God of War movie details revealed
Here they speak on how they are planning to humanize Kratos, the main character in Sony's game franchise.
"In the same way that Batman was grounded with Christopher Nolan's rendition, we were attempting to do that with Kratos so that when we meet him, like they're doing in this newest game, which is sort of a prequel to the original. We're seeing him before he became the Ghost of Sparta, when he was just a Spartan warrior and he had family and kids."
They go on to discuss the progression of the game's storyline and how they plan to adapt it into a possible trilogy.
"In the game, there's that attack from the barbarians and Kratos has to call upon Ares to help him. Really, that's going to be our first act break. Before then, he's going to be mortal, and he's going to have his family. We're going to learn about him and understand how he operates. So it's potentially 30 minutes -- give or take -- of building up this character so that, when he does turn and becomes the Ghost of Sparta, we understand him as a human and we understand the journey that he's going to take. We're emotionally invested, so that it could go beyond just this one movie. We're going to spend $150 million to make this movie. We really need to understand this character and get behind him and feel his pain and feel his emotions so that, when he is in these giant set pieces, we're in there with him and we're feeling it."
The duo also revealed some details about how they are planning on building up Ares in the film.
In the game, you know, he's immortal, and he doesn't really do much besides raid Athens. So we're trying to build him up a bit more, too, so that he can become a true villain."
Patrick Melton and Marcus Dunstan most recently worked together on Pacific Rim and contributed to John Gulager's Piranha 3DD.
No casting details or production schedule has been released for the film.
Comments (34)
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Nicholaus XX
@jimthar -- That's subjective. Right attitude? I disagree. It's a big deal, to me. Art-house films aren't the only ones that beg of great performances, you know. Yeah, no...
I think we're on a different page, now. You want some cliched, badly-acted action-flick, while I want a well-made video game-adaption.
8 months agoby @XxNickTheFilmCriticXxFlag
THE JOKER
@jimthar I wouldn't say go at it with that attitude. It started as a video game yes... but it's getting a film because of how well written the story is. It's still a movie being made from a great story. So why waste your money half assing the film... get the best people you can... Dominic Purcell would be much better for the part than Vin Diesel...
9 months agoby @mcleve02Flag
Jimthar
@XxNickTheFilmCriticXx yeah but he LOOKS like kratos and has the right type of attitude for the part. mediocre actor? big deal. its a video game movie, not some art house film that needs incredibly diverse performances. he's going to be killing and yelling through the whole movie. not exactly a challenge.
9 months agoby @jimtharFlag
THE JOKER
@narrator haha the fan boy in me had to say Nolan and he will always pull Pfister with him... so that's why I had both of them listed haha.... but Edward Zwick was my first logical choice along with Fiove! I think I meant more so for Zimmer to be there for like producing purposes, as Marino is still fresh in the composing world and film would be a big jump for him. And who is the man at getting young composers started and on their way... that's where my mind was going with that! Yeah I was actually being weird and watching Blade 3 at the time when I got that message, so I just thought, huh he would be pretty cool as Kratos... I am glad to see we agree as well!
http://news.filefront.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/06/ceb6.jpg
9 months agoby @mcleve02Flag
the Narrator
Edward Zwick is an impressive choice, @mcleve02. He was my choice for the new Wolverine film. I think he could pull it off nicely, given the inspiration. Nolan is definitely out for me though. Just because the man is good at one thing, doesn't mean he's good at everything. His strengths are protagonist character development, amazing dialogue, and cohesive plot driving. The more action his films have in them, is usually the weaker they are, with TDKR and Insomnia being at the bottom of his outstanding barrel. Even if that weren't the case, I could never see him having an interest in this project.
Mauro Fiove is a solid choice and one that I'd gladly back. The other two, not so. They're acclaimed, but looking at their body of work makes their choice seem a bit random.
I like Zimmer as much as the next guy, but I'd like a score that's not made by him for once. Marino, however, is a shoe in that I overlooked. Props to you.
Purcell is a decent actor, and I guess can see him in the role. Also, I'm glad to see that you agree with Ares. ;)
9 months agoby @narratorFlag
THE JOKER
@narrator Just let me know what you think man!
9 months agoby @mcleve02Flag
THE JOKER
@narrator Hard question to answer I have several choices for each category you gave...
Director: I would love to see either Christopher Nolan, Edward Zwick, Roland Emmerich or Sam Raimi take on this, with an edge on Nolan and Raimi...
Cinematographer: Wally Pfister, Mauro Fiove, or Robert Richardson
Screenwriter: John Logan
Composer: Hans Zimmer and Gerard Marino working together
Kratos: Dominic Purcell comes to mind...
Ares: You already picked the best choice
9 months agoby @mcleve02Flag
Corey W.
@narrator Great picks. I'd love to see Hardy in the role.
9 months agoby @coreyFlag
Nicholaus XX
@jimthar -- Tom Hardy has the bronze, and the talent. Vin Diesel? Not so much. A well-built, but mediocre actor. Next!
