the project is based at Collision Entertainment with Universal Pictures distributing. A spokesperson at Universal confirmed to IGN that the movie is still in development and cautioned that everything is subject to change. It is not, as has been reported elsewhere, already in production.

Alone in the Dark 2
Status: In Development
Games-to-film auteur Uwe Boll is plotting a sequel to his 2005 film based on the classic survival/horror game Alone in the Dark. And while the first film starred Christian Slater, Tara Reid and Stephen Dorff, Boll tells IGN that the cast for the sequel will feature a new set of actors. The script will be penned by frequent Boll collaborators Michael Roesch and Peter Scheerer. This is speculation on our part, but with Atari prepping a next generation version of Alone in the Dark for release in 2008, it's possible that the film will tie-in to the upcoming game's release.

American McGee's Oz
Status: Unknown
Alice creator American McGee has also plotted a twisted version of L. Frank Baum's fabled Land of Oz. The game itself was cancelled after publishers balked at the pitch, worrying that it was not an established franchise. McGee then decided to build the franchise from the top down -- developing the characters and a movie pitch first. Jerry Bruckheimer and Walt Disney Pictures have obtained the rights -- a trilogy was once rumored -- but the project appears to be stalled in development. Screenwriters Kevin and Dan Hageman were once attached.

Area 51
Status: Unknown
Paramount Pictures optioned the movie rights to Midway Games' sci-fi themed first-person shooter, Area 51, several years ago. Producer Christine Peters was handling the project, collaborating with the game developer to craft the film, billed as an action-packed thriller. Area 51 is set in the mysterious top-secret facility located in the Nevada desert. Specialist Ethan Cole (voiced by David Duchovny) has been sent to investigate a viral outbreak that has just shut down the research facility, automatically locking all personnel inside under quarantine. He soon realizes that the conspiracy theories and alien autopsies the world has speculated about are far worse than anyone could've imagined. The game also features the voices of Powers Boothe as Major Bridges and Marilyn Manson (appropriately enough) as Edgar, the gray alien. The creatures in the game were designed by Stan Winston Studios. As you can see it's a ripe property for feature film development, but now that the game has aged, we'll presume this one has been put out to pasture unless otherwise notified.

BloodRayne 2
Status: In Production
Uwe Boll is a one man videogame movie making machine! He's back behind the camera starting production on a sequel to the vampiress flick BloodRayne based on the Ubi Soft title. The new flick will star Natassia Malthe (Elektra's Typhoid Mary) as the title character -- Loken was booked for a new TV series and couldn't reprise her role. The story tells what happens when Rayne comes to the early American West and faces off with vampire Billy the Kid. Yup, you heard right!

Castlevania
Status: In Development
Rogue Pictures has hooked up with genre filmmaker Paul W.S. Anderson and Crystal Sky Entertainment to bring the classic videogame Castlevania to the big screen. Anderson's script reportedly spans many time periods, but mostly takes place in 15th century Transylvania. The movie is described as a fresh take on the Dracula legend, taking it back to the beginning with the story of Romanian prince Vlad the Impaler. "You could almost call this movie 'Dracula Begins,'" Anderson says. He tells IGN that exteriors will be shot in Transylvania. "It was like discovering Mordor as a real location... epic, dramatic and above all scary. Castle exteriors will be shot in Budapest because they have the huge sound stages required for the labyrinthine castle sets that make up much of the movie." The budget is still being finalized, and a fall/winter shoot is planned in Transylvania and Hungary. "We need snow in the forests," he says. Post and VFX work will be completed in London. Rogue Pictures is hoping to turn the film in to a franchise.

Citizen Siege (Oddworld Movie)
Status: In Development
Oddworld creators Lorne Lanning and Sherry McKenna are bringing their best-selling videogame property to the big screen in Citizen Siege, a CG-animated film that will be set in the Oddworld universe. The movie will be set in a frightening near future where democracy has all but disintegrated under the rule of global corporatism. Lanning is making his directorial debut with the project and McKenna is producing. The pair have hinted that there may also be a new game that will parallel the film's action.

