Mass Effect

[Galactus]

Mass Effect movie rights snapped
Friday 19-Sep-2008 11:30 AM
Ex-Marvel movies boss said to be on the case.
It seems as though BioWare's Mass Effect has joined the long list of games 'headed' to the big screen (by 'headed', we clearly mean 'destined to be stuck in cinema limbo hell and never see the light of').

According to Variety's Cut Scene blog the rights to the sci-fi RPG series have been snapped up by ex-Marvel Movie boss Avi Arad, who's since left the Comic giant to set-up his own production company.

Good news if you consider he's contributed in bringing Spider-Man, X-Men and Iron Man to the big screen, bad if you remember Elektra, Ghost Rider and so-so Spider-Man 3.

Arad is also working on getting a big-screen adaptation of Capcom's Lost Planet to the big screen.

It's all one big no-brainer then. Mass Effect's got a large game community following, rich cast of protagonists, baddies and love interests, plus the story's been fleshed out enough to fill two books (not that we've read them, cough).

Arad is now said to be looking for writers, a director and a studio to attach to the Mass Effect movie. Limbo for a few years it is then...

 

[TwoOfAKind]

Too early for a game franchise to be fleshed out onto the big screen, It would require a massive budget to give the movie justice but can't see that happening.

 

[Why Are You Crouching Spock?]

Keep a game a game imo.

 

[JackBauer]

There's so much great content in the first game alone that I really think the story could be better explored as a tv series, or at least a mini-series. It could easily become the next Star Trek. It'd never happen though, the budget would be too massive for television.

 

[Philly Phanboy]

I see it working better as a television series too.

I wonder if they'll get any of the people that voiced the game to star in this? I could see Seth Green, Keith David, and Lance Henriksen in this. Actually the only one who I'd really hate to see in this would be Marina Sirtis because she did such a horrible job.

 

[Commodore Schmidlapp]

This is no surprise, the game is so full of great story and content.

 

[Kent]

I loved the game. If done right, this could be awesome.

 

[Apollo]

Please keep it away from Fox!!

 

[Dark_Lord]

'Mass Effect' video game on way to movie screen (exclusive)

Legendary Pictures has picked up rights to “Mass Effect,” the Electronic Arts-BioWare video game. Mark Protosevich, the scribe who wrote “I Am Legend” and worked on “Thor,” is in talks to pen the movie, which will be produced by Avi and Ari Arad as well as Legendary’s Thomas Tull and Jon Jashni.

“Mass,” which debuted in 2008, is an epic sci-fi action game set in the year 2183, focusing on a human soldier and his starship, the SSV Normandy. The galaxy-spanning story involves a long-extinct race of aliens, dormant beacons and more alien species than you can shake a lightsaber at.

A sequel to the game was released in January.

The project is still in the early stages of development, though any game-to-screen undertaking would require a massive commitment. So far, humans vs. aliens movies have tended to be set on Earth, which makes those films easier to shoot while making them relatable for mass audiences.

One of the by-products of the success of “Avatar” has been showing that moviegoers will follow and invest themselves in non-human characters if given a reason to, which opens the door for more alien movies.

The players involved all have experience in undertaking giant-sized production. Legendary’s credits include co-producing such tentpoles as “The Dark Knight,” “300” and the recent “Clash of the Titans” remake. Avi Arad is the former chairman of Marvel Studios, whose Arad Prods. is developing a feature film version of video game “Drake’s Fortune.”

CAA-repped Protosevich is known for his large-scope sci-fi work. In addition to “Legend” and “Thor,” the scribe worked on remakes of “Stranger in a Strange Land” and “The Bride of Frankenstein,” both still in development at their respective studios, and is writing the English-language translation of “Old Boy” for Mandate.

Tull called “Effect” “ripe for translation,” saying it had “depth, compelling characters and an engaging back story.” Arad described the game as “a parable whose conflicts mirror the ones we currently face in our own world. This story emphasizes the need for all cultures to learn to work together.”

Casey Hudson, who exec produced the game series, said BioWare always “thought ‘Mass Effect’ was perfectly suited to be a motion picture,” while Pat O’Brien of UTA-repped EA said the game was seen early on as having cross-over potential by EA Entertainment, whose mission is to take key EA titles and develop new ways to expand their audience.