9 months agoby @XxNickTheFilmCriticXxFlag
Nicholaus XX
@narrator -- True, but he'd do just fine. I wouldn't mind an unknown, though. Well, now thinking about it, motion-capture just might work. It would really grasp that video game element, and would indeed allow more graphic, depraved violence.
If, however, they cast Vin Diesel or The Rock; it's an instant fail.
9 months agoby @XxNickTheFilmCriticXxFlag
Bawnian©-Dexeus
@narrator All excellent choices. You got more details about them than I would and could be a stunning team up for the character. As for Kratos, well, yes, the character is more ripped than the 300 cast, but let's not forget that when it comes to comic books and video games, the characters are like walking Adonises than regular looking people. You can get a body builder for the body type but you can't sacrifice the performance, even if the man doesn't speak for anyone or anything despite him screaming and cursing the gods. I say anyone with talent willing to get into appropriate shape can fit the bill. Fans can't always get a 100% lookalike. if they did, there'd be unreal silicon women on screen. Hardy is a good choice, but then the studi might want the Rock for already having the body for the role and a guaranteed fan base that could very well triple if he's the official choice.
9 months agoby @bawnian-dexeusFlag
the Narrator
Just out of curiosity, who would you use to bring this franchise to the big screen, if you had to. My quintessential God of War cast and crew?
Director: Guillermo Del Toro
He's talented, of that there is no doubt. Renowned for his eye popping creature designs and smart use of CGI to support (not overshadow) practical effects, he'd be a shoe-in for this fantasy film full of interesting creatures and gods. Del Toro's a proven fan of mythology as well as shown himself adept at correctly capturing the heart of his characters that stem from other mediums (be they graphic novels, books, or games). He seems to enjoy action just fine with the Hellboy franchise, and he'll likely prove himself capable of a large budget when Pacific Rim comes out. More than any of this, however, Del Toro is one of the few auteur's in the industry capable of honing in on one's heartstrings. Be it with humor, sorrow, or dark thoughts, Guillermo is able to capture a characters thoughts and feelings with a few significant shots and angles. This is the type of director a Kratos centered film would need, because he's not a man of many words. All around, if he can't direct At the Mountains of Madness, this is a good project for him to look into.
Cinematographer: Bruno Delbonnel (runner up is Larry Fong)
I always stress how important cinematography is for a film. Granted, at the end of the day, certain factors (solid directing, strong performances, or a brilliant script) can overturn the effects of poor photography. Nonetheless, solid cinematography sure helps a picture go a long way. Certain angles and shots, the amount of time a camera lingers, the lighting of key scenes, etc - it all goes miles to help immerse us in the atmosphere of the film. At the same time, poor cinematography can result in pulling the audience out of the story. And on a deeper level, cinematography paints the canvas of the film we're seeing, and thus speaks to us on a completely separate level. With a film as visceral as God of War needs to be, we need a unique director. Enter Bruno. The French cinematographer has incredible talent. His shots have a nice, grainy texture to them. A fan of isolating certain colors in scenes and dimming the rest in a subtle but loud manner, he's near perfect for this film. His work in Amelie proved he can do character scene and beautiful wide shots, while his work in The Half Blood Prince showed us that he can handle emotionally charged scenes of action and loss. I say he'd be damn perfect for this film.
Screenwriters: William Monahan and Robert E. Vardeman
William Monahan is a good writer. Simple as that. While his films may not hold the same verbal punches as, say, Aaron Sorkin, they are lasting. Kingdom of Heaven (extended edition), The Departed (amazing adaption), and Body of Lies were all films that lingered in my head and gave me thought for food, while still offering a lot of entertainment and instantly re-quotable lines. Winning a best screenwriters Oscar for adapting Infernal Affairs, Monahan is at the top of the list to adapt this game. However, he doesn't KNOW the game as well as we might. Hence Robert E. Vardeman. A renown fan of almost anything sci-fi, and writer, Vardeman has a humble body of work, hardly any of which pertain to film projects. However, among his works are the game-to-book adaption's of God of War 1 and 2. With these two working hand in hand (hypothetically, they'd get along), I am almost certain we'd get a remarkable film full of emotionally charged exchanges, brutal action scenes, and a grand adaption.
Composer: Howard Shore
James Newton Howard is busy, Hans Zimmer is borderline overrated (but just barely), John Powell needs different projects than this. Who do we turn to? Why the versatile Howard Shore, of course. In need of some dark moody overtones for a serial killer film? Or how about some cheerful hobbiton tracks? Either way, he's your man. Think of what he did with Lord of the Rings, particularly with Gollum and Ring. That should show you how dedicated the man is in knowing not only his trade, but the project he's working on. He studies what he works on in order to best capture the mood or feel of that character or place, and he ties it all together flawlessly. Perfect for this character driven blockbuster.
Kratos: Fassbender? Hardy? Flying monkeys?