Clock Tower
Status: In Development
Based on the popular Capcom videogame, Clock Tower tells what happens when an Ivy League-bound high school girl gets a call from the birth mother she doesn't remember. Seeking out her childhood home, the girl and her sister confront a timeless horror in the form of an entity known as Scissor Man. The script is penned by Jake Wade Wall (When a Stranger Calls), and Jorge Olguin (Sangre Eterna) is set to direct. Clock Tower is being produced by Mayhem Project who confirm that the picture is very much in development, but could offer no further details.

Crazy Taxi
Status: Dormant
Crazy Taxi was an arcade hit in the late 1990s that later made its way to console systems. The movie rights to the series were originally picked up by producer-director Richard Donner (Superman, Lethal Weapon) in July 2001. However, those rights lapsed and the property was acquired by Mindfire Entertainment. Mindfire's Mark Altman went on record saying he wants to make the film a "fun, PG-rated comedy that blends the action and car crashes of The Fast and the Furious with the drama of HBO's Taxicab Confessions and the comedy of Rat Race." All that sounds fine to us, but a significant amount of time has passed without any movement on the project. The videogame franchise and movie idea seem to have turned cold.

Darkwatch: Curse of the West
Status: Unknown
Morgan and Wong, the writers/directors/producers behind Final Destination, have been linked to a movie version of Sammy Studios' sci-fi Western shooter, Darkwatch: Curse of the West. The game follows unlucky cowboy Jericho Cross, a train robber who spots an unusual target racing down the tracks under the light of the full moon. He decides to pillage it as his final score before retiring. Jericho is shocked to discover that the unusually designed train is packed with rotting bodies with a humanoid-like appearance that he doesn't recognize. Cross soon finds himself in a battle for his life against a horde of vampires and other supernatural creatures. Morgan and Wong have developed a pitch based on the game's plot and action sequences and are currently writing a screenplay. Will it fly now that the excitement surrounding the game's release has faded? Answer unclear, ask again later.

Death Jr.
Status: Optioned
Videogame developer Backbone Entertainment has hooked up with production-management company Circle of Confusion to develop a film and comic book version of their PSP game, Death, Jr. The game centers on a teenager who just wants to be normal, but finds it hard because he's the son of the Grim Reaper. Other characters include Death, Jr.'s middle-school buddies Pandora, who constantly feels the need to open boxes, and Stigmartha, whose hands bleed when she gets nervous. Larry Guterman (Son of the Mask, Cats and Dogs) has been attached to the project and could produce through his Orange Grove Entertainment shingle. A videogame sequel to Death, Jr. was released in October. The film is not listed on Circle of Confusions current slate, but if more games are made, a movie could become more likely.

Deus Ex
Status: Dormant
It's been a long time since we've picked up any blips about Deus Ex on our radar. There hasn't been a new game in the series in a while, and the last time we heard anything about a movie version was 2003. At last report, Deus Ex was being produced by Laura Ziskin for Columbia Pictures. Greg Pruss had penned a script that painted the character of J.C. Denton in a somewhat darker light. He told IGN that he would be "a little bit filthier than he was in the game." Eidos' vice president of marketing, Paul Baldwin, was quoted as saying, "We are excited to continue our success of extending our original IP to film. Tomb Raider was highly successful, as will be Deus Ex..." The story would follow the Denton character, an agent of the United Nations Anti-Terrorist Coalition, facing a world of terrorism, treason and techno-conspiracy. Might it still happen? Sure, but at present, all signs point to no.

Devil May Cry
Status: Optioned
Tokyo-based film distributor Gaga Communications has signed a deal with Capcom to adapt Devil May Cry into a live-action feature film with a budget of around $40 million. The film's story could center on the game's central character, Dante, a maverick bounty hunter who takes on jobs involving devils and other dark creatures. When the movie deal was originally announced, Devil May Cry was slated for a 2005 production start... obviously, that's come and gone and there's been no further activity. Not a good sign, but you never know. The videogame franchise seems to be going strong -- there's a new version of Devil May Cry coming soon. We'll be watching to see what happens.

DOA: Dead or Alive
Status: Completed
This Corey Yeun-directed flick follows five voluptuous girls, each with unique fighting styles, who are invited to participate in the "Dead or Alive" world fighting tournament on an exotic island. And yes, there is even a hot beach volleyball scene! The film stars Jamie Pressly, Holly Valance, Devon Aoki, Natassia Malthe and Sarah Carter. Sizzling! Less voluptuous members of the cast include Eric Roberts and wrestler Kevin Nash. There's some controversy at the moment over when and where the DOA movie will be released. One camp tells us that it's going to have a mid-2007 theatrical release, but we're also hearing rumblings of a straight-to-DVD scenario. The latter would be a real shame for such a pristine example of cinematic finery -- we demand our DOA beach volleyball on the big screen!