“Effect” will fall under Legendary's co-production and co-financing agreement with Warner Bros., who will distribute the film worldwide.
BioWare co-founders Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk will serve as executive producers, as will Hudson.

HeatVisionBlog.com

 

[Mrs. Sawyer]

This is awesome news. I can't wait! I hope they do the film justice. So many questions. Are the going to do the Shepard stories? Or something different?

And if they do go with Shepard, who would be best for the role?

 

[Marz69]

I really hope they do this right. This could be awesome.

 

[Spideyfan93]

I CAN'T WAIT FOR THIS MOVIE! Legendary Pictures and the creators of ME being involved give me confidence!

Also...hope Miranda is in it, she was smoking!

 

[Donut]

Matthew Fox as Shepard. There is no other

 

[Donut]

I CAN'T WAIT FOR THIS MOVIE! Legendary Pictures and the creators of ME being involved give me confidence!

Also...hope Miranda is in it, she was smoking!

She should definitely be played by her real life counter part

Yvonne Strahovski

But with the ending of Lost Matthew Fox is perfect for Shepard

 

[Spideyfan93]

Perfecto!

And I agree about Matthew Fox for the Commander. He wants to concentrate on cinema now that L O S T is over. If the script is gold...give it a go!

 

[Spider-Vader]

Just let the guys from Bioware write the movie & we're good.

 

[Donut]

They can definitely keep Seth Green for Joker he was fun

 

[Balthus Dire]

I don't know how I feel about this. Mass Effect is my favourite gaming franchise ever and I honestly don't think they can turn it into a movie while managing to fit in everything that makes the game great. There's just too much. I really hope they don't butcher it like every other VG adaptation in history.

Also, if Matthew Fox plays Shephard I just might shoot someone. I never understood why people clamor for him to play that part. Why?? Just because he has a shaved head?? He's absolutely nothing like Shepard.

 

[GEO]

I don't know how I feel about this. Mass Effect is my favourite gaming franchise ever and I honestly don't think they can turn it into a movie while managing to fit in everything that makes the game great. There's just too much. I really hope they don't butcher it like every other VG adaptation in history.

Also, if Matthew Fox plays Shephard I just might shoot someone. I never understood why people clamor for him to play that part. Why?? Just because he has a shaved head?? He's absolutely nothing like Shepard.

Agreed! He comes across whiny to me. I would rather have a grittier Shep who can make tough decisions. MF comes across as milk&cookie to me. Even after watching vantage point & Lost, I don't see why he's so perfect to some.

Plus, I wouldn't be surprised is they're looking at Sam Worthington for the role.

 

[Mrs. Sawyer]

Agreed! He comes across whiny to me. I would rather have a grittier Shep who can make tough decisions. MF comes across as milk&cookie to me. Even after watching vantage point & Lost, I don't see why he's so perfect to some.

Plus, I wouldn't be surprised is they're looking at Sam Worthington for the role.

Don't mention that name. You'll jinx it and we'll end up with him!

 

[Soapy]

Hopefully they wont try and adapt the game's story. The Mass Effect universe is expansive and interesting enough for a film series to have a wholly independent plot from the games. Perhaps the movie(s) could focus on the discovery of the Martian Prothean ruins, the First Contact War, and humanity's quest to find it's place among galatic civilization.

 

[Dark_Lord]

Plus, I wouldn't be surprised is they're looking at Sam Worthington for the role.

Someone actually suggested him in another forum and I just...

 

[The Apocalypse]

I'd LOL so much if Sam Worthington got the role. I played half the game and when I first saw the main character is thought Matthew Fox but I'm not sure how well he'd play the role. Looking it is one thing and acting it is another.

 

[AnorexicBatman]

Chris Nolan's Mass Effect? Some have suggested he will direct because he has worked with LEGENDARY PICTURES before. I would suggest his less grittier brother John though.
Mass Effect is good for a first time director, plenty of material and a universe of possibility

 

[dark_b]

i didnt play the game but i have been hearing that it has a good story.

is this true?