If Kratos didn't have to be ripped like a mother, then I'd say give the role to Fassbender. One need only look at his roles in Hunger, 300, and X-Men: First Class to capture the emotional range (more or less) of Kratos. The man is ripped, talented, and willing to get into games (his production company bought the rights to Assassins Creed). What more do you need? Unfortunately, Kratos needs to be not only tragic and emotionally resonant, but big... and I mean huge. This narrows the list of known actors down considerably. An actor like Tom Hardy might get pumped enough to be the Ghost of Sparta and still pull off the characters vicious and less-seen vulnerable sides. Still, there has to be someone else out there? Someone perfect for this role... somewhere over the rainbow.
Ares: Brendan Gleeson
The god of war. The title character and the bane of Kratos' life. When I first saw this character on my old twenty inch television, I thought of one actor - Brendan Gleeson. Granted, the Gleeson that came to mind was considerably younger than he is now (ala Braveheart days), but technology and makeup is amazing, isn't it? If he can't play the villain of this story, how about Ray Winstone? So long as it's not Liam Neeson, I'm open.
@bawnian-dexeus@corey@mcleve02
9 months agoby @narratorFlag
the Narrator
@XxNickTheFilmCriticXx - I could see Hardy doing a good job of playing the Spartan Ghost, despite showing little physical resemblance to Kratos. What happened to casting talented unknowns, though?
Personally, I see only one way of pulling this film off, and that's doing it with motion-capture. It might piss guys looking for live-action clashes off, but I feel mo-cap would do this epic wonders. Breath rattling action sequences, harsh violence that wouldn't demand an NC-17 rating because it's a form of animation, and luscious computer generated scenery. It'd be better than getting the likes of Vin Diesel or The Rock to star in a role beyond their ability and getting a director to make what he can out of a failed script. This project screams doomed until I hear some serious talent showing an interest in the screenplay, such as Del Toro.
9 months agoby @narratorFlag
LuxoIII
They're trying to ground a movie involving Greek mythology in reality?
9 months agoby @brady1138Flag
Matthew Antoon
there going to ruin it. Just like everything else
9 months agoby @matthew-antoonFlag
Bill Louis
I HOPE THIS GONNA BE GOOD
9 months agoby @Bill-LouisFlag
Nicholaus XX
@cheetoboy -- Guillermo Del Toro is a good choice.
9 months agoby @XxNickTheFilmCriticXxFlag
Cheetoboy
First off in order for this movie to be good it must, and I repeat it must be RATED R, and I mean a hard R. This movie has to be Kill Bill meets Lord Of the Rings, and of course it has to be made on a over $100 million budget. If done right this could be awesome, my choices for the director would be Robert Rodriguez, Guillermo Del toro, Zack Snyder, or even Robert Zemeckis. Also I think Vin Diesal is right for the role, I always pictured him as Kratos.
9 months agoby @cheetoboyFlag
Corey W.
Whenever I played the games I got a Vin Diesel vibe from the character. He might be a little too light to play Kratos, but I'm sure they can do something to make him fit the part.
Personally, I wouldn't want The Rock in the role. It'd remind me of Scorpion King too much for some reason...
9 months agoby @coreyFlag
Jimthar
vin diesel is the only person that can play this part. tom hardy? are you f*cking kidding me?
9 months agoby @jimtharFlag
Nicholaus XX
@narrator -- Tom Hardy, maybe?
9 months agoby @XxNickTheFilmCriticXxFlag
Nicholaus XX
@mcleve02 -- Agreed.
9 months agoby @XxNickTheFilmCriticXxFlag
Nicholaus XX
@bawnian-dexeus -- I was just about to mention him. I don't think they should make it into a movie, but if they do, he should be their priority. Besides putting effort into the f*cking script, of course.
9 months agoby @XxNickTheFilmCriticXxFlag
RocknRolla
I like the idea of building up the character first before just jumping into it, but yes, they'll prob mess it up. Anyways, I'd like to see The Rock tackle this role. He's been back to his action roots since 2010's "Faster" & since seeing him in "Fast Five", he def has the acting, anger, & size(def the size lol) to pull this character off.
9 months agoby @rocknrollaFlag
Bawnian©-Dexeus
A director like Ridley Scott (or another of equal/mild lesser/ or greater caliber) that has experience with a movie like this should helm it, but that's just me. I could be surprised. Let's just have a good Greek God War movie
9 months agoby @bawnian-dexeusFlag
THE JOKER
Resident Evil??? ummm.... no... The series sucks the end (movie)
9 months agoby @mcleve02Flag
THE JOKER
Resident Evil??? ummm.... no... The series sucks the end (movie)
9 months agoby @mcleve02Flag
Romero1989
all that needs to be done on God of War is an update to the first two games, the games are the movie! This will only kill it, just like the Resident Evil Films!
9 months agoby @romero1989Flag
the Narrator
What I've just read completely contradicts their entire writing careers. I want to buy into the fact that their fans really trying to give this character and franchise their best, but their track records aren't convincing me to give them the benefit of the doubt. Until I see an amazing director attached, an impossible to find lead cast as Kratos, and hear more from the writers about the direction they're taking, I won't feign interest.
9 months agoby @narratorFlag
THE JOKER
Well you're saying the right things! Just follow them through!
9 months agoby @mcleve02Flag