Driver
Status: In Development
Rogue Pictures has acquired the movie rights to Driver, Oscar-winning writer-director Roger Avary's big-screen adaptation of the Atari videogame. Rogue picked up Driver from Constantin Film and Impact Pictures, the forces behind the Resident Evil movies. Avary, who wrote Silent Hill, is penning the script and may direct. Previous iterations of the screenplay were written by James DeMonaco, Todd Harthan and James Roday. Driver centers on a getaway driver for hire, the best in the heist biz, who is put to the test on a job.

Duke Nukem
Status: Dormant
Hail to the king, baby! It could've been cool back in the day, but this long-rumored project is well past its prime. However, Threshold Entertainment still has the movie rights to Duke Nukem. They had even setup an official website for the flick at one time -- it's now down. The studio had hooked up with Dimension Films and was planning, as of late 2001, to turn the property into a PG-13 film set in outer space... but that was ages ago, and we're guessing that Duke is dead. R.I.P.

Eternal Darkness
Status: Unknown
The rights to a big-screen or small-screen adaptation of Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Realm were bought by production company Hypnotic back in 2003. The game follows the unlucky paths of 12 humans chosen to defend the planet against an ancient race of evil foes. The title's story spans 2,000 years and takes players through historically accurate locations, deals with dark themes such as "magick" and murder, and more. The game's unique "sanity" system, which measures a character's sanity level and causes him or her to hallucinate when it dips below a certain level, remains one of the spookiest, most clever additions in software today.

Far Cry
Status: In Development
Ubisoft Entertainment's Far Cry is coming to the big screen courtesy of game movie luva Uwe Boll. Boll is producing and directing the forthcoming flick based on the popular first-person shooter. Boll's buddy Shawn Williamson at Brightlight Pictures will also produce. Williamson says, "There are elements of The Island of Dr. Moreau in this game thanks to the tropical setting and the genetic experiments that are taking place on the island. The story will be incredibly frightening." Last we heard the flick is budgeted at around $25 million. Production was set to get underway last year, but the film hit some development snags. It's now getting set to role in April or May of 2007. Boll tells IGN that Jason Statham is at the top of his wish list for the role of Jack Carver.

Fatal Frame
Status: Dormant
DreamWorks had hired a pair of scribes to adapt Tecmo's survival-horror game for the big screen, but we're fairly certain this one is on ice. John Rogers, screenwriter of The Core, was producing the flick which would have followed Miku, a girl searching for her brother -- a reporter who goes missing while working on a story about a haunted mansion where three grisly murders took place. Miku is armed only with a Polaroid camera. To stop the evil spirits she must photograph them, exposing them to a bright flash of light and capturing them inside the camera. Steven Spielberg was said to be personally involved in shepherding the project, but DreamWorks is a different kind of animal now, and he's got bigger fish to fry these days.

Fear Effect
Status: In Development
The movie version of Eidos' Fear Effect appears close to getting underway. "The film should begin production later this year," Mark A. Altman, one of the producers, tells IGN. "We just got in a new draft of the script that we're very happy with and we think this is a terrific franchise and we're looking at some big stars for our leads: Royce Glas, Deke, Rain and Hana. What I love about the film is that it starts off a thriller, almost an espionage film, and becomes something else -- something much more dark and scary. Sort of The Dirty Dozen Meets Silent Hill," Altman said. Mindfire Entertainment is shooting the flick later this year. A 2008 release is possible.

The Getaway
Status: Unknown
Back in 2003, Sony Screen Gems picked up the film rights to the popular PS2 game, The Getaway. The story centers on Mark Hammond and Frank Carter, two men on opposite sides of the law who are both out to bring down London's legendary crime boss Charlie Jolson. Those who have played the game will know that it is practically a movie already. This project has been silent for a while, though, and a Screen Gems rep told IGN that they were unaware of the project. But there is a third installment in the game series scheduled for release on the PlayStation 3 later this year. That could heat things up again.

God of War
Status: Optioned
Mosaic Group made plans in 2005 to bring the PlayStation 2 game God of War to life on the big screen. God of War is a bloody story of vengeance, set in an ancient Greece full of mythical beings and deities. The hero of the story is a Spartan warrior named Kratos, who must carry out missions for the gods on Olympus to prevent Ares from destroying the city of Athens. "We've been enthralled by this project since our first time playing the game in March and realized its narrative had great potential for large-screen production," producer Charles Roven said at the time the deal was struck. Although the game is a product of Sony's entertainment division, Universal is linked as distributor of the film.

Half-Life
Status: Unknown
Developers Valve Software have shopped the movie rights to Half-Life around Hollywood, but we're not aware of any serious bites. The acclaimed shooter, first released for the PC in the late '90s, follows a scientist named Gordan Freeman who works in an underground military research facility. When a dangerous experiment goes terrifyingly wrong, a dimensional rift is opened and ghoulish monsters are released into the Earthly realm. Freeman must fight his way back to the surface, destroying the deadly creatures and going up against a military clean-up crew that is unconcerned with his rescue. The story has continued in a number of sequels. And as is the case with many of these game-to-film projects, there's a new installment in the game series slated for later this year. That could mean renewed interest in a Half-Life movie.

Halo
Status: On Hold
Halo, based on the hugely successful Bungie/Microsoft videogame franchise, was so close to making its way to the big screen... and now seems so far. The movie was originally developed in-house by Microsoft, who hired screenwriter Alex Garland to write the script. The game developer than pitched the major studios directly -- the pitches were delivered to offices by messengers dressed as Master Chief. 20th Century Fox and Universal reached an agreement with Microsoft to co-produce the $135 million movie which was to be produced by Lord of the Rings shepherds Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh. That sounds like a dynamite combo, but it wasn't long before plans for the film began to unravel. Garland's script was dumped and green screenwriter, D.B. Weiss, was brought on. Neill Blomkamp, a first-time director, was hired -- a move that seems to not have inspired confidence all around. The death blow came when Universal and Fox reportedly tried to push Microsoft to reduce their stake in the picture at the 11th hour. The software giant, along with Jackson and Walsh, balked and the deal went bust. Producers initially said the flick would proceed according to plan and that talks were immediately getting underway with other studios, but just a few days later Jackson issued a statement saying the film would be indefinitely postponed. So, what's the current status? Walsh and Jackson released a statement saying, "While it will undoubtedly take a little longer for Halo to reach the big screen, we are confident that the final feature film will be well worth the wait."

Hitman
Status: In Development
Hitman and its videogame sequels put players in the shoes of Agent 47, an assassin for hire. Vin Diesel had been set to star in the title role and was going to executive produce the film version of the Eidos Interactive franchise, but he's now off the project. Timothy Olyphant (Deadwood) is now linked to the starring role, and action icon Luc Besson (The Professional, La Femme Nikita) will co-produce the project. Chuck Gordon, Adrian Askarieh and Daniel Alter are producing. The script was penned by screenwriter Skip Woods (Swordfish, Logan's Run). 20th Century Fox is behind the flick, which has not yet been given the official green light, but a reliable source tells IGN that the flick will go into production in early spring. Awesome! We've also heard rumblings that newcomer Xavier Genz is directing. Stay close for more.

Hunter: The Reckoning
Status: Unknown
Hunter: The Reckoning is actually based on a pen-and-paper role-playing game from White Wolf that was later turned into a videogame by Vivendi Universal Games. The story traces a group of humans who hunt down monsters... ripe enough for us. Vivendi Universal made a deal, not with the devil, but with director Uwe Boll to bring the property to the big screen. That said... Boll is not listing the project on his personal development slate, but it may yet get rolling.

In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale
Status: Completed
Uwe Boll's latest film is In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale, based on the popular series developed by Gas Powered Games. The movie follows the heroic journey of a simple family man named Farmer who must rescue his kidnapped wife from the evil Gallian. The film is set to hit the big screen later this year. Boll has a habit of putting crazy eclectic ensemble casts together and In the Name of the King is no exception. The film stars Jason Statham, Leelee Sobieski, Burt Reynolds, Ray Liotta, Ron Perlman, Matthew Lillard, Kristanna Loken, Claire Forlani and John Rhys-Davies. Believe it.

Max Payne
Status: Optioned
Max Payne, a film based on the gritty third-person shooter of the same name, was first rumored to be getting the film treatment back in 2001. Most recently (in June 2005), 20th Century Fox made a deal with Collision Entertainment to develop the property. The story centers around a New York cop, Max Payne, whose wife and baby are murdered by criminals high on a new drug called Valkyr. Without much left to live for, Payne joins the DEA and goes undercover with the mob to discover the source of the drug. Framed for the murder of his partner, Max is hunted down by both the mob and the cops in his one-man war on crime. Producer Scott Faye has said that the film would have a Dirty Harry-like vibe.

MechWarrior
Status: In Development
Filmmaker Dean Devlin is producing this flick at Electric Entertainment; Paramount Pictures is expected to distribute. When the original deal was made for Devlin to shepherd the project, he noted, "Whether I write the script or help with the script or direct, I'm crazy about the material, and this is a real passion project for me." Devlin says to expect lots of massively cool CG mechs. We can't wait! So, what's the latest? As of January 2007, Devlin tells us, "We are still involved and are currently developing a script." Stay tuned for more. We think this movie could pick up some serious traction if Transformers does well at the box office.

Metal Gear
Status: Unknown
Solid Snake on the big screen? Gaming fans have long salivated over the prospect of a Metal Gear movie. Rumors have persisted for years, but nothing has ever come of it. One of the sticking points may be the high standards of game creator Hideo Kojima, who is all for the idea. "Things one can express in a game are different of those in a movie," he said in a 2004 interview with Variety. "It would have to be a very different script, almost a different story."

Metroid
Status: Optioned
The Metroid movie rights were originally acquired from Nintendo in 2003 by Warren Zide and Craig Perry, the producers of the American Pie and Final Destination films. Their stab at the project fizzled and the rights were then snatched up by John Woo. And while fans would probably be filled with glee over the possibility of a Woo-helmed Metroid movie, there hasn't been any news in a long time. At present, we're awaiting word from Nintendo on the status of the film rights. The movie, when and if it gets made, would likely focus on the origins of the game's female protagonist -- sexy bounty hunter Samus Aran -- and her adventures battling the life-sucking Metroids and their controlling force, Mother Brain.

Nightmare Creatures
Status: Unknown
This project was announced all the way back in Y2K, but it never really got off the ground. The guy who directed Disney's Dinosaur was attached, but it doesn't look like things are going to move forward. The planned story for the film centered on brilliant master surgeon Adam Crowley who is shunned by his medical contemporaries for his gruesomely unorthodox experiments. In seclusion, Crowley learns to regenerate his own failing body and creates a hellish brood of monsters who invade London. But his plan to scientifically alter the course of evolution is threatened by his most perfect creation.

Onimusha
Status: Optioned
The movie rights to Capcom's Onimusha are currently optioned by Davis Entertainment where Chairman John Davis is producing. Davis most recently produced Eragon and is producing the forthcoming Alien vs. Predator sequel. Noboru Sugimura, who has penned the script for the Onimusha games, among others, is taking a stab at the screenplay. Right now the film isn't in development, but if it were to happen we wouldn't likely see it in theaters until 2010.

Pac-Man
Status: Optioned
Crystal Sky Entertainment and Japanese distributor Gaga (the two entities that are also linked to the live-action Tekken movie -- see below) have gobbled up the movie rights to the videogame that started it all, Pac-Man. The studio plans to turn the classic arcade franchise into a "live-action fantasy adventure." Just how they'll do that is yet to be seen. No writer or director is attached to the project at this time. Unfortunately, there's been little to no activity on this one since it was first announced, but it could come to life at any time. We can't even imagine how anyone could pull this off, but we'd love to see it.

Postal
Status: In Post-Production
"Postal will insult all cultures, religions, political groups and leaders. No one will be spared. The film is intended to provoke thought, laughter and open debate. Our world is out of balance and Postal will reflect just how [expletive] up we are," says games-to-film director Uwe Boll of his forthcoming adaptation of the controversial Postal videogame franchise. The film, which is expected to hit theaters later this year, stars Zack Ward, Dave Foley and Chris Coppola. Postal tells what happens when a postal service employee embarks on a kill-and-destroy mission.

Prince of Persia
Status: Optioned
Jerry Bruckheimer Films has eyed Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time for feature development at Walt Disney Pictures. The game's creator, Jordan Mechner, has already written a screenplay which was supervised by writer John August. August will also serve as executive producer on the film. Inside sources tell us they've seen the script and it is truly top-shelf -- far better than your stock game-to-film adaptation! The original Prince of Persia game was released roughly 15 years ago and Ubisoft's Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, the 3D sequel that spawned talk of a movie, proved a multi-platform smash. The game is set in medieval Persia, Earth's mightiest and most mysterious kingdom, where a king and his son defeat the powerful Maharajah and kidnap his daughter, looting his palace of priceless treasure, including an extravagant hourglass, and a mysterious dagger. What the Prince does not realize, is that these two objects can turn their possessor into an immortal god, and give him control over time itself. Tricked by a dying Vizier bent on harnessing this terrible magic for himself, the Prince releases the sands of time, destroying a kingdom and turning its populace into ferocious demons. Only the Prince, the Vizier, and Princess Farah, the kidnapped daughter of the Maharajah, remain unchanged. Now, it is up to the young Prince of Persia to call upon every resource and ounce of courage he possesses to save his kingdom and redeem his fatal mistake. Creator Mechner says that he sees the Bruckheimer-produced Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl as a touchstone for the adaptation. "Rather than do a straight beat-for-beat adaptation of the new videogame," he says, "we're taking some cool elements from the game and using them to craft a new story – much as Pirates did with the theme park ride."

Psi-Ops
Status: Dormant
Producers Adrian Askarieh and Chuck Gordon picked up the movie rights to Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy back in August 2004, but Askarieh tells us that the project is no longer active. The Midway game follows a gifted Psi-Operative who infiltrates a dangerous terrorist group by having his memory erased and allowing himself to be captured. As his memory slowly returns, he recalls his unique abilities and uses them to thwart the group's deadly plans. The producers had hoped to tie the film's release into the game's sequel, but it seems that plans for the game and the film were shelved after the title's limited success in the market.

Resident Evil: Extinction
Status: In Production
The third installment in the popular zombie killin' videogame franchise once again stars Milla Jovovich as Alice. This time around she's out for revenge on the Umbrella Corp., leading a convoy of Raccoon City survivors across the Nevada desert on their way to Alaska. Extinction also stars Oded Fehr (The Mummy, RE: Apocalypse), Ali Larter (Final Destination), and Mike Epps. John Eric Bentley (TV's "Less than Perfect") plays an Umbrella executive bent on hunting down Alice. The Screen Gems flick is tentatively set for a big-screen release on September 7, 2007.

Resident Evil IV
Status: Rumored
A fourth film in the Resident Evil franchise is being considered. IGN paid a visit to the Extinction set in Mexico City a few months ago, where we were advised by producer Jeremy Bolt that the filmmakers, including writer-producer Paul W.S. Anderson, were mulling a fourth movie. Beyond that, it's all rumor. The film may be known as "Afterlife," which was the original working title for the third movie in the series. Rumored members of the cast include Milla Jovovich, Ali Larter, Jensen Ackles, Jason O'Mara, Carhlie Clausen and Sienna Guillory.
Return to Castle Wolfenstein
Status: Unknown
Columbia Pictures has the movie rights to Return to Castle Wolfenstein. The film, if it happens, will follow a highly decorated Army Ranger who is recruited into the Office of Secret Actions and tasked with escaping and then returning to Castle Wolfenstein in an attempt to thwart occult and genetic experiments being conducted there by Nazis. At last report, Rich Wilkes (xXx), was drafting the screenplay for the game-to-film adaptation. That was years ago, however, and we're no longer sure if Return to Castle Wolfenstein is still in development. This is the kind of game that doesn't really go stale, but we're not getting our hopes up unless the game franchise reignites.

Soul Calibur
Status: Dormant
Namco's popular fighting game, Soul Calibur, was optioned by producer Warren Zide (American Pie, Final Destination) back in 2004. The story he was developing is said to have revolved around two warriors who are chosen by Shaolin monks to recover and destroy a powerful sword, Soul Edge, that has fallen into the hands of an evil prince who plans to use it to open the gates of hell and destroy the world. However, Zide now tells IGN that he is no longer involved in the project.

Splinter Cell
Status: Unknown
Splinter Cell, based on Tom Clancy's videogame and book series, began the road to the big screen in 2004 when Friday Night Lights helmer Peter Berg began developing the film at Paramount Pictures. Their version of the flick fell apart and the movie rights were later acquired by DreamWorks. However, Paramount's parent company, Viacom has since purchased DreamWorks and would now technically hold the rights to a project that they had previously let go. An early version of the screenplay by Pirates scribe Stuart Beattie was leaked online in 2005. In that version, the story reportedly focuses on the relationship between widowed Third Echelon operative Sam Fisher and his daughter, Sarah, who is placed in grave danger.

Spy-Hunter
Status: In Development
It's been a long wait since producers Adrian Askarieh and Chuck Gordon picked up the movie rights to Midway's Spy-Hunter back in 2002, but the Universal-based game-to-film adaptation is closer to becoming a big-screen reality. A well-placed source tells IGN that a major filmmaker will be announced soon and hints that fans will be very pleased with the choice! As has been previously reported, the movie will center on former F-15 pilot Alec Sects who is recruited by an elite government agency to become a Spy Hunter. His mission is to bring down a cartel seeking world domination, utilizing his fully-armed vehicle, the G-6155 Interceptor which can morph into various configurations -- just like in the game. Scribes Zak Penn (X2, Behind Enemy Lines), Michael Brandt & Derek Haas (2 Fast 2 Furious), and Freddy Vs. Jason writers Mark Swift & Damian Shannon have all contributed to the script. Our guess is that the new director will determine what previously written material is retained. Stay tuned for more!

Street Fighter
Status: In Development
A new Street Fighter movie is coming! Forget about the silliness of the 1994 film version that starred Jean-Claude Van Damme. Hyde Park Entertainment and Capcom are teaming up to produce a new flick based on the classic fighting videogame. Screenwriter Justin Marks has been asked to pen the script, which will reportedly center around the game's prolific female fighter, Chun Li. All other details of the story are being kept secret. If development goes according to plan, a new Street Fighter movie could be on the big screen in 2008 -- the 20th anniversary of the videogame franchise.

The Suffering
Status: In Development
MTV Films and effects guru Stan Winston have joined forces to bring Midway Games' popular action-horror property The Suffering to the big screen. The flick will be based on the original Suffering title, which dropped back in April 2004 and its sequel -- The Suffering: Ties that Bind -- released in 2005. In The Suffering, the player controls a prisoner named Torque, a death row inmate convicted for a murder he may or may not have actually committed. The Suffering: Ties That Bind allows players to dig deeper into Torque's perverse world to discover his past and struggle to control his future. Midway's Surreal Software developed both titles. Watch IGN for further updates.

Tekken
Status: Optioned
A film based on the Tekken fighting game franchise from Namco is setup at Crystal Sky Pictures. Drumline and Mr. 3000 helmer Charles Stone III was linked to the project for some time, but now it appears that Dwight H. Little (Anacondas, Broken Arrow) is attached to direct. There hasn't been much official word on the flick, but a 2009 release is still rumored. As for casting, Jet Li has supposedly circled the project, but nothing is certain. Producer Benedict Carver's office confirmed that the movie is still very much in development, so watch for more news!

Tomb Raider III
Status: Rumored
Might Lara Croft return to the big screen? A third installment in the Tomb Raider franchise is rumored, and Angelina Jolie may even return as the film's busty heroine. When talking to the press last month, Ian Livingstone, head of game developer Eidos said, "There's a possibility -- we've been talking to Paramount, who've agreed to assign a scriptwriter. That's nowhere near the green-light process but it's a very healthy start to have a scriptwriter which they're going to pay serious amounts of money to write the first script." Stay tuned!

Warcraft
Status: Optioned
Legendary Pictures, the production company behind Superman Returns and Batman Begins, has picked up the movie rights to Warcraft -- the wildly successful series of games from Blizzard Entertainment. If it comes to pass, the flick will be co-financed and distributed by Warner Bros. Blizzard COO Paul Sams told IGN that he expects the Warcraft movie to have a budget well over $100 million. "Warner Bros. says this will be a tent pole movie for them," Sams explained, "a big, high-budget blockbuster that they expect to do very well and hold up the tent along with other big blockbuster movies that year."

Also theirs a MGS Movie in development. It will not start for awhile until Hideo finishes MGS4. Since he is writing the script.

Also a Kameo CG movie in Development.



Source: IGN